SENSITIVITY OF SPUTUM CYTOLOGY AFTER HOMOGENIZATION WITH DITHIOTHREITOL IN LUNG CANCER-DETECTION - 2 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

OBJECTIVE: To compare the sensitivity of sputum cytology using the dit hiothreitol homogenization method (DTT) with that of the standard pick -and-smear (PS) method in lung cancer detection. STUDY DESIGN: In a tw o-year period, 2,428 sputum specimens were examined. Standard PS smear s were prepared as controls; the remainder of the specimens were homog enized with DTT before smears were prepared. The sensitivity of the tw o methods in detecting positive cases was compared. RESULTS: Among 260 positive cases, the DTT method detected 256, while the PS method dete cted only 212, representing a difference of 17%. The DTT method also d etected 28 move suspicious cases and permitted definitive typing of th e tumor in a further 11. cases. CONCLUSION: Homogenization of sputum w ith DTT is not only a simple and versatile method but also a more sens itive method as compared to the PS method in lung cancer detection.