A REVIEW OF 50 CONSECUTIVE CYTOLOGY CELL BLOCK PREPARATIONS IN A LARGE GENERAL-HOSPITAL

Aims-To review consecutive cell block preparations of cytological spec imens in a large general hospital. Methods-50 cell blocks were made ov er an 18 month period in which about 1900 fine needle aspirations (FNA s) were performed, The aspirator was a cytologist or, for image guided FNAs, a radiologist with a cytologist at hand to collect the specimen . Forty eight cell blocks were from FNAs and two were from serous flui ds. Results-The cellularity of the cell blocks was inadequate in only four preparations. The main motive for making cell blocks was to obtai n tissue for immunohistochemistry. This was performed on 28 cases and a total of 107 immunostained sections were produced. The most common d iagnostic dilemma was between carcinoma and melanoma, and the second m ost common between carcinoma and lymphoma. Consequently cytokeratin, S -100, and LCA were the most frequently used antibodies. At least one o f these three antibodies was positive in 17 cases. Five cases were imm unostained only for prognostic breast markers. Conclusions-The use of cell block immunohistochemistry is a reliable and technically unsophis ticated aid in the cytological examination of tumours other than lymph omas, Success depends on having highly experienced aspirators that rel iably obtain sufficiently cellular material.