COMPACT CELL BLOCKS - USE FOR BODY-FLUIDS, FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATIONS AND ENDOMETRIAL BRUSH BIOPSIES

OBJECTIVE: To obtain an ideal cell block wherein the maximal number of cells ave displayed within the smallest area on the block surface. ST UDY DESIGN:Cyto-Rich Red (AutoCyte, Inc., Elon College, North Carolina , U.S.A.) is added to fresh cellular sediment in a centrifuge tube at a ratio of 1:1. After two minutes, three to Jour drops of plasma and t opical thrombin (5,000 U/10 mL) is added. The tube is then gently agit ated for two minutes, until a gelatinous clot is obtained. The clot is then slid onto It lens tis sue on top of paper towels. The lens tissu e is folded once over the clot. By gently squeezing the excess fluid f rom it through the lens tissue into the paper towels, the clot is tran sformed into a flat, compact, densely cellular aggregate, which is pai nted with mercurochrome prior to fixation in formaldehyde. RESULTS: Fr om each gf the 495 cases, including 250 body cavity fluids, 170 fine n eedle aspirates and 75 endometrial brush biopsies, processed with the above protocol, there was a compact cell block containing packed cells or tissue fragments in a clean background devoid of red blood cells. CONCLUSION: The compact cell block is about 10-20% the size of a conve ntional cell block, yet more cells are on display, thus reducing the n eed for deeper cuts and screening time while increasing the efficiency of cytodiagnosis. The compact cell block technique is particularly he lpful for endometrial brush biopsies.