Semiquantitative analysis of the cellular preservation quality of Normosol(R) and Carbowax (R) solutions for thyroid fine-needle aspiration specimens

The present study was designed to compare cytomorphologic features and diag nostic value of thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens stored in Sa ccomano's (Carbowax(R) solution) fixative and Normosol(R) solutions. Equiva lent amounts of aspirate material obtained from nonlesional areas of 17 fre shly resected thyroidectomy specimens were placed in room temperature Car b owax(R) solution and refrigerated Normosol(R) solution for a rime period of up to 60 hr. Millipore(R) filter preparations were made from both fluids f or each of the 17 thyroidectomy specimens. Slides were examined by three in dependent observers who rated the quality of cellular preservation based on a four-part semiquantitative scale. Statistical analysis of the data obtai ned from the scores of the three observers showed no statistically signific ant difference in the quality of specimen preservation. Normosol(R) preserv ed specimens consistently rated superior to Carbowax(R) in nuclear detail, lack of obscuring background artifact, and diagnostic value. These findings , along with a considerably less cost, make refrigerated Normosol(R) an att ractive alternative for the short-term storage of FNA specimens placed in f luid. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2000;22:319-322. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.