Diagnostic accuracy of pericardial fluid cytology: an analysis of 53 specimens from 44 consecutive patients

Diagnostic Cytopathology
V D Malamou-MitsiN J Agnantis

Abstract

Over a 7-yr period, a total of 53 pericardial fluid specimens from 44 patients was examined. A correlation between cytological and histological diagnosis was made in 19 of these cases. In the remaining 25 cases, where a biopsy was not performed, the cytological diagnosis was correlated with the final clinical diagnosis and the patients' clinical outcome. Finally, in 9 out of 14 cases of malignancy where both cytological and a histological diagnosis was made, the cytologic prediction of the histologic type of cancer was evaluated. The overall sensitivity was 100%, the overall specificity was 93.3%, and the overall cytological accuracy was 95.4%. The predictive value of the correct histologic type of cancer by cytology was 77.7%. Our findings show that the careful cytomorphological examination of pericardial fluid aspirates is a valuable, reliable, and diagnostically highly accurate method, which could be performed on a routine basis in a busy cytopathology department. Judiciously chosen ancillary procedures, as well as clinicopathological correlation, are of great value for an accurate diagnosis in problematic cases.

References

Nov 1, 1978·The American Journal of Medicine·J G Krikorian, E W Hancock
Sep 1, 1976·The American Journal of the Medical Sciences·C D PetersenJ E Kurnick
Sep 1, 1987·Diagnostic Cytopathology·M R MasonC A Fahey
Jul 1, 1987·Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica·K BrocksB C Jørgensen
Nov 1, 1985·Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica·B E DahlgrenC Skedevik
Nov 1, 1972·American Journal of Clinical Pathology·W M Murphy, A B Ng
Nov 1, 1972·Chest·R E Zipf, W W Johnston
Aug 1, 1982·American Journal of Clinical Pathology·A ToD V Coleman
Oct 24, 1953·Journal of the American Medical Association·H F BISELJ S LADUE
Mar 14, 1956·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·P C KOLLER

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 31, 2013·Cancer Cytopathology·Ema A Dragoescu, Lina Liu
Dec 30, 2015·American Journal of Clinical Pathology·Lisa M RooperMatthew T Olson
Jan 9, 2020·Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine·Josephine Kam Tai Dermawan, Maria Luisa Policarpio-Nicolas
Jun 21, 2020·Current Cardiology Reports·Sushil Allen LuisLawrence J Sinak

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.