DR.SATHYA. P,DR.SULOCHANA SONTI,DR. VINOTH KUMAR,DR. B. AARTHI
DOI: https://doi.org/Background: Cytopathology plays a crucial role in diagnosing diseases, particularly through the analysis of fluid effusions from body cavities. The quality of cytological smears largely depends on the fixation method, with air-dried smears (AD) and alcohol-fixed smears (WF) being two commonly used techniques. This study aimed to compare the morphological features and diagnostic utility of air-dried smears versus alcohol-fixed smears in fluid cytology.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, between September 2023 and March 2024. A total of 100 fluid effusion samples (pleural, pericardial, ascitic, and peritoneal fluids) were collected. After centrifugation, cells were smeared onto slides and subjected to two fixation methods: alcohol fixation (for H&E staining) and air-drying (for Pap staining). The cellular features were evaluated and scored based on morphological criteria such as nuclear and cytoplasmic characteristics.
Results: Of the 100 samples, 48 were from females and 52 from males, with ages ranging from 25 to 65 years. The study found that air-dried smears showed superior cytoplasmic staining and higher cellularity compared to alcohol-fixed smears, with better preservation of cytoplasmic details and granularity. However, nuclear features in air-dried smears were less well-preserved than in alcohol-fixed smears. The scoring for nuclear morphology was 1.42 for alcohol-fixed smears versus 0.66 for air-dried smears, while cytoplasmic features scored 0.86 for alcohol-fixed smears and 1.72 for air-dried smears.
Discussion: The study demonstrated that air-dried smears provide excellent cytoplasmic features, making them useful for identifying hematopoietic cells and granularity, while alcohol-fixed smears provide better nuclear preservation and consistency, essential for epithelial cell evaluation and malignancy assessment. The choice between these two methods depends on the clinical context, with air-dried smears being particularly advantageous in resource-limited settings due to their ease of preparation and transport.
Conclusion: Both fixation methods have distinct advantages depending on the diagnostic needs. Air-dried smears offer practical benefits in settings where immediate fixation is not feasible, whereas alcohol-fixed smears remain the standard for reliable nuclear morphology and epithelial cell assessment. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each method enhances the diagnostic accuracy of fluid cytology, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
