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Background/Aim. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer types worldwide. More than 70% of patients are diagnosed with lung cancer in the advanced stages of the disease, with limited therapeutic options based on cytological and histopathological material. The value of cytology in diagnosing and subtyping non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is very important for modern personalized therapies. The aim of this study was to find out the concordance between cytological and histopathological diagnosis of NSCLC and the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and the positive and negative predictive value of cytology in diagnosing lung cancer. Methods. A two-year retrospective study included 169 patients with cytological diagnosis of NSCLC, who, at the same time, had small biopsy and surgical specimens for histopathological diagnoses confirmation that were compared with cytological one. Histopathological diagnosis on surgical specimens was the golden standard for evaluation concordance to the cytological diagnosis of NSCLC and evaluation accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and the positive and negative prognostic value of cytology as a diagnostic method for detecting lung cancer. Results. This study included 129 (76.3%) male and 40 (23.7%) female patients, aged between 39 and 83, with the average of 62.53 ± 7.6. There was no statistically significant difference between the ages of different genders (p = 0.207). The most frequent diagnosis among cytological diagnoses was NSCLC in 99 (58.58%) patients. Concordance between cytological and histopathological diagnoses of surgical specimens was 61.48%. There was no statistically significant difference between cytological diagnoses and histopathological diagnoses of small biopsies specimens (p = 0.856). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative prognostic value, and accuracy of cytology as a diagnostic method of lung cancer were 94.98%, 98.60%, 95.72%, 98.35%, and 97.71%, respectively. Conclusion. Cytological diagnosis of NSCLC is accurate, with high sensitivity, specificity, and benefits for patients. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced cancer when there is no surgical therapy option, and the only available diagnostic material is a small biopsy sampled during bronchoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. Patients with SCLC generally appear in a locally advanced or disseminated stage, when small biopsies and/or cytological materials are the only possibility for diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of cytology in the initial diagnosis of SCLC, comparing cytological with histological findings of small biopsies. Methods. The retrospective study included 200 patients with cytological diagnosis of SCLC, established in the period from 2016 to 2018 based on examination of the exfoliative material (sputum), as well as abrasive and aspiration materials obtained during bronchoscopy. In the same act, bronchoscopic materials were taken for cytological and histological diagnosis. Cytological materials were stained by May Grünwald Giemsa and histological ones using hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical stains. Results. The most frequently sampled materials were: transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) in 72.2% of the patients and bronchial brushing in 18.54% of the patients, in the following order: bronchial aspirate in 4.88%, tru-cut needle biopsy in 5.37%, and sputum in 2.44% of the patients. In 91.5% (183/200) of the patients cytological diagnosis of SCLC was histopathologically confirmed. Among 17 patients whose cytological diagnosis of SCLC was not confirmed histopathologically, another type of tumor was histopathologically proved for 12 (6%) of them: in 6 cases non SCLC not otherwise specified, and in each per one squamocellular carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma, mixed tumor (NSCLC with a neuroendocrine component), lymphoma and sarcoma. Finally, in five patients histological material was false-negative. Conclusion. Cytological diagnosis of SCLC is a reliable method which yields satisfactory accuracy. The best way is to be interpreted in conjunction with histology of small biopsies. When only cytological materials are available, in doubtful cases, other small round cell tumors, and poorly differentiated NSCLC, must be considered in the differential diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Although it is well-known the high sensitivity of brush cytology for the diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma, this kind of diagnostics is not routinely used, and for the past years it has even been declining. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of brush cytology for the diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma, by comparison the results of brush cytology and biopsy, and then the results of both diagnostic methods with the final patohistological diagnosis of colorectal resection. Methods. This retrospective study included 173 patients with brush cytology of colorectal region during colonoscopy. In 166 patients concomitant biopsy specimens were obtained, and in 116 of them resection of the intestine as well. A total of the 106 patients underwent to all three diagnostic procedures. Results. Out of 166 patients who went through both brush cytology and biopsy, the congruent diagnosis was made in 129 (77.7%) patients: in 109 (65.7%) adenocarcinoma was diagnosed, which was confirmed after the resection of the intestine in 75 of the patients, and in 14 (8.4%) benign lesion, so there was no need for resection of the intestine. In 6 (3.6%) of the patients, both cytology and biopsy were negative, but the resected specimen was malignant. In 10 of the patients with malignant cytology in whom biopsy was not done, resection of the intestine confirmed malignancy. The sensitivity of detecting malignancy by brush cytology and biopsy were 87.9% and 78.3%, respectively (but this difference was not statistically significant, p = 0.083). Both methods had specificity and positive predictive values 100%. Negative predictive values for cytology and biopsy were 50% and 37.8%, respectively. The accuracy of cytology and biopsy was 89.2% and 80.8%, respectively. The combination of the results of brush cytology and biopsy increased the sensitivity of preoperative diagnostics to 94.8% which was significantly higher than sensitivity of biopsy (p < 0.001), but not than sensitivity of cytology (p = 0.102). Conclusion. Brush cytology could be a routine method, along with biopsy, in the diagnosis of colorectal malignancy. Both methods have comparable both sensitivity and accuracy, and its combination increases sensitivity of preoperative diagnostics of colorectal adenocarcinoma, which gives opportunity to better estimation of further diagnostic and therapeutic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroglossal duct cysts are regarded as congenital anomalies. They arise from the residual segments of thyroglossal duct. A cancer with the incidence rate from 1% to 1.5% may develop in thyroglossal duct cysts. Approximately 30% of patients asked to be examined due to inflammatory cysts. This study was aimed at determining the cytological characteristics of thyroglossal duct cyst smear, such as cell specificity, cellularity and the content of the extracellular matrix. Material and Methods. Thyroglossal duct cyst smears were analyzed in 28 adult patients who had undergone the fine-needle aspiration cytology in the period from 2004 to 2014. Three patients underwent the surgery following the Sistrunk procedure. The rest of the patients are in the process of monitoring. The monitoring process lasts from 1 to 10 years. Results. As many as 27 out of 28 smears contained macrophages, 9 contained stratified squamous epithelial cells and only 4 smears contained follicular cells. Granulocytes were present in 4 smears. Two smears had scarce cellularity, 21 had moderate and 5 high cellularity. Malignant cells were not observed. In 19 smears, extracellular matrix consisted of cholesterol crystals. Conclusion. Thyroglossal duct cysts have no specific cytological features. Macrophages are the cell population. Cholesterol crystals and stratified squamous epithelial cells enable differentiation of thyroglossal duct cysts from thyroid gland cystic nodules. Fine-needle aspiration cytology is necessary when assessing the cellular composition of thyroglossal duct cysts in order to promptly detect the possible presence of malignant cells and to conduct a surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Bethesda system of classification of cytological findings was introduced in 2001 two subcategories in the category of atypical squamous cells (ASC) findings: ASC of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and ASC which cannot exlude high-grade intraepithelial lesions (ASC-H). The aim of our study was to assess a possible association of these two subcategories with pathologic biopsy finding and to find out the best further diagnostic proceedings. Methods. At the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Niš 130 patients with ASC findings were analyzed. Colposcopy was performed in all study participants. Patients with pathological colposcopic findings underwent cervical biopsy. In 10 patients with pathologic histologic and 15 with benign findings human papilloma virus (HPV) typization was done using the Hybrid Capture method. Results. Patients with ASC-H finding had significantly more pathologic biopsies compared with patients with ASC-US finding (57.84: 20.72). Conclusion. Colposcopy was exhibited somewhat higher sensitivity compared to HPV typization (94.7 : 90), but lower sensitivity (79.27 : 86.6). The usage of HPV typization in the triage of patients with ASC cytologic smear induces statistically significant reduction of unnecessary percentage of cervical biopsies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Overexpression of p16INK4a has been found to be linked with genomic integration of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and the developement of precancerous cervical intraepithelial lesions. The aim of this study was to examine is there a higher positive level of correlation between grade of histological dysplasia and p16INK4a level of expression in cervical smear, compared to results of Papanicolaou test. We also examined the correlation between HPV type, p16INK4a expression and Papanicolau test results. Methods. A total of 48 women with precanceorous cervical lesions and HPV cervicitis and 10 healthy women were enrolled in the study. Papanicolaou test, CINtecTM p16INK4a citological immunohistochemical test, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) HPV 16, 18, 31, 33 analysis and histopathology of the lesion were performed in all the patients. Results. Comparing the results of Papanicoulaou test and the grade of histological dysplasia, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) was confirmed in 38%, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) in 69.2% of the patients (p > 0.05). Significant positive correlation was found between p16 overexpression and grade of histological dysplasia (p = 0.000). Overexpression p16 was found in 70% of LSIL and 94.4% of HSIL. Positive correlation was found between p16 overexpression and grade of dysplasia in Papanicolaou test (p = 0.011). In 38% of LSIL and 15% of HSIL cases p16 was not expressed. The most frequently found HPV type in PCR analysis was HPV16. Analysing the results of p16 test according to HPV status and Papanicolaou test rather heterogenous results were obtained. Conclusion. In the patients with precancerous cervical lesions a higher level of correlation was found between the grade of histological dysplasia and p16INK4a level of expression in the cervical smear, compared to the results of Papanicolaou test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This paper presents our experience with cytologic examination of urine in diagnosing renal allograft dysfunction. Methods. The study group included 23 patients with renal allograft dysfunction, selected from 56 patients who underwent renal transplantation. Etiologic diagnosis was made according to the clinical picture, histological findings during allograft biopsy, and cytologic examination of urine. Urine sediment was obtained in cytocentrifuge and was air dried and stained with May Grunwald Giemsa. Results. Out of 23 patients with allograft dysfunction in 18 (78.3%) patient it was caused by acute rejection, and in 5 (8.9%) patients by allograft infarction, cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, acute tubular necrosis and chronic nephropathy. In eighteen patients (78.3%) cytologic examination of urine was pathologic, while in 16 (70%) clinical and histology findings coincided with urine cytology findings. Out of 18 patients with acute allograft rejection in 15 patients cytologic examination of urine coincided with acute rejection. Out of 7 patients with expressed cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, in 5 cytologic examination of urine confirmed the cause of allograft dysfunction, as well as in one of 2 patients with acute tubular necrosis. Cytologic examination of urine indicated parenchymal damage in 2 patients with reccurent disease (membranoproliferative and focal sclerosing glomerulonephritis). In 4 of 5 patients suffering from chronic rejection in a year's monitoring period, urine sediment periodically consisted of lymphocytes, neutrophilic leucocytes, monocyte/macrophages, tubular cells and cilindres, without the predominance of any cell type. In 3 patients allograft dysfunction was caused by infective agents (bacteria, fungus, cytomegalovirus). Conclusion. Cytologic examination of urine might be an alternative to histological in diagnosing acute allograft rejection and acute tubular necrosis or nephtotoxicity. Also it might indicate parenchymal disease while the importance of urine cytology in chronic allograft nephropathy needs to be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]