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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.

Background/Aim. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem infmammatory disease of unknown etiology, with the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes the most commonly involved. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) cytology in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis presenting as mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathy. Methods. In this retrospective study, 58 patients with suspicion of stage I and II sarcoidosis underwent first flexibile, and then, a rigid bronhoscopy, during which TBNA of mediastinal or hilar lumph node with a 19 gauge (G) needle was done. Material from the needle was put on glass slide and prepared for the cytological and histopathological examination. Results. Out of 58 patients submitted to TBNA of mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes, adequate material for cytological diagnostics was obtained in 53 (91.37%). Out of 53 adequate cytological samples, in 38 (71.69%) noncaseous granulomatous inflammation (NGI) was found, while in corresponding histopathological samples, NGI was found in 48 (90.56%), which was significantly higher (p< 0.05). Of cytological smears, out of the cell types typical for granulomatous inflammation, in 26 (63.15%) patients the clusters of the epitheloid cells were found, in 8 (21.05%) there were both, clusters of epitheloid cells and giant multinuclear hystiocytes, and in 6 (15.76%) only single scattered epitheloid cells or small clusters of several epitheloid cells were found. The sensitivity of TBNA cytology in our group of patients with sarcoidosis was 76%, specificity 100% and accuracy 77.34%. Conclusion. TBNA is an efficient and safe procedure in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, minimally invasive and with a little risk of complications. Using 19 G needle enables obtaining material for histological and cytological analyses, as well which contribute to the sensitivity of diagnosting sarcoidosis. The value of this type of diagnostics depends on qualification and experience both of bronchoscopist and cytologist/pathologist, as well, of the interpreter of such a material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]