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With increased use of the ThinPrep method for nongynecologic specimens, cell blocks are more commonly prepared by harvesting cells that are fixed in CytoLyt solution. The current study compared morphologic and immunocytochemical performance of effusion cell blocks prepared using CytoLyt-prefixed thrombin clot (CTC) with plasma thrombin clot (PT) and HistoGel (HG) preparation. The study included a total of 25 malignant or benign serous fluids. Three individual cell block materials were simultaneously prepared from each of the 25 effusion specimens using the CTC, PT, or HG method. H&E staining and immunostaining for pancytokeratin (pan-CK), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), B72.3, HBME-1, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), CD45, CD20, and CD3 were then performed. The CTC preparation revealed compatible cellularity and good cellular details. In addition, CTC cell blocks revealed a similar percentage of cells with positive immunostaining along with the strongest intensity and the least background staining. The CTC method can be used reliably as an adjunct to other preparation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the cell block (CB) method and clinical features affecting it in patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL). Methods: This study enrolled 38 eyes in 33 VRL patients, and 7 eyes in 7 patients with idiopathic uveitis who underwent diagnostic vitrectomy. Medical records including the results of CB cytology, interleukin (IL)-10/-6 concentrations, and immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH) rearrangement were retrospectively searched. Results: Patients with VRL comprised 16 women and 17 men, and the age of onset ranged from 44 to 85 years (mean: 70 years). CB preparations detected large malignant cells in 35 eyes (92%), whereas the other 3 VRL eyes were negative. Two of the latter three eyes showed subretinal infiltrates, which existed in 7 of 35 CB-positive eyes. Intravitreal IL-10 and -6 concentrations were 1866 ± 4088 pg/mL and 98 ± 139 pg/mL, respectively, and the rate of IL-10/-6 >1 was 86.9%. The presence of IgH monoclonality was 63.2%. In patients with uveitis, CB specimens revealed no atypical but small inflammatory cells. IL-6 concentration was 311.1 ± 240 pg/mL, whereas IL-10 was undetectable in six eyes, and the IL-negative rate was 85.7%. Six eyes (85.7%) with uveitis showed no IgH monoclonality. Conclusions: Diagnostic accuracy of CB preparations in VRL could achieve an equivalent outcome to IL ratio calculation and IgH monoclonality detection. The appearance of subretinal infiltrates may diminish the CB positivity.

Aberrant expression of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is associated with tumor development and progression. The current study was conducted to evaluate the significance of HMGB1 immunostaining on cell block (CB) preparations in the diagnosis of neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions of the cervix. The CBs were prepared from 157 residual liquid-based gynecologic cytology specimens which were collected from women whose cervical lesions had been confirmed by histopathology. The expression of HMGB1 and p16INK4A (p16) was visualized by immunocytochemistry on the CB preparations, and the association of their expression patterns was correlated with the severity of cervical lesions. HeLa cells were used as positive control. HMGB1 expression was observed in dysplastic and neoplastic cells and increased along with the progression of cervical neoplasia. The rates of positive staining for HMGB1 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN-1), CIN-2, CIN-3, and invasive squamous cell carcinomas (ISCCs) were 69.4, 96.9, 100.0, and 100.0%, respectively. The differences between positive rates of patients with chronic cervicitis and various CINs as well as ISCCs were significant (P < 0.005). The differences in positive staining rates between each two CIN groups, and differences between CIN-1/2 and ISCCs, were also significant (P < 0.005). The expression pattern of HMGB1 was generally correlated with that of p16 (P < 0.001). HMGB1 staining was observed in some p16-negative specimens. HMGB1 immunostaining on a CB from gynecologic cytology specimens is potentially valuable for the screening of cervical lesions in cases with questionable cytology., (Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)