Assessment of clinico-cytopathologic study of pericardial effusion.

Background:Body fluids including pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial fluids accumulated in pathologic conditions, including benign and nonneoplastic disorders, and benign and malignant neoplasms. The present study was clinico--cytopathologic study of pericardial effusion. Materials & Methods:37 pericardial effusion specimens of both genders was recorded. Parameters such as cytologic features and the cytologic diagnosis of PE was classified into five categories in accordance with ISRSFC. Results: Out of 37 specimens, males were 20 and females were 17. Diagnosis was negative for malignancy (NFM) in 30, atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) in 4, suspicious for malignancy (SFM) in 2 and positive for malignancy (MAL) in 1 case. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Symptoms/signs were raised jugular venous pulse in 24, breathlessness in 12, tachycardia in 15, tachypnea in 23, fever in 8, hypotension in 4, cough in 10 and body swelling in 3. Etiology was unknown in 15, Tb pericarditis in 6, traumatic in 8, heart disease in 1, renal disease in 1, autoimmune in 3 and malignancy/Suspicion for malignancy in 3 cases. The difference was non-significant (P> 0.05). Conclusion: PF specimens are uncommon. Unknown etiology the most common cause to produce malignant PF in both males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]