A study on urinary cytology using liquid based cytology methods

Objective : Liquid based cytology (LBC) methods were employed to examine the diagnostic value of sample processing for urinary cytology. Study Design : Samples from the same specimens were prepared by conventional cytology and three LBC methods. Cells were examined, and the cell counts, nuclear areas of the tumor cells, and diameters of the neutrophils were determined to compare the conventional and three LBC methods. Results : The cell counts of the epithelial cells and the appearances of the tumor cells were significantly different among the methods. The nuclear areas of the tumor cells increased or decreased depending on the method employed. Cytological examination showed strong staining of both the nuclei and the cytoplasm or strong staining of the cytoplasm and weak staining of the nuclei depending on the method employed. Conclusion : The LBC methods allowed diagnostically useful sample preparation with negligible detachment of cell clumps, although cellular alterations due to sample processing should be borne in mind.