Kusuma Venkatesh1, C. P Manjula2, P. J. Swetha3
BACKGROUND
Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) has become a very useful technique in the diagnosis of mass lesions and it is the most preferred method as it provides early diagnosis, economical, less painful and is a procedure done in the outpatient department. The stains commonly used for FNAC smears are Papanicolaou stain (Pap), May-Grunwald Giemsa stain (MGG) and Haematoxylin and Eosin (H and E). The need to minimise time taken for staining has encouraged the development of newer techniques of staining. Ideally, these should be cost-effective without compromising on the quality of cell morphology.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
FNAC smears of 70 cases including 60 thyroid lesions and 10 salivary gland masses were analysed. A minimum of 5 smears were made in each case and stained with PAP, H and E, MGG, REAP and MUFP. Six parameters, namely the background, overall staining, cell morphology, nuclear characteristics, cytoplasmic details and air-drying artifacts were given scores to calculate quality index of each stain.
RESULTS
Age and sex distribution of all the cases. Thyroid lesions were more common in females (93.3%) and salivary gland lesions were common in males (60%).
CONCLUSION
In thyroid FNAC smears, PAP stain got the maximum quality index followed by H and E, REAP, MUFP and MGG. In salivary gland, Pap and H and E, both got the maximum quality index followed by REAP, MUFP and MGG. Therefore, REAP and MUFP can be included as routine stains in cytopathology when an earlier diagnosis is required.
