Aiswarya K.P.1, Priya V.S.2, Deepthi Raj M.L.3, Indira K.4
BACKGROUND
Though histopathology is the gold standard investigation for diagnosing most
benign and malignant lesions of bone, the decalcification process required for
removing bone hardness makes it a time-consuming process. Sediment cytology
is a rapid investigative procedure utilising the cells in the specimen containers after
proper fixation, processing and staining. The objective of this study was to
compare the diagnostic efficacy of sediment cytology of bone lesions with the
histopathology.
METHODS
The study was conducted in 50 samples of bony tissues received in the
histopathology lab during the study time. The fixative fluid containing specimens
were first agitated for procuring the cells from the sample. The sediment obtained
was processed and stained as a cytology sample and studied under microscope.
Based on cytology findings they were classified into benign, malignant,
inflammatory and inconclusive. The specimen was processed as routine
histopathologic sample and final diagnosis was made from it.
RESULTS
Sediment cytology of malignant bone lesions showed a very high specificity (100
%) but only a moderate sensitivity of 80 %. Sediment cytology of benign bone
lesions also showed a higher specificity of 100 % but only a moderate sensitivity
of 84.6 %.
CONCLUSIONS
If adequately cellular, biopsy sediment cytology is a simple, inexpensive, rapid tool
for the early diagnosis of bone lesions. Sediment cytology can act as a good
complementary test to histopathology.
