A comparative study of conventional cytology and cell block method in the diagnosis of pleural effusion

Thoracentesis is a diagnostic procedure for patients with pleural effusion. Pleural fluid (PF) obtained from the procedure should be submitted for biochemical, microbiological, and cytological study (CS). In cases of suspicion of malignant pleural effusion (MPE), CS is extremely useful as it provides a diagnostic rate of 60%, ranging from 40% to 87% (1-4). CS is important not only in diagnosis but also in staging and further guiding treatment for malignancy. Many widely used guidelines, such as those of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the British Thoracic Society (BTS), recommend CS of two samples of pleural effusions (1,4). If the procedures turn out to be non-diagnostic, further invasive investigations such as imaged-guided pleural biopsy or thoracoscopic biopsy are recommended for a definitive diagnosis