Comparison of ThinPrep and conventional preparations on fine needle aspiration cytology material

OBJECTIVE: To compare the various cytologic features on ThinPrep 2000(R) (TP) (Cytyc Corporation, Marlborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) and conventional preparation (CP) specimens from fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) material by a semiquantitative scoring system. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective study a total of 71 consecutive cases were included. In each case, two passes were performed. The first pass was used for conventional preparations, with direct smears made and fixed immediately in 95% alcohol for Papanicolaou stain. For TP preparation a and pass produced material for processing in the ThinPrep 2000(R). The TP and CP slides were studied independently by two observers and representative slides of CP and TP compared cellularity, background blood and necrotic cell debris, cell architecture, informative background, presence of monolayer cells, and nuclear and cytoplasmic details by a semquantitative scoring system. Statistical analysis was performed by Wilcoxon's signed rank test on an SPSS program (Chicago Illinois, U.S.A.). RESULTS: TP preparations contained adequate diagnostic. cells in all cases and were tangibly superior to CP preparations concerning monolayer cells, absence of blood and necrosis, and preservation of nuclear and cytoplasmic detail (statistically significant, Wilcoxon's signed rank test, P<.000). CONCLUSION: TP preparations are superior to conventional preparations with regard to clear background, monolayer cell preparation and cell preservation If is easier and less time consuming to screen and interpret TP preparations because the cells are limited to smaller areas on clear backgrounds, with excellent cellular preservation. However, TP preparations are move expensive than CP and require some experience for interpretation.