Cytomorphology of Pleural Effusion in Omdurman Teaching Hospital

Abstract

This is a descriptive study carried out in Omdurman Teaching Hospital during the period from January 2005 to April 2005 . The study aimed at assessing the cytomorphological pattern of pleural effusions and screening for malignant changes in patients with accumulated pleural effusions . 50 cytological samples were collected from patients with pleural effusions and processed then microscopically examined. The cytological smears revealed the following findings : Malignant cells “adenocarcinoma type” were found in 3(6%) samples , among which 2(4%) were in females samples and 1(2%) in male sample. However , most of the specimens showed dense inflammatory infiltrate “acute , chronic” , which were detected in 40(80%) of the study subjects . Neutrophils and lymphocytes found in 40(80%) samples , histocytes in 39(78%) samples , plasma cells in 5(9%) samples , and eosinophils in only 3(6%) samples . On the basis of this study , cytomorphological assessment of pleural effusions is essential for diagnosis and patients management , nevertheless , immunocytochemistry will improve the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in this setting .