High-quality cell block preparation from scraping of conventional cytology slide: a technical report on a modified cytoscrape cell block technique
- Author:
Yeon Il Choi
;
Mirzarakhimov Jakhongir
;
Suk Jin Choi
;
Lucia Kim
;
In Suh Park
;
Jee Young Han
;
Joon Mee Kim
;
Young Chae Chu
- Publication Type:Other types
- Keywords:
Fine needle aspiration cytology;
cell block;
immunocytochemistry
- From:The Malaysian Journal of Pathology
2016;38(3):295-304
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: Immunocytochemistry (ICC) on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded cell blocks is an
ancillary tool commonly recruited for differential diagnoses of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)
samples. However, the quality of conventional cell blocks in terms of adequate cellularity and evenness
of distribution of cytologic material is not always satisfactory for ICC. We introduce a modified
agarose-based cytoscrape cell block (CCB) technique that can be effectively used for the preparation
of cell blocks from scrapings of conventional FNAC slides. Methods: A decoverslipped FNAC slide
was mounted with a small amount of water. The cytological material was scraped off the slide into a
tissue mold by scraping with a cell scraper. The cytoscrape material was pelleted by centrifugation
and pre-embedded in ultra-low gelling temperature agarose and then re-embedded in conventional
agarose. The final agarose gel disk was processed and embedded in paraffin. Results: The quality of
the ICC on the CCB sections was identical to that of the immunohistochemical stains on histological
sections. By scrapping and harvesting the entirety of the cytological material off the cytology slide
into a compact agarose cell button, we could avoid the risk of losing diagnostic material during the
CCB preparation. Conclusion: This modified CCB technique enables concentration and focusing
of minute material while maintaining the entire amount of the cytoscrape material on the viewing
spot of the CCB sections. We believe this technique can be effectively used to improve the level of
confidence in diagnosis of FNAC especially when the FNAC slides are the only sample available.
