Introduction: Abnormal collection of fluids in pleural and peritoneal cavity constitutes to one of the major causes of morbidity often presenting as a common diagnostic dilemma. Exfoliative cytology is a cost effective, and rapid tool for the evaluation of body fluids.
Aims and objectives: To determine the diagnostic yield of fluid cytology to reach the etiological diagnosis of pleural and peritoneal effusion.
Material and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted on 62 patients of pleural and peritoneal effusion during the period of 6 months between January 2017 to June 2017 presenting to the department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, SGT University, Gurgaon.
Result: Out of 62 fluids analysed 36 were pleural and 26 were peritoneal. Most common age of presentation was 21-30 years for pleural effusion and 41-50 years for ascites with male predominance. Most common etiology was tuberculosis (63%) for pleural fluids and chronic liver disease (38.4%) for peritoneal fluids. Fluids were predominantly exudative (80% pleural and 41.6% peritoneal). On cytology most common cases were of chronic effusion (86.1% pleural and 76.9% peritoneal) followed by inflammatory and malignancy.
Conclusion: Cytological examination of fluids is a simple and minimally invasive step in the diagnostic work up of patients. It has high diagnostic sensitivity and helps the clinician in formulating the correct algorithm for treatment purpose.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
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