Dr. Jyothi Rani E. R,
BACKGROUND Lung cancer though known for its high mortality has a good prognosis in its early stages.1 For early detection of lung cancer sputum cytology has been used as a screening method along with radiology.2 But its pick up rate depends on the quality of preparation and the patience of the examining person. This can be overcome by paraffin embedding the sputum sample as cell block. This makes sputum valuable in mass screening of high-risk group for the early detection of bronchial carcinoma.3 In this context this study is done to assess the diagnostic efficacy of sputum cell block compared to ordinary sputum smear in the diagnosis of Bronchogenic carcinoma. The aim and Objective of the study is to compare the sensitivity and specificity of sputum cell block and routine sputum smear cytology in the diagnosis of Bronchogenic Carcinoma and its efficacy in tumour typing. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sputum samples of patients with a clinical diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma were examined during a period of one year to compare both smear and cell block for their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in correlation with the gold standard (The diagnostic result influencing the management of the patient- which could be either cytology /biopsy of lung /lymph node). RESULTS Of the total number of 143cases studied definite diagnosis (Gold standard) was obtained only for 131 cases. On analysis paraffin embedded sputum cell block specimens had a higher sensitivity of 48% compared to 29% in routine sputum smears. But 2 cell block positive cases which had radiological proof were not confirmed to be cancer by other tests. As these cases had radiological proof further follow up may be needed before considering cellblock to have low specificity. CONCLUSION
