Liquid-based Cytology (LBC) consists of immediate wet cell fixation with automated slide preparation. We applied LBC, cell block (CB) and immunocytochemistry to diagnose canine lymphoma and compare results with conventional cytology. Samples from enlarged lymph nodes of 18 dogs were collected and fixed in preservative solution for automated slide preparation (LBC), CB inclusion and immunophenotyping. Two CB techniques were tested: fixed sediment method (FSM) and agar method (AM). Anti-CD79a, anti-Pax5, anti-CD3 and anti-Ki67 were used in immunocytochemistry. LBC smears showed better nuclear and nucleolar definition, without cell superposition, but presented smaller cell size and worse cytoplasmic definition. FSM showed consistent cellular groups and were employed for immunocytochemistry, while AM CBs presented sparse groups of lymphocytes, with compromised analysis. Anti-Pax-5 allowed B-cell identification, both in reactive and neoplastic lymph nodes. Our preliminary report suggests that LBC and FSM together may be promising tools to improve lymphoma diagnosis through fine-needle aspiration.

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No Brasil, a detecção precoce do câncer de colo uterino é recomendada através da realização periódica do exame citopatológico. A Portaria 3.388/2013 (QualiCito) determina padrões e propõe a análise de indicadores para monitoramento da qualidade dos exames. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os indicadores de qualidade dos exames citopatológicos realizados no município de Caruaru-PE, em 2019. Os dados foram obtidos a partir dos registros de exames no Siscan, tabulados em Excel e foram calculados os indicadores de qualidade propostos pelo Ministério da Saúde. Dos 17.316 exames realizados, 226 (1,3%) foram rejeitados na fase pré-analítica e 370 (2,1%) foram insatisfatórios para avaliação.  O erro de identificação de amostras e excesso de piócitos foram as causas principais de rejeição pré-analitica e avaliação insatisfatória. Dos 16.824 exames satisfatórios, o índice de positividade foi de 9,4%, o índice atipia/exames satisfatórios foi 6,5%; atipias /exames alterados 68,9%, razão atipias/lesões 3,2% e o percentual de Hsil foi 0,4%. O índice de positividade apresentou-se no limite superior de referência (3 a 10%). Os indicadores relacionados a categoria ASC apresentaram valores acima da referência. Má fixação do material na coleta ou dificuldade dos profissionais que realizam a leitura das lâminas em interpretar as células podem interferir na análise e refletir em elevação dos índices. Os resultados ressaltam a necessidade de treinamento e reciclagem dos profissionais envolvidos na coleta e diagnóstico. O monitoramento periódico da qualidade nos laboratórios de citopatologia é fundamental para a melhoria da qualidade do serviço prestado à população.

Objective To evaluate the performance of the hybrid capture 2 (HC2) high-risk papillomavirus (hrHPV) assay and cytological test in women with previous abnormalities, to detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (≥ CIN 2). Methods A cytological test and HC2 (Qiagen, Gaithersburg, Maryland, EUA) for hrHPV were conducted in 359 liquid-based (Sure Path, Becton Dickinson, TriPath Imaging, Burlington, NC, USA) samples collected from women from the Vale do Ribeira Region, during July 2013 and September 2015 with previous cytology classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASC-H), and atypical glandular cells (AGC). The histopathological examination was conducted in 179 women. The performance evaluations were calculated using the “exact” Clopper-Pearson 95% confidence interval (CI) test by MEDCALC (Medcalc Software Ltd, Ostend, Belgium). Results The ≥ CIN 2 frequency was 11.7% (21/179). The HC2 for hrHPV and repeat cytology to detect ≥ CIN 2 obtained, respectively, a sensitivity of 90.5% (95%CI = 69.6–98.8) and 90.5%, (95%CI = 69.6–98.8), a specificity of 65.8% (95% CI = 57.9–73.2) and 43.7% (95%CI = 35.8–51.8), a positive predictive value of 26.0% (95% CI = 21.4–31.3) and 17.6%, (95%CI = 14.9–20.6), and a negative predictive value of 98.1% (95%CI = 93.3–99.5) and 97.2% (95% CI = 90.1–99.2). Conclusion Hybrid capture 2 for hrHPV improves the performance of the detection of ≥ CIN 2, without compromising sensitivity, and provides a greater safety margin to return to the triennial screening of women undergoing follow-up due to previous abnormalities, without underlying ≥ CIN 2.