Clinical application of cerebrospinal fluid cytology in China

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology is a fundamental test for the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) disease in neurological practice in China. CSF cytology provides diagnostic evidence in cases suspected of CNS infectious diseases, autoimmune encephalitis and CNS neoplastic disorders. Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry make the cytological diagnosis more sensitive and specific. However, the diagnostic significance of CSF cytology should be interpreted and evaluated in the context of specific clinical backgrounds. Although molecular diagnostic techniques, including polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing, are increasingly applied to CSF examination, the classical CSF cytology still has its horizon in the era of precision neurology and should be recommended as a routine test for CSF analysis.