Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of reclassifying "atypical" diagnoses in reporting biliary cytology using strict morphologic criteria.
Study design: Cytologic specimens from 139 patients (direct, alcohol-fixed smears or cytocentrifuge preparations) were evaluated. Diagnoses were benign (70), atypical (36) and malignant (33). Using strict criteria--major (nuclear contour, chromatin pattern) and minor (polarity, cell types, nuclear size, nuclear grooves, nucleoli, mitosis, nuclear/cytoplasmic [N/C] ratio)--atypical cases were reevaluated and reclassified. Follow-up (F/U) was available on all cases.
Results: Atypical cases, (36) were reclassified as malignant (26), atypical favor benign (2)/reactive (3) and atypical, not otherwise specified (NOS) (5). Cases reclassified as malignant showed irregular nuclear contours, chromatin irregularities and rare mitosis. Nuclear enlargement, nucleoli and cellularity varied widely in all groups. N/C ratio was increased in most reclassified malignant cases. All 26 malignant reclassifications correlated with F/U of malignancy. Benign and reactive cases (5) were negative for malignancy on F/U (4), and in 1 case a metastatic carcinoma involving the biliary tree was found. In the 5 atypical (NOS) cases, F/U showed malignancy (3) and pancreatitis (2). Cytocentrifuge preparations made in our laboratory were of superior quality when compared to other methods of cell preparation.
Conclusion: Irregularities in nuclear membrane and abnormal chromatin pattern were the most consistently useful features correlating with malignancy. The sensitivity and specificity of biliary brush cytology can be enhanced by using strict cytomorphologic criteria and proper collection and fixation, all of which decrease atypical diagnoses.