Exfoliative cytology in laryngology: comparison of cytologic and histologic diagnoses in 350 microlaryngoscopic examinations--a prospective study

Correlation between brush cytology results and histopathological examination in diagnostic evaluation of precancerous conditions and laryngeal cancer: A prospective study

Introduction

The aim of the paper was to demonstrate that brush cytology can be useful in diagnostic evaluation of precancerous states and laryngeal cancer.

Materials and Methods

Ninety-two patients were analyzed. The control group included patients with benign laryngeal lesions, while the study group was composed of patients in whom a precancerous condition or laryngeal cancer was suspected. Material for histopathological and cytological examination was collected during a laryngeal microsurgery. The authors analyzed the consistency of the results of cytological and histopathological examination in the diagnostic evaluation of precancerous conditions and laryngeal cancer.

Results

Comparing diagnoses based on cytological examination with the results of histopathological examinations, the authors observed that there was a strong and statistically significant (p<0.001) correlation between the results. The accuracy of brush cytology in the conducted study indicates that the sensitivity and specificity of the test reaches 90.09% and 93.5% with 4 false negative and 3 false positive results. Positive prediction reached 93% and negative prediction reached 91.5%.

Conclusions

Brush cytology of the larynx may be useful in screening and as an auxiliary test in diagnostic evaluation of precancerous conditions and laryngeal cancer.

The combination of brush cytology with the results of histopathological examination in laryngeal cancer diagnosis

Recently, the incidence rate of head and neck cancer (HNC) has been increasing significantly. It is estimated that there are over 550,000 new cases per year, of which over 130,000 are laryngeal cancers. It is assumed that in more than 60% of patients the disease is diagnosed late, at stages III–IV, which is associated with unfavorable prognoses: the average survival ranges from 15% to 45%. The mainstay of successful tumor therapy is the early detection of neoplastic tissue. The laryngological examination with the use of traditional instruments should be expanded with an endoscopic examination of the larynx using optics in the outpatient clinics. This procedure is sufficient to select patients who need a direct laryngoscopy with a surgical biopsy, usually under general anesthesia in operating room conditions. However, it may bear potential complications. In 1941, Papanicolaou and Traut showed that brush cytology could be useful in detecting precancerous conditions and cervical cancers. For decades, research on the usefulness of brush cytology in diagnosing precancerous conditions and laryngeal cancers has been conducted. This paper aims to enable the reader to understand the issues related to laryngeal cancer and present the results of the previous use of brush cytology in the diagnostic process.

Laryngeal cytology: A cytological, histological, P16 and human papillomavirus study

BACKGROUND

Invasive diagnostic methods, such as punch biopsies, have a potential to produce undesirable side effects in the larynx, such as scarring and vocal dysfunction. This study is an attempt to assess the diagnostic potential of cytology to efficiently diagnose premalignant and malignant laryngeal lesions, while sparing patients the risk of complications of punch biopsies.

METHODS

Laryngeal smears, using endocervical-type brushes, and punch biopsies were procured from each patient. Smears were prepared and the brush was cut and put in Surepath preservative solution for cytological analysis and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing. A Real-TM Quant kit that detects 14 HPV types was used for genotyping. Immunohistochemical staining for p16 was performed on cytological and histological specimens.

RESULTS

Cytological diagnosis was correct in 84.6%, 100% and 100% of cases with a histological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinomas, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and benign lesions, respectively. However, cytological interpretation was correct only in 25% of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. HPV DNA test was positive in only one case, which was a laryngeal polyp. Testing for p16 was negative in all the cytological and histological material.

CONCLUSION

Laryngeal cytology is a useful diagnostic tool in establishing the diagnosis of high-grade squamous epithelial cell abnormalities. Recognition of low-grade lesions, however, is challenging. HPV genotyping and p16 staining do not seem to be helpful ancillary techniques in cytological material procured from the larynx.

Brush cytology with immunocytochemical evaluation of VEGF expression versus biopsy in clinically precancerous laryngeal lesions: can we diagnose laryngeal cancer only with brush cytology?

Introduction. Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is the most common SCC of the head and neck. The high incidence of this malignancy and the low survival rate necessitate the development of novel diagnostic approaches. Aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic value of laryngeal brush cytology combined with VEGF immunocytochemistry versus histopathology of clinically precancerous lesions of the larynx. Material and Methods. Thirty patients with precancerous or suspected malignant laryngeal lesions underwent microlaryngoscopy, during which samples were taken for cytological, immunocytochemical, and histological analysis. Cytology and histology results were classified as follows: benign lesions, atypia/moderate dysplasia, and malignancy, whereas the expression of VEGF was evaluated as strong, moderate, weak, and zero expression, based on the percentage of cells stained. Results. The cytology results were in accordance with the histology results in 86.7% of the patients. The exfoliative cytology's sensitivity was estimated at 85% and its specificity at 90%. Its positive prognostic value was 94%, while its negative prognostic value was 75%. The additional immunocytochemical evaluation of VEGF expression increased all the noted parameters. Discussion. Exfoliative cytology of laryngeal lesions is a minimal-invasive, easily applicable procedure during microlaryngoscopy and reliable in terms of diagnostic value. Under certain conditions it could be held also in local anesthesia. Concurrent immunocytochemical analysis of VEGF expression further enhances its diagnostic value.

Imprint cytology in laryngeal and pharyngeal tumours

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of cytology in providing a reliable diagnosis upon which the clinician can base further investigative or treatment strategies in patients with laryngeal and pharyngeal tumours.

METHODS

Imprint cytology diagnoses from 174 patients were correlated with the histological result of a corresponding biopsy.

RESULTS

We found that the imprint cytology proved to be a useful, quick and reliable method with complete diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of 97%, 96%, 100%, 100% and 92% respectively.

CONCLUSION

Imprint cytology allows diagnostic statements in a shorter time than is possible with histological sections and proves a useful adjunct in evaluating laryngeal and pharyngeal lesions. The validity of the method depends on the care with which the specimen is sampled and on the experience of the investigator.

Value of exfoliative cytology in differential diagnosis of epithelial hyperplastic lesions of the larynx

In a comparative random study we examined material from suspicious laryngeal lesions from 85 patients. Material was obtained simultaneously by exfoliative cytology and biopsy. The diagnoses included keratosis, papilloma/papillomatosis, dysplasia/carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. In each case we were able to demonstrate the cytological diagnostic criteria in the respective histological specimens. We illustrate this in the paper with some examples. Due to the excellent correlation between cytology and histology we are convinced that exfoliative laryngeal cytology is very significant in differential diagnosis of epithelial hyperplastic lesions.

Hypertetraploid cells in vocal cord epithelia

DNA measurements yield information about the nature of cells and may provide diagnostic and prognostic information. Static cytofluorometry was performed on smears removed at microlaryngoscopy from 107 vocal cord lesions (96 patients). All stem cell lines were diploid except 3; 2 carcinomas and 1 severe dysplasia were polyploid. The mean proliferative activity (percentage of nuclei greater than diploid peak) was 2.1% for the group of epithelia with hyperplasia and mild dysplasia, 3.1% for those with moderate dysplasia, 4.0% for severe dysplasia, and 6.8% for carcinomas. Hypertetraploid cell nuclei (HT cells) were not found in epithelia with hyperplasia and mild dysplasia. Seven out of 15 patients with epithelia showing moderate dysplasia had HT cells; 5 of these patients developed a carcinoma. One of 8 without HT cells developed a severe dysplasia. Nine patients with severe dysplasia had HT cells; 4 had recurrences and 4 developed carcinoma within 4 years. In 14 patients without HT cells, 3 had recurrences and 1 developed a carcinoma 6 years later. HT cells were found in 15 patients with T1 & T2 carcinomas; residual carcinoma was present in 2 after radiotherapy and 4 had recurrences within 11 months. Fourteen patients with T1 & T2 carcinoma did not have any HT cells; one had residual carcinoma after radiotherapy and 3 had recurrences between 18 months and 4 years. DNA measurements and, especially, the demonstration of epithelia with HT cells prove to be of prognostic importance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hyperplasia, keratosis, dysplasia and carcinoma in situ of the vocal cords--a follow-up study

Comparison of reported series of laryngeal lesions is complicated by the inconsistency in the terminology. The classification of these lesions should logically be based on the degrees of dysplasia, as this has a bearing on the prognosis. The material for this study consisted of 193 patients with hyperplasia and/or keratosis, with or without mild dysplasia (Group I), moderate dysplasia (Group II), and severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ (Group III). They were treated over a 14-year period (1966-1979) at Linköping University Hospital. Of the 98 patients in Group I available for follow-up, 23 had repeat excisions. Moderate dysplasia developed in 3 patients, severe dysplasia in 2, and invasive carcinoma in another 2 within 3 and 3.5 years; they both underwent laryngectomy. Among the 24 patients in Group II available for follow-up, severe dysplasia developed in 3 and invasive carcinoma in 3 up to 13 years after the initial diagnosis, all but one (with severe dysplasia) received a full course of radiotherapy, on one case total laryngectomy was subsequently performed for recurrent carcinoma. Of the 39 patients with severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ 16 were given primary radiotherapy; 4 of these developed invasive carcinoma; 3 of them underwent total laryngectomy and one partial laryngectomy. Excision or stripping of the vocal cords was the primary treatment in 23 cases; 5 of these developed invasive carcinoma; 2 of them underwent total laryngectomy. Diffuse lesions and well differentiated forms of severe dysplasia caused most problems and had the highest incidence of invasive carcinoma irrespective of the form of treatment. Patients with hyperplasia, keratosis, dysplasia and carcinoma in situ should be carefully followed up, as invasive carcinoma may develop many years after the initial diagnosis.