Abstract
Objective: To clarify the cytomorphological characteristics of urine by the ThinPrep® method (TP), we examined cells in urine by TP in comparison with the conventional two-slide-pull method (S).
Study Design: Urine from 274 patients was used as the materials for cytology by TP and S. We compared the correct diagnosis rate by TP and S, and investigated differences in cytomorphology by TP. We also, identified the characteristics of benign/malignant cells in urine by TP.
Results: “Three negative cases” and “two probably positive cases” by S were diagnosed “probably positive” and “definitely positive” by TP, respectively, indicating that TP will contribute to improving cytodiagnosis of urine specimens. Careful observations are required when making the differential diagnosis between atypical cells and low-grade urothelial carcinoma (UC), because urine specimens by TP showed cytological changes, such as nuclear flattening, nuclear enlargement and nuclear shrinkage. Cytological observations showed monotonous nuclear shape in UC grade1 and grade 2, while a diversity of nuclear shape was found in benign atypical cells.
Conclusion: It is important to sufficiently understand the cytomorphological characteristics of TP in order to achieve a correct diagnosis.
