Abstract
Objective: We have recently developed a new method to wash the needle for aspiration cytology and named this the Showa University Fujigaoka (SF) method for needlewashing.
Study Design: The SF method is based on the combination of the very vigourous washing effect of physiological salt saline (PSS) and the fixation of cells by highly concentrated alcohol.
Results: The procedure to obtain the best results by the SF method is as follows: 1) Prepare the direct smear of the aspirated cells and wash the needle with PSS. Immediately after washing, add this washing solution into 10%(w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG) in ethanol to fix cells (final concentration of ethanol is approximately 85%). 2) Collect cells by the pore-filter method or the cytospin method. 3) Air-dry. 4) Fix again with 95% alcohol. A comparison of this new method with the previous methods showed that the cytological characteristics were different between the washing methods. Cellular and nuclear swelling are prominent by the PSSwashing method and the staining of nuclei is inconspicuous when cells were washed by Saccomanno solution. In contrast to these methods, the novel SF method revealed a good nuclear staining pattern which was similar to that obtained by the direct smear method.
Conclusion: A particular advantage of the SF method is the ease with which it can be performed and the excellent staining of cytologic specimens. Thus, this method in addition to the direct smear provide a powerful diagnostic tool for routine breast aspiration cytology.
