A Study of Cytology in the Disease of the Biliay Tract

-Device of Brushing Cytology of the Bile Duct and Comparison with Exfoliative Cytology of the Bile-

Abstract

Exfoliative cytology of the bile is widely used, and the weak points of this method have been reported to be the small amount of cells and cell degeneration caused by bile. The author devised the technique of brushing cytology of the bile duct. In brushing cytology, many fresh cells can be obtained as in direct touch smear. Exfoliative cytology of the bile and brushing cytology were performed in 74 cases of malignant and benign lesions in the biliary tract. The accuracy rate of brushing cytology was higher than that of exfoliative cytology (brushing cytology, 93.2%: exfoliative cytology, 63.5%). In malignant lesions, brushing cytology was more accurate than exfoliative cytology (brushing cytology, 93.8% ; exfoliative cytology, 52.1%). In malignant lesions, brushing cytology was effective in cases of bile duct carcino ma, duodenal carcinoma, pancreas head carcinoma, and recurrence of gastric carcinoma. In conclusion, brushing cytology is a very useful method for the diagnosis of lesions in the biliary tract.