DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF SQUASH SMEAR TECHNIQUE IN BRAIN TUMORS

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Primary tumors of central nervous system constitute less than 2% of overall human cancers in adults however; they constitute second most common frequently encountered tumors in children after leukaemia. Use of smear technique has been described for many years on specimens obtained with stereotactic devices, which allow multiple sampling for the diagnosis of deep seated lesions. Squash smear technique saves time and amount of tissue needed. METHODS: A total of 75 cases of intracranial space occupying lesions were studied. The squash smear technique was used to diagnose the brain Tumors and was compared with histopathological examination of same tumor. RESULTS: Out of 75 cases in 8 (10.7%) cases discordance was observed between squash smear diagnosis and histologic diagnosis. In 67 (89.3%) cases squash smear diagnosis was in accordance with the final histologic diagnosis. Thus the diagnostic accuracy of squash smear technique in this study is 89.3%. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Thus the value of squash smear technique in rapid preoperative diagnosis of neurosurgical biopsies is corroborated by above study and the accuracy of this study matched with the other studies done in the past on squash smear technique and it should be used regularly for rapid intra-operative diagnosis of intracranial space occupying lesion. KEY WORDS: squash smear technique, intracranial space occupying lesions, histopathological examination.