Background
@EN There are some difficulties in the differential diagnosis of lymphocytedominant exudative pleural effusion because of nonspecific chemical findings and poor positive yield of cytopathologic findings. It has been known that most malignant
tumor
cells
possess and abnormal number of chromosome and consequently an abnormal DNA content. Flow cytometry allows rapid and accurate analysis of DNA contents. Therefore the detection of aneuploidy in pleural fluid using flow cytometry could be used for
the
differential diagnosis between malignant and benign effusion.
@ES Methods
@EN Flow cytometric DNA analysis were perfomed in 14 tuberculous pleural effusions and 21 malignant effusions, which were confirmed by cytopatholgical method. Samples were fixed in absolute ethanol and stained with propidium iodide, a DNA
intercalating
fluorescent stain.
@ES Results
@EN All of the 14 tuberculous effusions shows diploidy. Among the 21 malignant effusion, 10 samples had aneuploidy. The comparison of S-phase fraction, the indicator of cellular proliferative activity, showed no significant, difference between
tuberculous and malignant effusions. Flow cytometric analysis, compared to cytopathology, yields 46.7% sensitivity, 100% speciticity.
@ES Conclusion
@EN The finding of aneuploidy in pleural fluid highly suggest malignancy in etiology. Therfore if flow cytometric DNA analysis show aneuploidy, further diagnostic work up would be requeired.
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