Microsatellite analysis of pleural supernatants could increase sensitivity of pleural fluid cytology.

ABSTRACT: Pleural effusions may result from various inflammatory, hemodynamic, or neoplastic conditions. A common diagnostic problem lies in distinguishing malignant from benign pleural effusions using routine cytological evaluation. We studied pleural fluid samples obtained from 14 patients with histologically confirmed malignancy and from 6 patients with benign pleural effusions using 12 microsatellite markers from 8 different chromosomal regions. Supernatants and cellular sediments of all 20 pleural fluid samples were analyzed. Routine cytological examination was 100% specific for malignancy but was only 57% sensitive. Microsatellite analyses of pleural fluid supernatants showed genetic alterations in tumor patients only. However, 50% of pleural effusions that were considered negative for maligna

SUBMITTER: Woenckhaus M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1888495 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature