Intraoperative Squash Smear Cytology in CNS Lesions: A Study of 150 Pediatric Cases

BACKGROUND: Tumors of the central nervous system in the pediatric age group occur relatively frequently during the early years of life. Brain tumors are the most common solid malignancies of childhood and only second to acute childhood leukemia. Squash cytology is an indispensable diagnostic aid to central nervous system (CNS) lesions. The definitive diagnosis of brain lesions is confirmed by histological examination. AIM: To study the cytology of CNS lesions in pediatric population and correlate it with histopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty cases of CNS lesions in pediatric patients were studied over a period of 2 years. Intraoperative squash smears were prepared, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and examined. Remaining sample was subjected to histopathological examination. RESULTS: Medulloblastoma (24.0%) was the most frequently encountered tumor followed by pilocyctic astrocytoma (21.33%) and ependymoma (13.33%). Diagnostic accuracy of squash smear technique was 94.67% when compared with histological diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Smear cytology is a fairly accurate tool for intraoperative CNS consultations.