Cytologic characteristic of cerebrospinal fluid in meningeal carcinomatosis

Objective To investigate the cytologic characteristic of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) in meningeal carcinomatosis(MC).Methods Through lumbar puncture,the CSF was tested by routine cytologic examination in 4 patients with MC,and by immunocytochemical examination in 2 cases of them.Su's centrifugal and MGG staining methods were used in the cytologic examination of CSF,and LDP staining method was used in the immunocytochemistry.Results Tumor cells were found in all of the 4 cases by cytologic examination of CSF.Tumor cells diffused or gathered with different types and irregularation size.They had prominence of cytomembrane,trachychromatic cytoplasm,high ratio of nuclear to cytoplasmic and prominent nucleoli.The immunocytochemistry examination indicated that CKpan positive was found in 1 case.Conclusions The cytologic characteristic of CSF in MC is the morphological abnormality tumor cell,which is the main basis to diagnose MC.And then it will be helpful to clarify the quality of tumor cells by combining immunocytochemistry.