Role of Crush Cytology in Intraoperative Central Nervous System Tumours with Histopathological Correlation

Fine needle aspiration of intracranial space occupying lesions is difficult due to the closed architecture. Crush cytology is the only possible way to provide a rapid & reliable diagnosis. Crush cytology also known as Squash cytology yields a superior cytological detail of cells as it is devoid of freezing artefacts.

To assess the efficacy of intraoperative crush cytology as a standalone method in the rapid intra-operative diagnosis of intracranial tumor and tumor like lesions.

Cases of various intracranial space occupying lesions were studied. Patients were investigated by various radio imaging techniques, routine cardiac & laboratory tests. Patient was operated according to the clinical need and the decision was made by the operating surgeon in the benefit of the patient. Intraoperative crush smear cytology was performed and was correlated with the histopathological diagnosis of the sample which was simultaneously sent for histopathological examination. The study was carried out as Mahatma Gandhi medical college, a referral tertiary care centre.

The cases where the intraoperative cytological diagnosis was same as histopathological diagnosis, including the grade of the malignant tumor, was considered as complete correlation.