Objective: Application of on-spot staining with brilliant cresyl blue, a supravital stain, was investigated in fine needle aspirates from breast, lymph node and thyroid. Study Design: Patients with palpable breast lumps, lymph nodes and thyroid nodules were included in the study. Brilliant cresyl blue was used to stain the smears, which were evaluated for smear adequacy as well as cytological diagnosis. Smears were decolorized and subjected to Pap and/or HE staining for comparison. Results: Smears which were deemed hemorrhagic on the first attempt with brilliant cresyl blue correlated with Pap staining; then sites were reaspirated within minutes to obtain satisfactory cellular smears. Morphologically, cells which were designated malignant on supravital staining were mostly malignant on Pap/HE staining. Conclusion: On-spot brilliant cresyl blue staining increases the diagnostic potential on preliminary examination by decreasing the staining time and is as good as conventional stains in exhibiting cellular morphology.

1.
Ammanagi AS, Dombale VD, Patil SS: On-site toluidine blue staining and screening improves efficiency of fine-needle aspiration cytology reporting. Acta Cytol 2012;56:347-351.
2.
Alsohaibani F: Does onsite cytotechnology evaluation improve the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy? Cancer J Gastroenterol 2009;23:26-30.
3.
Liew P-L, Liu T-J, Hseih M-C, Lin H-P, Lu C-F, Yao M-S, Chen C-L: Rapid staining and immediate interpretation of fine needle aspiration cytology for palpable breast lesions: diagnostic accuracy, mammographic, ultrasonograhic and histopathological correlation. Acta Cytol 2011;55:30-37.
4.
Borget I, Vielh P, Leboullex S, et al: Assessment of the cost of fine needle aspiration cytology as a diagnostic tool in patients with thyroid nodules. Am J Clin Pathol 2008;129:763-771.
5.
Wong NL, Di F: Psuedosarcomatous fasciitis and myositis. Diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology. Am J Clin Pathol 2009;132:857-865.
6.
Howell LP, Gandour-Edwards R, Folkins K, Davis R, Yasmeen S, Afify A: Adequacy evaluation of fine needle aspiration biopsy in breast clinic setting. Cancer 2004;102:295-301.
7.
Kamal MM, Bodelle A, Munshi MM, Bobhate SK, Kher AV: Efficacy of a modified Ultra Fast Papanicolaou stain for breast aspirates. Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2000:43:417-421.
8.
Canil M, Meir K, Jevon G, Sturby T, Moerike S, Gomez A: Toluidine blue staining is superior to H & E staining for identification of ganglion cells in frozen rectal biopsies. Histologic 2007;40:1-3.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.