SPUTUM CYTOLOGY

Prelaboratory Discussion

Emarene M. Mationg, MD

SPUTUM EXAMINATION RESULT

MACROSCOPIC FINDINGS:
Volume: 5 to 10 ml, resulting from a deep
cough

Consistency: mucoid, serous, bloody,

purulent

Color: yellow, green, rusty or colorless

SPUTUM EXAMINATION RESULT

MICROSCOPIC FINDINGS:

ADEQUACY: Adequate or Inadequate CELLULAR FINDINGS:

1. Epithelial cells less than 25/LPF 2. PMN cells more than 25/LPF 3. Presence of macrophages (dust cells) 4. Presence of columnar cells

MURRAY AND WASHINGTONS GRADING SYSTEM

EPITHELIAL CELLS/LOW POWER FIELD GROUP 1 LEUKOCYTES/ LOW POWER FIELD

>25

<10

GROUP 2
GROUP 3 GROUP 4

>25
>25 10-25

10-25
>25 >25

GROUP 5

<10

>25

Only group nos.4 and 5 = adequate/acceptable

CELLULAR FINDINGS:

RESPIRATORY COLUMNAR CELLS-nucleus is round to oval, columnar cells with distal terminal plates and cilia -from the deep portion of respiratory tract

CELLULAR FINDINGS:

Squamous epithelial cells

CELLULAR FINDINGS:

NEUTROPHILS- ACUTE INFLAMMATION LYMPHOCYTES-CHRONIC INFLAMMATION,MAY ACCOMPANY LUNG CA,LYMPHOMAS,LEUKEMIAS

CELLULAR FINDINGS: DUST CELLS

-pulmonary macrophages -presence indicates origin from the alveoli -round to oval cells,10 to 25um, cytoplasm is acidophilic to amphophilic -nuclei is peripheral, heavily laden with dust (gray, brown, black)

MACROSCOPIC FINDINGS

Group nos. 1,2,3,4,7,11,14,22 and 23:

Volume: 10ml Color: greenish Consistency: thick, mucoid, viscid

Group nos. 9,10,15,16,17,19 and 20:

Volume: 2ml Color: colorless Consistency: mucoid and frothy

Group nos. 5,6,8,12,13 and 21:

Volume: 5ml Color: yellowish Consistency: thick, frothy to mucoid

Group no. 18:

Volume: 10ml Consistency: thick, mucoid Color: yellowish to greenish