Serous fluid: Reactive conditions

Nirag Jhala; Darshana Jhala; Vinod B Shidham

doi:10.25259/CMAS_02_06_2021

Serous fluid: Reactive conditions

Cytojournal. 2022 Mar 19:19:14. doi: 10.25259/CMAS_02_06_2021. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Nirag Jhala¹, Darshana Jhala², Vinod B Shidham³

Affiliations

¹ Professor, Director Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Hospital and Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
² Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Services, CMC VA Medical Center Philadelphia, PA, USA.
³ Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Center, and Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Abstract

This chapter highlights the steps that would help to analyze any fluid. It highlights importance of knowing gross analysis of fluid along with biochemical information. These parameters along with clinical information are very important in arriving at a differential diagnosis. Morphologic appearances in the fluid can often become challenging and occasionally reactive conditions can reveal changes that may mimic malignancies. This chapter provides not only a framework of approach to assessment of fluid cytology but also shows how to distinguish some of the challenging reactive conditions from the diagnosis of carcinoma. The chapter also utilizes two cases to demonstrate approach to reactive conditions. This review article will be incorporated finally as one of the chapters in CMAS (CytoJournal Monograph/Atlas Series) #2. It is modified slightly from the chapter by the initial authors in the first edition of Cytopathologic Diagnosis of Serous Fluids.

Keywords: Chylous effusion; Empyema; Eosinophilia; Exudate; Immunohistochemistry; LE cell phenomenon; Pseudochylous effusion; Serous fluid; Transudate; Tuberculosis; cell-block.

Publication types

Review