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American Journal of Pathology, Vol 141, 211-215, Copyright © 1992 by American Society for Investigative Pathology

REGULAR ARTICLES

Flow cytometric analysis of pulmonary fluids and cells for the detection of malignancies

JE Fuhr, AA Kattine, TA Sullivan and HS Nelson Jr
Department of Medical Biology, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville 37920.

Cells from a pulmonary or bronchial origin were analyzed with flow cytometry to assess the sensitivity and specificity of this method in diagnosing malignancy. In all instances, cells submitted for flow cytometry analysis were excess cells from specimens submitted for routine cytology. Less than 3% of all samples were rejected for insufficient material. Overall sensitivity from all sources was 86%, specificity 96%. Although cytology results were the standard for determining accuracy of flow cytometry, in a few patients cytology appeared normal and initial evidence for malignancy was obtained from flow cytometry. For this reason, flow cytometry may be a valuable adjunctive technology in the diagnosis of malignancy.