Cerebrospinal fluid cytology: A theragnostic and prognostic tool- Experience from a tertiary cancer care centre in central India

Abstract

: CSF examination is the gold standard for diagnosing leptomeningeal metastases. Malignant cells may access the subarachnoid space by hematogenous dissemination, spreading directly from parenchymal brain lesions, or spreading along the spinal cord or cranial nerves. Cytological detection of malignant cells in CSF is still a crucial decision point for systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy, and it has prognostic significance even with improvements in biochemical analysis and CNS imaging.  Over the course of two years, a total of 397 patients—regardless of gender and age—were investigated. There were sixty-four cases with involvement of the central nervous system documented, comprising 42 hematologic malignancies and 22 solid tumors. Cell centrifugation (Cytospin) method were used to prepare smears and cell blocks where prepared, as feasible and indicated. : A cytological analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid showed that metastatic tumors were much more prevalent than primary central nervous system tumours. Lung tumors were the most frequent primary site in our analysis, with breast, gastrointestinal, and female genital tract malignancies following closely behind. CNS involvement has been reported in patients with Lymphoma (DLBCL) and Leukemia (most commonly ALL, but also AML and JMML) among hematological malignancies. Two cases of Retinoblastoma and one each of Medulloblastoma and an Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor were observed in the pediatric age group.: Cerebrospinal fluid cytology is a simple and useful method, used as a primary diagnostic method in the evaluation of leptomeningeal metastases. This helps in the early detection of secondary CNS lesions and allows for timely intervention, prognosis, and prediction of overall survival.