Detection of Metastatic Lung Cancer by Immunocytochemistry and Flow Cytometry in a Sample of Pleural Fluid
Manoela Lira Reis
Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Rafaela Pilon
Department of Clinical Analysis, Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago University Hospital - Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Aline Costa
Department of Clinical Pathology, Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago University Hospital - Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Teresa Maria da Silva Figueiredo
Department of Clinical Pathology, Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago University Hospital - Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Alisson Bigolin
Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Ana Carolina Rabello de Moraes
Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil and Department of Clinical Analysis, Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago University Hospital - Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Renata Cristina Messores Rudolf de Oliveira
Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Maria Cláudia Santos da Silva *
Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil and Department of Clinical Analysis, Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago University Hospital - Federal University of Santa Catarina Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Malignant pleural effusions (MPE) are common complications in cancer patients and indicate the spread of the primary disease (metastasis). For over a century, malignant effusion has been diagnosed through the observation of changes in the cavity effusion cells, such as the gold-standard cytomorphological analysis. Studies show that the multiparameter flow cytometric analysis is sensitive and rapid and allows for the immunophenotypic evaluation of a large number of cells. This report describes the case of a 64-year-old man diagnosed with lung cancer who had never had any kind of treatment for this disease. The pleural sample was analyzed by morphological (quantitative and differential cytology) and immunocytochemical analyses. As a new tool for diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion, the sample was also analyzed by flow cytometry. In the case report described, flow cytometry was an effective and quick method for detecting neoplastic cells in pleural fluids.
Keywords: Malignant pleural effusions, new tool for diagnosis, flow cytometry.