OBJECTIVE

Determination of the size of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells using the materials of «small samples» and comparative analysis of morphometric parameters in morphological studies of histological and cytological material, including methods of liquid cytology and cytoblock.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A morphometric study was carried out with an assessment of the size of SCLC cells according to the materials of “small samples” of 131 patients of the Pulmonary Surgery Center and a comparative analysis of morphometric data was performed with histological and various methods of cytological examination of samples (touch smears, liquid cytology and cytoblock).

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences in the size of tumor cells in the compared versions of material of «small samples» were determined. In this case, the minimum size of tumor cells was detected in liquid micropreparations (22.26 microns), and the maximum — in cytological touch smears (124.37 microns). The size of tumor cells in the material of cytoblock (36.34 μm) is comparable to the size of cells in histological samples (31.48 μm).

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, the cell size variability of SCLC cells in various versions of «small samples» indicates a high plasticity of the tumor cells and depends on the method of obtaining the material, the peculiarities of its fixation and the morphological study technique. The revealed significant differences in the size of SCLC cells in the material of «small samples» should be taken into account when conducting morphological diagnostics with the aim of objectification and improvement.