Analysis of urine sediment for cytology and antigen expression in acute renal allograft rejection: an alternative to renal biopsy

Correlation between the cytology of urine sediment in fresh sample and smears stained by Papanicolaou and Giemsa methods

Background:

Urine excreted by the body has a variable composition in different physiological and pathological conditions. The cells that come from the renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and urethra are carried by the urine, and therefore, they can be observed in fresh samples and in smears with Giemsa and Papanicolaou stain.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to show that high correlation that exists between the cytological examination of fresh urine samples and smears stained with Papanicolaou and Giemsa methods.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 45 cases with no tumor of the urinary tract and 36 patients with lower urinary tract neoplasms were included in the study (20: Low-grade urothelial tumors; 16: High-grade urothelial tumors, squamous carcinomas, and adenocarcinomas). The sediments in the urine samples were observed in fresh specimen and in smears stained with Papanicolaou method.

Results:

The meticulous observation of fresh urinary sediments allowed identification of diverse cellular types associated with varied pathologies.

Conclusions:

The cytological examination of urinary samples in fresh smears, and its later diagnostic confirmation with the Papanicolaou stain is important not only as a diagnostic procedure of tumoral or non-tumoral pathologies, but also as a method for the ‘screening’ of pre-cancerous lesions or carcinoma in situ, especially in high-risk populations.