A 15-Year Retrospective Survey of the Cytopathologic Spectrum of Cerebrospinal Fluid Aspirate in a Teaching Hospital in Uyo, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The cytopathologic evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) aspirates is a vital diagnostic tool for neurological disorders. This research aimed to characterize the diverse range of cytopathological diagnoses encountered in the CSF specimens within 15 years in a teaching hospital while highlighting their clinical significance.

Materials and Methods: A thorough review of cytopathology records from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2020, was conducted. CSF samples were collected through lumbar punctures and subsequently subjected to cytopathological examination. The data were collected from the Department of Histopathology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital archives. The inclusion criteria encompassed all cases with available CSF cytopathology results during the study period. Cases with inadequate or missing data were excluded from the analysis. Data regarding patients’ ages, sex, clinical, and cytopathologic diagnoses were extracted and analyzed.

Results: Thirty-four (34) CSF samples were analyzed during the study period. The mean age was 11.45 ± 12.20 years. The most common clinical indication for CSF analysis was suspected Burkitt’s Lymphoma (34.78%), followed by other Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (13.04%). The cytopathologic diagnoses exhibited a diverse spectrum, including Acellular Smear (26.5%), Inflammatory Smear (2.9%), Negative for Malignant Cells (52.9%), Positive for Malignant Cells (14.7%), and Suspicious for Malignant Cells (2.9%). This study also observed a significant association between age groups (particularly 0-10 years) and cytopathological diagnoses, with a p-value of 0.023.

Conclusion: A retrospective survey of CSF cytopathology in a Nigerian teaching hospital reveals diverse cytopathological diagnoses, providing insights for neuropathology clinicians and researchers.