Table 2:

Differences in cytomorphological features on conventional CSs and LBC preparations.

S. No.	Cytological diagnosis	Cytological features on CSs	Cytological features on LBC
1.	Reactive lymphadenitis	Florid mixed maturing population of lymphoid cells against a hemorrhagic background	Clear background showing only maturing lymphoid cells with no blood in the background
2.	Necrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis	Epithelioid cell granulomas and Langhans giant cells against large areas of necrosis in the background	Clearer background, occasional scattered epithelioid cell granulomas and giant cells. No necrosis in the background
3.	Neoplasms	Cytomorphological features and arrangements are easily appreciated on CSs. However, obscuration by blood or tumor diathesis may result in difficult interpretation	Nuclear details are better appreciated on LBC due to a cleaner background and monolayered sheets. In addition, it is easier to perform ancillary techniques like immunocytochemistry on LBC slides

LBC: Liquid-based cytology, CS: Conventional smear