Table 3.
The Cytomorphology Discrepancy Seen in Cytology Smears for the Common Glial Tumours are Summarized as Follows
| Author | Cytomorphology | Tumour grade |
|---|---|---|
| (Savargaonkar and Farmer, 2001; Liu et al., 2002; Pawar et al., 2009, Nanarng et al., 2015) | Moderate cellularity smear with mild nuclear pleomorphism and minimal anisocytosis in the fibrillary background. The chromatin is fine to coarse granular. The cytoplasm is scanty and show variable processes. No mitosis, necrosis or endothelial proliferation is observed. | Low grade astrocytoma |
| (Sharma and Deb, 2011; Shrestha et al., 2014) | Biphasic pattern composed of marked elongated bipolar cells displaying bland spindle nuclei with microcystic area. Many Rosenthal fibers and eosinophillic granular bodies are appreciated. | Pilocytic astrocytoma |
| (Sharma and Deb, 2011) | Hyperchromatic nuclei with irregular nuclear outline, coarse chromatin. Presence or absent of gemistocytic phenotype embedded in the meshwork of glial fibres. | Diffuse astrocytoma |
| (Kini et al., 2008; Nanarng et al., 2015) | Increase cellularity with closely packed cell and distinct papillary pattern. The nuclei are hyperchromatic and pleomorphic with coarse chromatin and prominent nucleoli. There are increase in mitotic figures and vascular proliferation. | Anaplastic astrocytoma |
| (Kini et al., 2008; Nanarng et al., 2015) | High cellularity smear with discohesive cells. There is marked nuclear pleomorphism, atypia and multinucleation. Significant mitotic figures and necrosis are observed along with marked endothelial proliferation and glomeruloid bodies. | Glioblastoma |
| (Pawar et al., 2009; Sharma and Deb, 2011; Shrestha et al., 2014; Nanarng et al., 2015) | Moderate to high cellularity smears composed of discohesive uniform, relatively small round cells, well-defined cell margins with mildly pleomorphic dark nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli. The cytoplasm is scanty and clear. The fine granular background is lack of fibrillary material. Prominent thin walled vessel and foci of calcification are seen in certain cases. | Oligodendroglioma |
| (Pawar et al., 2009; Sharma and Deb, 2011) | In low grade ependymoma, the tumour composed of monomorphic population of round cells with salt-and pepper-like chromatin and conspicuous micronucleoli with scanty cytoplasm in fibrillary background. The cells are arranged in papillary pattern. Prominent perivascular pseudorosette is the main characteristic in this type of tumour. | Ependymoma |