Neurol. praxi. 2009;10(5):294-296

The significance of cerebrospinal fluid cytology for diagnosing tumors of the nervous system

doc. MUDr. Pavel Štourač, Ph.D¹, MUDr. Jana Bednářová, Ph.D², MUDr. Zdeňka Čermáková²

¹ Neurologická klinika LF MU a FN u sv. Anny, Brno

² Biochemické oddělení Fakultní nemocnice Brno

Qualitative cerebrospinal fluid cytology is an essential examination in all patients who have suspected or confirmed tumorous disease

and in samples with pleocytosis and hyperproteinorachia to rule out or confirm the presence of cancer cells. Tumor infiltration proved

by cerebrospinal fluid cytology remains important even in the era of imaging techniques and may significantly contribute to early

diagnosis and treatment of tumor infiltration in both primary and metastatic tumors of the nervous system. Despite the well-known

incidence rates of the individual tumor types, we detected rare tumors in our cohort that cause leptomeningeal infiltration: urinary tract

carcinoma, choriod plexus papiloma, and retinoblastoma.

Keywords: quantitative and qualitative cerebrospinal fluid cytology, primary and secondary NS tumors, total protein in CSF.

Published: December 1, 2009  Show citation