SPUTUM CYTOLOGY OF PATIENTS ATTACKING A RESPIRATORY CLINIC NOFIC ABAKALIKI

Lung cancer is the most common cancer among men in terms of both incidence and mortality, and the third highest incidence among women and second after breast cancer in mortality. Sputum cytology serves as a promising predictive index for detecting lung cancer due to its non-invasive nature and potential for early diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of sputum cytology in identifying malignant cells indicative of lung cancer. A total of 21 chest clinic patients (14 males and 7 females) at National Obstetrics Fistula Centre Abakaliki were used in the study. Physical observation of the sputum before staining include: mucoid, slightly watery, dark substances and choking smell Papanicolaou staining technique was used to stain the sputum. Age ranged between 24 - 56 years. Sputum cytology was positive in 9 patients (43%) patients out of 21 patients indicating cellular inflammation. In contrast, 57% of the patients showed normal cellular results, with 24% being Acellular and 33% showing normal cells. Also observed that lymphocyte, plasma cells, foamy cytoplasm, intermediate to mature squamous cells was seen. In conclusion, sputum cytology has demonstrated potential as a non-invasive method for early detection of lung cancer by identifying abnormal cells shed from respiratory tract. It serves as complementary tool to imaging techniques and other diagnostic methods, offering a less invasive option for screening high-risk individuals, such as smokers or those with occupational exposures. Exploring the integration of sputum cytology with advanced imaging techniques (such as CT scans or PET scans) to develop a multimodal approach for early detection and staging of lung cancer.