The Touch Imprint Cytology: A simple method for the diagnosis of mycetoma causative agents

Abstract

Accurate diagnosis of mycetoma is mandatory for the proper treatment. The current diagnostic tools to confirm mycetoma are invasive, expensive, time consuming and not field friendly. With this background, the current study was set-out to determine the efficacy of touch imprint cytology as simple and non-invasive method for the identification of mycetoma causative agents. The study included 50 patients with mycetoma seen at the Mycetoma Research Centre, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. Material for cytological smears was collected from the active open discharging sinuses seen in these patients. From each Patient three smears were prepared and stained by Diff Quick, Hematoxylin and Eosin. The results obtained were compared to the histopathological findings of the surgical biopsy. The findings observed in the imprint cytological smears were comparable to that seen in the histopathological slides. It can identify the different types of mycetoma causative organisms based on grains morphological features. The sensitivity of the technique was84% and its specificity was 100%. This technique proved to be simple, non-invasive, rapid and sensitive. It can be used in the routine diagnosis of mycetoma and for field diagnosis.