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An improved method for examination of cerebrospinal fluid cells

Department of Neurology and Pathology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the Veterans Administration Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee.

A new collection technique allows cytologic examination up to 2 weeks after lumbar puncture without loss of cells or morphologic detail. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was allowed to flow directly from a lumbar puncture needle into a solution of Carbowax® in ethanol and was then processed with a cytocentrifuge. Two groups of patients were studied — those undergoing spinal anesthesia and those having myelography for low back pain. Lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear neutrophils, and ependymal cells were regularly found in the CSF; a definite difference was found in the quantity and cell types in the two patient populations. The proposed method may be sensitive enough to aid in the identification of other neurologic diseases with low cell counts.

Received for publication February 21, 1975.

Dr. Olson's address is Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, TN 37232.