Cytodiagnosis of Campylobacter pylori in Papanicolaou-stained imprints of gastric biopsy specimens

The use of Papanicolaou-stained touch preparations of gastric antral biopsies for the identification of Campylobacter pylori was examined using specimens obtained from 63 consecutive patients with endoscopic evidence of antral gastritis, with the results compared to routine histologic examination and Warthin-Starry silver staining. Organisms were readily identifiable in the Papanicolaou-stained imprints of the gastric mucus. The sensitivity in detecting organisms was 92.5% for the Warthin-Starry-stained sections, 71.4% for the Papanicolaou-stained imprints and 100% for both techniques combined. False-negative imprints were attributed to poor smears and/or the submission of duodenal tissue rather than antral biopsies. Properly performed touch preparations stained by the Papanicolaou method are a cost-effective adjunct to Warthin-Starry-stained section for improving the sensitivity of gastric biopsies for the diagnosis of C pylori.