A study on the effectiveness of Tzanck smear to diagnose the vesiculobullous lesions in comparison with histopathology

Background: Tzanck smear named after Arnault Tzanck (1886-1954), to evaluate Cytopathology as a quick less invasive method for early diagnosis of bullous lesions. Aim: To determine the diagnostic value of Tzanck smear in vesiculobullous skin lesions, to evaluate the vesiculobullous lesions and correlating the diagnosis with Tzanck smears and histopathological findings and when required with Immmunoflourescence. Materials and methods: 565 patients clinically diagnosed as vesico-bullous skin lesions were included in the present study from July 2011 to July 2018 for a period of 7 years. Tzanck smear preparation and biopsy as well as immunoflouresence tests were done in all 565 patients. Results: Out of the 565 patients with vesiculo bullous lesions, 297 were males, and 268 were females. The concordant results between cytology and histopathology was observed in majority (92.7%) direct immunoflouresence test was done in some which also confirmed the diagnosis. Conclusion: The Tzanck smear test is an inexpensive, useful, and an easy diagnostic tool for vesiculo-bullous lesions of skin diseases and can be recommended as a bedside first line investigation.