Cytopathology

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Cytopathology (from Greek κύτος, kytos, "a hollow"[1]; πάθος, pathos, "fate, harm"; and -λογία, -logia) is a branch of pathology that studies and diagnoses diseases on the cellular level. The discipline was founded by Rudolf Virchow in 1858. A common application of cytopathology is the Pap smear, used as a screening tool, to detect precancerous cervical lesions and prevent cervical cancer.

Cytopathology is frequently, less precisely, called cytology, which means "the study of cells."[2]

Contents

[edit] Cell collection

Two methods of collecting cells for analysis are:

  1. Exfoliative Cytology – Cells are extracted from fluid shed into the body cavities. For example, in pleural fluid, ascitic fluid, or in the case of the Pap smear, cells scraped from the cervix.
  2. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology or Needle aspiration biopsy – A needle attached to a syringe is used to aspirate (pull out) cells from lesions or masses in various organs of the body by either free drainage or application of negative pressure (suction). FNAC can be done directly on a mass in superficial regions like the neck, thyroid or breast; or it may be assisted by ultrasound or CAT scan. The technique is widely used in many countries. Being a skill dependent procedure, the success rate may vary. If performed by a pathologist alone, or as team with pathologist-cytotechnologist, the success rate of proper diagnosis is superior than when performed by a non-pathologist[3].

[edit] Equipment

Fine needles are 23 to 27 gauge. Needle diameters and color codes for 23G, 25G and 27G are as follows, respectively: 0,6 mm/Blue-dark, 0,5 mm/Orange, and 0,4 mm/Grey. If a cell-block preparation is indicated, after obtaining diagnostic cytology smears, a wider gauge needle, up to 18 gauge, may be used.

[edit] Parameters

Various topics are studied by cellular pathologists:

For instance, various normal functions of cell growth, metabolism, and division can fail or work in abnormal ways and lead to various diseases such as cancers.

[edit] Limitations

Cytopathologic investigation is intended as an adjunct to diagnosis in combination with other modalities such as medical imaging and blood tests. Whilst cytology may provide a diagnosis in many instances, its chief purpose is to guide the clinician in deciding whether further investigation is warranted, particularly, surgery to obtain a larger biopsy specimen for histopathology[4]. This is especially true in the diagnosis of cancer.

[edit] Body regions

Cytopathologic techniques are used in the examination of virtually all body organs and tissues:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kirkpatrick et al. (1989). The Cassell Concise English Dictionary. London. pp. 324. ISBN 0-304-31806-X. 
  2. ^ cytology at eMedicine Dictionary
  3. ^ Orell, S., et al. 2005. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. 4th Edition
  4. ^ Orell, S., et al. 2005. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. 4th Edition

[edit] External links


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Medicine: Pathology
Principles of pathology
Anatomical pathology
Clinical pathology
Specific conditions


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