Cytology
Also known as: cell pathology
The microscopic study of individual cells to look for cancer or other abnormalities.
Definition
Cytology is the branch of pathology that examines individual cells, rather than whole tissue architecture, under the microscope. Samples can be obtained by scraping (such as a cervical Pap smear), brushing, washing a body cavity, or by fine-needle aspiration from a lump.
Cytology is fast, minimally invasive and very useful for screening (cervical cancer screening), for first-line evaluation of accessible lumps, and for examining fluid drained from the lung or abdomen. However, because it does not show tissue architecture, a positive cytology result is often followed by a formal tissue biopsy for definitive diagnosis and biomarker testing.
See also
- Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) — A quick test that uses a thin needle to draw cells from a lump for microscopic examination.
- Biopsy — A small sample of tissue taken from the body and examined under a microscope.
- Histology — The microscopic study of tissue to identify cancer type and features.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) — A laboratory test that uses antibodies to detect specific proteins in tumour tissue.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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