Prostate Cancer Screening
Newborn Screening
The Thromboelastogram
Community-acquired MRSA
Diagnostic Utility of Skin Biopsy
Diagnosis of Sepsis
Osteoporosis in Men
Oral Anticoagulant Therapy
Patient with Allergy
Cytology
Role of Vancomycin
Estimated average glucose
Fungitell Option 2
Evolving role of Troponins
Aspirin Resistance
Tumor Markers
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Swine Influenza
Syphillis
Hereditary Haemochromatosis
Haematological Changes in HIV
Influence of HIV
Drug induced liver injury
Alcohol Abuse
HPV testing in woman
Intravenous immunoglobulins
Death certification
Breat Cancer Month
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange
Bedroom Zoonoses

Cytology

---

Dr Amanda de Beer - MBChB MMED (O & G) MMED (Anat Path) Histopathology

PATHCHAT NO 10: CYTOLOGY

Introduction

The Papanicolau smear was first introduced for use in cervical screening in the 1940's. Since the routine use of PAP smears more than 50 years ago, the number of deaths from cervical cancer has dropped dramatically. Yet cervical cancer remains a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.

The use of conventional cervical smears has been limited by its high rate of false negative results. The sensitivity of a single conventional smear has been determined in the literature to be 50-60%, with a specificity of > 95%.

How does it work?

The cervix is sampled using a cervical broom-like device. The method involves the transfer of cells directly from the broom into a sample collection vial that has a buffered preservative solution containing methanol as a fixative. Almost all the cells sampled are captured into the preservative solution, by pushing the brush into the bottom of the vial, and swirling the brush vigorously to release material. The vial is capped tightly, marked with the patient's details and sent to the laboratory.

In the laboratory: The vial is placed into a processor (e.g. Thin Prep) machine. The following steps then take place in this machine: 1) The cells suspended in the fixative are gently dispersed and this stage breaks up and separates blood and mucus. 2) The cells are collected on a filter by gentle vacuum – an optimal number of cells are collected as a result. 3) These cells are then transferred to a glass slide in a 20mm diameter circle as a thin layer of cells.

The result is an even distribution of wet, well fixed cells within a defined area. The slides are then stained and screened in the conventional manner.

 

 Read the full article here.