Cytology

Author: Mikael Häggström, M.D.

Overall evaluation

In addition to a general evaluation, also evaluate the following in cytology samples, or any sample with scattered cells rather than coherent tissue:

• Consider looking for any additional concurrent samples from the same patient, especially excisions, as usually correlate.
• Adequacy of specimen. Cells may be too few or too obscured by other material to make a proper diagnosis.
• Background, mainly if it is clear or dirty
• Overall cellularity

Artifacts

• Smearing of cells across a glass plate may cause smearing artifacts, such as the nuclear smearing of this monocyte, shown as tail-like extension of nuclear material.
  Smearing of cells across a glass plate may cause smearing artifacts, such as the nuclear smearing of this monocyte, shown as tail-like extension of nuclear material.
• Cervical squamous cells with cornflake artifact, when some mounting medium evaporates before coverslipping.[1] The glass slide can be partially re-processed to remove the artifact.[2]
  Cervical squamous cells with cornflake artifact, when some mounting medium evaporates before coverslipping. The glass slide can be partially re-processed to remove the artifact.

Locations

• Cervical cytology
• Thyroid cytology
• Peritoneal fluid
• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Urine cytology

Main page

• Main page of Patholines