Page 9 - Microsoft Word - Cytology.docx

 Monitor treatment: By evaluating the e ectiveness of therapies.
 Research: Understanding cellular changes in various diseases.

Example: Cytology can detect cancerous cells in sputum samples, which helps in diagnosing lung
cancer.

4. Advantages and Disadvantages of Cytology

Advantages:

 Minimally invasive: Most cytological procedures are less invasive than surgical biopsies.
 Quick results: Cytological samples can be processed and examined quickly.
 Cost-e ective: It is generally less expensive compared to other diagnostic methods.
 Screening tool: E ective for large-scale population screening (e.g., Pap smears for cervical

cancer).

Disadvantages:

 Limited scope: Cytology may not always provide enough information to make a definitive
diagnosis.

 False negatives/positives: There is a risk of incorrect results due to sampling or interpretative
errors.

 Requires expertise: Accurate interpretation requires significant skill and experience.

Example: While a Pap smear is excellent for detecting cervical abnormalities, it may miss certain
types of cancerous cells, leading to a false negative result.

5. Type of Specimen

Cytological specimens can be derived from various sources:

 Body fluids: Such as urine, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, and peritoneal fluid.
 Scrapings: Cells scraped from surfaces like the cervix or skin.
 Fine Needle Aspirates (FNA): Cells aspirated from lumps or masses.
 Brushings/Washings: Cells collected from internal linings, such as the bronchi or

gastrointestinal tract.

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