Cytopathology and Histopathology

Cytopathology & Disease diagnosis

Cytology is a key component in diagnosis and screening of diseases such as cancer. It assesses single cells and clusters of cells from sources such as malignant effusions and peripheral blood. Effusions are fluids that leak from blood and lymph vessels and aggregate in tissues and cavities within the body. This is a common problem in cancer patients and can be a reservoir of malignant cells. However, the total number of cells in effusions is small in comparison to the volumes of fluids that are produced. Therefore, in order to collect these cells for evaluation, they must be concentrated.

Gynecologic cytology, also gynecologic cytopathology, is a field of pathology concerned with the investigation of disorders of the female genital tract. The most common investigation in this field is the Pap test, which is used to screen for potentially precancerous lesions of the cervix. Cytology can also be used to investigate disorders of the ovaries, uterus, vagina and vulva.