Histopathology and cytopathology

Question 1

What are the situations in which cytopathology might be used as a diagnostic method?

Answer 1

Lung cancers

Question 2

What are the main steps involved in processing a specimen?

Answer 2

Label
Fix in formalin
Embed in paraffin wax
cut sections
Rehydrated and stained with eosin and haematoxylin

Question 3

What are the types of specimen that may be tested in histopathology ?

Answer 3

Biopsies 2-3 days
Resection specimens 5-7 days
Frozen sections
Post-mortems

Question 4

In what situations would frozen sections be required?

Answer 4

During surgery of removal of cancer to make sure all of it has been removed

Question 5

What are the advantages of frozen section diagnosis?

Answer 5

Real time

takes 30 minutes

Question 6

What are the benefits of an autopsy?

Answer 6

Performed to find the cause of death
why treatment was unsuccessful
spread of disease
education on disease processes

Question 7

What are the benefits of cytology screening?

Answer 7

Cervical and breast cancer screening

Question 8

What are the types of specimen that may be tested in cytopathology?

Answer 8

Smears

Fine needle aspirates (less invasive than biopsies)

Question 9

What is immunohistochemistry?

Answer 9

identify specific antigens using antibodies

Question 10

What does the eosin stain do?

Answer 10

Stain cytoplasm pink

Question 11

What does the haemotoxylin stain do?

Answer 11

Stain nuclei blue

Question 12

How are cervical smears prepared?

Answer 12

fixed with alcohol and stained by Papanicolauo and permanently preserved