what is cytology?

Answer 1

cytology is the study of cells

Answer 2

The study of cell and its organelles is called cytology.

Answer 3

cytology apart of natiorall science ho care astudy ahall part of Cells for all Organisms liveng

Answer 4

cyto = cell
logy = study
so study of cell known as cytology.
generally morphological study of cell comes under the branch of cell science.

Answer 5

It's the study of cells, or in today's terminology, it's cell biology.

Answer 6

study of cells

Answer 7

Cytology may refer to:

Cell biology, the study of cell anatomy and function
Cytopathology, the cellular diagnostics of disease .
Cytology

Definition

Cytology is the examination of individual cells and small clusters of cells, and may be used for the diagnosis and screening of diseases, including cancers. Cytology can also be referred to as cytopathology.

Purpose

Diagnostic tests are used to detect a disease in individuals who have signs, symptoms, or some other abnormality that is indicative of disease. A screening test identifies those who might have a certain disease, sometimes before they develop any symptoms, but does not absolutely prove that disease is present. If a screening test is positive, a diagnostic test can be used as follow-up to verify the diagnosis.

Precautions

Procedures to gather cells for cytology are often less invasive than other forms of biopsy, and therefore maycause less discomfort, be less likely to result in serious complications, and cost less to perform. In some situations, however, where a piece of tissue is removed rather than individual cells, a different type of biopsy may be required to confirm the cytologic diagnosis.

Description

Samples for cytology can be obtained in more than one way. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a type of biopsy in which tumor samples are taken through thin needles.

Scrape or brush cytology is another technique in which cells are scraped or brushed from the organ or tissue being tested. Samples from the esophagus, stomach, bronchi (breathing tubes that lead to the lungs), and mouth can be obtained using this procedure.

How a cytology sample is processed depends on what type of sample it is. A doctor can smear a sample directly on a glass microscope slide. The slide is then stained and viewed by a cytopathologist. In other cases, the fluid is concentrated before being smeared and stained on a slide. This is especially useful for dilute samples such those from body cavities.

Most routine cytology results are available one or two days after the sample is received in the laboratory. There are many reasons why some results take longer to return, such as if special stains are required to confirm a diagnosis.

Preparation, Aftercare, and Risks

Because this analysis is performed on cells that had been already gathered during initial diagnostic procedures, there is no additional preparation, aftercare, or risks for the patient. The only procedure, aftercare, or risks to note would be those associated with the sample collection itself.

Normal results

A cytopathologist examines and identifies the normal and abnormal cells on the slide using a microscope.

Abnormal results

A pathologist reviews the cells identified as abnormal to decide on a diagnosis.

See Also Biopsy; Pap test

Resources

PERIODICALS

Dahlstrom, Jane E., Gillian M. Langdale-Smith, and Daniel T.James. "Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pulmonary Lesions: A Reliable Diagnostic Test" Pathology 33 (2001): 13-16.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Cancer Society. 1599 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA30329. [phone]. http://www.cancer.org.

American Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). 2100 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60612. [phone]. http://www.ascp.org..

American Society for Cytopathology (ASC). 400 West 9th Street, Suite 201, Wilmington, DE 19801. [phone]. http://www.cytopathology.org..

College of American Pathologists (CAP). 325 Waukegan Road, Northfield, IL 60093. [phone]. http://www.cap.org.

International Academy of Cytology (IAC). 1640 East 50th Street, Ste. 20C, Chicago, IL 60615-3161. [phone]. http://www.cytology-iac.org.

A-Z Health Guide from WebMD: Medical Tests





Test Overview
Why It Is Done
How To Prepare
How It Is Done
How It Feels
Risks
Results
What Affects the Test
What To Think About
Credits



Sputum Cytology

Test Overview

Sputum cytology examines a sample of sputum (mucus) under a microscope to determine whether abnormal cells are present. Sputum is not the same as saliva. Sputum is produced in the lungs and in the airways leading to the lungs. Sputum has some normal lung cells in it. See an illustration of the lungs' airways.

Sputum cytology may be done to help detect certain noncancerous lung conditions. It may also be done when lung cancer is suspected.

A sputum sample may be collected:

By a person coughing up mucus.
By breathing in a saltwater (saline) mist and then coughing.
During bronchoscopy, which uses a bronchoscope to look at the throat and airway.
Why It Is Done

Sputum cytology is done to detect:

Lung cancer. However, this is not used as a screening test for people at risk for developing lung cancer, such as smokers.
Noncancerous lung conditions, such as pneumonia or inflammatory diseases, tuberculosis, or the buildup of asbestos fibers in the lungs (asbestosis).
How To Prepare

Home or office sample
No special preparation is required if the sputum sample is to be collected at home or in your doctor's office.

Bronchoscopy sample
Before you have a bronchoscopy to collect a sputum sample, tell your doctor if you:

Are taking any medications.
Have allergies to any medications, including anesthetics.
Have any bleeding problems or take blood-thinners, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin).
Are or might be pregnant.
For a bronchoscopy, you will also be asked to sign a consent form. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for this procedure, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will indicate.

Do not eat or drink for at least 8 to 10 hours before the procedure.

Arrange to have someone drive you home after the procedure

How It Is Done

Home or office sample
Three sputum samples are usually collected over 3 days. Your doctor will give you a container to collect the sputum. This container may have a small amount of liquid (called fixative) in it. The fixative helps preserve the sample. Do not drink this liquid.

For best results, collect the sample in the morning right after waking up. Follow these steps:

If you wear dentures, remove them before collecting the sample.
Rinse your mouth with water.
Take about four deep breaths followed by a few short coughs, then inhale deeply and cough forcefully into the container. Sputum is not the same as saliva, so make sure to get a sample of mucus from deep in your airway.
Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about where to deliver the sample. You may be instructed to take the sample to the doctor's office or to a laboratory. Deliver the sample soon after you obtain it. You may be instructed to refrigerate the sample if you are unable to deliver it immediately.

Bronchoscopy sample
See the medical test Bronchoscopy for detailed information on how this examination is done.

How It Feels

If you have discomfort when taking a deep breath or coughing, getting a sputum sample may be uncomfortable.

For information on how a bronchoscopy examination feels, see the medical test Bronchoscopy.

Risks

Home or office sample
There is no risk associated with collecting a sputum sample at home or at your doctor's office.

Bronchoscopy sample
Bronchoscopy is generally a safe procedure. Although complications are rare, you should discuss the risks in your particular case with your doctor. Complications that may occur include:

Spasms of the bronchial tubes. These can impair breathing.
Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Infection, such as pneumonia. These usually can be treated with antibiotics.
Results

Sputum cytology examines a sample of sputum (mucus) under a microscope to determine whether abnormal cells are present. It may take several days to receive results from a sputum cytology.

Sputum cytology Normal:
Normal lung cells are present in the sputum sample.

Abnormal:
Abnormal cells are present in the sputum sample.


Abnormal cells may indicate lung conditions such as pneumonia, inflammation, the buildup of asbestos fibers in the lungs (asbestosis), or lung cancer.

What Affects the Test

Factors that can interfere with your test or the accuracy of the results include a sample that is too small, dried out, contains only saliva, or is from nasal secretions, not your airway.

What To Think About

There is a chance of false-negative test results with sputum cytology. This means that the test indicates a lung condition is not present when it actually is present. Follow-up testing may need to be done if your symptoms continue.
Sputum is not the same as saliva. It is important to obtain a sputum sample from deep in your airway. Collecting the sample in the morning, when you first wake up, is generally best.
If you have difficulty obtaining a good sample, try taking a hot shower first to help loosen the mucus in your airway.
A sputum culture is a test to detect and identify bacteria or fungi that are infecting the lungs or breathing passages. It is also done to identify the best antibiotic to treat a lung infection. For more information, see the medical test Sputum Culture.
Bronchoscopy or a needle lung biopsy are more commonly used than sputum cytology because the results provide more information about airway problems. For more information, see the medical tests Bronchoscopy and Lung Biopsy.
An area of biology that deals with the study of the structure, function, multiplication, life history, problems, diseases, and chemistry of the cell. A cell is the smallest, most basic unit of life, that is capable of existing by itself. Cytology is also known as cellular biology and cytobiology. Cytology comes from the Greek word "kytos" meaning "a hollow (empty) cell," and the Greek word "logos" meaning "study." Put the two words together and you have "study (of) hollow cell(s)."