cytology

Question 1

what is an effusion

Answer 1

accumulation of fluid in a body cavity

Question 2

define transudate

Answer 2

effusion caused by imbalances of hydrostatic/oncotic pressure

Question 3

define exudate

Answer 3

effusion caused by increased vascular permeability due to inflammation

Question 4

what are causes of haemorrhagic effusions

Answer 4

iatrogenic blood contamination
splenic tap
true cavity haemorrhage

Question 5

how do you know if blood contamination is iatrogenic

Answer 5

initially clear then bloody
should clot
can see platelets
no erythrophagocytosis

Question 6

how do you regcognise a true body cavity haemorrhage

Answer 6

doesent clot
supernatant often haemolysed
erythrophagocytosis
no platelets

Question 7

how does a chylous effusion look like and what does it consist of

Answer 7

milky white/pink

composed of chylomicrons, high protein (>25g/l) and high triglyceride (>1,13mmol/l)

Question 8

chylous effusions are formed due to lymphatic drainage impairment or leakage. what are possible causes of this

Answer 8

heart disease, trauma, neoplasia, idiopathic

Question 9

how do you differentiate pseudochyle from normal chyle

Answer 9

has normal triglyceride levels

Question 10

what is responsible for the colour of pseudochyle and in what patients is it seen

Answer 10

colour due to cell debris, protein and cholestrol.

seen in cats with cardiac failiures

Question 11

describe a low protein transudate

Answer 11

clear and colourless with low protein (>25g/l) and low cell count (1.5x10^9/L)

the cells present are mainly monocytes and macrophages

Question 12

what causes a low protein transudate

Answer 12

decreased in oncotic pressure due to low serum protein.

cause leakage of fluid

Question 13

what are causes of low protein transudates

Answer 13

hypoalbuminaemia, protein loosing entropathy, protein loosing nephropathy, reduced protein production due to liver disease

Question 14

describe high protein transudate

Answer 14

colourless to amber
high protein (>25g/l)
moderate to high cell count

Question 15

what causes high protein transudate

Answer 15

increased hydrostatic pressure

congestive heart failiure, thrombi or neoplasia obstructing large veins (vena cava)

Question 16

what are features of high protein transudate on cytology

Answer 16

mixed population of cells

more neutrophils than transudate

Question 17

describe exudates

Answer 17

yellow-brown colour and turbid
high nucleated cell count
high protein
cells present are mostly neutrophils

Question 18

what causes exudates and what are the two forms

Answer 18

increased vessel permeability

septic and non septic forms

Question 19

how to differentiate between septic and non septic exudate

Answer 19

septic contains degenerate neutrophils and sometime intracellular organsims are visible

Question 20

what are possible causes of septic exudates

Answer 20

penetrating wound
foreign body
GI perforation or ischaemia
haematogenous route

Question 21

what are possible causes of non septic exudates

Answer 21

ruptured gall bladder
ruptured urinary bladder
Necrotic tumor
pancreatitis
FIP

Question 22

describe the exudate of a cat with wet FIP

Answer 22

sticky yellow and frothy
high protein
low albumin:globulin ratio
few macrophages

Question 23

what colour is bile peritonitis

Answer 23

GREEN!

definitive test is exudate bilirubin concentration higher than plasma bilirubin

Question 24

what is the definitive indicator of bladder rupture

Answer 24

exudate [creatinine] higher than plasma [creatinine]

use this as [urea] equalises between fluid and plasma

Question 25

what is to be wary when analysing mesothelial cells

Answer 25

all effusios contain mesothelial cells. Dont mistake them for neoplastic cells

Question 26

How does regular and inflammed joint fluid look like

Answer 26

normal=clear/pale yellow
inflammation=pale/turbid
uniformly bloody=haemarthrosis