Cytology Flashcards

1
Q

When Evaluating Cytology Slides principally the Nucleus indicates what? And the Cytoplasm indicates what?

A
  • Nuecleus - Indicates state of growth activity of a cell (euplasia, Proplasia, retroplasia, neoplasia)
  • Cytoplasm - Indicates functional differentiation (lineage of cell)
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2
Q

What type of tumor is this?

A

Round Cell Tumour

Lymphoma

Note the Blue arrow pointing at a normal Lymphocyte

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3
Q

What should you look for within a cytology smear?

A
  1. Cell Populations
    • List and define proportions of cell types (%diff. count) [Inflammatory of Monomorphic?]
  2. Sub-Cellular Morphology
    • Nucleus and cytoplasm
  3. Background
    • Protein, RBC’s, Foreign Organisms, Crystals, etc
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4
Q

What Features or Malignancy do you see here?

A
  • High Nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio
  • Anisokaryosis
  • Nuclear molding (deformation by other nuclei)
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5
Q

When diagnosing Neoplasia from a cytology slide, what is used to :-

  • Differente the type of tumour
  • Diagnose the malignancy?
A
  • Cytoplasmic appearance of cells is used to evaluate the degree of differentiation and the type of tumor
  • Diagnosis of malignancy is based primarily on the nuclear criteria
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6
Q

What is Cytology?

A

The analysis of fresh cells collected from lumps, swellings, fluid and Urine.

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7
Q

When looking at cytology what do you look for to determine if it is inflammatory or not.

A

Presence of Neutrophils

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8
Q

By looking at these cytology pictures what can you tell me about them?

A
  • They are both inflammatory reactions
  • The second is acute inflammation as it consists of mainly neutrophils with maybe a monocyte and possibly an occasional lymphocyte but rarely a plasma cell
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9
Q

When looking at the background of a cytology slide what are we looking for?

A
  • Cholesterol Crystals
  • RBC’s
  • Protein
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10
Q

WHat features or Malignancy do you see here?

A
  • Marked variation in size, shape and number
  • Irregular shapes with sharp angularity
  • Enlarged Nucleoli
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11
Q

Describe how you would prepare a FNA slide?

A

Using the Squash Preparation technique

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12
Q

What 2 factors do we take into consideration when looking at cytology and trying to make a diagnosis?

A
  • Tissue Type
  • Type of Lesion Present
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13
Q

What are the Nuclear criteria of malignancy?

A

Must have at least four of these to be classed malignant

  • Increased Nuclear-Cytoplasmic ratio
  • Variation in nuclear size - anisokaryosis
  • Increased mitotic figures
  • Chromatin pattern - Clumping
  • Multi-Nucleation
  • Abnormal mitosis
  • Nuclear Molding
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14
Q

What do the cells in the lymphnodes look like?

A
  • Normal lymph nodes contain 75-90% small well differeentiated lymphocytes.
  • THey contain a thin rim of cytoplasm and the nucleus is roundish to oval sometimes indented. It has dense clumps of dark chromatin and has no visible nucleoulus
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15
Q

Tissue/organ-specific cell types can be grouped into three basic forms based on their cytological characteristics. What are these 3 groups?

A
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16
Q

Why do we collect cell samples for Cytology?

A
  • Detect and classify inflammation
  • Determine the cause of an inflamatory response
  • Detect the presence of Neoplasia
  • Classify and define the neoplastic process
  • Determine the cause of a body cavity effusion
  • Aid in diagnosis of joint disease
17
Q
  • What is the preferred method for collecting cells from a mass for cytology?
  • Why do we use this method?
  • What are the two different techniques?
  • What size needles do you use?
A
  • Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA)
  • Avoids superficial contamination, represents several areas of the mass
  • Aspiration vs non-aspiration
  • 21-23g needles only
18
Q

What is hyperplasia?

A

Proliferation of normal cells

19
Q

What features of Malignancy do you see here?

A
  • Abnormal mitotic figures
  • Binucleate cells with different sized daughter nuclei
20
Q

How can you tell if the lymphnodes have inflammation within them?

A

Do a FNA and you will see Neutrophils and bacteria

21
Q

What is

  • Karyolysis
  • Pyknosis
  • Karyorrhexis
A
22
Q

Round Cell Tumours have what indicators?

A
  • Known as discrete cells (sit on their own and do not packet tightly)
  • Cells appear as individuals
  • Small to medium size
  • Round Shape
23
Q
  • In cytology a diagnosis of malignancy of only possible when?
  • What is required to make such a dianosis?
A
  • When four or more nuclear criteria for malignancy are observed.
  • Need adequate cell collection, Well preserved Cells, Minimal numbers of inflammatory cells, cannot make a diagnosis based on the appearance of a single cell.
24
Q

What is the arrow pointing to?

A

Fungus

25
Q

What is Anisocytosis?

A

Variation of Cell Size

26
Q

What is Pleomorphism?

A

Variation in cell shape

27
Q

What is the limitation of cytology?

A
  • Not always definitive
  • Inflammation is a complicating factor - Neoplasia vs dysplasia
28
Q

What is the General approach to the evaluation of the cytology smear?

A
  • Need a methodical approach
  • Note the background of the smear
  • Note the presence of red cells, crystals, debris
  • Examine smear for the presence of nucleated cells
  • Are cells normal or abnormal
  • If abnormal - is the lesion inflammatory or non-inflammatory
  • If have inflammation - is it septic or non-septic
  • Non-inflammatory lesions may be either neoplastic or non-neoplastic
  • If neoplastic attempt to identify tissue of origin
  • Neoplasia may be malignat or benign
  • Some neoplastic lesions may also have inflammation
29
Q

Describe in a flow chart the general approach to a cytology smear

A
30
Q

Where is a Mast cell tumor commonly found?

A

In the skin

31
Q

What are the 5 round cell tumours?

A
  1. Lymphoma
  2. Histiocytoma
  3. Plasmacytoma
  4. Mast Cell Tumour
  5. Transitional Venereal Tumour
32
Q

What is Anisokaryosis

A

Variation in nuclear size

33
Q
  • As inflammatory reactions progress what would you see more of?
  • If these Cells are present how long at a minimum has the lump/mass been there for?
A
  • You would see more macrophages and often these can be seen mopping up the inflammatory debris, including spend neutrophils and other cell detritus
  • 4-5days minimum