Cytology AI Flashcards
How should smears be dried before placing them in slide containers or before staining?
By waving them or using a hair dryer. Don’t blow on them!
What method can be used to aid in drying viscid samples such as synovial fluid or salivary samples?
The use of a cold air stream, such as a hair dryer.
Is additional fixation necessary after drying the smears?
No, additional fixation is not necessary.
What precaution should be taken when packaging cytology and biopsy samples together?
Cytology should not be packaged in the same plastic bag as the biopsy to avoid formalin fumes affecting staining and compromising the sample.
What are some complications that can arise from fine needle aspirations (FNA)?
Complications include bleeding disorders, infection at the aspirated site, needle tract tumor implantation, and pneumothorax.
How should impression smears be performed? What should be done with the tissue before touching it to a slide?
The cut surface of the excised tissue should be blotted on a paper towel/filter to remove blood and excess fluid. The tissue is then touched firmly on to the surface of a clean slide in several places.
What should be done before collecting cytological samples using the scraping technique?
Any excess exudate should be gently cleaned from the surface of the lesion.
What instruments can be used for scraping of the lesion during sample collection?
A sterile spatula (e.g. Kimura spatula) or the blunt end of the butt of a sterile scalpel blade can be used for scraping.
What is a recommended way to collect a cellular sample using a swab for a dry lesion?
Moistening the swab with sterile saline prior to collection can increase the adhesion of cells to the swab.
How should the swab be rolled on the glass slide during sample collection?
The swab should be rolled in the center of the glass slide gently, without dragging it, to avoid cell damage.
Is it necessary to go back and forth over the same area on the glass slide during sample spreading?
No, the spreading of the material must be done in one direction only, without going over the same area in the glass slide.
Are there any specific swabs for sample collection?
Yes, there are specific swabs for the collection of samples.
How should tissues with a fibrous component be handled during impression smears?
If fibrous tissues do not exfoliate well with the impression smear technique, they can be roughened or scraped with a scalpel blade before touching them to the slide.
What precaution should be taken to avoid blood contamination during scraping of a lesion?
One should try to avoid blood contamination during scraping of the lesion.
What should be done with excess exudate before collecting cytological samples using the scraping technique?
Excess exudate should be gently cleaned from the surface of the lesion before collecting cytological samples using the scraping technique.
How many times should the margin of the lesion be scraped during sample collection using the scraping technique?
The margin of the lesion should be scraped several times in the same direction (not back and forth) until a small drop of material is collected on the spatula/blade.
What are the three types of tubes that cytological samples should be split between?
Cytological samples should be split between EDTA (cytology, cell counts), plain (chemistry), and plain sterile tubes if culture may be needed.
What are the recommended sample preparation techniques for cytological samples?
Fresh smears should always be made (including any flocculent material) if the sample is not to be processed immediately. If the sample is of low cellularity, a line smear or smear of the sediment should be performed. If the sample is very bloody, a direct smear and a buffy coat smear should both be performed.
What should be noted when examining the macroscopic characteristics of the fluid sample?
The macroscopic characteristics of the fluid sample, such as color, turbidity, and smell, should be noted in case these change with a delay in processing the sample.
What should be done with cytology smears that are not processed immediately?
Cytology smears that are not processed immediately should be refrigerated but never frozen, as freezing will rupture the cells.
What should be considered when evaluating the quality of a cytology smear under low magnification?
Under low magnification, you should consider if the sample is representative for the lesion and collection technique, if the sample is cellular enough to draw a conclusion, if the cells are well preserved and not condensed, ruptured, or stretched, if the cells are adequately stained, and if the distribution of cells is uniform throughout the smear or heterogeneous/haphazard.
What is the recommended approach to examining a cytology smear?
Start on low power to locate the cellular parts of the slide and scan the entire slide. Identify the areas of interest and increase the magnification. Once oil immersion is used, the 40x objective cannot easily be used again, so leave this to last.
What should be examined regarding the background of a cytology smear?
The background of a cytology smear should be examined for the presence of blood, distinguishable from inflammation, as well as for cellular products such as mucus/mucin, protein precipitate, osteoid, or amorphous cellular debris. Granulated cells that rupture should be differentiated from bacteria.
What should be noted when tissue cells are present in a cytology smear?
When tissue cells are present in a cytology smear, you should note their arrangement (clusters, sheets, clumps), any architectural patterns, if there are any morphological changes within the population indicating malignancy, and if they are related to any secretory material or matrix.