Cytology II Flashcards
characteristics of cytology
study of individual cells
fast, inexpensive, non-invasive
characteristics of histology
evaluation of cellular architecture, requires tissue samples, complex process
swabbing collection technique
used for body cavities and abscesses
use clean, dry, or saline moistened swab, roll the swab across the microscope slide
can pass ear swabs through a flame to dissolve wax
swab the edge of an abscess because you will only see WBCs if you swab the middle
scraping collection technique
used for tissues from necropsy, surgery, external lesions
hold the scalpel blade nearly perpendicular to the tissue and gently scrape the tissue surface multiple times followed by a squash prep
fine needle aspirate/biopsy collection technique
used for SQ masses and body cavities accessible to needles
might see ectopic cells due to contamination or metastasis
use squash prep
how do you collect fluid samples?
collect in a syringe and can be put into a EDTA tube or red top tube
see if vet wants a culture
what do you do first with fluid samples?
measure total protein and specific gravity
centrifuge the sample for smears: 5 minutes on low speed
touch preps/impression slides
used for solid tissue, biopsy specimens, and accessible surfaces (like dermis, gingiva, mucosa)
cut off a piece of tissue, dab blood and liquid off, press onto slide a few times
tzaunch prep
used for external lesions
common technique for viruses that form papules or dermatological conditions that form papules
can use on the underside of a scab
stains used in cytology
romanowsky stains most common: Diff-Quick, Wright-Giemsa, new methylene blue
rapid stains may not stain basophils or mast cells adequately
what is new methylene blue stain good for in cytology?
seeing nucleus and nucleoli but not good for seeing cytoplasm
modified smear prep
rotate 45 degrees and lift up
fried egg smears
properly stained and smeared
similarity in appearance of nucleus and cytoplasm to egg yolk and white
hard boiled egg smears
preparation too thick or improperly stained
cell outline may be seen but intracellular detail isn’t visible
scrambled egg smears
smeared too thin
causes cell lysis and disruption of cellular architecture
cytology microscopic exam
scan on low power: determine if cells are uniform type, shape, and size
investigate on high power or oil: look for trends and determine if sample is normal, inflammatory, or neoplastic
purulent inflammation
> 85% neutrophils
can see some macrophages and lymphocytes
most common and is a sign of acute inflammation
granulomatous inflammation
> 70% mononuclear (monocytes, macrophages) + neutrophils
sign of chronic inflammation
pyogranulomatous inflammation
50-75% neutrophils and macrophages
what should you do if the sample is showing neutrophilic destruction and a toxic environment?
this suggests a bacterial infection and the lesion should be cultured
eosinophilic sample signs
> 10% eosinophils
sometimes can see mast cells, plasma cells, and lymphocytes
signs of sepsis
intracellular bacteria
degenerative sample signs
nuclear changes in neutrophils
benign (hyperplasia) sample signs
homogenous populations of same cell type
no evidence of malignancy
malignant sample signs
morphological changes to cytoplasm and nuceli
3-5 criteria must be met
round cell tumor characteristics
high cellularity, individual cells, round shape
ex: mast cell tumor, lymphosarcoma
epithelial cell tumor characteristics
high cellularity, cluster cells, cubodial shape
ex: squamous cell carcinoma, hepatocellular adeno-carcinoma
mesenchymal cell tumor characteristics
low cellularity, individual cells, spindle shape
ex: lipoma, osteosarcoma
epithelial/glandular/mesothelial cells
cells that cover internal and external body surfaces (ex: vaginal, goblet cells)
tend to cluster or occur in sheets
large cells with high cellularity
can develop a carcinoma or adenocarcinoma which are malignant
adenoma = benign
mesenchymal cell tumors
spindle to stellate (star) shaped
seen on connective tissue
small to medium size
edges of the cytoplasm may be indistinct
sarcoma = malignant
-oma = benign
round cell tumors
discrete, round cells
discrete = distinct, separate
small to medium size
high cellularity in aspirates
fecal cytology
diagnostic tool for diarrhea
looking for bacterial numbers, types, and other cells like RBCs, WBCs, tissue cells, and yeast
skin cytology
identifies skin/superficial infections
looking for infectious agents (bacteria, yeast, numbers, types, evidence of infection)
collection techniques: scrape, impression smear/touch prep, tape prep
which cells are seen during anestrus?
intermediate or parabasal cells, no RBCs, possibly some neutrophils
which cells are seen during proestrus?
beginning of heat
early proestrus: mix of neutrophils, parabasal, intermediate and superficial cells
late proestrus: decreased neutrophils, mostly large intermediate and superficial cells, +/- RBCs
which cells are seen during estus?
mating period
all superficial cells, small nuclei or anuclear, +/- RBCs, no neutrophils, +/- bacteria
which cells are seen during metestrus?
aka diestrus: after heat
parabasal/intermediate cells replace superficial cells, increased neutrophils, maybe some RBCs
what questions should you ask yourself while looking at a cytology sample?
is the sample adequately prepared?
is there a uniform population of cells?
- what type of cells are they?
is the sample inflammatory?
-what type of inflammation is present?
is the sample neoplastic?
- benign or malignant signs?
