Histopathology and cytopathology

Question 1

What tools do histopathologists use

Answer 1

Biopsies
Resection specimens
Frozen sections
Post-mortems

Question 2

What tools do cytopathologists use

Answer 2

Smears

Fine needle aspirates

Question 3

What might you look for in biopsy

Answer 3

Normal?
Inflamed?
Cancer?

Question 4

What might you look for in resection

Answer 4

How far spread?

Is cancer all out?

Question 5

What is frozen section used for

Answer 5

Rapid diagnosis
Cancer?
All out?
Anything else occurring

Question 6

2 types of post mortem

Answer 6

Hospital and coroner’s

Question 7

How are sections obtained

Answer 7

Specimen must be properly labelled
Fix in formalin
Embed in paraffin wax
Cut sections

Question 8

What can be done with sections

Answer 8

Stain (gram, ZN)

Identify specific antigens using antibodies=immunihistochemistry

Carry out molecular tests

Question 9

What is cytopathology and how can samples be obtained

Answer 9

Looking at individual cells not tissues

Used for fine needle aspirations

Question 10

How long does each of the following take to reach the clinician

Answer 10

Frozen: 30 mins
Biopsies: 2-3 days
Resection specimens: 5-7 days

Question 11

What does CD31 show

Answer 11

Vascular tumour infiltrating collagen bundles

Question 12

What is ZN stain often used for

Answer 12

Bacilli acid fast TB