Histopathology and cytopathology Flashcards
What do histopathologists use?
- Biopsies
- Resection specimens- from surgery
- Frozen sections- real time diagnosis
- Post-mortems
What do cytopathologists use?
- Smears
- Fine needle aspirates
they look at individual cells not tissues
What are the questions that are asked when reviewing histopathology biopsies?
Is it normal?
Is it inflamed and if it is, what is the cause?
Is it cancer and if it is, what type is it?
What are the questions that are asked when reviewing resection specimens?
How far has the cancer spread?
Is it all out?
How are sections obtained?
- Specimen must be properly labelled
- Fix in formalin (contains formaldehyde)
- Embed in paraffin wax
- Cut sections
What do we do with the sections?
- Stain e.g. gram, ZN
- Identify specific antigens using antibodies = immunohistochemistry
- Carry out molecular tests
How long does it take cytopathology and histopathology results to reach the clinician?
Frozen section- 30 minutes
Biopsies- 2-3 days
Resection specimens 5-7 days
What are the questions that are asked when reviewing frozen sections?
Is it cancer?
Is it all out?
Is there something else going on?
What are the two types of post mortems?
Hospital- when family give permission after family request it
Coroner- state ordered and no family permission required
Describe the case study involving Kaposi’s sarcoma
HIV-AIDS defining disease
- big lesion composed of proliferating blood vessels
What did the immunohistochemistry show in the KS study?
immunohistochemistry for CD31 shows vascular tumours infiltrating collagen bundles
What did the fine needle aspiration (FNA) of an enlarged node in the case KS study show?
mixed cell population
What were the finding of the FNA diagnostic of?
Reactive lymphadenopathy
