HISTOPATHOLOGY AND CYTOPATHOLOGY

Question 1

What is histopathology?

Answer 1

diagnosis of cancer
assess how far cancer have spread
monitor disease and treatment

Question 2

what is the difference between histopathology and cytopathology?

Answer 2

histopathology is the examination of tissues and cytopathology is the examination of cells

Question 3

when is a frozen section carried out?

Answer 3

send a frozen section of the margin after cancer removal to check that all of the cancer has been removed. carried out during the operation whilst the patient is still under anaesthesia so has to be quick

Question 4

how are sections obtained?

Answer 4

Specimen must be properly labelled
Fix in formalin
Embed in paraffin wax
Cut sections using a microtome (4-5micrometres) 
then observed under a microscope

Question 5

what is done with the sections?

Answer 5

Stain e.g. gram, ZN.

Identify specific antigens using antibodies- immunohistochemistry

Carry out molecular tests

Question 6

how long to each histopathology results take to reach clinician?

Answer 6

Frozen section: 30 minutes
For biopsies: 2-3 days
For resection specimens: 5-7 days