Histopathology and Cytopathology

Question 1

What are examined in histopathology?

Answer 1

Tissues e.g. those from:
Biopsies: 
Resection specimens
Frozen sections
Post-mortems

Question 2

What are examined in cytologies?

Answer 2

Individual cells e.g. from Smears + Fine needle aspirates

Question 3

What do histopathologists look for?

Answer 3

Normality
Inflammation
Cancer (type, spread)

Question 4

How are sections obtained?

Answer 4

Fix in formalin
Embed in paraffin wax
Cut sections

Question 5

What stains may be used in histopathology?

Answer 5

Haematoxylin and eosin (H+E). Haematoxylin stains nuclei blue + eosin the cytoplasm pink.
Silver nitrate: fungi
Gram: bacteria 
Ziehl-Neelson: Tuberculosis bacilli 
Papanicolaou: cervical smears

Question 6

How long does a histopathology result take to reach the clinician?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Describe a hospital post mortem and a coroners post mortem

Answer 7

Hospital: family permission required.

Coroner’s: state-ordered, no family permission required.

Question 8

What is the purpose of obtaining sections?

Answer 8

To identify specific antigens

To perform molecular tests

Question 9

What is the purpose of each type of histopathology?

Answer 9

Biopsy: determine normality/ inflammation/ cancer
Resection: determine how far has cancer spread + if all has been removed
Frozen: RAPID (during surgery), check if cancer all removed