Pathology In Practice Flashcards
1
Q
What is included in cellular pathology?
A
- autopsy (post-mortem examination)
- histopathology (tissues)
- cytopathology (cells)
2
Q
What are pathology specimens used for?
A
- diagnostic purposes
- treatment
3
Q
Examples of pathological specimens
A
- cytology samples: exfoliative - fluid (eg. Smear), FNA - direct/under US guidance (eg. Sampling tumours on skin)
- small tissue biopsies (eg. Needle core biopsy - sampling of abnormal organs)
- excision biopsies (eg. Full skin lesion)
- tissue resections: small (eg. Appendicetomy) or large (eg. Limb amputations)
4
Q
Describe how pathology samples are handled in the lab
A
- sample put into formalin in surgical theatre to preserve as it is taken to the lab
- when received, patient and specimen identity is confirmed
- gross examination and macroscopic description given to large specimens, smaller specimens are trimmed and described by biomedical scientist - specimen placed in cassettes
- specimen moved from water-based formalin through graded alcohols to xylene (makes tissue easier to view)
- embedded in wax and attached to cassettes for sectioning and mounting onto glass slide
- stained and cover-slip added to preserve and prevent damage
- other stains may be required
5
Q
What are the basic stains used in pathology labs?
A
- haematoxylin (dark blue, nuclei)
- eosin (pink, cytoplasm)
6
Q
What things can be viewed with special stains in cells?
A
- mucin in epithelial cells
- normal elastic tissue
- depositions eg. Fibrous tissue
- infections
7
Q
Describe IHC
A
- staining technique which yields a brown stain for specific proteins (cytoplasmic, membranous or nuclear)
- for tumour diagnosis and classification
- prediction of cancer prognosis and cancer treatment benefit
- for infectious disease
8
Q
Describe molecular pathology
A
- PCR for detecting large-scale quantitative changes in DNA (eg. Clonality in lymphoma)
- FISH for known diagnostic translocations
- NGS for looking at multiple gene mutations in same specimen
