Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Medical Pathophysiology > week 5- histopathology and cytopathology > Flashcards

week 5- histopathology and cytopathology Flashcards

1
Q

what is histopathology

A

study of changes in tissue associated with disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is cytopathology

A

study of changes in cells associated with disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the difference between histology and histopathology?

A

Histology is the study of tissues in general.
Histopathology is the study of tissues associated with disease.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the difference between cytology and cytopathology?

A

Cytology is the study of cells in general.
Cytopathology is the study of cells associated with disease.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is histopathology and cytopatholgy used for

A

screening
diagnosis
treatment
determining prognosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what is screening used for

A
  • highlight abnormalities in asymptomatic patients
  • benefits must outweigh harm
  • bowel/ breast cancer
  • cervical screening
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what does diagnosis used for

A
  • look for abnormal cells
  • signs of inflammation
  • used alongside medical history and other methods
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

SLIDE 8-11

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is histopathology in brief?

A
  1. the tissue sample is enclosed within paraffin wax
  2. the paraffin wax block is cut into thin sections
  3. Section placed on microscope slide
  4. Slide is stained with dyes and then examined
  5. results sent to requesting clinician to follow up
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is histology process

A
  1. receipt/ booking in
  2. fixation
  3. dissection
  4. processing
  5. embedding
  6. microtomy
  7. staining
  8. immunohistochemistry
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is receipt/ booking in

A

specimen is taken from GP surgery, outpatient clinic or during surgery

it is labelled with atleast 3 forms of ID and pot and request form should match

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is fixation

A

often samples are stored and sent in formaldehyde
pre-filled pots and buckets are provided to drop sample in
samples may be frozen (study proteins)
- immunofluorescence
- biopsies for enzyme studies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what is formaldehyde - related to fixation

A

it preserves tissue, prevents autolysis, kills bacteria and viruses, forms cross-links with proteins thus preserving them
it is the most common fixative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are artefacts - related to fixation

A

Artefacts are structures in a histological section that has come from outside sources.

Can result from ice crystals, insufficient / over fixation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is dissection

A

-transfer pieces of tissue into cassettes
- technique depends on sample size:
small- no dissection needed
intermediate/large - representative piece taken

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is processing

A
  • dehydrate tissue and infiltrate with molten paraffin wax
    -often automated- up to 600 cassettes per run (rapid processing= same-day diagnosis)
  • reagents: alcohol, xylene and paraffin
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is embedding

A
  • transfer tissue to wax block
  • paraffin embedding machine
  • samples picked ip from plastic cassette and soaked in liquid paraffin, then arranged in the middle of the mould
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is sample orientation - related to embedding?

A

The way you cut the paraffin wax with the tissue inside

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is microtomy

A
  • thin section of tissue from the wax block is sliced and mounted onto microscope slide
  • use a microtome
  • 3-4 microns (0.003-0.004 mm)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what is staining

A
  • haematoxylin and eosin
  • depth of colour related to time spent in dyes as well as structures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what is haemotoxylin

A

basic (alkali) dye which stains acidic structures such as DNA purple

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is eosin

A

acidic dye and stains basic structures pink

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what is immunohistochemistry (ICH)

A

determines the location of an antigen in tissue using antigen
secondary antibody linked to enzyme

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What things are important about the process of fixation in immunohistochemistry - IHC

A
  1. The fixation must be optimised
  2. If the sample is fixated too little or too much, it can lose signal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
what is immunofluorescence (IF) - direct
- rapid single- step staining - no signal amplification - antibodies can be from the same host, so long as have different fluorophore
26
what is immunofluorescence (IF) - indirect
- 2 step protocol - signal amplified - requires primary antibodies from different hosts - can work out cheaper
27
Describe how immunofluorescence is used when you have multiple targets?
It is used to assess the colocalisation ( 2 or more different targets in the same physical area) of antigens in tissue and cells It is faster as you can look for multiple antigens in one sample
28
How is histopathology used to detect cervical cancer/
Screening reduces incidence/mortality of cervical cancer by detecting and potentially pre cancerous areas of the cervix
29
How is the cervix tested to detect cervical cancer?
1. call and recall 2. sample takers and primary care 3. cytology and histology labs 4. colposcopy
30
How are abnormal cells detected in the cervix using Histopathology
The abnormal cells are detected using immunohistochemistry process
31
What is neoplasia and dysplasia?
Neoplasia - new growth Dysplasia - abnormal growth
32
What are the stages of cervical cancer
CIN1 CIN2 CIN3 CIN4
33
What happens in CIN1?
Only slightly abnormal cells Usually caused by HPV infection Isn't camcer but can progress to cancer Usually goes away on its own It's aka low-grade dysplasia
34
What happens in CIN2?
Moderately abnormal cells Usually caused by HPV infection Still not cancer but can progress to cancer Treated by cryotherapy, laser therapy It's aka high grade/moderate dysplasia
35
What happens in CIN3?
Severely abnormal cells Usually caused by HPV infection Still not cancer yet but can become cancer if it isn't treated Treated by cryo/laser therapy, LEEP to remove abnormal tissue It's aka high grade/severe dysplasia
36
What happens in CIN4?
This is when it becomes a cancer, it is known as invasive carcinoma
37
What is a colposcopy/
it is a procedure used to examine the cervix
38
What happens during a colposcopy and what do the results show/
Acetic acid is applied - normal areas won't stain, abnormal cell growth will appear white Iodine can be applied - abnormal cell growth areas won't stain, normal cells will appear brown - this is because iodine is taken up by normal cells with high glycogen
39
What is Large Loop Exercision of the Transformation Zone (LLETZ)
It is a treatment that can prevent the development of cervical cancer. CIN is removed with a clear margin
40
What is breast cancer screening?
It consists of a mammogram (low dose X ray) Detects cancers too small to see or feel
41
What are the lobules and ducts? (anatomy of the breast)
Lobules - the glandular tissue that produces milk Ducts - deliver milk to be expelled Cancer can form in the lobules/lobes and the ducts
42
What is the histology of ducts/lobules??????
43
What are the different types of breast lumps
Lipoma - benign cancer, composed of adipose cells Fibroadenoma - benign cancer, epithelial and stroll Carcinoma - in the ducts/glands, malignant cancer, genetic 60+ Phyllodes tumour - usually benign, stromal origin Cyst Fat necrosis
44
What is the histopathology like in a carcinoma?
You can see a loss of myoepithelial layer Using IHC you can see there is a negative/reduced stain for p63
45
what is p63 and what does it mean if there's a reduced/negative stain for it?
p63 is involved in cellular differentiation - therefore, if there is reduced amounts it shows there is no differentiation --- cancer cells are usually not differentiated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
46
How is a diagnosis made?
You need a multi-disciplinary team meeting consisting of: pathologists surgeons radiographers Oncology nurses MDT coordinator You need all the input from these people to make a diagnosis
47
What are the 3 assessments of testing for breast cancer?
Physical examination Scan Biopsy
48
Why are biopsies useful?
Because they give information about the stage that the tumour is in
49
What are the disadvantage of histopathology?
It requires fragments of tissue Retrieving the tissue is invasive - may cause bleeding/trauma More expensive Longer procedure
50
Learn Histopathology V cytopath
51
What is exfoliative cytology?
This is where cells are shed by the body - via sputum, urine, other secretions Or where cells are manually scraped/brushed - via a smear, skin scraped from inside nose/mouth
52
What is aspiration cytology?
It uses a fine needle aspiration to take cells from swelling/lumps/cysts/nodules etc Commonly used to test for cancer
53
How is cytopathology of the urinary system carried out?
54
What are other sources in the body used to take out cells for cytopathological uses?
Pleural body cavities - lungs, trachea Pericardial body cavities - heart, liver Peritoneal body cavities - stomach, live etc
55
What is immunocytochemistry?
56
What are targets for immunoCYTOchemistry?
Cytoplasmic Nuclear Membrane Lipids Proteins
57
Learn more about immunocytochemistry
58
What is apoptosis?
Programmed cell death
59
What is necrosis?
Uncontrolled cell death resulting from injury/infection
60
What is a urinary cast/
Small cylindrical structures generated by distal convoluted tubules in the kidney They are found in the urine when you have certain diseases
61
What are the types of urinary casts and what do they show?
Epithelial cast - shows there is a sign of damage to tubule cells in the kidney \White b blood cell cast - shows a sign of infection/inflammation Granular cast - shows degenerated cellular material Red blood cell cast - Shows there is a small amount of bleeding in the kidney CHECK DIAGRAM ON PP
62
What is Strongyloides stercoralis/
It is a nematode that can infect human KNOW WHAT A NEMATODE LOOKS LIKE
63
64

Medical Pathophysiology (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions