Unit 20 assignment B:
Introduction:
The study of individual cells through microscopy from tissue or bodily fluid
samples represents the main focus of cytology as a pathology and biological
discipline. Cells examined under a microscope during cytology studies present
structural indications to detect cancer together with infections and
inflammatory conditions and infections. The rapid screening process in Pap
smears makes use of fine needle aspiration and brushing alongside fluid
collection methods. The rapid diagnosis provided by the less invasive and
budget-friendly nature of cytology presents its own disadvantage since it
delivers definitive results with limited precision when determining precise
diseases and their types.
During histological studies, scientists evaluate samples at the microscopic level
to understand cell structures together with tissue arrangements. The analysis
of tissue samples follows these steps: physicians collect biopsies, which
undergo fixation followed by embedding and then sectioning before adding
stains that allow the examination of thin sections under a microscope for tissue
structural and cellular relationship evaluation. This method delivers an
extended perspective that enables practitioners to discover tissue-based
disease indicators such as inflammation patterns or tissue damage in addition
to tumour-penetrating activities, which determine proper diagnosis and
treatment decisions. The invasive approach and lengthy procedure duration,
along with demanding technical aspects in histology, lead to superior diagnosis
rates than cytology despite its own invasive features. Histological methods are
used to supplement and confirm cytological test results.
The diagnosis by cytology includes quickly detecting disease using individual
cells through non-invasive assessment yet histology examines full tissue
structure for an in-depth disease assessment.
Reference:
Britannica (2019). Histology | physiology. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online]
Available at: https://www.britannica.com/science/histology.
SlideShare. (2022). CYTOLOGY AND HISTOLOGY Smital Garud 227309.pptx.
[online] Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/cytology-and-
histology-smital-garud-227309pptx/252746964 [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025].
What is Cytology? - Definition & History Video (2021). What is Cytology? -
Definition & History - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com. [online] Study.com.
Available at: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-cytology-definition-
history.html.
, Sendić, G. (2017). Histology: An overview. [online] Kenhub. Available at:
https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/introduction-to-histology.
Tan, B. (2021). Cytology tests. [online] Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
Available at: https://www.cancercenter.com/diagnosing-cancer/diagnostic-
procedures/cytology-tests.
Histology, microscopy, anatomy and disease. (n.d.). Histology, microscopy,
anatomy and disease. [online] Available at:
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?
id=65372§ion=1.
Case study disorder: bowel cancer
Abnormal cell development in the large bowel (colon) or rectum leads to
uncontrolled cell growth, which is known medically as bowel cancer or
colorectal cancer. The disorder usually begins with benign polyp growths,
which may evolve into cancers over extended periods. The symptoms of this
cancer include bowel habit changes that persist together with stool bleeding
and abdominal distress alongside unexplainable weight reduction and
exhaustion and occasionally abdominal blockages or swollen areas. Doctors
attribute bowel cancer development mainly to a person's age and inherited
predispositions together with hereditary diseases, prolonged bowel diseases,
and diet and exercise-related factors. The effectiveness of treatment
significantly increases when bowel cancer diagnosis takes place early since
prompt treatment stops the cancer from spreading to other body regions.
reference:
NHS (2023). Bowel Cancer - Symptoms. [online] nhs.uk. Available at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/symptoms/.
Cancer Research UK (2018). Symptoms of bowel cancer. [online]
Cancerresearchuk.org. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-
cancer/bowel-cancer/symptoms.
Cancer Research UK (2018). Symptoms of bowel cancer. [online]
Cancerresearchuk.org. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-
cancer/bowel-cancer/symptoms.
NHS Choices (2019). Causes - Bowel cancer. [online] NHS. Available at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/causes/.
Bupa.co.uk. (2018). Bowel cancer | Health Information | Bupa UK. [online]
Available at: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/cancer/bowel-cancer.
Cancer Council (2023). Bowel cancer. [online] Cancer Council . Available at:
https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer.
, There are several types of screening methods used to diagnose the disorder:
1. Bowel (colorectal) cancer diagnosis utilizes various screening approaches
that bring different clinical advantages to healthcare professionals.
2. A fecal immunochemical test (FIT) functions as the most common
screening device to detect hidden (occult) blood by analyzing small stool
samples collected through home testing that might indicate bowel cancer
or polyps. The FIT screening process avoids invasive procedures along
with its need for special preparation and can be performed every twelve
months or twice a year.
3. The process of testing for stool blood with gFOBT uses a chemical
reaction in the same way that FIT works to detect occult blood in stools.
The test has poor specificity and healthcare criteria along with sensitivity
to food and drugs, which leads to necessary annual examinations or
biennial reviews.
4. People can use the Multitarget Stool DNA Test (sDNA-FIT), which detects
cancer or polyp cells in addition to blood microorganisms through stool
DNA research. The at-home testing procedure does not require
preparation and the interval for its recommendations is three years.
5. Medical professionals consider colonoscopy the best diagnostic tool since
it enables camera-equipped flexible tubes to examine both the rectum
and the entire colon. The medical examination provides the benefit of
examining tissue samples and removing polyps from the body during one
session. Patients with average risk need colonoscopies every 10 years
since they involve invasiveness and demand bowel preparation.
6. The lower colon section (sigmoid colon and rectum) can be examined
through the use of a flexible tube called sigmoidoscopy. The procedure
allows doctors to inspect the colon without needing a full colonoscopy yet
it is unable to detect cancer or polyps that exist above the reached
portion of the colon. A person undergoing a repeat examination for this
procedure has to return every five years.
7. The diagnostic imaging method known as CT Colonography (Virtual
Colonoscopy) generates thorough pictures of both colon and rectal areas
through specialized CT scanning procedures. Using this test enables
medical personnel to examine the colon noninvasively without requiring
sedation and necessitates bowel preparation. A standard colonoscopy
becomes necessary to extract abnormalities when they are identified.
Reference:
NHS (2024). Overview - Bowel Cancer Screening. [online] NHS. Available at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/.
Bowel Cancer UK (2019). Bowel cancer screening | About bowel cancer. [online]
Bowel Cancer UK. Available at: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-
bowel-cancer/screening/.
Cancer Research UK (2019). Bowel cancer screening | Bowel cancer | Cancer
Research UK. [online] Cancerresearchuk.org. Available at:
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/getting-
diagnosed/screening.
Introduction:
The study of individual cells through microscopy from tissue or bodily fluid
samples represents the main focus of cytology as a pathology and biological
discipline. Cells examined under a microscope during cytology studies present
structural indications to detect cancer together with infections and
inflammatory conditions and infections. The rapid screening process in Pap
smears makes use of fine needle aspiration and brushing alongside fluid
collection methods. The rapid diagnosis provided by the less invasive and
budget-friendly nature of cytology presents its own disadvantage since it
delivers definitive results with limited precision when determining precise
diseases and their types.
During histological studies, scientists evaluate samples at the microscopic level
to understand cell structures together with tissue arrangements. The analysis
of tissue samples follows these steps: physicians collect biopsies, which
undergo fixation followed by embedding and then sectioning before adding
stains that allow the examination of thin sections under a microscope for tissue
structural and cellular relationship evaluation. This method delivers an
extended perspective that enables practitioners to discover tissue-based
disease indicators such as inflammation patterns or tissue damage in addition
to tumour-penetrating activities, which determine proper diagnosis and
treatment decisions. The invasive approach and lengthy procedure duration,
along with demanding technical aspects in histology, lead to superior diagnosis
rates than cytology despite its own invasive features. Histological methods are
used to supplement and confirm cytological test results.
The diagnosis by cytology includes quickly detecting disease using individual
cells through non-invasive assessment yet histology examines full tissue
structure for an in-depth disease assessment.
Reference:
Britannica (2019). Histology | physiology. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online]
Available at: https://www.britannica.com/science/histology.
SlideShare. (2022). CYTOLOGY AND HISTOLOGY Smital Garud 227309.pptx.
[online] Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/cytology-and-
histology-smital-garud-227309pptx/252746964 [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025].
What is Cytology? - Definition & History Video (2021). What is Cytology? -
Definition & History - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com. [online] Study.com.
Available at: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-cytology-definition-
history.html.
, Sendić, G. (2017). Histology: An overview. [online] Kenhub. Available at:
https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/introduction-to-histology.
Tan, B. (2021). Cytology tests. [online] Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
Available at: https://www.cancercenter.com/diagnosing-cancer/diagnostic-
procedures/cytology-tests.
Histology, microscopy, anatomy and disease. (n.d.). Histology, microscopy,
anatomy and disease. [online] Available at:
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?
id=65372§ion=1.
Case study disorder: bowel cancer
Abnormal cell development in the large bowel (colon) or rectum leads to
uncontrolled cell growth, which is known medically as bowel cancer or
colorectal cancer. The disorder usually begins with benign polyp growths,
which may evolve into cancers over extended periods. The symptoms of this
cancer include bowel habit changes that persist together with stool bleeding
and abdominal distress alongside unexplainable weight reduction and
exhaustion and occasionally abdominal blockages or swollen areas. Doctors
attribute bowel cancer development mainly to a person's age and inherited
predispositions together with hereditary diseases, prolonged bowel diseases,
and diet and exercise-related factors. The effectiveness of treatment
significantly increases when bowel cancer diagnosis takes place early since
prompt treatment stops the cancer from spreading to other body regions.
reference:
NHS (2023). Bowel Cancer - Symptoms. [online] nhs.uk. Available at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/symptoms/.
Cancer Research UK (2018). Symptoms of bowel cancer. [online]
Cancerresearchuk.org. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-
cancer/bowel-cancer/symptoms.
Cancer Research UK (2018). Symptoms of bowel cancer. [online]
Cancerresearchuk.org. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-
cancer/bowel-cancer/symptoms.
NHS Choices (2019). Causes - Bowel cancer. [online] NHS. Available at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/causes/.
Bupa.co.uk. (2018). Bowel cancer | Health Information | Bupa UK. [online]
Available at: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/cancer/bowel-cancer.
Cancer Council (2023). Bowel cancer. [online] Cancer Council . Available at:
https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer.
, There are several types of screening methods used to diagnose the disorder:
1. Bowel (colorectal) cancer diagnosis utilizes various screening approaches
that bring different clinical advantages to healthcare professionals.
2. A fecal immunochemical test (FIT) functions as the most common
screening device to detect hidden (occult) blood by analyzing small stool
samples collected through home testing that might indicate bowel cancer
or polyps. The FIT screening process avoids invasive procedures along
with its need for special preparation and can be performed every twelve
months or twice a year.
3. The process of testing for stool blood with gFOBT uses a chemical
reaction in the same way that FIT works to detect occult blood in stools.
The test has poor specificity and healthcare criteria along with sensitivity
to food and drugs, which leads to necessary annual examinations or
biennial reviews.
4. People can use the Multitarget Stool DNA Test (sDNA-FIT), which detects
cancer or polyp cells in addition to blood microorganisms through stool
DNA research. The at-home testing procedure does not require
preparation and the interval for its recommendations is three years.
5. Medical professionals consider colonoscopy the best diagnostic tool since
it enables camera-equipped flexible tubes to examine both the rectum
and the entire colon. The medical examination provides the benefit of
examining tissue samples and removing polyps from the body during one
session. Patients with average risk need colonoscopies every 10 years
since they involve invasiveness and demand bowel preparation.
6. The lower colon section (sigmoid colon and rectum) can be examined
through the use of a flexible tube called sigmoidoscopy. The procedure
allows doctors to inspect the colon without needing a full colonoscopy yet
it is unable to detect cancer or polyps that exist above the reached
portion of the colon. A person undergoing a repeat examination for this
procedure has to return every five years.
7. The diagnostic imaging method known as CT Colonography (Virtual
Colonoscopy) generates thorough pictures of both colon and rectal areas
through specialized CT scanning procedures. Using this test enables
medical personnel to examine the colon noninvasively without requiring
sedation and necessitates bowel preparation. A standard colonoscopy
becomes necessary to extract abnormalities when they are identified.
Reference:
NHS (2024). Overview - Bowel Cancer Screening. [online] NHS. Available at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/.
Bowel Cancer UK (2019). Bowel cancer screening | About bowel cancer. [online]
Bowel Cancer UK. Available at: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-
bowel-cancer/screening/.
Cancer Research UK (2019). Bowel cancer screening | Bowel cancer | Cancer
Research UK. [online] Cancerresearchuk.org. Available at:
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/getting-
diagnosed/screening.
