Penn Foster Cytology
Exfoliate cytology - answer The study of cells that have been shed from body surfaces.
To differentiate neoplastic from inflammation. - answer That is the primary purpose of
cytology evaluation?
Histopathology is the study of cells in relation to their neighboring cells. It also involves
an evaluation of cellular architecture. Histopath samples are immersed in fixative,
dehydrated, and imbedded in paraffin. The paraffin is then sliced and the slice mounted
on a slide and stained.
In contrast, cytological evaluations observe cells individually or in small groups. Cells in
a cytologic preparation cannot be examined relative to their in vitro organization. -
answerWhat is the difference between cytology and histopathology.
Centesis refers only to fluid samples collected from body cavities. - answer What is the
difference between Centesis and Fine needle biopsy?
Swab, scrape, imprint, or fine needle biopsy. - answerHow are cytology samples from
solid masses on the body collected?
Swabbing - answerWhat sampling technique is used only when imprints, scrapings, and
aspirates cannot be made such as with fistulous tracts and vaginal collections?
Moistening helps to minimize cell damage. - answerWhy should a sterile swab be
moistened unless used to collect a sample from a moist lesion?
Swabs are gently rolled over the slide to minimize cell damage that might be caused by
smearing. - answerHow are swab slides prepared and why?
Gram's stain and to dissolve excess ear wax. - answerWhat are the only two instances
in which cytology samples are heated briefly with a flame or hair dryer?
They provide only superficial samples and thus often reflect only a secondary bacterial
infection or inflammation-induced tissue dysplasia. - answerWhat are 2 major
disadvantage of scrapings for cytology?
Impression smear - answerWhat sampling technique yields few cells and a relatively
great amounts of contamination making it relatively useless in the diagnosis of
neoplasia.
1. Imprint of an unclean lesion is made.
2. The lesion is cleaned and a second impression made.
, 3. The lesion is then debrided and a 3rd impression made.
4. If a scab is present it is raised and an impression made of the underside of the scab.
5. An impression is made of the tissue beneath the scab.
6. Scrapings or swabs of the tissue beneath the scab can be made. - answerList the
steps of a Tzanck preparation.
It avoids surface contamination. - answerWhat is the advantage of fine needle biopsy
over other collection techniques for cytology?
The area should be surgically prepared. - answerWhat steps should be taken befor fine-
needle biopsy If microbiologic tests are to be performed on a sample or if a body cavity
will be penetrated?
21-25 guage - answerWhat needle sizes are suitable for fine needle biopsy?
1. The mass is held firmly and the needle with attached syringe inserted into the center
of the mass.
2. Strong pressure is applied by withdrawing the plunger to approximately 3/4 of the
syringe volume.
3. The needle is partially withdrawn and redirected to several areas, maintaining negate
pressure. Conversely negative pressure can be relaxed during redirection to make sure
contaminating tissue surrounding the mass is not inadvertently aspirated.
4. Negative pressure is relieved and the needle is withdrawn.
5. The syringe is detached and air is drawn.
6. The syringe is attached and the sample expelled onto a slide.
7. Several preparations should be made if possible. - answerDescribe the steps for a
fine needle aspiration procedure.
1. The mass is held and a 22 guage needle introduced.
2. The needle is moved rapidly back and forth through the mass 5-6 times along the
same tract.
3. The needle is removed from the mass and attached to a 10ml syringe filled with air.
4. The material is edplelled onto a clean glass microscope slide by rapidly depressing
the plunger.
3. Repeat 2-3 times in different sites of the mass. - answerDescribe the steps for a
nonaspirate procedure (a.k.a. capillary technique, stab technique)
Hair should be carefully clipped avoiding irritating the skin. The area should not be
cleaned or scrubbed as this can disturb valuable diagnostic clues. - answerHow should
skin biopsy sites be prepared?
A scalpel is used to remove an entire legion or a wedge taken containing part of the
lesion, a transition zone, and normal tissue. - answerHow is a wedge biopsy obtained?
Tissue should be less than 1cm thick. Formalin should be about 10x the volume of the
specimin. - answerHow are samples for histopathologic examination fixed?
Exfoliate cytology - answer The study of cells that have been shed from body surfaces.
To differentiate neoplastic from inflammation. - answer That is the primary purpose of
cytology evaluation?
Histopathology is the study of cells in relation to their neighboring cells. It also involves
an evaluation of cellular architecture. Histopath samples are immersed in fixative,
dehydrated, and imbedded in paraffin. The paraffin is then sliced and the slice mounted
on a slide and stained.
In contrast, cytological evaluations observe cells individually or in small groups. Cells in
a cytologic preparation cannot be examined relative to their in vitro organization. -
answerWhat is the difference between cytology and histopathology.
Centesis refers only to fluid samples collected from body cavities. - answer What is the
difference between Centesis and Fine needle biopsy?
Swab, scrape, imprint, or fine needle biopsy. - answerHow are cytology samples from
solid masses on the body collected?
Swabbing - answerWhat sampling technique is used only when imprints, scrapings, and
aspirates cannot be made such as with fistulous tracts and vaginal collections?
Moistening helps to minimize cell damage. - answerWhy should a sterile swab be
moistened unless used to collect a sample from a moist lesion?
Swabs are gently rolled over the slide to minimize cell damage that might be caused by
smearing. - answerHow are swab slides prepared and why?
Gram's stain and to dissolve excess ear wax. - answerWhat are the only two instances
in which cytology samples are heated briefly with a flame or hair dryer?
They provide only superficial samples and thus often reflect only a secondary bacterial
infection or inflammation-induced tissue dysplasia. - answerWhat are 2 major
disadvantage of scrapings for cytology?
Impression smear - answerWhat sampling technique yields few cells and a relatively
great amounts of contamination making it relatively useless in the diagnosis of
neoplasia.
1. Imprint of an unclean lesion is made.
2. The lesion is cleaned and a second impression made.
, 3. The lesion is then debrided and a 3rd impression made.
4. If a scab is present it is raised and an impression made of the underside of the scab.
5. An impression is made of the tissue beneath the scab.
6. Scrapings or swabs of the tissue beneath the scab can be made. - answerList the
steps of a Tzanck preparation.
It avoids surface contamination. - answerWhat is the advantage of fine needle biopsy
over other collection techniques for cytology?
The area should be surgically prepared. - answerWhat steps should be taken befor fine-
needle biopsy If microbiologic tests are to be performed on a sample or if a body cavity
will be penetrated?
21-25 guage - answerWhat needle sizes are suitable for fine needle biopsy?
1. The mass is held firmly and the needle with attached syringe inserted into the center
of the mass.
2. Strong pressure is applied by withdrawing the plunger to approximately 3/4 of the
syringe volume.
3. The needle is partially withdrawn and redirected to several areas, maintaining negate
pressure. Conversely negative pressure can be relaxed during redirection to make sure
contaminating tissue surrounding the mass is not inadvertently aspirated.
4. Negative pressure is relieved and the needle is withdrawn.
5. The syringe is detached and air is drawn.
6. The syringe is attached and the sample expelled onto a slide.
7. Several preparations should be made if possible. - answerDescribe the steps for a
fine needle aspiration procedure.
1. The mass is held and a 22 guage needle introduced.
2. The needle is moved rapidly back and forth through the mass 5-6 times along the
same tract.
3. The needle is removed from the mass and attached to a 10ml syringe filled with air.
4. The material is edplelled onto a clean glass microscope slide by rapidly depressing
the plunger.
3. Repeat 2-3 times in different sites of the mass. - answerDescribe the steps for a
nonaspirate procedure (a.k.a. capillary technique, stab technique)
Hair should be carefully clipped avoiding irritating the skin. The area should not be
cleaned or scrubbed as this can disturb valuable diagnostic clues. - answerHow should
skin biopsy sites be prepared?
A scalpel is used to remove an entire legion or a wedge taken containing part of the
lesion, a transition zone, and normal tissue. - answerHow is a wedge biopsy obtained?
Tissue should be less than 1cm thick. Formalin should be about 10x the volume of the
specimin. - answerHow are samples for histopathologic examination fixed?
