Introduction and History Diagnostic cytology of the uterine cervix was not the first application of cytology in clinical diagnosis of diseases, but it is definitely one of the most widespread and best known. In its early days, vaginal cytology was…
Introduction The lower female genital tract includes the vulva, the vagina, the cervix, and the uterine cavity. It is in direct communication with the external environment, and prone to various non-infectious and infectious inflammatory reactions. Although most of these infections…
The Bethesda System: Historical Perspective Terminology forms the basis for effective communication between the laboratory and clinician. The clinician is expected to provide relevant patient information to the laboratory. It is the laboratory's responsibility to report results using terminology that…
Introduction Several factors play a role in the evaluation of the cellular sample. The method of sample collection and fixation, the laboratory procedure to process the sample, and the integration of the morphologic features observed in the sample with the…
Introduction Cytopathologists are concerned about and committed to quality assurance and quality control in their laboratories. These practices include, among others, the use of intralaboratory and extradepartmental consultations, case reviews, correlation of cytologic and histopathologic specimens, hierarchic review of cytopathology,…
Principles of Screening Screening of diseases gained significance in medicine at the end of the nineteenth century, when public health authorities emphasized the importance of screening methods for certain diseases. An example is the radiological screening of immigrants, searching for…
Introduction This chapter will summarize the knowledge acquired on conventional cancer cytogenetics in the second half of the last century and introduces additional applications of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) available for the study of cancer development and evolution. Other…
Basic Structure and Function of Mammalian Cells Overview Cells are the basic structural and functional units of all living organisms. Estimates about the total cell count of a human body vary widely, a number as large as 10 14 has…