Cytology, the microscopic examination of tissue samples spread onto slides, is a powerful tool for evaluation of skin lesions in small animal patients. 1.
In many cases, cytology can provide a definitive diagnosis for cutaneous masses..
Cytological techniques are methods used in the study or manipulation of cells.
These include methods used in cell biology to culture, track, phenotype, sort and screen cells in populations or tissues, and molecular methods to understand cellular function..
There are several different methods for collecting cells from tissues, depending on where the problem is and what type of tissue is involved.
The most common technique is called fine needle aspiration (FNA).
This simple technique involves using a sterile, fine gauge needle attached to an empty syringe.
The needle is inserted into the middle of the .
If the problem is inflammatory in nature, your veterinarian can take steps to look for a specific cause (bacteria, parasite, fungus, allergies, foreign bodies, etc.) in order to provide the appropriate treatment.
If cytology indicates neoplasia, the appearance of the cells can often indicate the type of tumor and predict how it will behave.
This is.
The main limitation of cytology is that the cells collected may not tell the whole story about what is happening in the tissue.
This may happen if samples are very small, or if the most diagnostic (or representative) cells are not present in the sample.
In addition, some tumors do not play by the rules: sometimes the cells may look benign, but the .
The most important thing cytology can tell us is whether a problem is caused by inflammation or by neoplasia (abnormal growth of tissue).
If there is inflammation, cytology can often identify the underlying cause.
If the sample appears to be neoplastic, cytology can usually determine which type of tissue is involved and whether the neoplasm is mali.
Cytology is the microscopic examination of cells that have been collected from the body.
By examining the appearance of these cells, including their number, size, shape, color, internal characteristics, and how they fit together with their neighbors, it is often possible to make a diagnosis of a specific disease process.
Cytology is most often used to diagnose the nature of 'lumps and bumps' found on the surface of the body.
However, cytology can also be used to evaluate: 1. internal organs, such as the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, and kidneys 2. body fluids, such as joint fluid 3. abnormal accumulations of fluids (called effusions), especially in the chest and abdom.
