Cytopathology (also known by cytology) is the branch of Pathology (medical specialty) that study the morphology of single cells with the aim of detecting morphological anomalies that aid in the diagnosis of diseases. Rudolf Virchow, a German physician, was responsible for the foundation of this discipline in 1858.
Exams ind Cytopathology
The exams are called cytological examinations and can be done in samples (cell extract) obtained by:
- Body fluids (blood and urine);
- Aspiration through a needle;
- Superficial epithelial cells, obtained by scraping.
After obtaining the sample, it is spread on a microscope slide that is submitted to staining techniques and is observed using an optical microscope by a pathologist who performs the analysis and writes a report.
The most common cytology currently performed is the Pap smear, which refer to a cervical cytology. It aims to detect pre-tumour lesions of the uterus, which can lead to the development of cervical cancer or point toward its presence. This cytology was developed by the physician George Papanicolau in 1954, after performing several studies in animal gynaecology with the objective of observing the cytological changes along the menstrual cycle and in the presence of a carcinoma or adenocarcinoma.
