What is cytology?
Cytology is the examination of cells from body tissues or fluids for diagnostic purposes. A doctor uses a microscope to examine the cells in a tissue sample and look for cell characteristics or changes. Since cytology only examines cells, which are very small, pathologists only need a very small tissue sample to perform a cytological examination. Cytological examination is widely used in urology, gynecology, mammology, endocrinology, and other fields of medicine.
When is cytological examination used?
Doctors only perform diagnostic tests on patients if their signs or symptoms indicate that they may have a certain disease or infection. Diagnostic tests, such as cytological tests, are used to determine whether there are any abnormal cells. If so, the test accurately classifies the disease.
Doctors use screening tests to determine whether a person may have a certain disease, such as cancer, even before the symptoms of the disease appear. A popular cytological screening test is the PAP test, which is performed in Lithuania as part of the cervical cancer prevention program once every 3 years for women aged 20-34 and once every 5 years for women aged 35-59.
Who performs a cytological examination?
Depending on the type of cytological examination, a cell sample may be taken by doctors of various specialties. For example, a gynecologist may take a sample from the cervix for a cytological PAP test. The doctor then sends the sample to a laboratory. A pathologist examines the cells in the tissue sample under a microscope and makes a diagnosis.
How is a cytological examination performed?
Each cytological examination is slightly different, depending on the type of cells being examined and whether the sample is tissue or fluid. A cytological examination is usually performed in four stages:
- Cell sample collection;
- Cell sample processing;
- Cell sample examination;
- Sharing the results.
How to prepare for a cytological examination?
Your doctor will explain the specific cytological examination procedure and give you specific instructions on how to best prepare for it. Most cytological examinations are simple and painless, so no special preparation is necessary.
What should I expect after a cytological examination?
After the procedure, the doctor may monitor you for 15-30 minutes to make sure you do not experience any side effects, including bleeding, dizziness, nausea, or an allergic reaction.
After the procedure, the following is recommended:
- A sparing regimen;
- Medication for pain relief.
These recommendations must be discussed in detail with the doctor who performed the procedure.
What are the risks and disadvantages of cytological tests?
Complications from cytological tests are very rare, and when they do occur, they are often minor. As with many types of medical tests, cytological tests can produce false negative or false positive results. In addition, in some cases, a tissue biopsy may be more accurate than cytology.
What are the advantages of cytology?
Cytological tests have many advantages because they require only a small sample of tissue or fluid. Compared to tissue biopsy, which doctors also use to make a diagnosis, cytological testing:
- Is less invasive;
- Causes less discomfort and pain;
- Has fewer complications;
- Is less expensive.
What results do you get from a cytology test?
The results of a cytology test depend on the type of test performed and the part of the body from which the sample was taken.
A pathologist's report on a cytology test may indicate:
- Whether abnormal cells were found or not;
- If abnormal cells were found, what type of disease, infection, or cancer is present in the sample;
- If it is cancer, the classification of the cancer;
- Whether further tests, such as a biopsy, are needed.
When will I receive the results of my cytology test?
The time it takes to receive the results of your cytology test depends on certain factors, such as the type of tissue cells that were examined. Some routine cytology tests can be completed in as little as 1-2 days, while others may take 1-2 weeks. Factors that affect how long it takes to get your cytology test results include:
- The need to examine more tissue or cells;
- Special stains or tests;
- The need for a second opinion;
- Processing time.
How does a cytology test differ from a histology test?
Cytology and histology are different branches of pathology. Cytology usually examines individual cells or groups of cells. Histology examines an entire tissue section containing many different cell types.
How does cytological examination differ from biopsy?
Both cytological examination and biopsy aim to establish a diagnosis, but there are certain differences between them.
Cytology involves the examination of individual cells or groups of cells, so pathologists only need a very small sample, which they can examine under a microscope. This means that cytological tests are usually painless.
Biopsies typically involve larger tissue samples than are needed for cytology, and a pathologist can examine several types of cells in the tissue sample taken from the biopsy. Biopsy procedures are also typically more invasive than cytology and may require local or general anesthesia.
