Types of cytological tests to look for cancer cells

Article written by Master, Doctor Nguyen Van Khanh - Pathologist - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Compared with biopsies of tissue samples, cytology samples are often:
Easier to obtain Less uncomfortable for the patient Less likely to cause serious complications Low cost In some cases cytology results are not as accurate as the results. tissue biopsy results. But in many cases cytology results can be consistent with tissue biopsy results.
The results of cytology can be used for diagnosis or used for screening:
Diagnostic tests are used only in people who already have signs, symptoms or some other reason. Others suspect they may have a particular disease (such as cancer). Screening tests are used to find people who may have certain diseases even if they don't have symptoms yet. Often a diagnostic test is used if a screening test is positive (that is, if something abnormal is found on the screening test). Certain types of cytology tests, such as the Pap test, are mainly used for screening, while others may be used to pinpoint cancer. When cytology results show that cancer cells are present, a biopsy is usually done to make an accurate diagnosis before treatment can be performed.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is sometimes seen as a cytological test and sometimes as a biopsy test.
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a procedure that uses a very thin, hollow needle attached to a syringe to remove a small amount of fluid and a very small piece of tissue from the tumor. If the tumor is near the surface of the body, the doctor may feel the tumor during aspiration. If the tumor is deeper inside the body and the doctor can't feel it, the doctor will do aspiration under the guidance of ultrasound or CT scan.
The main advantage of FNA is that there is no need to cut the skin and in some cases the same day diagnosis can be obtained. The disadvantage of FNA is that sometimes it is not possible to obtain enough tissue samples for diagnosis. Although FNA is a type of biopsy, it is still considered a cytological test.

Fluids removed from body cavities can be tested for cancer cells. Some types of body fluids are tested such as:
Urine fluid Sputum CSF, also known as cerebrospinal fluid (from the spaces around the brain and spinal cord) Pleural fluid (from the spaces around the lungs) ) Pericardial fluid (from the sac surrounding the heart) Ascites or pericardial fluid (from the space in the abdomen)

Another cytology technique is to scrape or lightly brush some cells from the organs or tissues being examined. The most well-known cytological test by this method is the Pap test. A small brush is used to collect cells from the cervix (the lower part of the uterus or uterus) for a Pap test. Other parts that may be examined for brush or scraping cytology include the esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, trachea (tube that carries air to the lungs), and mouth.
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References: American Cancer Society.