CYTOLOGY SAMPLE COLLECTION
PREPARED BY MR. ABHIJIT DAS
FINE
NEEDLE ASPIRATION PROCEDURE:
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is a minimally invasive
diagnostic procedure used to collect cells from a lump or mass for examination.
Preparation:
o The
area is cleaned and sometimes local anesthesia is applied.
o For
deep-seated lesions, ultrasound
or CT imaging is used to guide the needle.
Procedure:
o A
fine needle (22-25 gauge) attached to a syringe is inserted into the lesion.
o The
syringe creates suction while the needle is
moved gently to aspirate cells.
o The
sample is spread onto slides for microscopic
examination.
Post-Procedure:
o The
area is cleaned and bandaged.
o The
patient is monitored briefly for any complications, such as minor bleeding.
USG
FNAC:
Ultrasound-guided FNAC is a technique used to obtain
cells from deep-seated or non-palpable (something that can’t be touched)
lesions with real-time imaging assistance.
1.
Preparation:
o The
patient is positioned for optimal access to the target area.
o The
skin is cleaned, and a sterile ultrasound probe is used to locate the lesion.
o Local
anesthesia may be applied if necessary.
2.
Procedure:
o The
ultrasound provides real-time imaging of the
lesion.
o A
fine needle (22-25 gauge) is inserted through the skin, guided by the
ultrasound to the exact location of the lesion.
o Suction
is applied with a syringe, and the needle is moved to aspirate cells.
o The
sample is collected and prepared on slides for microscopic analysis.
3.
Post-Procedure:
o The
site is cleaned and bandaged.
o
The patient is monitored for any
complications, such as bleeding.
CT-GUIDED FNAC:
CT-guided FNAC is a procedure used to collect cells
from deep-seated or non-palpable lesions, guided by a Computed Tomography (CT) scan for precise needle placement.
1.
Preparation:
o The
patient is positioned on the CT scanner table.
o The
skin is cleaned and sometimes local anesthesia is applied.
o A
preliminary CT scan is taken to locate the
lesion.
2.
Procedure:
o Using
the CT images, the doctor determines the best path
for the needle.
o A
fine needle (22-25 gauge) is inserted into the lesion under CT guidance.
o Once
the needle is in position, suction is applied using a syringe to aspirate
cells.
o The
sample is collected for cytological examination.
3.
Post-Procedure:
o The
area is cleaned and bandaged.
o
The patient is monitored for
complications, such as bleeding.
EUS-FNAC:
EUS-FNAC is a procedure that combines
endoscopy and ultrasound to obtain tissue samples from deep-seated
lesions, especially in the gastrointestinal tract and
surrounding organs (e.g., pancreas, liver, lymph nodes).
1.
Preparation:
o The
patient is sedated, and an endoscope (a flexible tube with a camera) equipped
with an ultrasound probe is passed through
the mouth into the digestive tract.
o The
ultrasound provides real-time imaging to locate the lesion.
2.
Procedure:
o Once
the lesion is identified using ultrasound, a fine needle is passed through the
endoscope to puncture the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and reach the
lesion.
o Suction
is applied to aspirate cells or tissue from the lesion into the needle.
o The
sample is collected for microscopic examination.
3.
Post-Procedure:
o The
patient is monitored during recovery for any complications, such as bleeding or
infection.
o The
collected sample is analyzed to diagnose conditions such as cancers, cysts, or
other abnormalities in organs like the pancreas or lymph nodes.
- NOTE
- · A lump or mass refers to an abnormal growth or swelling in the body.
- · Aspirate means to draw in or remove a substance using suction.
- · Palpable refers to something that can be touched or felt.
RESPIRATORY SAMPLES
Here are key methods of respiratory sample collection
for cytological examination:
1.
Sputum Cytology:
o Patients
cough deeply to
produce sputum (mucus from the lower airways).
o Collected
in the morning.
o Useful
for detecting lung
infections, malignancies, or inflammatory conditions.
2.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL):
o Performed
during bronchoscopy.
o Saline is instilled into
a lung segment and then aspirated, collecting cells from deep within the lungs.
o Often
used to diagnose infections
and lung cancer.
3.
Bronchial Brushings:
o A
brush is inserted
via bronchoscope to
scrape cells from
bronchial walls.
o Helps
diagnose conditions like lung cancer.
4.
Pleural Fluid Cytology
(Thoracentesis):
o In
cases of pleural effusion,
a needle is inserted into the pleural space to collect fluid.
(Effusion refers to the abnormal accumulation of fluid in body cavities)
o Examining
pleural fluid can help identify infections, cancer,
or other conditions affecting the pleura.
FIXATION OF CYTOLOGY SAMPLES
Fixation in cytology preserves cells on slides to keep
their structure intact for examination. Common methods include:
1.
Air-Drying:
Cells are allowed to dry
on the slide, often used for stains like Giemsa. Stains like Giemsa react well with air-dried cells, improving visibility of cell
features like the nucleus and cytoplasm.
2.
Wet Fixation:
Slides are immediately placed in an alcohol fixative (e.g., 95% ethanol) to keep
cells stable.
3.
Spray Fixatives: The
alcohol based solution is
sprayed directly onto the slide after the sample is smeared.