What is Cytopathology?

Cytopathology is the branch of pathology that studies individual cells to detect diseases, particularly cancers and infections. Unlike histopathology, which involves examination of entire tissue samples, cytopathology focuses on examining loose or exfoliated cells from the body. It is minimally invasive, quick, and highly effective in screening and diagnosing a variety of conditions—making it a cornerstone of early disease detection.

What Does Cytopathology Involve?

In cytopathology, samples are usually collected through procedures like fine-needle aspiration (FNA), body fluid taps, or exfoliative sampling from areas such as the cervix (Pap smear), respiratory tract, or urine. These cells are spread on a slide, stained, and then examined under a microscope for any abnormalities in shape, size, or structure.

Key types of cytopathological testing include:

• Pap Smear (Papanicolaou Test): Screens for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions.

• Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC): Used to evaluate lumps in the breast, thyroid, lymph nodes, and other soft tissues.

• Body Fluid Cytology: Tests pleural, peritoneal, and cerebrospinal fluids for infections or malignancies.

• Sputum Cytology: Checks lung secretions for abnormal or cancerous cells.

• Urine Cytology: Detects bladder or kidney cancers.

Why is Cytopathology Important?

Cytopathology offers a rapid, cost-effective, and less invasive method of diagnosing disease. It enables early detection of cancerous or pre-cancerous conditions, which can significantly improve treatment outcomes. It’s also useful for monitoring known conditions or checking treatment response in cancer patients.

Common conditions detected via cytopathology:

• Cervical and uterine cancer

• Lung cancer and tuberculosis

• Breast lumps (benign or malignant)

• Thyroid nodules

• Infections in body fluids

Cytopathology continues to be an indispensable diagnostic tool in modern medicine, bridging the gap between screening and definitive diagnosis.