Overview

• Microscopic study of cells obtained from tissue, internal organs or masses.
• Cells are smeared or pressed (compression smear), onto a slide and stained, then viewed by light microscopy.
• Rapid, requires minimal equipment.
• Direct evaluation of neoplastic/inflammatory changes provided representative sample obtained.

Sampling

Tests

Methodologies

• Modified Wright's stain Staining techniques: Wright's stain or Giemsa stain Staining techniques: Giemsa: best for inflammatory lesions.
• Diff-quick stain Staining techniques: Diffquick: can adjust color as blue and yellow components are separate. Poor nuclear detail.
• Light microscopy: scan at x4 and x10.
• Use x50 and x100 for fine detail.

Validity

Sensitivity

• Less sensitive than histopathology because more difficult to obtain representative sample.

Specificity

• Low compared to histopathology as may miss diagnostic cells.

Technique (intrinsic) limitations

• Information about tissue architecture cannot be obtained.
• Requires confirmation by histopathology.

Technician (extrinsic) limitations

• Difficult to obtain representative sample.
• Requires some experience to obtain consistently reliable samples.

Result Data

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from VetMedResource and PubMed.
• Dunn J K & Villiers E (1998) General principles of cytological interpretation. In Pract 20, 429-437.
• Moriello K A & Rosenthal R C (1990) Clinical approach to tumors of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 20 (4), 1163-1190.
• Mills J N (1989) Lymph node cytology. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 19 (4), 697-717.