Academic Journals In Cytology
Cytology involves looking at the individual
cells for abnormal changes of both the nucleus and also the cytoplasm (body) of the cell. The nucleus contains the
genetic material that controls the cell, and determines what type of cell it will become, but also controls its behavior. Changes in the nucleus, gauged by changes in its size, shape and appearance of the nuclear material (chromatin) can be assessed by a trained cytologist and this can be used to diagnose possible
cancer and also pre-cancer. “Pre-cancer” means cell changes which if left untreated may develop into a true cancer. Cytology can also be used to diagnose many non-cancerous medical conditions such as infections and systemic diseases.
There are two main branches of cytology. There are those involved with the assessment of pre-cancerous and, occasionally, cancerous, changes of the cervix (mouth of the womb) such as in cervical
cancer screening, which are generally referred to as gynaecological cytology.
There is also the use of cytology to diagnose medical conditions in other
tissues of the body, generally referred to as non-gynaecological or diagnostic cytology. Samples received by laboratories will include samples which can be taken by collection (e.g. a urine sample) or by brushing the area with a sampling device (e.g. cervical sample, some lungs samples). Others are taken by use of a needle inserted into a body site (termed a fine needle aspiration or FNA) which can be done for nearly every part of the body.
Cytology is widely used in medicine for the prevention and diagnosis of disease. In 2016 over 3,000,000 cervical
screening samples were taken in England as part of the cervical
screening programme. There is no accurate figure available for the use of cytology in other tissues, but it is used on a daily basis to help diagnose cancerous and non-cancerous conditions of the respiratory, urinary, and gastro-intestinal tracts as well as thyroid gland, salivary glands and lymph nodes to name but a few.
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