This article will go over the difference between cytology and cytopathology.
It will also explain how histology is different from cytology, and the difference between cytopathology and pathology.
Cytology Uses
A cytology smear is a diagnostic test.
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These tests can also be done when there is a known or suspected disorder.
An example is doing a fine needle aspiration to collect sample cells from a tumor.
The cells are concentrated, plated, and stained on slides so they can be examined under the microscope.
However, theinitial diagnosis of lymphomausually requires a larger sample from a biopsy.
Cytopathology is the study of disease at the cellular level.
“Cyto” refers to cells and “pathology” to disease.
Cytology vs.
Pathology
Cytology is the study of cells.
Pathology is a field of medicine that studies diseases.
Lab tests, like cytology smears, can be a tool that pathologists use when researching a disease.
A cytopathology test is sometimes called a cytology report or cytopath.
Other aspects of disease stand out only when the cells are examined along with other nearby cells.
Histopathology usually refers to whole slices of tissue being viewed and evaluated under the microscope.
When cells are looked at for abnormalities or signs of disease, it’s usually called cytopathology.
Pathology is the branch of medicine that looks at why and how diseases happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
George Papanicolaou is known as the father of modern cytology.
He was a pathologist who created a way to test for cervical cancer.
The Papanicolaou testbetter known as a Pap smearwas named after him.
A pathologist has a medical degree (MD).
They also have special training in the techniques used in pathology.
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