Chemistry

The following are the general categories of cytologic interpretation: Non-diagnostic No cytologic abnormalities Inflammation Hyperplasia/dysplasia Neoplasia Note:  Often more than one category is present, as inflammation can result in dysplastic changes in the surrounding tissue and inflammation often accompanies a neoplastic process. Non-diagnostic samples There are many reasons for obtaining a non-diagnostic sample: Poor cellularity […]

Sample collection and smear preparation Cytology samples can be collected from solid lesions by several techniques including: Aspiration cytology – fine needle aspiration (FNA): Ideal for cutaneous or subcutaneous masses since it avoids surface contamination. Non-aspiration method: Samples often of equal or better quality than those obtained with the aspiration method (see below). Works well

Cytologic evaluation of tissue aspirates, impressions or scrapings offers a rapid assessment of tissue pathology and is often a practical in-clinic diagnostic tool that has the ability to offer a diagnosis, aid in prognostication, direct therapeutic interventions and suggest further diagnostic testing. The ability of the sample to meet all of these goals relies on

This section of the site is dedicated to cytology. Note, we have strived to provide images from smears stained with rapid stains (e.g. Diff-quik®) because this is what you are used to seeing in practice versus the modified-Wright’s stain we use (and love) in the Clinical Pathology Laboratory. Overview: Real short information on why we

The major minerals that are measured in chemistry testing are calcium (total and free ionized), phosphate and magnesium. Calcium and phosphate homeostasis involves interrelated actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D ( the active form of vitamin D is 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol), and calcitonin. These hormones influence calcium and phosphate release from bones (osteolysis) and excretion or resorption from

In health, blood pH (which is used synonymously as extracellular pH) is maintained within a narrow range of approximately 7.35 to 7.45. Regulation of acid-base involves chemical buffering with extra- and intracellular buffers, control of partial pressure of carbon dioxide by altering respiration, and control of bicarbonate and hydrogen excretion by the kidneys. In general,

Bilirubin is considered a test of hepatic function, in essence the ability of the hepatocyte to take up unconjugated bilirubin in blood, conjugate it (render it water-soluble) and excrete bilirubin into bile, where it is broken down in the intestine by bacteria. However, in reality, bilirubin is not used as a test of the functional capacity

Structure Blood supply The liver has a dual blood supply with the portal vein supplying 60‐70% of the blood flow to the liver, the remainder being supplied by the hepatic artery. The efferent blood flow is via the hepatic vein which enters the caudal vena cava. Microscopic structure The liver is composed of plates of

This non-traditional approach to acid-base assessment involves consideration of strong ions and the effects of proteins on acid-base status. The strong ion approach is quite complicated and uses many formulas, which are beyond the scope of this content. However, this approach can be very useful because it is: More physiologic than the traditional way of

The body tries to minimize pH changes and responds to acid-base disturbances with body buffers, compensatory responses by the lungs and kidney (to metabolic and respiratory disturbances, respectively) and by the kidney attempting to correct for a metabolic disturbances. Available body buffers: There are intracellular and extracellular buffers for primary respiratory and metabolic acid-base disturbances. Extracellular buffers