Let's look at how a cytology smear is performed and what it means. The human body is made up of millions of cells that are renewed daily. Therefore, one of the most accurate and logical ways to assess women's he alth in gynecology is to study individual elements under a microscope, which makes it possible to draw a conclusion about how physiologically the key processes proceed. In this regard, the analysis for cytology in gynecology (from the Greek "cytos", which means "cell") has been in demand for a long time, and the emergence of modern laboratory high-tech research does not detract from its importance.
When is the study ordered?
As you know, the analysis of cytology in gynecology is indispensable primarily in the definition of tumors and precancerous conditions, butalso allows detection of many infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In this regard, it is successfully used today in many areas of medicine, including gynecology. A smear for cytology in women is assigned to patients in the following cases:
- For the prevention of various diseases. For example, gynecologists recommend taking such an analysis every year for the timely detection of all kinds of neoplasms, infections and inflammations.
- As part of the diagnosis, such a study allows you to identify the nature of the disease, determining the presence of a tumor and its nature, as well as detecting a concomitant disease. Doctors prescribe such a study to either confirm or refute a preliminary diagnosis.
- To exercise control. During the therapeutic course, patients are prescribed a cytological examination to monitor the dynamics of the disease, if necessary, changes are made to the therapy plan, and recovery is confirmed. For cancer patients, periodic cytology testing can detect recurrences.
What does a cytology test show in gynecology?
This test may have different tasks depending on which cells are taken for microscopy. First of all, the laboratory staff evaluates how the test substance corresponds to the norm. For example, this is reported by the shape and structure of the biomaterial, along with the presence or absence of certain inclusions in it. The presence of leukocytes in samples is cause for concern.(blood cells that perform a protective function) or microscopic organisms, which will indicate the course of infectious gynecological processes.
Detection of abnormal cells
What a cytology test in gynecology shows, a qualified specialist will tell. The most formidable sign of pathology is the identification of atypical cells with the presence of malignant degeneration. In this case, the result of a cytological analysis will be the reason for performing an oncological search, that is, a diagnosis will be required aimed at detecting cancer, which is probably still at an early stage and does not show changes in he alth.
Also, in addition to the analysis of cytology in gynecology, a study is carried out on histology. The difference between these two types of diagnostics is that during a histological examination, physicians study not individual cell clusters, but tissues of various organs or formations. This analysis requires, as a rule, a preliminary removal of the biomaterial (biopsy, that is, a piece of tissue is pinched off), or even a surgical intervention is performed for this.
Preparation for histological analysis requires more effort than cytological examination. Therefore, it is carried out much less often and only on condition of sufficient grounds, while cytology is often prescribed for preventive purposes in order to make sure that the patient is he althy. Let's talk in more detail about how cytology differs from histology in gynecology.
Main differences between histology and cytology
Both of these studies can shed light on he alth issues. People who are far from medicine do not always understand these terms. The question arises as to how, in fact, histology differs from cytology. Let's try to figure it out.
Histology is a discipline dedicated to the study of tissues of various organisms, including the human. This is the name of the process of conducting the study of biological material. Cytology is the science of the structure of all living things, so it focuses on cells. The same word means a method that involves the study of structural units within the walls of the laboratory.
Each case has its own object of study, which is the main difference between these areas. Thus, histology studies tissues, their structure and functions. Cytology, on the other hand, focuses on the study of the structure of a smaller scale - on cellular elements.
Biopsy
In order to perform a histological examination, you must first remove a fragment of the necessary tissue from the body. For this, a biopsy is performed. Sometimes the fence is carried out simultaneously with surgical intervention. The extracted material is prepared in several stages, and then it is carefully analyzed directly under a microscope. The result will be the basis for an accurate diagnosis.
When is histology used?
Histology is an invasive method andusually it is used when the disease has already made itself felt. Meanwhile, cytology is carried out without causing any injury to the body. However, this procedure makes it possible to recognize a gynecological pathology that is just emerging in the body, even in the absence of alarming symptoms.
How is a cytology test taken in gynecology? An elementary cytological examination requires taking a smear along with placing the biomaterial on glass and drying, after which it is stained and viewed at high magnification. The conclusion about the development of pathology in this case is made on the basis of the observed change in the cellular structure.
The two described studies are often carried out one after another: first, the tissue as a whole is studied, and then a deeper analysis of the material is performed. Sometimes there is no need for histological intervention and only cytology can be dispensed with. For example, to find out if the patient has developed uterine erosion, it is enough to conduct a smear examination. Now let's find out how many days a cytology test is done.
How long will it take to get results?
The duration of a smear test for cytology in women directly depends on the workload of the laboratory. Unlike many other types of modern analyzes, cytology, as part of its classical implementation, requires the mandatory participation of a microscopy specialist. True, in recent years, physicians have been actively using cytological automated systems that can speed up the process.research several times. On average, the result of the analysis is ready in a maximum of three days, but in some urgent situations it can be issued even within one hour.
A cytological smear usually evaluates size along with the shape, number and location of cells, which makes it possible to diagnose an underlying, precancerous and cancerous disease of the female genital organs.
Transcript of results
As a rule, when decoding an analysis for cytology in gynecology, the following parameters are taken into account:
- The material is adequate. This suggests that the biomaterial is of good quality, contains a sufficient amount of the relevant cell types.
- Insufficiently complete (or may be indicated as insufficiently adequate). In this case, metaplastic cells, elements of endocervix and squamous epithelium are absent in the tissue, or they are observed in insufficient quantities.
- The biomaterial is completely defective (or inadequate). With this indicator, it is impossible to judge the presence or absence of a pathological change in the organs of the female genitourinary system.
In the process of preparing the result, the following conclusions may be indicated:
- No features. This means that the cells of the squamous epithelium in the smear for cytology are within the normal range, and the cytogram itself corresponds to the age.
- Inflammatory changes in the epithelium are reported by an increased volume of leukocytes, when an infection occurs,a significant number of cocci and rods. It is possible to detect an infectious agent (indicating the pathogen), for example Trichomonas, yeast.
- About the presence of a suspicion of cancer in the event that a certain number of malignant cells are observed.
Examination for oncogenic papillomavirus serotype
When detecting a minimal change or in case of suspicion of oncology, it is recommended to conduct an examination for an oncogenic papillomavirus serotype.
What are squamous cells? This criterion is important in the framework of passing a smear for the described type of laboratory study. To obtain a good test result, it is necessary that the epithelial cells are within the normal range, then the cytogram can be considered without features and will meet the age and necessary standards of women's he alth.
How does liquid cytology work and what is it in gynecology?
Cancer usually starts in the cells that line the inside of the cervix. The area of this organ, located next to the body of the uterus, is covered with glandular cells. The area next to the vagina is covered with flat cells. Glandular and squamous cells meet in a place called the transformation zone. It is in this zone that most cancerous tumors arise.
But he althy cells do not become cancerous overnight. Normal first turn into so-called precancerous and only then become dangerous. Such a change candetect under a microscope. For a long time, a study of a vaginal smear was used for this purpose, for which the doctor took cell material from the cervix with a spatula, applied it to the glass, dried it, then stained it and examined it under a microscope.
It is worth noting that during the transfer, some of the cells are lost, and due to drying and staining, the remaining ones change shape. As a result, a doctor who examines a smear under a microscope can easily be mistaken, thus missing cancer or mistaking a he althy cell for cancer.
Diagnostic accuracy
The accuracy of standard diagnostics is only forty to sixty percent. And the method of analysis for cytology in gynecology makes it possible to avoid such errors. As part of this study, in order not to lose a single cell, during the sampling of the biomaterial, the doctor uses a special brush, which is immediately placed in a preservative solution and sent to the laboratory. I must say that it removes mucus and other impurities that can interfere with distinguishing between cancer cells.
Computer smear analysis
Further, all components are collected from the solution in the laboratory, a multilayer smear is made, it is stained with a special paint that does not change the cell shape, and then analyzed under a microscope. To make the study even more reliable, the smear is subjected to computer analysis. It is worth noting that the accuracy of liquid cytology is ninety-five percent.
