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Cytology,
as a study of exfoliative cells, dates back to the mid 19th century. In
1847, Pouchet describes the morphological changes, during the hormonal cycle,
in the cells from vaginal smears. In 1860 Beale makes the first study, providing
a description of cancer morphology in the desquamated cells. Cytology, as
a tool for the purpose of the diagnosis of cervical cancer, was first introduced
by Georges N. Papanicolaou in 1928. papanicolaou devised a staining method
which is still in use today, in cytology laboratories. The test, comprising
the screening of cervical cancer, bears his name, the well known, Pap test.
For the last forty years, cytology has been recognized as a method of screening
for cancer particularly cervical cancer and other cancers arising from the
female genital tract. The method permits the discover of precancerous cells
at an early stage thus facilitating treatment and cure. As a result of mass
screening, cancer of the cervix has luckily become very rare, at least in
industrialized countries. Cytology is not limited in its scope because it
allows the finding of cancerous cells in a variety of body sites, by diverse
methods such as:
· Natural exfoliation of cells (urine, sputum, body cavity fluid, cerebrospinal fluid) · Washes of body organ (stomach, peritoneal cavity) · Scrappings (cervix, esophagus, bronchus) · Fine needle aspiration in a solid or a cystic nodule. This can be achieved under the guidance of ultrasound, on an out-patient basis, thus reducing hospitalization time. This is an important aid at low cost, easily tolerated by the patient and allowing a rapid diagnosis which quickly defferentiates between a benign or a more serious lesion that would later be excised.
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Dernière mise à
jour: le 31 janvier, 2004
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Pour en savoir plus: Meisels A, Morin C: Cytopathology of the Uterine Cervix. ASCP Press, Chicago 1990. Gloor E, Shu YJ: Comprehensive Cancer Cytopathology of the Cervix Uteri. Color atlas of cancer cytopathology, vol 4. McGraw-Hill, New-York 1995. Koss LG: Diagnostic Cytology and Its Histopathologic Bases. J.B.Lippincott Co, Philadelphia 1979.
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