Cytology

The types of sample material examined are as follows:

• Gynaecological cytology: cervico-vaginal fluid, ovarian cyst fluid, gynaecological  peritoneal fluid, breast lymph nodes, breast punctures
• Non-gynaecological cytology: cytology o the urinary passages, bronchial brushing, brushing of bile ducts, pancreatic cytology, mediastinal cytology, para-esophageal cytology, ascite fluid, gastro-enterological peritoneal fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial aspiration, pleural fluid, cephalo rachidian fluid, other fluid of neurological origin (cysts, CUSA), pericardial fluid, joint fluid, thyroid nodule punctures, superficial mass punctures (other),      adenopathy puncture,  puncture of deep organ lesions,  meta-bone marrow punctures, eye fluid, EBUS (pneumo punctures), anal and mouth smears.

Techniques : monolayer, cytospin, smear test, cellular or cytoblock.

Staining: The following stains are used in cytology, some produced with the aid of automated stainers:

• Papanicolaou staining for gynaecological samples.
• Papanicolaou staining for non-gynaecological samples.
• Diff-Quick staining.
• May-Grunwald Giemsa staining.

“Head and neck” mass punctures

The puncture consultation for head and neck masses using a fine needle, carried out jointly with  a radiologist, provides the patient with a rapid diagnosis. The relatively painless sampling method is based on an examination of a few hundred cells. In most cases this procedure permits an almost immediate diagnosis and therefore ensures an appropriate and rapid choice of treatment on the part of the clinicians.