Role of Cytology in Modern Medicine

Abstract

Cytology or Cytopathology is morphological study of cells. By the definition it has to be microscopic as cells can't be visualized by naked eye examination. The cells are structural and functional units of our body. The diseases start at cellular level and usually impart some cellular morphological alterations. Proper recognition of these findings leads us to the correct diagnosis of the disease. Cytology is the morphological study of the cells. Peripheral smears and bone marrow aspirates are also examples of cytology and the same is true for gram and Ziehl-Neelsen stain for Acid Fast bacilli. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination is another form of cytology. In a way we are all used to cytology. Various cytological examinations had been tried for years "; however the new era of cytology ushered by Papniacolaou's introduction of cervical smear cytology to detect various stages of dysplasia and carcinoma ⁵.