Volume 8 • Issue 1 • 1000408
J Vet Sci Technol, an open access journal
ISSN: 2157-7579
Open Access Review Article
Ayele et al., J Vet Sci Technol 2017, 8:1
DOI: 10.4172/2157-7579.1000408
*Corresponding author: Lama Yimer, Wollega University, School of Veterinary
Medicine, Nekemte, Ethiopia, Tel: +251917081237; E-mail: lemayimer@gmail.com
Received October 05, 2016; Accepted December 15, 2016; Published January
02, 2017
Citation: Ayele L, Mohammed C, Yimer L (2017) Review on Diagnostic Cytology:
Techniques and Applications in Veterinary Medicine. J Vet Sci Technol 8: 408. doi:
10.4172/2157-7579.1000408
Copyright: © 2017 Ayele L, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and
source are credited.
Abstract
Cytology is a science of cells that is used to differentiate between normal cells, neoplastic cells and infamed cells.
It has great acceptance than any other diagnostic methods due to its quickness, inexpensiveness and simplicity. It
uses the techniques such as fne needle aspiration, impression, scraping, swabs, centesis and catheterization for
sample collection. Also slide preparation uses a simple technique such as squash, blood smear; needle spread
and line smear techniques. What makes cytology unique is that it can tell us the result of the diseases while the
patient is with us. This science has also wide application on determining the external and internal diseases including
neoplastic diseases. In case of neoplastic diseases it is important to differentiate between neoplastic nucleus,
neoplastic cytoplasm and neoplastic structure of different cells with their normal cells. In addition to these, it also
used in direct therapy, to form prognosis and to determinate next diagnostic procedures. Character of the lesion and
tissue sampled play pivotal roles in the diagnostic value of cytology. Familiarity with preferred sampling methods and
reported accuracy is critical for veterinary practitioners and sample of good quality is imperative. Different specimen
sampling methods and specimen processing methods should be properly practiced.
Review on Diagnostic Cytology: Techniques and Applications in
Veterinary Medicine
Lema Ayele, Chala Mohammed and Lama Yimer*
School of Veterinary Medicine, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Keywords: Diagnostic; Cytology; Techniques; Tumor
Introduction
Te history of diagnostic cytology is like a winding road with
many obstacles, but to the attentive traveler–the historian–brightly
illuminated directional signs and familiar names are visible in the
distance. Until the 19th century, microscopy was not respected in
medicine. Such giants in pathology as the Italian Morgagni (1682-
1771), the British Baillie (1761-1823), and the French Bichat (1771-
1802), did not appreciate the utility of the microscope. Johannes Müller
(1801-1858), a pathologist in Berlin, was the frst, in 1838, to show
cancer cells as they appeared in the microscope on scrapings from the
cut surface of surgically excised tumors. He illustrated, among other
things, cells of mammary carcinoma and osteosarcoma [1].
Te 1920s were momentous years in diagnostic cytology. Te frst
monograph of clinical cytology was published in Spain [2]. James Ewing
(1866- 1943) introduced aspiration cytology in New York City [3]
And Aurel Babes (1886-1961), of Rumania, and George Papanicolaou
(1883-1962), of New York City, published papers on detection of
uterine cervical cancers by examination of vaginal smears [4].
In the 1960s, cytology became accepted as a new specialty in
pathology. During the next two decades, cytology branched out to
all felds in medicine [5]. Cytology of even the most uncommon
tumors became familiar to cytologists [6]. New and improved imaging
techniques in radiology permitted rapid advances in aspiration cytology.
Hitherto untouched, deeply situated organs such as the pancreas
became easy targets for the aspirators [7]. Te frst monograph on
aspiration cytology was published in 1974 by a Swedish hematologist–
cytologist [8] and a guide book on aspiration cytology was published in
the United States in 1981 [9].
Diagnostic cytology is the science of interpretation of cells that
are either exfoliated from epithelial surfaces or removed from various
tissues [10,11]. It is a core veterinary pathology service involving
specimens from domestic animals, laboratory animals, and exotic
species. It can be carried out by diferent methods, which includes
collection and examination of exfoliated cells such as vaginal swabs,
sputum, urine, body fuids etc [12,13].
Unlike histopathology, cytology poorly diferentiates tumors,
cytological examination may not identify the tissue of origin (even
diferentiation between sarcomas and carcinomas can sometimes be
extremely difcult). Cytology, therefore, should not be regarded as
a substitute for histopathological examination of biopsy specimens.
Histology is more likely to provide a defnitive diagnosis and, since
biopsies preserve tissue architecture, grading and classifcation of the
tumor is usually possible [14].
Te advantages of diagnostic cytology is that it is a non-invasive,
simple procedure, helps in faster reporting, relatively inexpensive,
has high population acceptance and facilitates cancer screening in the
feld. Many samples for cytology can be obtained without anesthesia or
even sedation, with minimal risk in both healthy and critical patients
[15]. With the increasing availability of ultrasonographic, many more
internal organs and tissues can be evaluated than previously were
accessible [16]. In many cases, a defnitive cytological diagnosis can be
made. However, even when a specifc diagnosis cannot be rendered, the
information provided by cytology (e.g., infammatory versus neoplasia)
is useful for choosing additional tests to make a defnitive diagnosis
(e.g., culture versus histopathology) [17].
So far, some work had been reported regarding diagnostic cytology
in the World, but still the information on the role, application and
techniques of diagnostic cytology is scattered and its applications and
techniques particularly in veterinary medicine is not well documented
Tese existing scattered information and diferent research outputs are
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