Without cytopathology, diagnosing some forms of infectious diseases and cancer would be very difficult, as these serious illnesses may mimic symptoms of other health issues or have very few symptoms at all until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Using advanced techniques and technology, a cytopathologist will work with other specialized medical staff and physicians to help properly identify specific cancers that affect many areas of the body.
But exactly what is cytopathology, and why is it so important for medical science and the fight against cancer?
Cytopathology and Testing
Originally termed and founded in 1858 by a man named Rudolph Virchow, cytopathology (sometimes referred to as cytology) is the study of diseases on a cellular level, making it one of the most important diagnostic fields when it comes to properly identifying and treating different forms of cancer. While a patient may rarely see a cytopathologist and work more directly with their personal physician, the cytopathologist plays a crucial role in proper health care.
Typically, a health care physician can gather a sample of cells using a technique known as a "smear", so called because the sample will be "smeared" across a glass slide and viewed under a microscope.
In fact, while many doctors do some lab work, a specially trained cytopathologist may spend most of their working day looking through microscopes at various slides and specimens collected by nurses and physicians, who rely on the cytopathologist's special knowledge at diagnosing diseases at the cellular level.
What Kind of Cancers Can Be Diagnosed?
Many different types of cancers are diagnosed using cytopathology from all regions of the body. It is often used in gynecological work for identifying cervical cancer, but is also used to pinpoint other infectious and inflammatory diseases as well. Additionally, cytopathology is used to diagnose cancers of the liver, pancreas, eye, lymph node, thyroid and other areas of the body.
Contacting a Cytopathologist
Typically, physicians will collect samples needed for a cytopathologist, eliminating the need for a patient to contact one directly. However, should a person wish to speak to a professional cytopathologist directly for a second opinion or as part of a physician referral, a doctor will usually have several references on hand that can be requested.
The Internet is also a good tool in finding a cytopathologist or physician offices that have one on staff; for example, a quick search for Pensacola cytopathologists on a search engine will bring up several pages of results.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 