what cells are commonly found in exfoliative cytology (7)
- neutrophils
- lymphocytes
- eosinophils
- macrophages
- mesothelial cell
- mast cell
- erythrocyte
describe the neutrophils commonly exfoliated (cytology)
- degenerated, possibly some morphological changes (hypersegmentation, pyknosis, karyolysis, karyorrhexis)
define pyknosis
neutrophil with a condensed nucleus
define karyolysis
- loss of nuclear membrane
define karyorrhexis
fragmentation of cell nucleus
describe the lymphocytes (2 types)
- can be the same as in blood
- plasma cells
describe plasma cells
lymphocyte
- is the same size or larger than neutrophils
- are ACTIVATED LYMPHOCYTES
- oval, moderate to abundant basophilic cytoplasm
- round, eccentric deep blue nucleus
- halo around the nucleus (the golgi apparatus)
describe the eosinophils
the same as in the blood
describe the macrophages
- are tissue phagocytes
- mature monocyte
- large ovals
- vacuoles may contain material
- can be multinucleated or giant (union of macrophages usually due to the presence of granulomatous reaction, foreign body)
describe mesothelial cells
- flattened epithelial cells of mesenchymal origin that line the body’s cavities, and visceral surfaces
- large and round to oval nucleus
- may be multinucleated
- nuclear chromatin is finely reticulated
- may have nucleoli
- may have a corona (fringe border)
- cytoplasm is slightly basophilic and may contain phagocytic debris
describe mast cells
- tissue cell
- round to oval shape
- round to oval nucleus
- contain numerous blue to purple cytoplasmic granules containing a variety of stored inflammatory mediators (histamine, serotonin, proteolytic enzymes, anticoagulants, chemotactic factors )
- role in allergy and protection
define chemotactic factors
- molecules that attract and guide the movement of cells, such as phagocytes
- attract inflammatory cells (eosinophils, neutrophils)
what roles do mast cells play
- allergies and anaphylaxis
- protection (immediately involved in wound healing and defense against pathogens)
what are the 5 possible cytology outcomes?
- normal
- reactive/hypersegmentation
- cystic
- neoplastic
- inflammatory
how to differentiate dormant vs active cells
- cell size
- nuclear size
- appearance of the nucleus
- cytoplasmic granularity
- presence of mitotic figures
define reactive cells
- cells that respond to a stimulus but return to normal once the stimulus has been removed
- changes include: cell size, nuclear size, multiplication rates
define neoplastic cells
- instantly show similar changes to reactive cells, but the changes continue long after the stimulus is removed
- changes in genetic code
- cellular changes are more extreme
describe inflammation
- a normal physiological response
- a protective response to tissue/cell injury
- chemotactic factors released from damaged tissue attract neutrophils and macrophages to the inflamed site (eosinophils and basophils may also be evident)
functions of inflammation (4)
- destroy the agent
- dilute the agent
- isolate damage
- begin the repair process
what are the cardinal signs of inflammation? (5)
- swelling
- redness
- pain
- heat
- loss of function
what are the 4 classes of inflammation cytology
- purulent/suppurative
- pyogranulomatous
- granulomatous/chronic
- eosinophilic
describe purulent inflammation
- aka suppurative or acute inflammation
- common (most are caused by bacteria)
- typically >85% neutrophils
- a small number of macrophages and lymphocytes may be present
pyogranulomatous inflammation
- aka chronic/active
- 50-75% neutrophils
granulomatous inflammation
aka chronic inflammation
- >70% of cells are mononuclear (monocytes, macrophages, giant cells)
- few neutrophils
