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Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of using 10% formalin as a fixative in biopsy handling?
Which of the following is NOT a step in the tissue processing for histopathological examination?
In gross examination of a biopsy specimen, what is important to assess about the surgical margins?
What is the role of Xylene in the tissue processing protocol?
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In histopathology, which stain is predominantly used for identifying nuclei in tissue samples?
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What is the primary focus of molecular pathology?
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Which statement is NOT a specific objective of clinical pathology?
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What type of biopsy involves the removal of the entire lesion along with a margin of adjacent normal tissue?
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Which test would be used to detect the presence of tuberculosis at an early stage?
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Which branch of pathology focuses primarily on changes in the chemical composition of body fluids?
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Study Notes
Pathology Overview
- Pathology is the medical science branch focusing on disease causes, nature, and effects.
- Defined diseases as abnormalities in organ or tissue structure and function.
Specialties of Pathology
- Histopathology: Examines tissue changes due to disease.
- Hematology: Studies blood and blood diseases.
- Clinical Pathology: Analyzes body fluids for disease diagnosis.
- Immunopathology: Focuses on immune system-related diseases.
- Experimental Pathology: Investigates disease mechanisms in research settings.
- Molecular Pathology: Studies biochemical processes at the cellular level.
Molecular Pathology
- Investigates biochemical and biophysical mechanisms that lead to disease.
- Employs nucleic acid-based tests for diagnosis and prognosis.
- Common uses include prenatal testing and pharmacotherapy.
Clinical Pathology
- Analyzes changes in body fluid composition aiding disease diagnosis.
- Also known as laboratory medicine; essential in diagnosing and treating conditions.
Specific Objectives of Clinical Pathology
- Disease diagnosis: Particularly at the sub-clinical stage.
- Differential Diagnosis: Distinguishes between similar symptoms, e.g., red urine causes.
- Drug effectiveness and toxicity assessment.
- Prognosis estimation for disease outcomes.
Biopsy and Autopsy
- Biopsy: Tissue examination from a living body, involving gross and microscopic analysis.
- Autopsy: A thorough post-mortem examination to determine cause of death and evaluate disease.
Types of Biopsy
- Incisional: Removes part of a lesion for diagnosis.
- Excisional: Entire lesion with normal margin removed, serving both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
- Punch biopsy: Collects samples using biopsy forceps from various body areas.
- Core needle biopsy: Samples internal organs with a wide-bore needle.
- Curettage biopsy: Diagnoses internal diseases, such as endometrial conditions.
Handling of Biopsy
- Biopsies stored in containers with 10% formalin fixative to preserve proteins and prevent autolysis.
- Must be sent to the lab with detailed request forms including patient and tissue information.
Gross Examination Principles
- Critically requires specimen identification and orientation.
- Key data to record: type, dimensions, weight, shape, consistency, and surgical margins.
Histopathological Techniques
- Aims at preserving microscopic anatomy and preparing tissue sections (4-5 microns thick).
- Steps include fixation, dehydration, cleaning, embedding, cutting, and staining.
Tissue Processing Steps
- Fixation: Denaturation or precipitation of cellular proteins to preserve structure, commonly with 10% formalin.
- Dehydration: Water removal using graded alcohol.
- Cleaning: Alcohol is replaced with xylene to create spaces for wax infiltration.
- Embedding: Paraffin wax is used to form tissue blocks for sectioning.
- Cutting: Thin sections trimmed with microtome.
- Staining: Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) is the standard stain for observing tissue characteristics.
Common Stains in Histopathology
- H&E stain: Nuclei appear dark blue; collagen and cytoplasm appear pink.
- Special stains:
- PAS stain for glycogen and mucin.
- Congo-red stain for amyloid detection.
- Sudan-black for fat presence.
- Gimsa stain identifies Helicobacter pylori.
Cytology
- The study of cell morphology, including normal and abnormal characteristics.
- Common methods include fluid cytology and Pap smears from the cervix.
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Description
This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of pathology, including its definition, specialties, and the study of diseases. Learn about various branches such as histopathology, hematology, and molecular pathology, and understand the implications of disease on organ and tissue structure and function.
