Cytopathology refers to diagnostic techniques that are used to examine cells from various body sites to determine the cause or nature of disease. Cytological methods date to the mid 19th century, when investigators detected abnormal cells in the body fluids, such as urine, sputum, effusions and gastric secretions. George papnicolaou in New York city initiated the modern era of diagnostic cytology in 1928, which was initially introduced as Exfoliative cytology and evolved over the next three decades (mainly Europe) to become the mainstay branch of diagnostic cytology known ad Interventional cytology when he delivered a paper entitled new cancer diagnosis, while studying the hormonal effects of the menstrual cycle on squamous cells exfoliated from human uterine cervix, papnicolaou discovered cellular abnormalities that were associated with uterine cancer. Despite initial skepticism, cytological examination, popularly termed the “Pap test” has been widely accepted as the most reliable screening test for the early detection of cancer and precancerous conditions. Diagnostic cytology pertains to the interpretation of cells from the human body that either exfoliate (desquamate) spontaneously from epithelial surfaces or are obtained from various organs/tissues by different clinical procedures.
The cytology has both advantages and limitations compared with the examination of histological samples. Less trauma, a rapid diagnosis, greater convenience, recurrent carcinomas, also as a screening procedure and tumors that are difficult to access by biopsy sampled by cytological methods. Due to small size of the lesion the extent and depth of invasion are difficult to assess.
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