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Cytopathology in Oncology pp 13–29Cite as

Ancillary Studies on Neoplastic Cytologic Specimens

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Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 160))

Abstract

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is a safe, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic procedure that is widely used for evaluating lesions at virtually any site in the human body. In order to provide valuable information that enables oncologists to make optimal therapeutic decisions, the use of ancillary studies as diagnostic adjuncts in cytology is often required. Ancillary studies allow us to document a lesion to be neoplastic or nonneoplastic, benign or malignant, primary or metastatic malignancy, and the possible primary origin of a metastatic neoplasm. In addition, some tests may provide prognostic and predictive information and assess eligibility of the patient for certain targeted therapies. Immunocytochemistry is the most commonly used ancillary method on cytology specimens; flow cytometric immunophenotyping is a very useful adjunct for the diagnosis of hematopoietic neoplasms. Recently, advances in molecular biology and biomedical research have had a major impact on the practice of pathology including cytology. As a result, cytogenetic and molecular studies have been increasingly applied in daily practice. It is noteworthy that ancillary test results should be evaluated in concert with cytologic features, clinical and radiologic findings to avoid erroneous interpretation. This chapter outlines the utility of immunocytochemistry, flow cytometric, cytogenetic, and molecular studies in the cytologic diagnosis of neoplastic lesions including their indications, sample requirements, reliability and limitations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Department of Pathology, Unit 53 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Y. Gong

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Correspondence to Y. Gong .

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  1. Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Ritu Nayar

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gong, Y. (2014). Ancillary Studies on Neoplastic Cytologic Specimens. In: Nayar, R. (eds) Cytopathology in Oncology. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 160. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38850-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38850-7_2

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