Diagnostic Cytology in the United States

Abstract

The situation of diagnostic cytology in the United States is rather simple because, as cytology developed in the United States after the initial few years, it became the domaine of pathologists and not of clinicians. Therefore the standards for performance of cytology have been established by the American Board of Pathology and not by government agency. Current requirements for special certification in cytopathology require training of 4 years in anatomic pathology, with a certificate in anatomic pathology, plus 1 year of specialized approved fellowship in cytopathology that allows the candidate to sit for a special examination in cytopathology. In other words, one needs the diploma in anatomic pathology first to be approved as a specialist plus 1 more year of approved training to obtain certification in cytopathology. Other pathologists of course are not prevented from practising cytopathology but they must be certified in anatomic pathology before they can practise.