Minimally Invasive Cytopathology and Accurate Diagnosis: Technical Procedures and Ancillary Techniques

Abstract

In recent years, the demand for cytopathological accurate diagnoses has increased as expanding minimally invasive procedures obtain materials from patients with advanced cancer for diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive purposes. However, inadequate knowledge of cytopathological technical procedures and ancillary techniques by clinicians remains the most common reason for the limited availability of cytopathology. The objectives of this review were to understand the technical procedures, ancillary techniques, and application and effectiveness of various types of tests in cytopathology. Each of the many ancillary technologies described in the literature has specific advantages and limitations and laboratories select one or more methods depending on their infrastructure and expertise to achieve the goal from initial screening of the disease to the final diagnosis of the cytopathology. This paper systematically reviews the development of cytopathology, summarizes the existing problems in cytopathology and the new progress of auxiliary examination, to provide a theoretical basis for the advanced development of cytopathological diagnostic technologies and to consolidate the minimally invasive and accurate diagnosis of cytopathologies for clinicians.Cytopathology offers many advantages over other clinical examinations, particularly for minimally invasive and accurate diagnosis.

Advances in AI‐based cancer cytopathology

“…Another important component of tumor diagnosis is cytopathology, which can also help identify cancerous or precancerous changes and provide valuable information for diagnosis and treatment planning 11 . Cytopathology involves the microscopic examination of individual cells collected from a variety of body sites through fine needle aspiration, brushing, scrapings, or washings and commonly uses staining techniques to enhance cellular features, which improves the visibility of cells and highlights specific structures, such as the nucleus, cytoplasm, and other cellular components 12 . Moreover, cytopathology offers several advantages as a complementary diagnostic tool.…”

“…11 Cytopathology involves the microscopic examination of individual cells collected from a variety of body sites through fine needle aspiration, brushing, scrapings, or washings and commonly uses staining techniques to enhance cellular features, which improves the visibility of cells and highlights specific structures, such as the nucleus, cytoplasm, and other cellular components. 12 Moreover, cytopathology offers several advantages as a complementary diagnostic tool. Firstly, it is less painful and more cost-effective for patients.…”