Urine cytology
urothelial carcinoma.[1]
Urine cytology is a test that looks for abnormal cells in
cancer of the urethra. It is especially recommended when blood in the urine (hematuria
) has been detected.
Urine typically contains
epithelial cells shed from the urinary tract, and urine cytology evaluates this urinary sediment for the presence of cancerous cells[2][3]
from the lining of the urinary tract, and it is a convenient noninvasive technique for follow-up analysis of patients treated for urinary tract cancers.
For this process, urine must be collected in a reliable fashion, and if urine samples are inadequate, the urinary tract can be assessed via instrumentation, such as a catheter. In urine cytology, collected urine is examined microscopically.
One limitation, however, is the inability to definitively identify
tumors.[4]
If the test detects atypical or cancerous cells, further tests may be recommended, such as cystoscopy and a CT scan.
-
Normal urothelial intermediate cells,Pap stain -
![High-grade urothelial carcinoma. A cytologic diagnosis of high-grade urothelial carcinoma requires > 10 cells with high N/C ratio, irregular chromatin pattern and hyperchromatic nuclei (Pap stain).[5]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/HIgh-Grade_Urothelial_Carcinoma_%2828263697589%29.jpg/229px-HIgh-Grade_Urothelial_Carcinoma_%2828263697589%29.jpg)
High-gradeurothelial carcinoma. A cytologic diagnosis of high-grade urothelial carcinoma requires > 10 cells with high N/C ratio, irregular chromatin pattern and hyperchromatic nuclei (Pap stain).[5] -
Decoy cells, which are virally infected epithelial cells that may look like carcinoma (Pap stain). -
Red blood cells, indicating hematuria.
![High-grade urothelial carcinoma. A cytologic diagnosis of high-grade urothelial carcinoma requires > 10 cells with high N/C ratio, irregular chromatin pattern and hyperchromatic nuclei (Pap stain).[5]](/File:HIgh-Grade_Urothelial_Carcinoma_(28263697589).jpg)
See also
References
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