Sputum Cytology

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Contents 1 Reference-interval 2 Clinical-significance 3 More General Terms 4 Additional Terms 5 References

Reference-interval

• normal epithelial cells

Clinical-significance

• tumors within the pulmonary system frequently slough cells into respiratory secretions
• when sputum is collected, malignant cells may be seen with

• squamous cell carcinoma (60%)
• small cell carcinoma (21%)
• adenocarcinoma (16%)
• large cell carcinoma (13%)

• bronchoscopy & percutaneous lung biopsy have largely replaced sputum cytology [2]
• used mostly for patients with productive cough, abnormal chest X-ray & negative bronchoscopy
• less sensitive than chest X-ray for detection of lung cancer

More General Terms

• cytology

Additional Terms

• sputum (phlegm)

References

1. Mayo Internal Medicine Board Review, 1998-99, Prakash UBS (ed) Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1998, pg 769
2. Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, 9th edition, Pagana DS and Pagana TJ editors, Mosby, Elsevier, St. Louis, 2009, pg 876

sputum cytology