Body Fluid Cytology

Cytology specimens include examination of cells under the microscope from body fluids like those from the chest cavities (pleural fluid), abdominal cavity (peritoneal fluid), the fluid surrounding the heart (pericardial fluid), the fluid surrounding the brain (cerebrospinal fluid) and the fluid within the joints (synovial fluid). Evaluation of these cells by the pathologist can give clues if a cancerous process is nearby or if an infectious disease should be considered. The body fluid undergoes a rigorous process by the histology/cytology laboratory which includes attaining cellular sediment from the fluid and placing those cells on slides and staining the slides. Cytology examination of these body fluids can not only provide diagnostic information but can also at times provide some prognostic information for the oncologists and surgeons to use in their treatment plans.