Sputum cytology is a diagnostic test that analyzes cells in lung mucus to detect lung conditions. Samples can be collected through coughing, salt spray inhalation, or bronchoscopy. Positive results may indicate cancer, infection, or inflammation, and further testing or treatment may be necessary.
Sputum cytology is an analysis of the cells present in the mucus produced by the lungs. A doctor may order this diagnostic test to rule out possible lung conditions or explore the cause of symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. Sputum samples can be collected in a number of ways, and it may take several days for a laboratory to examine the sample and provide detailed results. Results may be positive or negative for abnormal cells, or the lab may return an ambiguous result, indicating problems with the sample.
One way to collect material for sputum cytology is to ask the patient to cough. If a patient has coughed productively and has produced mucus, she can cough into a container and this can be sent to the laboratory. Another technique is to have the patient inhale a salt spray to stimulate a cough. Finally, sputum may be collected during a bronchoscopy, where a camera is inserted into the airways to examine them. Instruments attached to the camera can collect mucus and tissue samples for examination.
If something is wrong with the lungs, cells could be leaking, and the condition of these cells could provide information. They may be cancerous or show signs of infection or inflammation. Some reasons for requesting sputum cytology include suspicions of cancer, asbestosis, tuberculosis, or lung inflammation. A negative result does not necessarily mean that a patient is healthy; it is possible that a problem exists and that no abnormal cells have been collected in a given sputum sample.
In the process of evaluating a patient for suspected lung disease, a doctor may use bronchoscopy, X-rays, and other medical imaging techniques. Blood tests can check for abnormal levels of white blood cells and other unusual features associated with the disease. The doctor may also conduct an interview with the patient to check for risk factors such as exposure to toxins, infectious agents, and other materials known to cause lung problems. Sputum cytology is one option among a library of diagnostic tests to gather information.
When a cytologic analysis of sputum returns positive results, the next step depends on what the lab identifies in the sample. If the patient has an infection, treatment with antibiotics and other medications may be the best option. With cancerous cells, it may be necessary to collect a biopsy sample from the lung to find out more. A doctor can also sample nearby lymph nodes to see if the cancer is spreading. In case of inflammation, anti-inflammatory drugs can solve the problem and help the patient breathe normally.
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