| CODE | ABS2009 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Cellular Pathology 1 | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Applied Biomedical Science | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit seeks to provide a theoretical understanding of the identification and description of cell and tissue lesions. Cytological techniques will be describedin the context of the study of the structure, function and pathology of cells, particularly those used in screening of human disease. Histological techniques will be studied as a tool for the study of human tissues for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. This study-unit provides an understanding of histology techniques ranging from the principles and applications of fixation to the application of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of diseases. Content Cytology: - Historical Development and Current trends in Cellular Pathology; - General Cytological Collection and Processing Techniques; - Introduction to Staining Techniques and Rationale; - The Papanicolau Stain; - General Pathology & Cytology of Benign Processes and Tumours 1; - General Pathology & Cytology of Benign Processes and Tumours 2; - Morphological Characteristics of Cancer Cells; - The sampling procedure of the Cervical Conventional Smear; - The Differences between the Cervical Conventional Smear & Liquid-Based Cytology gynae sample; - The Cervical Smear; - Factors affecting the Cervical Smear; - Aetiology and Pathogenesis of Cervical Cancer; - Low Grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia; - High Grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia; - National Cervical Screening Programmes. Histology: - The role of histopathology in the diagnosis of disease; An introduction to histology and types of biopsy. Specimen collection, transport and receipt of specimen at the laboratory. Safety control; - Fixation; Commonly used fixatives and different methods of fixation in the preparation of sections for histological diagnosis. Factors affecting fixation, general usage; - Tissue Processing and Decalcification, Tissue processing , dehydration, clearing and impregnantion, automated tissue processing. Embedding and specimen orientation. Decalcification methods, end point decalcification and troubleshooting decalcification; - Insturmentation in Histopathology; Microtomes, floatation baths, laboratory microwave ovens, automated staining machine, coverslipper and cryostat. Instrument quality control and validation; - Histochemical staining techniques I; Principles of commonly used histochemical techniques and their application in diagnosis. Tissue components covered include carbohydrates and connective tissue. The nature of amyloid and its demonstration in tissue sections; - Histochemical staining techniques II; Special staining methodology for minerals, pigments and micro-organisms; - Enzyme histochemistry and Muscle pathology; Freezing muscle biopsy specimen, preservation of enzymes, the use of enzyme histochemistry in the diagnosis of muscle disease; - Antibodies in Immunohistochemistry; Antibody structure and function. Monocolonal and polyclonal antibodies: the principles behind the production of these reagents. Appropriate handling and storage requirements; - Immunuoflurescence and Immunohistochemical techniques; Introduction to immunuofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Direct and indirect methods, including avidin biotin complex and labelled polymer based method; - Practical Immunohistochemistry; Technical considerations which include effect of fixation, mechanism and rationale of antigen retrieval techniques, the effect of background staining; - Quality Assurance in Immunohistochemistry; Concentrated and ready to use antibodies. Optimisation, validation and verification systems in immunohistochemistry. The use of appropriate control material. Internal audits, internal and external quality control schemes; - Automation in Immunohistochemistry; Advantages and disadvantages of automated immunostaining systems. Types and modes of action of automated immunostainers; their advantages and diadvantages. Future developments; - Application of Immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of diseases; Antibodies; their common and specific uses. Primary antibody panels, interpretatons and reporting of immunostaining results. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Have a historical background of Cellular Pathology and evolution of cytology; - Understand the rationale behind the general concepts of cytological techniques; - Gain knowledge about the contribution of the cervical smear as a screening test; - Understand cell growth, function and proliferation; - Describe the various stages involved in the preparation of tissue for microscopy; - Understand the mechanisms of tissue staining and enzyme histochemistry; - Critically evaluate and compare the application of different histology staining techniques for the diagnosis of diseases; - Explain the systems used to classify neoplasms; - Demonstrate an understanding of immunohistochemistry techniques and the use of antibodies in disease diagnosis and patient treatment; - Identify procedures that affect the quality of stained slides; and - Interpret information obtained from internal and external quality assessment programmes. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Cytology: - Koss LG. Diagnostic Cytology and its Histopathologic Bases, Volumes 1&2 (5th edition) 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-1928-3. - Cook DJ. And Warren, PJ Cellular Pathology (3rd Edition). 2015 Scion Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-904842-30-5. - Cibas ES. & Ducatman B.S. Cytology (4th Edition). 2014 Elsevier – Saunders ISBN 978-1-4557-4462-6. - Nayar R. & Wilbur DC. The Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology (3rd Edition). 2015 Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-11073-8. - Ali SZ & Cibas ES. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. Springer. 2010 Edition ISBN 978-0-387-87665-8. - Mac DeMay R. The Art & Science of Cytopathology, Volumes 1-4. American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP Press). ISBN 9780891896449. - Stevens A & Lowe J. Stevens & Lowe’s Human Histology (4th Edition). 2015 Elsevier – Saunders. ISBN 9780723435020. - Stevens A & Lowe J. Stevens & Lowe’s Core Pathology: with STUDENT CONSULT Online Access (3rd Edition). Mosby. ISBN 978-0723434443. Histology: - Suvarna, S., Layton, C. and Bancroft, J. (2018). Bancroft's theory and practice of histological techniques. 8th ed. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN-13: 978-0702068645. - Renshaw, S. (2017). Immunohistochemistry Essential Methods. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. ISBN-13: 978-1118717776. - Cook, D. and Warren, P. (2015). Cellular pathology; an introduction to techniques and application. 3rd ed. Scion Publishing Ltd . ISBN-13: 978-1907904356. - Lin, F. and Prichard, J. (2015). Handbook of practical immunohistochemistry; Frequently Asked Questions. Springer-Verlag New York Inc. ISBN-13: 978-1493915774. - Santosh Kumar Mondal. (2019). Manual of Histological Techniques. 2nd edition. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. ISBN-10: 9389188474. - Kruno Delic. (2020). An Essential Guide to Immunohistochemistry. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. ISBN-10: 1536167398. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Charlene Busuttil Mario Taliana |
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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