USES AND LIMITATIONS OF ANCILLARY TECHNIQUES
APPLIED TO CYTOPATHOLOGY

Course Director: JEFFREY S. ROSS, M.D. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Albany Medical College Albany, New York 12208 Telephone: (518) 262-5471 Fax: (518) 262-3663 Email: rossj@mail.amc.edu Click here for the complete PowerPoint presentation. You may go directly to any major heading of the text and reference section via the table of contents below. Once you display any section, you may also view the text sequentially by using the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons. Introduction The development of ancillary techniques as adjuncts to diagnosis came shortly after the emergence of cytology in the 1950s. More recently the new techniques applied to cytopathology as ancillary methods have included immunocytochemistry, flow and image cytometry, and molecular cytopathology. The application of these new approaches has been accompanied by numerous errors and pitfalls resulting from improper technique, over-reliance on the results and misunderstanding of the uses and limitations of the new methods. Uses and Limitations of Immunocytochemistry in Cytopathology Technical Factors Influencing Immunocytochemistry Biological Factors Influencing Immunocytochemistry Interpretation Factors Influencing Immunocytochemistry Immunohistochemistry and Cancer Prognosis Assessment Using Cytologic Specimens Uses and Limitations of Electron Microscopy in Cytopathology Uses and Limitations in Flow and Image Cytometry Applied to Cytopathology Specimens Technical Factors Influencing the Accuracy of Cytometric DNA Content Analysis Flow Versus Image Cytometry in DNA Ploidy Analysis of Cytopathologic Specimens DNA Ploidy Analysis in Cytopathology: Diagnostic Errors and Pitfalls Uses and Limitations of Molecular-based Techniques in Cytopathology References Opinions stated and/or conclusions reached in this syllabus are the responsibility of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Academy.