Anatomical pathology

Most common artifact in H&E stain due to improper processing

Nuclear bubbling

Which stain stains basement membranes?

PAS

Which enzyme used in detection system of IHCs?

Horseradish peroxidase

Primary consequence of formalin over-fixation?

reduced antigenicity

Why to keep the temp of wax 2-3 degrees above the melting point for wax?

Excessive heat can cause tissue shrinkage and hardening

Why is glutaraldehyde preferred over formalin for EM?

Provides stronger protein cross-linking

In IHCs what is the main disadvantage of using avidin-biotin-based?

Interference with endogenous biotin in certain tissues

How to orientate a punch biopsy?

On the edge to see epidermis and subcutaneous fat

In a cervical smear from a patient in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which cell type is expected to be the most predominant?

Intermediate squamous cells. Seen with folding and crowding.

Which morphological feature is most reliable for distinguishing reactive squamous cells (due to inflammation) from Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL)?

LSIL contains nuclear membrane irregularities.

What is the most characteristic cytological feature of squamous metaplasia in a cervical specimen?

Dense spider-like processes

A cervical smear shows 'shaggy' appearing squamous cells with organisms resembling 'pear-shaped' flagellates. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Trichomonas vaginalis

Which cytological finding is essentially required to upgrade a diagnosis from HSIL to suspected Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Tumour diathesis

In the presence of Lactobacilli (Doderlein bacilli), what phenomenon often leads to the appearance of numerous 'naked' nuclei in a cervical smear?

Cytolysis

Which feature is most indicative of endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) compared to reactive endocervical cells?

Feathered edges in clusters

What is the typical N:C ratio found in a normal superficial squamous cell?

Less than 1 : 10

A 'repair' pattern in cytology is characterized by sheets of cells with which of the following features?

Prominent macro-nuclei

In a postmenopausal woman, the presence of exclusively parabasal cells on a Pap smear is characteristic of which cytological state?

Atrophic vaginitis

Which of the following is the most characteristic cytological feature of Candida albicans infection?

Pseudohyphae and spores

A cell showing a large, clear perinuclear halo ('perinuclear clearing') with nuclear enlargement and chromatin hyperchromasia is best described as:

A koilocyte

Which cell type is classically described as having 'boat-shaped' cytoplasm and is frequently observed during pregnancy?

Navicular cell

In a pap stain what does Orange G (OG-6) stain for?

Keratin

In a pap stain what does Eosin-Azure (EA) stain for?

Cytoplasm

What does VVG stain for?

Collagen fibres

In the Masson Trichrome technique, what is the function of Phosphotungstic or Phosphomolybdic acid?

Displacement of cytoplasmic/ muscle dyes

The Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) technique relies on the oxidation of specific chemical groups. Which groups are oxidized by Periodic Acid to form aldehydes?

1,2 -glycols

In Perls' Prussian Blue reaction, the final blue pigment is formed by the reaction of Potassium Ferrocyanide with which ion?

Ferric (Fe3+)

On a cervical smear, the presence of 'clue cells'—squamous epithelial cells covered in small coccobacilli—is diagnostic for which condition?

Bacterial vaginosis

Which cell type in a normal cervical smear is characterized by a large, flat polygonal shape and a vesicular nucleus about 35um2 in size?

Intermediate squamous cell

During an inflammatory process in the cervix, what cytoplasmic change is frequently observed in squamous cells on a Pap smear?

Pseudoeosinophilia

Which specific cell type in a normal cervical smear is characterized by a 'boat-shaped' appearance and a significant accumulation of cytoplasmic glycogen?

Navicular cells

Which cytological feature is most diagnostic of a Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) in a cervical smear?

Koilocytic atypia

A cervical smear shows cells with abundant cyanophilic cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei containing finely granular chromatin. What is the most likely identity of these cells?

Intermediate squamous cells

Which normal cell type in a cervical smear is most likely to be seen in a 'honeycomb' arrangement when viewed from above?

Endocervical cells

Which cytological cell type is characterized by a large, polyhedral shape, transparent cytoplasm, and a small, pyknotic nucleus?

Superficial squamous cells

Which of the following is a classic cytological feature of 'Koilocytes' associated with Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LSIL)?

Sharply defined perinuclear clearing

When observing a cervical smear with 'repairing epithelium', which cytological feature helps distinguish it from malignancy?

Mountainous of cellular polarity within sheets