The main purpose of this Manual is to provide useful guidelines for the selection of pathology tests and to facilitate interpretation of results.
Contains a comprehensive listing of all genes from the Human Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) database alongside laboratories and tests available in the country.
A manual for the process of macroscopic dissection in Anatomical Pathology laboratories.
Donate online now using the button below. RCPA Foundation thanks you for your generous support. All funds raised will be allocated to the RCPA Foundation Pathology Education Outreach Fellowship.
Eve Propper Events and Sponsorship Manager Ph: +61 2 8356 5806 Fax: +61 2 8356 5828 Email: evep@rcpa.edu.au
Rachel Johnson Events and Grants Coordinator Ph: +61 2 8356 5852 Fax: +61 2 8356 5828 Email: rachelj@rcpa.edu.au
Cyst fluid from various sites (eg, thyroid, ovary, breast) should be sent to the laboratory as soon as possible after aspiration.
Optional wet fixed (95% ethanol) and/or air dried direct smears may be made at the time of aspiration.
Refrigerate or add equal volume of 50% ethanol to the fluid if more than 24hr delay to laboratory.
Clinical information may be essential for interpretation of some conditions.
Macroscopic comment.
Microscopic examination of Papanicolaou and Romanowsky stained cellular component of smears and/or centrifuged fluid; measurement of oestrogen levels in ovarian cyst fluids.
Investigation of cystic lesions at various sites to determine the nature of the underlying process.
Identification of the nature of the cystic lesion, especially in the differentiation of benign and malignant processes.
High levels of oestrogens in an ovarian cyst are indicative of a follicular origin.
Interpretation of borderline and low grade lesions may prove difficult due to minimal morphological changes.
Marked reactive and degenerate changes in benign fluids may show marked nuclear atypia resulting in equivocal diagnosis.
Orell SR, Sterrett GF. Orell and Sterrett's Fine needle aspiration cytology. 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone 2011
Refer to site-specific chapters. In: Gray W and McKee GT eds. Diagnostic Cytopathology. 3rd ed. Churchill Livingstone 2010.
Page last updated:
The RCPA is the leading organisation representing Pathologists and Senior Scientists in Australasia.
Its mission is to train and support pathologists and senior scientists and to improve the use of pathology testing to achieve better healthcare.
Copyright © 2021 RCPA. All rights reserved.