Cytology Ultrasound Machines

The Cytopathologist and Ultrasound Guided Biopsies in the Head and Neck region
A Cytopathologist is a Medical Doctor specialized in studying the structure and function of normal and abnormal components of cells and their changes. Cytopathologists can be found in hospitals or private offices with laboratory facilities.

Ultrasound Equipment's Function in Biopsy

It is more common these days to find ultrasound equipment present during biopsy procedures. The benefit ultrasound guidance gives is that a view is obtained of the region of interest immediately on the ultrasound system. Then the practitioner knows the size, location, and texture of the area being sampled.

Biopsies are most commonly obtained by the specialist treating the patient and the acquired material is then sent to the Cytopathologist for evaluation and diagnosis. A biopsy procedure is often composed of more than one stick since studies have shown that a finding is more probable with more than one specimen. Also sampling different portions of a suspicious lesion gives more chance for a conclusive diagnosis.

The specimens (material) are obtained (biopsy) with or without ultrasound guidance and are studied with various types of microscopes. Cells are viewed directly in the living state, or are killed (fixed).

There is a possibility that biopsies can be undiagnostic. This can be due to the anatomy of the neck, the skill level of the practitioner, or the experience of the Cytopathologist. Even when there is a perfect specimen the underlying pathology can mask a verdict. Good doctors offices still may only have a result in 80-90% of the time when lots of follicular or Hurthle cells are found after a thyroid biopsy. Many follicular cells (normal thyroid cells) lead to an unobtainable preoperative diagnosis.

Fine Needle Aspiration

The FNA needle can be directed at spots that will give the best chance of obtaining a diagnosis. Needles routinely used for cytological biopsy are very thin and thus the procedure is called: fine needle aspiration (FNA) and has a very low rate of complications. There is a possibility that the specimens obtained by the specialist have an insufficient amount of cells (yield). This is why it is becoming more common to have the Cytopathologist present during FNA biopsies so that they can evaluate the sample on the spot. The cytopathologist can also determine the amount of sticks needed during the exam to obtain a diagnosis. The final conclusion is not possible until further work in the laboratory is done. It can take several days before a diagnosis is possible.

Why Cytopathologists Buy Ultrasound Systems?

There are a number of Cytopathologists who have chosen to buy Ultrasound equipment to use in their practice. Since Cytopathologists perform more biopsies daily than most practitioners, their competency level is very high. It is feasible that a Cytopathologist using ultrasound to guide them during a biopsy procedure will have a lower than average inadequacy rate. The average inadequacy rates can run from 5-15%.