Study of cells collected by fine needle aspiration of superficial and deep-seated lesions for diagnosis of pathological condition is termed as ______.

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent - 29 April 2025 (Shift-3rd)

Explanation

Cytopathology is the branch of pathology that diagnoses diseases by examining individual cells or small clusters of cells.
The procedure described in the question, Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA), is a primary method used in interventional cytology to collect cell samples from lesions.
FNA is a minimally invasive, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic tool for both superficial lumps (e.g., thyroid, breast) and deep-seated organs (e.g., liver, lungs) under imaging guidance.

Option B: This field focuses on analyzing molecules like DNA, RNA, and proteins to diagnose disease, not the morphology (structure) of whole cells.
Option C: This specialty deals with the diagnosis and management of hereditary or genetic disorders passed down through families.
Option D: This is the study of blood, blood-forming organs, and blood-related diseases.

Visual 1: Diagram: Illustrating the process of Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) on a thyroid nodule, showing the needle entering the lesion to aspirate cells. This helps visualize the procedure described in the question.
Visual 2: Microscopic Image: A side-by-side comparison of a cytopathology slide (showing scattered, individual cells) and a histopathology slide (showing organized tissue architecture). This clarifies the key difference between the two diagnostic methods.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Diagnostic Terminology in Pathology to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses play a crucial role in FNA procedures by preparing the patient, assisting the clinician, ensuring proper sample handling and labeling, and providing post-procedure care, including monitoring for complications like bleeding or infection.
Understanding the difference between cytopathology and histopathology helps the nurse manage patient expectations regarding the procedure's invasiveness and the time it takes to get results (cytology is much faster).
What if? If the FNA sample is reported as 'non-diagnostic' (meaning not enough cells were collected), the nurse should anticipate that the next step will likely be a repeat FNA or a more invasive core needle biopsy to obtain a tissue sample for histopathology.

How to Approach the Question

First, break down the question stem. The key phrases are 'study of cells,' 'collected by fine needle aspiration,' and 'diagnosis.'
Focus on the term 'fine needle aspiration.' This is a specific medical procedure. Your goal is to identify the broader field of study that uses this procedure.
Evaluate each option against the keywords. The prefix 'cyto-' means cell.
Cytopathology directly translates to the 'study of diseased cells,' which is a perfect match for the question's description.
Eliminate the other options based on their definitions: Molecular pathology (molecules), Medical genetics (heredity), and Haematology (blood).
Conclude that Cytopathology is the only field that specifically uses the described technique to study cells from lesions for diagnosis.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent - 29 April 2025 (Shift-3rd)

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