Basic diagnostic cytology
Pathology · Topic 7
Source: NMC CBME Curriculum 2024 · Volume I · Pathology · Topic 7 · combined PDF page 189
Practice questions
- A patient has a superficial parotid swelling and requires preoperative cytologic evaluation. Which sampling approach is specifically described as a basic tool for this setting?
- During a sampling procedure, cytologic material is assessed at the site while the procedure is in progress. What is this assessment called?
- A cytology specimen from a parotid mass shows basaloid cells, squamoid cells, and intermediate cells in a mucoid background. Which diagnosis is illustrated by this combination in the cited ROSE case report?
- A parotid aspirate does not show all three cell types commonly associated with mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Which interpretation is most appropriate?
- A cystic salivary gland lesion has an equivocal cytologic appearance. Which approach is emphasized in the supplied MEC report?
- Which statement best describes the role of ROSE in the supplied recurrent parotid MEC report?
- A learner cites one published ROSE case to claim that the sensitivity of ROSE for all parotid tumors is established. What is the main flaw in this inference?
- Which feature of mucoepidermoid carcinoma is identified as contributing to diagnostic difficulty in cytology?
- A recurrent infra-auricular swelling is sampled, and the cytology is suspicious but not fully characteristic. Which combination is most consistent with the diagnostic approach emphasized in the MEC report?
- Which statement about the triphasic population in mucoepidermoid carcinoma is most defensible?
- A team wants additional information from a minimally invasive cytology specimen for cancer management. Which statement is supported by the supplied review?
- Which group contains only ancillary or molecular methods specifically listed as usable with cytology specimens in the supplied review?
- A cancer work-up requires treatment-related biomarker information in addition to cytologic diagnosis. What is an appropriate role for ancillary testing of the cytology specimen?
- A laboratory is deciding which ancillary test to perform on a cytology specimen. Which principle best reflects the review's focus on assay selection?
- Which pairing correctly matches a method with its broad category as described in the supplied review?
- The supplied review specifically focuses on updates to ancillary testing of cytologic tumor specimens from which organ groups?
- Which conclusion is justified by the review's statement that cytology specimens are suitable for a variety of ancillary tests?
- A cytology specimen is being considered for a molecular technique. Which statement is most accurate based on the supplied review?
- A pathologist explains why ancillary testing is requested after cytologic assessment. Which explanation is best supported?
- Which description best defines an artificial neural network in the context of the supplied cytology review?
- In the ANN model described in the review, what carries and processes signals in place of biological neurons?
- Which statement best reflects the current status of ANN use in cytology as characterized by the supplied review?
- Which combination is identified as making it increasingly important to understand ANN applications in cytology?
- A commercial whole-slide scanner becomes available in a pathology department. Which conclusion about ANN-based cytology is justified by the supplied review?
- Which statement correctly distinguishes a computational ANN from a biological neural network?
- A trainee reads that ANN is widely used in some areas of science and concludes that it is already widely used in cytology. Which correction best matches the supplied review?
- Which inference about an ANN output is not supported merely by knowing that the model contains multiple layers of nodes?
- A cytology service is considering computational tools. Based on the supplied review, what is the most appropriate educational priority?
- A cytology report is being supplemented with a treatment-related biomarker assay, while the specimen was obtained by a minimally invasive procedure. Which general statement best integrates the supplied evidence?
- Which statement most accurately separates three approaches discussed in the supplied evidence?