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Histopathology & Cytopathology-I HCPL-201 (MLT): Course Contents - MLHC-513

In clinical practice, histopathology refers to the examination of tissues obtained by biopsy or the surgical removal of an organ. It is a form of anatomical pathology that looks specifically at tissues and organs as opposed to clinical pathology which loo

Course Objectives

Aims and Objectives of the Program: 

This program will provide the knowledge and practical skill to the medical lab trainees, who  would be able to: 

• Learn and apply theory and techniques in the medical pathology laboratory.

• Avoid problems pertaining to collecting, transporting, handling and conducting  tests on laboratory samples. 

• Confidently and correctly carry out all the bench work required for diagnostic tests in  various discipline of pathology. 

• Demonstrate proper handling and preventative maintenance of instruments.

• Convey timely laboratory results to the clinicians. 

• Perform and monitor quality control in the laboratory. 

• Assist the consultants in research. 

• Demonstrate ethical behavior and decision making.

Course Content

Type of mounting Medias 

• Advantages and disadvantages 

The Freezing Method of Sectioning 

• Advantages and disadvantages of freezing method 

• Common techniques of freezing tissues 

• Cutting sections with a freezing microtome Stains 

• Object of staining.  

• Classification of stains.  

• Acids and basic dyes.  

• Basophilic and acidophilic tissue components.  

Routine Haematoxyline-Eosin Staining of Paraffin Sections

  • The procedure of haematoxyline-eosin staining and mounting sections.

  • The relation of various steps in this procedure  

Cryostat / Frozen Section

Histology of GIT 

• Histology of Buccal cavity 

• Histology of Esophagus 

• Histology of stomach 

• Histology of intestine 

• Histology of Appendix 

Cytopathology of following systems 

• Basic principles of exfoliative cytology , Exfoliation, sites from which exfoliated  cells can be obtained and methods for obtaining them. 

• Morphology and physiology of cell, cytology of: female genital tract, urinary tract, 

gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, effusions, miscellaneous fluids, collection,  preservation, fixation and processing of various cytological specimen, preparation  and quality control of various stains and reagents used in cytology, all routine and  special staining techniques in cytology, FNAC, immunocytochemistry,  flowcytometry, automation in Cytology 

• Difference between normal and cancerous cell 

Fine needle aspiration 

• Practicals 

• Biopsy and type of Biopsy, merit and demmerits 

Tissue Fixation , method , and morphological changes 

• Tissue processing  

• Embedding, sectioning 

• Microtome cutting 

• Hematoxylin & Eosin staining 

• Tissue Identification microscopically 

• Collection of samples and processing.  

• Cytological fixatives and fixation.  

• Collection and preparation of fluid sediment for cytological examination. 

• Preparation and fixation of sputum smears for cytology and preparation. 

• Morphology of normal and abnormal cells 

• Karyotyping technique

Course Content

• The purpose of fixation

• Common fixative used for the histological techniques 

• Mechanism of commonly used fixative 

Tissue processing 

• Type of tissue processing  

• Step of tissue processing 

• Advantages and disadvantages 

Embedding /Blocking 

• Embedding 

• Types of embedding medias 

o Advantages and disadvantages 

• Advantages and disadvantages of the paraffin method 

Sectioning of tissue 

• The Paraffin method of sectioning tissue 

o Advantages and disadvantages of the paraffin method 

Microtome and Microtome Knives 

• Type of Microtome, Advantages and Disadvantages  

o Grinding and stooping of microtome knives.  

o Cleaning and lubrication of the microtome 

Course Contents

Cells, Tissue 

• Fundamental of cell tissue 

Epithelium and, Muscle Tissue 

• Type  

• Stain used 

• Connective Tissue 

• Type of Connective Tissue 

• Stain used 

Microscopy  

• Brief history of Microscopy, Parts of a microscope, Types of microscope,  Classification and their uses. Nature of light, Concepts of amplitude, Wavelength  and Phase, Perception of color and brightness, Refraction, formation of images,  Specification of objective magnification, Focal length, tube length, Resolution,  Numerical aperture etc. 

• Calculation of the resolution and magnification  

• Care and Cleaning of the Microscope  

• Introduction to common Histological Techniques 

• Examination of fresh material. & Examination of fixed material Fixation