Definition

Noun: A cytosmear is a thin layer of cells (from tissue or a fluid like blood) that is spread onto a glass slide, stained with special dyes, and then examined under a microscope for diagnostic purposes. It is a specimen prepared for cytologic analysis to study cell structure and identify diseases, such as infections or cancer.

Usage

The term "cytosmear" is used specifically in medical and laboratory contexts. It refers to the prepared slide itself, which is the physical object to be analyzed. - The primary purpose of a cytosmear is for microscopic examination to aid in diagnosis. - It is a standard procedure in cytopathology, the study of cells to diagnose disease.

Examples

• The pathologist examined the cytosmear from the patient's bronchial washings to check for abnormal cells.
• A cytosmear of the cervical sample is a key component of a Pap test for cervical cancer screening.
• The laboratory technician prepared a cytosmear from the fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid nodule.

Advanced Usage

• "To prepare a cytosmear": This is the standard phrase for the act of making the slide specimen.
  • The first step in the analysis is to prepare a cytosmear from the collected fluid.
• The term is often used interchangeably with "cytologic smear" or "smear" in clinical settings, though "cytosmear" is more precise.

Variants and Related Words

• Cytologic smear (n): A fully synonymous term for cytosmear.
• Smear (n): In medical contexts, this is a common short form (e.g., Pap smear, blood smear). It is a broader term that can refer to any thinly spread specimen for microscopic examination.
• Cytopathology (n): The branch of pathology that deals with the diagnosis of disease through the examination of cells from bodily fluids or tissues, often using cytosmears.
• Slide (n): The glass slide on which the cytosmear is placed.

Synonyms

• Cytologic smear
• Cellular smear
• Smear preparation

Related Phrases and Terms

• Pap smear: A specific and well-known type of cytosmear used to screen for cervical cancer.
• Fine-needle aspiration smear: A cytosmear made from cells obtained via a fine-needle aspiration biopsy.
• Sputum smear: A cytosmear made from coughed-up mucus, often used to test for tuberculosis.

Noun

1. a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscope