lower respiratory tract smear
Noun: A lower respiratory tract smear is a medical specimen collected from the lower airways (such as the bronchi or bronchioles) for microscopic examination. It is a type of cytologic smear used primarily to diagnose conditions like lung cancer, infections, or other pulmonary diseases by analyzing cells.
This term is used in medical and clinical contexts to refer to the procedure of obtaining cells or the resulting sample itself. - The doctor ordered a lower respiratory tract smear to investigate the cause of the persistent cough. - Analysis of the lower respiratory tract smear revealed abnormal cells indicative of a potential malignancy.
- As a diagnostic tool: The term is often used when discussing diagnostic pathways for pulmonary conditions. It is a key specimen in respiratory cytology.
- A lower respiratory tract smear is a critical first step in the cytological evaluation of suspected lung cancer.
- Sputum cytology: While related, this specifically refers to the microscopic examination of coughed-up mucus (sputum), which is one method of obtaining a lower respiratory tract sample.
- Bronchial washing / brushing: These are specific procedures to collect cells for a smear.
- Respiratory cytology: The broader field of studying cells from the respiratory tract.
- Bronchial smear
- Respiratory cytology specimen (in context)
This is a highly specialized medical term. It is not typically used in everyday conversation and has no common idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it. Its meaning is precise and confined to clinical diagnostics.
- any of several cytologic smears obtained from different parts of the lower respiratory tract; used for cytologic study of cancer and other diseases of the lungs