Cervical biopsy

The essence of pathomorphological analysis

Pathomorphology is a branch of medicine that studies diseases at the cellular and tissue levels. After taking a biopsy sample, it goes through several stages of laboratory processing:

1. Fixation: The sample is placed in a special solution (most often formalin) to preserve its structure.
2. Wiring and filling: The tissue is dehydrated and embedded in paraffin, creating a dense block.
3. Microtoming: Ultrathin sections (microns) are made from the paraffin block.
4. Dyeing: Sections are stained (most often with hematoxylin and eosin) to visualize cell nuclei and cytoplasm.
5. Microscopic examination: A pathologist examines the specimen under a microscope, assessing the architecture of the tissue and the presence of atypical cells.

It is this analysis that gives the final answer regarding the nature of the pathology.

Key diagnoses established histologically

The result of the pathological examination determines the further treatment tactics. The examination allows to accurately diagnose the following conditions:

• Benign processes:
  • Inflammation (cervicitis): Confirmation of a chronic or acute inflammatory process.
  • Polyps: Determining the type of polyp (glandular, fibrous, glandular-fibrous).
• Dysplasia (CIN – cervical intraepithelial neoplasia):
  • CIN I (mild dysplasia): Cellular changes in the lower third of the epithelium.
  • CIN II (moderate dysplasia): The changes cover two-thirds of the epithelium.
  • CIN III (severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ): The changes involve the entire epithelium but do not penetrate the basement membrane. This is a precancerous condition that requires mandatory treatment.
• Cervical cancer (invasive carcinoma): Determining the type of cancer (e.g., squamous cell, adenocarcinoma) and the depth of its invasion (germination) into deeper layers.
• Effects of HPV: Confirmation of availability koilocytes — cells characteristic of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which are often associated with warts and dysplasia.

The importance of accurate interpretation

The quality of the pathological report directly depends on the professionalism of the doctor and the equipment of the laboratory. An accurate report provides the gynecologist with all the necessary information, including the extent of the lesion and its boundaries, which is crucial for planning surgical intervention or choosing conservative therapy.