Molyneux & Coghill (1994) Cytopath 5:41-45.
3 main categories of artefact:
- Heavy contamination will cause widespread cell lysis in an inadequate sample.
- Lesser contamination may produce more subtle cytological changes including cell swelling.
- Possible confusion with calcium salts or necrosis.
Abramczuk & Lachman (1995) Cytopathology 6: 419-425.
Platelets appear as small clusters of amphophilic round, oval or slightly polygonal granules each measuring 1-2um in diameter. Usually a narrow clearing around each granule. Presence of platelets tend to coincide with the presence of erythrocytes.
Phagocytosis of platelets by histiocytes, appearing as intracytoplasmic inclusions, as well as platelets lying free on the slide, can be confused with fungal spores or protozoa. Suggest that silver and PAS stains for fungi will be negative.
Ng & Reagan Tutorials in Cytology Slide set
Large cells (approx 80um in greatest dimension), with a dense outer ectoplasmic zone and an inner lighter staining endoplasm. Poorly defined laminations occur in the outer zone. In the centre of the cell there is an amorphous reddish-brown mass which cannot be identified as a nucleus.
Such cells have been found in vaginal lubricant which is sometimes used to lubricate the the vaginal speculum. This lubricant often contains gum guar
Loughman & Scott (1987) Acta Cytolog 31(5):640-641.
Cytocentrifuge card fibers can be mistaken for urinary casts, particularly hyaline and granular casts. The fibers vary in size (12-120um) and is comparable to those possible for narrow and broad casts.
Regular internal slit-like pores may be seen over the length of the fiber. Debris enmeshed in and adherent to these fibers may lead one to suspect a granular caste. The fibers often have a crenated edge and/or ragged ends. Staining is variable, occasionally basophilic or acidophilic.
Weaver etal (1981) Acta Cytolog 25(3):210-214.
Cells of plant and animals are basically the same in that they are both composed of nuclei and cytoplasm. It is in and around the cytoplasm that thew more striking differences between plant and animal cells can be found. Structures such as mitochria, endoplasmic reticulum and golgi apparatus are common to both. Plant cells contain cell walls, plastids and starch grains, that are not found in animal cells.
Cell walls contain pectin compounds and cellulose fibers. They may or may not be stained by the PAP stain, but their appearance is revealed by their refractile appearance.
Plastids are cytoplasmic structures that have limiting membranes. Some contain pigment, eg chloroplasts while many do not being sites of manufacture and storage.
Starch can accumulate as grains and can be so numerous that they occupy most of the cell.
Distinguishing features of vegetable cells:
Green Bean: Resemble sheets of squamous metaplastic cells, Walls identified as conspicuous, translucent boundaries to the cells.
Navy Bean: Resemble a virocyte of molluscum contagiosum, Is a storage cell for starch.
Carrot: Spiral vessels, called trachea, resemble nematodes, Are tubular remains of cells juxtaposed end to end that have lost their intracellular contents.
Tomato: Resemble adenocarcinoma cells with mucin distended cytoplasm, Demonstrates the extremely large size that may be attained by vegetable cells.
Asparagus: Have Indian file arrangement, similar to metastatic lobular carcinoma. Have distinctive quadrangular shapes.
Green Pea: Mistaken for virocytes of measles or herpes.
Peanut Butter: Mistaken for Cryptococcus, Has refractile appearance.
Mushroom: Difficult to distinguish from Actinomyces or Aspergillus.
Believe that plant nuclei are small and of little concern. The darkly stained cytoplasm of plant cells can be mistaken for large hyperchromatic nuclei and plant cell nuclei for macronucleoli.