Laboratory Procedures & Biopsies Flashcards
7 cards from real CDT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Laboratory Procedures & Biopsies flashcards as text
A punch biopsy specimen is accidentally placed in a dry container without formalin for 2 hours. What is the most likely consequence?
Answer: Tissue autolysis, compromising histologic interpretation
Without fixation, cellular enzymes cause autolysis (self-digestion), degrading tissue architecture and making accurate histopathologic interpretation difficult.
Which dermatologic condition is diagnosed by identifying scabies mites, eggs, or fecal pellets (scybala) under microscopy after a skin scraping?
Answer: Scabies
Skin scrapings from burrows in scabies patients reveal the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, its eggs, or fecal material under light microscopy, confirming the diagnosis.
When documenting a biopsy site on a body diagram in the medical record, what is the MOST important reason for accurate site documentation?
Answer: Ensures the pathology report is matched to the correct anatomical site for clinical correlation
Accurate site documentation ensures the pathology finding is correlated with the correct clinical lesion, which is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment planning.
Which type of biopsy is contraindicated in a patient with a suspected vascular tumor such as an angiosarcoma of the scalp?
Answer: Shave biopsy performed without hemostatic measures
Shave biopsy of a vascular tumor without careful hemostatic planning risks uncontrolled hemorrhage due to the highly vascular nature of the lesion.
What does the Clark level system measure in melanoma pathology?
Answer: Anatomical level of invasion through skin layers
Clark levels (I–V) describe the depth of melanoma invasion in terms of anatomical skin layers, from intraepidermal (I) to subcutaneous fat (V).
A nail matrix biopsy is performed to evaluate for subungual melanoma. Which post-procedure complication is the MOST significant concern?
Answer: Permanent nail dystrophy or loss
Nail matrix biopsy carries a risk of permanent nail dystrophy or nail loss because damage to the germinal matrix impairs future nail plate production.
Under what circumstances should a biopsy specimen be divided and submitted in BOTH formalin and Michel's transport medium?
Answer: When both routine histology and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) studies are ordered
Michel's medium preserves immunoglobulins and complement for DIF testing, while formalin fixes tissue for routine H&E; dividing the specimen allows both studies.