Laboratory & Pathology Reports Flashcards

When transcribing a pathology report, 'carcinoma in situ' (CIS) means:

Answer: Malignant cells are present but confined without invasion into surrounding tissue

Carcinoma in situ describes a lesion in which malignant cells are present but have not broken through the basement membrane to invade adjacent tissue, representing the earliest stage of cancer.

In a bone marrow biopsy report, the term 'hypercellular' indicates:

Answer: Greater cellularity than normal, with increased hematopoietic-to-fat ratio

A hypercellular bone marrow has an increased proportion of hematopoietic cells relative to fat, which may indicate myeloproliferative disorders, leukemia, or reactive hyperplasia.

The abbreviation 'IHC' in a pathology report refers to:

Answer: Immunohistochemistry

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a technique using antibodies to detect specific antigens in tissue sections, used to classify tumors, identify biomarkers (e.g., ER/PR in breast cancer), and determine tumor origin.

When transcribing laboratory orders, a specimen labeled 'STAT' should be processed:

Answer: Immediately, with priority over all routine specimens

STAT (from Latin statim, meaning immediately) specimens require urgent processing and reporting, typically within 30–60 minutes, due to clinical urgency of the patient's condition.

In a hematopathology report, flow cytometry is primarily used to:

Answer: Identify and quantify cell populations by detecting surface and intracellular markers

Flow cytometry analyzes thousands of cells per second, using fluorescent antibodies to identify surface antigens (e.g., CD markers), enabling diagnosis and classification of leukemias and lymphomas.

A 'sentinel lymph node biopsy' report documents the examination of:

Answer: The first lymph node(s) most likely to receive drainage from a primary tumor

The sentinel lymph node is identified by injecting a tracer (blue dye or radiocolloid) near the tumor; if this node is negative for metastasis, further lymph node dissection may be avoided.

In a comprehensive metabolic panel report, the abbreviation 'BUN' stands for:

Answer: Blood Urea Nitrogen

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) measures the nitrogen component of urea in blood, serving as an indicator of kidney function and protein catabolism; elevated values may suggest renal impairment or dehydration.