National Cancer Institute (source definition)
Cytology
The light microscopic study of normal and abnormal cells in fine needle aspirates (FNAs), body cavity fluids, and smears.
Review and references
Automated source check (NCI definition)
2026-10-19
2026-10-19
professional use
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Cytology (C16491)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C16491. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- Intranodular Lactate for Thyroid Nodule Assessment: Universal Performance and Maximum Impact in Indeterminate Cytology. — Eur Thyroid J, 2026-10-07 (PMID 42842353; literature)
- Treatment Outcomes for Gastric Cancer With Positive Peritoneal Lavage Cytology or Localized Peritoneal Metastasis. — JAMA Surg, 2026-10-07 (PMID 42842264; literature)
What it is
The light microscopic study of normal and abnormal cells in fine needle aspirates (FNAs), body cavity fluids, and smears.
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C16491. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Compliance note
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.