How to study pathology (neoplasia) slides?

[nm825]

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I'm struggling a but with my neoplasia labs. I understand the theories behind it by going to lecture, but once I get into lab, I'm lost. I have a hard time even identifying where the cancer cells are on a histology slide.

So far, I've been relying solely on the lecture and lecture notes. I know people rave about Pathoma, but will that help me with the slide portion of my neoplasia pathology section?

 

[Psai]

Look for a lot of weird nuclei, mitotic figures, irregular cells

 

[PaxRoma]

In general, cancerous cells just look like they don't belong. Start out with identifying normal tissue first, then look for cells that violate the basement membrane, cells with high N:C ratios, or cells that do not look like any cell types you know of. Sometimes they pile up to the top (CIN), sometimes they form nests (SCC), other times they just look 'immature' (leukemia/lymphoma).

 

[CubsFan314]

You kind of just have to look at a lot of slides over time. Don't expect your brain to be able to cram this in overnight. The recognition of normal vs. abnormal pathology takes a while. Do some everyday rather than right before the test.