ABSTRACT:
“Exfoliative cytology” as the name suggests (cyto=cells; logy=study) is the study of cells that exfoliate or wither into the body cavities. In a normal epithelium, superficial layers undergo constant exfoliation which is considered as a normal physiological process and deeper layers of the epithelium are always strongly intact. In case of a pathological condition or presence of a lesion, deeper layers of epithelium loses its cohesive force and undergoes exfoliation along with superficial cells (1). A study of these exfoliated cells is called “exfoliative cytology”. Exfoliative cytology is a simple, easy and rapid technique and a bloodless non invasive procedure that can be conducted multiple number of times (2). This methodology was first discovered by George Nicholas Papanicolaou(1883-1962) that is used till date in diagnosis of simple to complicated malignant and premalignant lesions that is helping pathologists all over the world.