Fundamentals of Cytology
Ever wondered if that mass is just inflammation or something more sinister?
Cytology is a widely used and accessible diagnostic tool across all levels of veterinary practice. It can be in-house, quick, inexpensive, and instantly gratifying. Yet the overall value of cytology depends on variables like case selection, sampling technique, specimen handling, and the skill of interpretation.
Are you choosing the right tool for the job?
This four week online series is designed to help you reach a diagnosis through cytology. The course begins with how to identify appropriate lesions… is cytology the right test? Differentiate inflammation from neoplasia, and later in the course, we’ll cover some exceptions to the rules – including sneaky carcinomas which lack features of malignancy.
This course is perfect for those who enjoy visual learning, and is open to vets, nurses and technicians. We encourage anyone with an interest in pathology to register.
Do you struggle with…
- Differentiating inflammatory from neoplastic characteristics?
- Identifying round cells versus spindle cells versus epithelial cells?
- Picking features of malignancy?
- Recognising macrophages?
What if we offered you a solution?
Cytology can sometimes feel like staring at an abstract painting – blurry, confusing, and open to interpretation. Is that inflammation or neoplasia? A friendly macrophage or a troublemaking tumour cell? If you’ve ever squinted at a slide and wished for a little more certainty, you’re not alone.
This course is designed to take the guesswork out of cytology and give you the confidence to tell your spindle cells from your epithelial ones – without second-guessing yourself every step of the way. We’ll walk you through when FNA sampling is actually worth it, how to classify inflammatory and neoplastic cells (yes, even the tricky ones), and what those cytologic features of malignancy really mean.
Through four visually engaging modules, you’ll embark on a journey through round-cell neoplasia, master the mysterious world of spindle cells, and finally tackle those tricky epithelial lesions (glandular tissue, we’re looking at you). You’ll also learn how to correlate cytology with histology so you can impress your colleagues with your diagnostic prowess instead of just nodding along and hoping for the best.
Cytology doesn’t have to be a guessing game. Let’s make it clearer, more structured, and – dare we say – fun?
Q&A EACH WEEK
PROFESSIONAL & SUPPORTIVE FORUM
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REPLAYS AVAILABLE
What you will learn
Develop your skills in :
- Differentiating inflammation from neoplasia
- Analysing inflammatory cell types and their significance
- Classifying round, epithelial and spindle cell neoplasms
- Identifying and interpreting features of malignancy
You will revise :
- FNAs: making good choices
- Practical sample preparation & handling
- Decision making for cytology
- Setting yourself up for success
FREE PRESENTATION: GRASS ROUTE PRACTICAL CYTOLOGY TIPS
Dr Andrea Schaffer-White shares an abundance of grass roots tips to help you unlock a treasure trove of valuable insights, leading you to a meaningful diagnosis faster than ever. In many cases, that saved time can be a game-changer for patient care.
Course schedule
Module 1 – Cytology: Art Meets Science
Why do some lesions lend themselves to FNA sampling, yet others do not? Consider the cases where cytology is likely to yield a diagnostic result and how to prepare those samples. This module explores inflammatory cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytoid cells including lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages) versus the three broad categories of neoplastic cells (round, spindle and epithelial). The distinction isn’t always easy to see.
Module 2 – Round Cell Neoplasia
This module is a very visual journey of round cells, including mast cells, lymphocytes, plasma cells, histiocytic cells, and rare venereal tumour cells. Explore the criteria for cytologic grading of mast cell tumours.
Module 3 – Spindle Cell Neoplasia
If you struggle to identify spindle cells based on cytology – you are not alone! This module examines spindle cells and what to make of them in the clinic. How do cytologic findings correlate with histology?
Module 4 – Epithelial Cell Neoplasia
Could you accurately identify epithelial cells based on cytology? What cell types broadly fall into the category of epithelial cells and what tissue areas other than the epidermis exfoliate epithelial cells? This module covers some common epithelial cell-derived lesions, look at features of malignancy as well as some very malignant tumours that commonly lack typical features of malignancy. Hint: glandular tissue is very tricky.
A VETPRAC COURSE WILL PAY FOR ITSELF
INVEST
4 x Wednesday evenings, a curious mind & just $479 towards your career development
LEARN
In-house diagnostic skills directly applicable to clinical practice
RETURN
8 CPD points, plus updated clinical & diagnostic skills to benefit your clients
Your educator
Dr Andrea Schaffer-White
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PAYMENT PLAN
x 4 monthly payments of $125
Your Questions Answered
Do I need to attend specific session times?
Not at all. Of course, you can only ask questions and participate in the discussion if you attend live, but it’s not a requirement. Each live session is recorded and uploaded within 24 hours of the live timeslot. Participants have access to recording during the course and for 4 months afterwards.
Are there group discounts available?
Absolutely! Work together, learn together, we say. If 3 or more participants register from the same clinic under the same booking, you’ll receive a 5% discount at checkout when you book on our website. For 4+ registrations, the discount increases to 10%. This isn’t valid with any other promotion.
Can I pay in instalments, or do you offer payment plans?
Yes, we have a payment plans available; scroll up and you will find them!
Will I get CPD points and a CPD certificate?
Of course! Each participant will receive a CPD certificate via email. We do this after you’ve provided feedback and completed the quiz questions at the end of the course.
What kind of learning materials are included?
All live online courses include live and recorded video presentations. Our educators also provide a variety of other resources so you can expect supporting materials like images, diagrams, course notes, slide presentations, journal articles, links to further reading, and more.
How long is course access open?
24/7 access is available for the duration of the course, plus an additional four months from the date of the first session. You can access recordings, references and reading materials via your course library at any point during this period. We’ll remind you to download and review the course materials before the time is up.
What happens if the course is cancelled?
If we cancel a course, we will refund your course fees. It’s a simple as that.