Exfoliative Cytology: A Globally Dependable Diagnostic Methodology for Pathologists-A Review

“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.