Inception and Development of the Papanicolaou Stain Method

Abstract

Objective: Cytodiagnoses of specific malignancies are enabled through analyses of abnormal nuclear chromatin and cytoplasmic features in stained cells. Aim: The objective of this work was to explore the inception, development, and chemistry of the Pap stain method introduced in 1942 by Dr. G.N. Papanicolaou. Study Design: To achieve this, we carried out a review of the English literature. Results: Between 1914 and 1933, Papanicolaou first analyzed vaginal squamous cells in guinea pigs and later in human vaginal fluid samples using hematoxylin and eosin with limited color reactions, correlating the cell-type morphology with endocrinology and histology. The 5-dye Pap stain method evolved through 2 salient phases. The first, between 1933 and 1942, saw the introduction of alcohol-ether fixation and aqueous waterblue staining to enhance cellular transparency, aiding the distinction of cervical cancer cells from benign cells, with quantitative and qualitative assessment of squamous cell maturity. The second phase, between 1942 and 1960, saw the introduction and refinement of various alcoholic cytoplasmic counterstaining schemes with orange G and EA (light green, Bismarck brown, eosin) and phosphotungstic acid, allowing wider ranges of polychromasia and further enhancing cellular visualization, facilitating the distinction of cell types and improving diagnostic confidence. Conclusions: Development of the Pap stain method followed specific historical and scientific events. The staining method evolved following incremental improvements in cellular transparency achieved through tailored cellular fixation and cytoplasmic staining using variable dye and pH combinations.

Cervical Cancer Screening Programs in Europe: The Transition Towards HPV Vaccination and Population-Based HPV Testing

“…With the invention of the Pap test in the 1940s, by George N. Papanicolaou and H.F. Traut, cervical cytology gained a robust and low-complexity method of screening for cervical cancer [30]. This process entails the exfoliation of cells from the cervix, which are then fixed, viewed under a microscope, and are subsequently morphologically interpreted.…”

“…The staining method developed for this test offered a polychromatic definition of the nucleus and the features of the cytoplasm. The Pap test allows the assessment of nuclear chromatin alterations to discern whether necrosis occurred, the observation of the degree of cellular degeneration, and the distinction of the maturity of squamous epithelial cells [28,30,31].…”

Tes Tzanck Di Bidang Dermatologi Dan Venereologi

“…1 Pewarnaan Papanicolaou pertama kali digunakan pada kanker serviks, dengan kelebihan dapat memvisualisasikan inti sel dan sitomorfologi dengan rinci, misalnya perubahan kromatin, struktur sitoplasma, derajat degenerasi atau nekrosis seluler, produksi musin, glikogen, dan keratin sehingga dapat membedakan jenis sel kanker, misalnya karsinoma skuamosa atau adenokarsinoma. 9,10 Apusan yang sudah diwarnai dicuci dengan air, dikeringkan, ditetesi minyak emersi, dan diperiksa di bawah mikroskop. Inti sel yang terwarnai dapat berwarna, mulai dari biru kemerahan hingga ungu dan merah muda.…”

Detection of Malignancy in Body Fluids: A Comparison of the Hematology and Cytology Laboratories

“…Closely distinct sample processes of body fluid in the hematology and cytology laboratories are applied with sodium citrate or heparin serving as anticoagulants and the cytospin methodology to concentrate scant cells. The medical technologists in the hematology laboratory examine the cells which are widely stained with Romanowsky dyes (Wright, Giemsa and Liu's stain) [7,8], whereas the pathologists in the cytology laboratory perform morphological observation upon the cells with Papanicolaou stain [9]. Furthermore, the hematology laboratory runs for 24 hours per day and usually presents the screening reports earlier than the diagnostic reports from the cytology laboratory on the sample duplicates.…”