Scrapping
cells off the cervix (neck of the womb) and analyzing them under the light
microscope for changes that may point to the start of cancer of the cervix –
Pap smear/test – has greatly reduced deaths from this cancer because treatment
can be offered before the pre-cancerous changes worsen.
An
abnormality that may be seen under the microscope is a cell nucleus that looks
like a raisin (dried grape) – raisinoid nucleus.
The
Pap smear - a screening method - is named after its inventor, the Greek doctor Georgios Papanikolaou
(1883 – 1962).
Reference:
Histology
blog (HistoQuarterly). “Koilocytes have a clear halo
around the nuclei, and the nuclei are raisinoid (literally look like raisins)
[arrows] http://twitpic.com/cgp9ef” 3
Apr 2013, 8:37 a.m. Tweet. Go to reference
