Urine cytology is the examination of cell structures found within urine. The body is made up of millions of cells. Cytology is a pathological specialty that involves the examination of individual cell’s shape and structure to help determine any underlying abnormalities.
This diagnostic urine test is most commonly used to diagnose and screen for bladder, ureteric or renal pelvic cancers. As well as this, other forms of cytology can be used to screen for foetal abnormalities, cervical smear assessments, cancers arising elsewhere in the body and for the assessment of many other conditions.
It is important to note cytology is different to histology. Cytology involves looking at a single cell, while histology focuses on the entire block of tissue.