R84.6: Abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax Abnormal findings on cytological examination

Fluid from your nose, throat, airways or lungs was tested. Altered cells have been detected in your sample.

The throat begins behind the mouth and nose. The throat connects the mouth and nose with the windpipe (trachea) and gullet (oesophagus). The lungs are on the left and right side of the ribcage. They are also connected to the nose and mouth via the bronchial tubes and windpipe (trachea).

The sample of the examined fluid normally only contains a certain amount of different substances. These substances include certain cells and certain proteins, for example.

Altered cells have been detected in your sample. You usually look closely at the cells under a microscope. The cells are usually stained beforehand so that any changes can be detected more easily. Altered cells have a different shape or size, for example. The amount of altered cells is also significant.

If the amount of substances in the sample has changed, this can sometimes be an indication of disease. The results can also depend on when the sample is taken or how the sample is stored until it is examined, for example.