Molecular Cytopathology Correlations: Interpretation of Molecular Diagnostic Results

An expanding knowledge of the molecular basis of disease and the application of molecular diagnostics in routine clinical practice have resulted in increasing volumes of cytology tissue samples being utilized for molecular testing. The importance of cytopathologists being able to incorporate molecular pathology into their clinical practice and translate molecular diagnostic results into patient care cannot be overemphasized. With the increasing use of molecular diagnostics in cytopathology, cytopathologists are expected to interpret diagnostic and theranostic genetic information in the appropriate clinicopathologic context and include specific prognostic and predictive information in their reports. A basic understanding of the principles of molecular testing and the application of these ancillary studies in the field of cytopathology are critical for judicious utilization of tissue samples, implementation of molecular testing in these samples, and the integration of molecular results into cytopathology practice for appropriate patient care.