Never stop wondering: When cells become PAP-art on the slides.

Abstract

The project named Victoria's cells was created to train health care personnel, especially in low-income countries. This innovative approach is designed to associate benign and malignant cellular images and/or patterns with a range of shapes and color shades to evoke animals, common objects, and colorful aquariums. The project makes use of familiar images to capture the viewer's interest as an aid for cytological interpretation. Cervicovaginal cytology is processed with conventional and liquid-based cytology. The images are visually compelling to highlight the importance of studying cells and their diagnostic significance. Infectious diseases as well as malignant cells are thereby easily recognized. The pictures are organized into different sections, including Victoria's zoo, Victoria's fantasy, and malignant mockery. Branching mycelia resemble a starfish; squamous metaplasia recalls a sea turtle's shell. Among others, different patterns of endometrial, endocervical, and squamous cells can resemble fish tanks populated by cells with the shapes of pufferfish, anglerfish, whales, scorpions, and garfish. The sea transitions to the earth, with a sly cat, a little elephant, a dog, and a koala. Other cellular preparations resemble a gymnast, a geisha, and a plunging diver as well as hummingbirds, a heron, a water lily, and a peony. The malignant mockery section is composed of squamous intraepithelial lesion patterns that resemble monsters, eyes, a foul tongue, eagles, and feathers. In conclusion, the recognition of visual images can make the study of cytology simpler and more enjoyable and serve the final objectives of prevention and cure.