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Pathology Cheat Sheets
Authored high-yield revision summaries for Pathology, organised by topic and linked to their mapped chapters.
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Browse Pathology cheat sheets
Browse 1-18
- Follow the Disease Story: Pathologist role and disease reasoning for NEET-PG: etiology vs pathogenesis, morphology, biopsy vs cytology vs resection, and clinicopathological correlation.
- Pathology Through Time: History of pathology for NEET-PG exams: Virchow cellular pathology, Morgagni organ concept, Rokitansky autopsies, and the shift to molecular diagnosis.
- Crossing the Threshold: Cell injury for NEET-PG exams: hypoxia vs ischaemia, ATP depletion, calcium influx, free radicals, reperfusion injury, and reversible vs irreversible change.
- What the Cell Retains: Intracellular accumulations and calcification: fatty liver, hemosiderin vs lipofuscin, PAS staining, dystrophic vs metastatic calcification, psammoma bodies.
- Adapt, Age, or Progress: Cellular adaptations and ageing for NEET-PG: atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia, telomere shortening, and replicative senescence.
- Necrosis or Quiet Deletion: Necrosis and apoptosis for NEET-PG: coagulative vs liquefactive vs caseous vs fibrinoid necrosis, gas gangrene, caspase pathways, and apoptosis vs necrosis.
- When Protein Becomes Deposit: Amyloidosis for NEET-PG: AL vs AA vs ATTR vs beta-2 microglobulin, Congo red apple-green birefringence, sago spleen, and renal nephrotic involvement here.
- Inflammation in Motion: Acute inflammation for NEET-PG: cardinal signs, vascular permeability, neutrophils, selectins and integrins, histamine, prostaglandins, and complement.
- When Inflammation Persists: Chronic and granulomatous inflammation for NEET-PG: macrophages, epithelioid cells, Langhans giant cells, caseating vs non-caseating granulomas, and TB.
- Fluid Follows Forces: Oedema, hyperaemia and congestion for NEET-PG: Starling forces, transudate vs exudate, nutmeg liver, brown induration, and cardiac heart failure cells.
- When Perfusion Fails: Shock and thrombosis for NEET-PG: stages of shock, septic warm shock, Virchow triad, lines of Zahn, Factor V Leiden hypercoagulability, and DIC coagulopathy.
- Vessel Block to Tissue Death: Embolism and infarction for NEET-PG: saddle, fat, air and amniotic emboli, paradoxical embolism, red vs white infarcts, and wedge-shaped organ infarcts.
- Close, Contract, or Complicate: Wound healing for NEET-PG: first vs second intention, granulation tissue, collagen types, keloid vs hypertrophic scar, vitamin C, and healing complications.
- Build the Repair Bed: Connective tissue repair for NEET-PG: haemostasis, granulation tissue, PDGF, VEGF angiogenesis, TGF-beta fibrosis, MMPs, and the scar remodelling phases.
- Cells Need Context: Diagnostic cytology for NEET-PG: exfoliative vs FNAC, Papanicolaou stain, liquid-based cytology, fixation, and the role and limits of cell-based diagnosis.
- Read the Smear Systematically: Cytology smear reading for NEET-PG: nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, hyperchromasia, pleomorphism, loss of cohesion, tumour diathesis, and Bethesda reporting.
- Behaviour Is the Point: Neoplasia behaviour for NEET-PG: benign vs malignant criteria, anaplasia, invasion, routes of metastasis, carcinoma vs sarcoma spread, and TNM staging.
- Growth Without Restraint: Molecular basis of cancer for NEET-PG: oncogenes, RAS, BCR-ABL, two-hit hypothesis, RB and p53, telomerase, aflatoxin, HPV E6 and E7, and carcinogenesis stages.
Browse 19-36
- The Host Feels the Tumour: Tumour host effects for NEET-PG: cachexia, PTHrP hypercalcaemia, SIADH, ectopic ACTH, Lambert-Eaton, acanthosis nigricans, immunoediting, and tumour markers.
- Protection Needs Restraint: Innate and adaptive immunity for NEET-PG: pattern recognition receptors, T and B cells, MHC class I vs II, complement pathways, and co-stimulation signals.
- Four Routes to Immune Injury: Hypersensitivity reactions for NEET-PG: type I IgE anaphylaxis, type II antibody-mediated, type III immune complex, and type IV delayed T-cell reactions.
- Recognising Self, Graft, and Target: HLA, transplant rejection and autoimmunity for NEET-PG: MHC class I vs II, hyperacute vs acute vs chronic rejection, GVHD, tolerance, and molecular mimicry.
- Complexes and Immune Depletion: SLE and HIV pathology for NEET-PG: ANA and anti-dsDNA, wire-loop lesions, Libman-Sacks endocarditis, HIV gp120, CCR5, p24 antigen, and CD4 depletion here.
- Three Paths, Three Tissues: Malaria, cysticercosis and leprosy for NEET-PG: falciparum sequestration, Schuffner dots, neurocysticercosis, and tuberculoid versus lepromatous leprosy.
- Read the Tissue Reaction: Infection reaction patterns for NEET-PG: suppurative, necrotising, granulomatous and viral cytopathic change, special stains, and host-determined lesions.
- Site Plus Morphology: Childhood tumours for NEET-PG exams: neuroblastoma MYCN, stage 4S regression, Wilms tumour WT1, retinoblastoma two-hit, and Ewing sarcoma EWS-FLI1 fusion.
- Dosage, Storage, Morphology: Cytogenetics and storage disorders for NEET-PG: trisomy 21, Robertsonian translocation, Turner 45X, fragile X, Gaucher cells, and Tay-Sachs cherry-red spot.
- Exposure Leaves a Pathway: Environmental injury for NEET-PG exams: tobacco carcinogens, carbon monoxide, alcoholic liver disease, lead and arsenic toxicity, asbestos, and silicosis.
- Deficit and Excess in Tissue: Malnutrition and obesity for NEET-PG: marasmus vs kwashiorkor, vitamin A, D and C deficiency, pellagra, beriberi, and the obesity metabolic syndrome here.
- Make Blood, Handle Blood: Haematopoiesis and blood collection for NEET-PG: fetal to adult sites, erythropoiesis stages, erythropoietin, reticulocytes, and EDTA vs citrate anticoagulants.
- Classify Before You Chase: Anaemia classification for NEET-PG: MCV categories, reticulocyte count, iron studies, RDW, peripheral smear clues, and Perls Prussian blue marrow iron.
- Iron: Move, Store, Compare: Iron deficiency and microcytic anaemia for NEET-PG: ferritin, TIBC, hepcidin, ferroportin, pencil cells, chronic disease, thalassaemia, and ring sideroblasts.
- Dna Synthesis Leaves a Smear: Megaloblastic anaemia for NEET-PG: B12 and folate, intrinsic factor, pernicious anaemia, hypersegmented neutrophils, and subacute combined degeneration.
- When Red Cells Break Early: Haemolytic anaemia for NEET-PG: intrinsic vs extrinsic, intravascular vs extravascular, haptoglobin, spherocytes, schistocytes, Heinz bodies, and Coombs test.
- Globin, Immunity, Compatibility: Sickle cell, thalassaemia and immune haemolysis for NEET-PG: HbS valine substitution, hydroxyurea, autosplenectomy, HbA2, and warm vs cold AIHA disease.
- Empty Marrow, Full Consequences: Aplastic anaemia for NEET-PG: pancytopenia with fatty hypocellular marrow, immune stem cell destruction, Fanconi anaemia, and PNH with CD55 and CD59 loss.
Browse 37-54
- Count the Right White Cells: Leucocytosis for NEET-PG: neutrophilia and left shift, eosinophilia, basophilia, leukemoid reaction vs CML, LAP score, and leukoerythroblastic picture.
- Read the Node Pattern: Lymph node and spleen for NEET-PG: follicular vs paracortical hyperplasia, tingible body macrophages, tubercular lymphadenitis, and splenomegaly causes.
- Classify the Nodal Lesion: Lymphoma for NEET-PG: Reed-Sternberg CD15 CD30, nodular sclerosis, Ann Arbor staging, follicular t(14;18), Burkitt t(8;14), mantle cell, and FNAC limits.
- Separate Monoclonal States: Monoclonal gammopathy for NEET-PG: MGUS vs smouldering vs myeloma CRAB, M protein spike, Bence Jones protein, Waldenstrom IgM, and serum free light chains.
- See the Myeloma Pattern: Multiple myeloma for NEET-PG: clonal marrow plasma cells, lytic skull lesions, rouleaux, M spike, Bence Jones cast nephropathy, and beta-2 microglobulin.
- Build the Primary Plug: Primary haemostasis for NEET-PG: platelet plug, von Willebrand factor GpIb, ITP, von Willebrand disease, haemophilia A and B, and bleeding time vs PT vs aPTT.
- Find Consumption or Deficiency: DIC and vitamin K deficiency for NEET-PG: consumption coagulopathy, D-dimer, schistocytes, factors II VII IX X, prolonged PT, and newborn haemorrhage.
- Make Compatibility Explicit: Blood banking for NEET-PG: ABO and Rh systems, universal donor, crossmatching, direct vs indirect Coombs test, and component therapy with cryoprecipitate.
- Respond to a Transfusion Event: Transfusion safety for NEET-PG: transmitted infections, acute haemolytic reaction, febrile and allergic reactions, TRALI vs TACO, and autologous transfusion.
- Read the Specimen First: Urinalysis and body fluids for NEET-PG: isosthenuria, urinary casts, CSF in meningitis, Light criteria, SAAG in ascites, and gout vs pseudogout crystals.
- Interpret the Panel Pattern: Laboratory panels for NEET-PG: hepatocellular vs cholestatic LFTs, AST/ALT ratio, urea-creatinine ratio, TSH interpretation, INR, and PT vs aPTT tests.
- Follow the Mucosal Injury: Gastric pathology for NEET-PG: H. pylori peptic ulcer, four ulcer zones, intestinal vs diffuse gastric carcinoma, signet-ring cells, and linitis plastica.
- Map the Intestinal Pattern: Intestinal inflammation for NEET-PG: ileocaecal TB, Crohn vs ulcerative colitis, crypt abscesses, adenoma-carcinoma sequence, APC, and Lynch syndrome.
- Classify the Jaundice Pattern: Jaundice and hepatitis for NEET-PG: unconjugated vs conjugated bilirubin, Gilbert syndrome, Councilman bodies, ground-glass hepatocytes, and HBV serology.
- Read Decompensated Liver Disease: Liver failure and portal hypertension for NEET-PG: acinar zones, Mallory-Denk hyaline, cirrhosis, stellate cells, varices, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy.
- Name the Lung Pattern: Respiratory infection and airway disease for NEET-PG: lobar pneumonia stages, emphysema types, asthma Curschmann spirals, bronchiectasis, and TB Ghon complex.
- Trace Exposure to Tumour: Occupational lung disease and lung tumours for NEET-PG: silicosis, asbestos bodies, mesothelioma, small cell SIADH, squamous PTHrP, and Pancoast tumour.
- Read Vessel Wall and Pump: Vascular and heart failure for NEET-PG: atherosclerosis foam cells, hyaline vs hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis, aneurysm, and left vs right heart failure.
Browse 55-72
- Separate Valve and Infarct Lesions: Cardiac injury for NEET-PG: myocardial infarction necrosis, contraction bands, troponin, Aschoff bodies, mitral stenosis, endocarditis, and pericarditis.
- Classify Muscle and Aorta: Cardiomyopathy and aortic disease for NEET-PG: dilated vs hypertrophic vs restrictive, sarcomere mutations, aortic dissection, Marfan, and syphilitic aortitis.
- Read the Compartment: Renal compartments for NEET-PG: nephron anatomy, glomerular filtration barrier, nephritic vs nephrotic syndrome, red cell casts, and isosthenuria patterns.
- Follow the Nephron Loss: Renal failure for NEET-PG: prerenal vs intrinsic vs postrenal, acute tubular necrosis phases, muddy brown casts, and chronic kidney disease consequences.
- Read the Glomerular Pattern: Glomerular disease for NEET-PG: minimal change, FSGS, membranous PLA2R, post-strep humps, crescentic GN, IgA nephropathy, and Kimmelstiel-Wilson lesions.
- Follow the Interstitium: Renal interstitial and vascular disease for NEET-PG: pyelonephritis, reflux nephropathy, papillary necrosis, benign vs malignant nephrosclerosis, and HUS.
- Space, Pressure, and Mass: Renal cysts, stones and tumours for NEET-PG: ADPKD PKD1, calcium oxalate and struvite stones, clear cell RCC VHL, Wilms tumour, and urothelial carcinoma.
- Classify the Testicular Mass: Testicular tumours for NEET-PG: seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac Schiller-Duval AFP, choriocarcinoma hCG, teratoma, and cryptorchidism cancer risk.
- Zone, Grade, and Invasion: Prostate and penile pathology for NEET-PG: BPH transition zone, prostate adenocarcinoma peripheral zone, Gleason grading, PSA, and HPV penile carcinoma.
- Find the Transformation Zone: Cervical neoplasia for NEET-PG exams: transformation zone, HPV 16 and 18 with E6 E7, CIN grading, koilocytes, Pap smear screening, and cervicitis causes.
- Read Glands in Context: Endometrial and myometrial pathology for NEET-PG: unopposed oestrogen hyperplasia, type I vs II carcinoma, leiomyoma, adenomyosis, and pelvic endometriosis.
- Classify the Adnexal Lesion: Ovarian and trophoblastic tumours for NEET-PG: serous cystadenocarcinoma CA-125, dermoid cyst, dysgerminoma, Krukenberg, hydatidiform mole, and choriocarcinoma.
- Separate Mass From Risk: Benign breast disease for NEET-PG: fibroadenoma, phyllodes tumour, fibrocystic change, atypical hyperplasia risk, sclerosing adenosis, and fat necrosis.
- Report the Invasive Pattern: Breast carcinoma for NEET-PG: invasive ductal vs lobular E-cadherin, DCIS comedo, ER PR HER2 subtypes, triple-negative BRCA1, Paget disease, and gynaecomastia.
- Read the Thyroid Response: Thyroid pathology for NEET-PG: goitre, Graves TSH receptor antibodies, Hashimoto thyroiditis, papillary Orphan Annie nuclei, and medullary calcitonin carcinoma.
- Follow the Metabolic Damage: Diabetes and parathyroid pathology for NEET-PG: type 1 insulitis vs type 2 islet amyloid, Kimmelstiel-Wilson nodules, hyperparathyroidism, and brown tumours.
- Map the Endocrine Mass: Pancreatic and adrenal pathology for NEET-PG: pancreatic head adenocarcinoma, Addison disease, Waterhouse-Friderichsen, Cushing, and phaeochromocytoma.
- Read Bone As a Tissue: Bone pathology for NEET-PG: osteomyelitis sequestrum and involucrum, osteosarcoma Codman triangle, Ewing sarcoma t(11;22), GCT, and bone metastases here.
Browse 73-78
- Name the Differentiation: Soft tissue tumours for NEET-PG: lipoma vs liposarcoma lipoblasts, rhabdomyosarcoma desmin, synovial sarcoma t(X;18), and GIST CD117 KIT with imatinib.
- When Remodelling Runs Wild: Paget disease and rheumatoid arthritis for NEET-PG: mosaic bone, raised alkaline phosphatase, osteosarcoma risk, synovial pannus, RF, anti-CCP, and HLA-DR4.
- Skin Tumours: Read the Architecture: Skin tumours for NEET-PG: squamous cell carcinoma keratin pearls, basal cell carcinoma palisading, melanoma ABCDE, Breslow thickness, and HMB-45 marker.
- Site Changes the Diagnosis: CNS tumours for NEET-PG exams: glioblastoma pseudopalisading, meningioma psammoma, oligodendroglioma 1p19q, medulloblastoma rosettes, and brain metastases.
- Read the Csf, Then the Vessel: Meningitis and stroke for NEET-PG: bacterial vs viral vs TB CSF, cryptococcal India ink, ischaemic infarct, hypertensive haemorrhage, and berry aneurysm SAH.
- Two Hits, One Retina: Retinoblastoma for NEET-PG: RB1 gene 13q14, two-hit hypothesis, hereditary vs sporadic, leukocoria, Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes, and osteosarcoma risk.
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Pathology Cheat Sheets
Authored high-yield revision summaries for Pathology, organised by topic and linked to their mapped chapters.
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