Higher Specialist Diploma
Cellular Pathology
Examination – September 2022
Short Answer Questions
60 minutes
Attempt all four questions
Instructions to candidates
1. Record your candidate number and HSD discipline on the front sheet of the answer
booklet
2. Record your candidate number, the question number and the page number in the spaces
provided on the answer sheets
3. Begin each new answer on a new page
4. Each question is worth 25 marks
Page | 1
HSD in Cell Path – Sept 2022 Short Answer, Essay and Case Studies Papers FINAL EXAM PAPERS
, 1.
a. Upon reviewing HER2 staining, the control slide shows an identical level of staining on
the 2+ and 3+ sections. Speculate on how this might have occurred and indicate your
plan to investigate and resolve this issue? (15 Marks)
b. Your NEQAS EQA results are returned to the lab, and for the Grocott stain, you have
been given a score of 3. What will you do in this situation? (10 Marks)
2. A prostatectomy specimen is examined, and no sign of cancer is found – despite a
malignant core biopsy. Explain how you would investigate this discrepancy, and what
corrective measures you would put in place to prevent a recurrence.
3. You have been asked to validate and verify a new predictive antibody test within your
department. Discuss and explain the steps you would need to go through to complete
this requirement.
4. A sentinel lymph node specimen has been compromised following formalin fixed and
paraffin embedding. The resulting sections cut from the blocks reveals holes and tearing
of the tissue. Critically assess the investigations that you would conduct to try to
identify the cause of the error(s).
Page | 2
HSD in Cell Path – Sept 2022 Short Answer, Essay and Case Studies Papers FINAL EXAM PAPERS
Cellular Pathology
Examination – September 2022
Short Answer Questions
60 minutes
Attempt all four questions
Instructions to candidates
1. Record your candidate number and HSD discipline on the front sheet of the answer
booklet
2. Record your candidate number, the question number and the page number in the spaces
provided on the answer sheets
3. Begin each new answer on a new page
4. Each question is worth 25 marks
Page | 1
HSD in Cell Path – Sept 2022 Short Answer, Essay and Case Studies Papers FINAL EXAM PAPERS
, 1.
a. Upon reviewing HER2 staining, the control slide shows an identical level of staining on
the 2+ and 3+ sections. Speculate on how this might have occurred and indicate your
plan to investigate and resolve this issue? (15 Marks)
b. Your NEQAS EQA results are returned to the lab, and for the Grocott stain, you have
been given a score of 3. What will you do in this situation? (10 Marks)
2. A prostatectomy specimen is examined, and no sign of cancer is found – despite a
malignant core biopsy. Explain how you would investigate this discrepancy, and what
corrective measures you would put in place to prevent a recurrence.
3. You have been asked to validate and verify a new predictive antibody test within your
department. Discuss and explain the steps you would need to go through to complete
this requirement.
4. A sentinel lymph node specimen has been compromised following formalin fixed and
paraffin embedding. The resulting sections cut from the blocks reveals holes and tearing
of the tissue. Critically assess the investigations that you would conduct to try to
identify the cause of the error(s).
Page | 2
HSD in Cell Path – Sept 2022 Short Answer, Essay and Case Studies Papers FINAL EXAM PAPERS
