Dilip K. Das

Value and limitations of fine-needle aspiration cytology in diagnosis and classification of lymphomas: A review

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic diagnosis of non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) depends upon finding a relatively monotonous population of lymphoid cells in smears. Lymphomas have successfully been classified by FNA cytology following the prevalent histologic classifications. The success rate of FNA cytology ranges from 80%-90% in diagnosis of NHL and from 67.5%-86% in its subtyping. The cytodiagnosis of Hodgkins disease (HD) depends upon demonstration of Reed-Sternberg cells or Hodgkins cells amongst appropriate reactive cell components. The diagnostic accuracy of FNA cytology for HD has also been invariably high (>85%). Yet, the role of cytology in primary diagnosis, subclassification and management of patients with lymphoma remains controversial. The differential diagnostic problems for NHL include a group of small round cell tumors, nonlymphoid acute leukemias and HD. Reservations have been expressed regarding the efficacy of cytology in separating florid reactive hyperplasia from low-grade malignant lymphoma. The reported cytodiagnostic accuracy for follicular lymphomas and nodular sclerosis type of HD is less compared to other subtypes of NHL and HD respectively since nodular pattern and sclerosis are strict histologic criteria which can not be appreciated in cytologic preparations. Entities like atypical lymphoproliferative disorders, peripheral T-cell lymphomas and Ki-1 positive anaplastic large cell lymphomas pose diagnostic challenges to cytologists. Despite these limitations, FNA cytology remains the first line of investigations (screening test) used in cases of lymphadenopathy. Besides initial diagnosis of lymphoma, it helps in detection of residual disease, recurrences and progression of low-grade to high-grade lymphoma, and helps in staging the disease. Availability of prior FNA cytology report facilitates the histologic diagnosis and classification of NHL. Various special ancillary techniques are now being performed on lymph node aspirates to diagnose lymphoma versus other malignancies, and to decide the functional character of lymphomas and their clonal nature. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:240-249.

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of gallbladder lesions : A study of 82 cases

Carcinoma of the gallbladder (GB) is among the five most common forms of cancers and tops the list of gastrointestinal malignancies in females of the Delhi region. Lack of specific signs and symptoms prevents early detection of GB carcinoma. However, in recent years ultrasonographically (US)‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytology has been found to be a reliable procedure for its diagnosis. The present study was carried out during a period of 5 yr (1986–1990) in 64 female and 18 male patients to find out the diagnostic utility of US‐guided FNA cytology in gallbladder lesions. Ultrasonography in these 82 cases revealed a mass in the gallbladder/GB area in 74 (90.2%), a mass in the GB/pancreas in 1 (1.2%), gallstones in 32 (39.0%), and miscellaneous gallbladder lesions in 4 (4.9%). The other findings included space‐occupying lesions in liver in 18 (22.0%), portal lymphadenopathy in 12 (14.6%), and infiltration in other organs in 7 (8.5%). The initial cytodiagnosis was malignancy in 48 cases, inflammatory in 12, and inadequate in 22. Following review of the smears by one of the investigators (D.K.D.), the number of malignant cases remained 48 (58.5%). There were 10 (12.2%) inflammatory and 24 (29.3%) inadequate cases. Adenocarcinoma was the most common malignancy (83.3%), followed by squamous‐cell and adenosquamous carcinoma (12.5%) and small round cell tumors (4.2%). The 10 inflammatory lesions showed slight (+) to excessive (+++) neutrophilic infiltration and included one case each of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and a necrotizing granulomatous lesion likely to be of tuberculous etiology. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998; 18:258–264.

Solitary Nodular Goiter

OBJECTIVE To study the cytomorphologic features of solitary nodular goiters (SNG). STUDY DESIGN May-Grunwald-Giemsa-stained smears in 441 SNG diagnosed by ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration (FNA) and found to have optimum cellular material at review were subjected to detailed cytologic assessment. The age of the patients ranged from 11 to 75 years, with a median of 35. Male: female ratio was 69:372. The parameters for cytologic assessment included cellularity, colloid content, acinar formation, papillary formation, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, nuclear grooves, marginal vacuoles, Hurthle cells and various inflammatory cells. Histopathology reports on thyroidectomy specimens were available in 27 cases from two Delhi hospitals. RESULTS Hyperplastic nodules (68 cases) differed significantly from colloid goiters (269 cases) by having more cases with excessive cellularity, acinar formation and marginal vacuoles (P < .001). There was also a significant difference with respect to papillary formation and moderate-to-excessive colloid content (P < .001). As compared to hyperplastic nodules, neoplasms (60 cases) had a significantly higher number of cases with papillary formation, intranuclear inclusions and nuclear grooves but lower number of cases with marginal vacuoles (P < .01-.001). Among neoplasms, usual papillary carcinoma (19 cases) differed from follicular neoplasms (20 cases) with respect to acinar formation, papillary formation and nuclear grooves (P < .001). A significant difference was also observed with respect to colloid content and nuclear inclusions. Follicular variant of papillary carcinomas (FVPC) (10 cases) emerged as a distinct cytologic entity following review and differed from usual papillary carcinomas in having a higher number of cases with acinar formation, tubular formation and marginal vacuoles (P < .01-.001) and lower number of cases with nuclear grooves (P = .05). FVPC also differed from follicular neoplasms with respect to papillary formation, tubular formation, intranuclear inclusions and nuclear grooves (P < .01-.001). Overall cytohistologic agreement was achieved in 24 of 27 (88.9%) cases. CONCLUSION Detailed cytologic assessment of FNA smears-in SNG was helpful in highlighting parameters that differentiate between various types of goiters.

Marginal Vacuoles in Thyroid Aspirates

OBJECTIVESnTo report on two cases of metastatic follicular carcinoma with marginal vacuoles (MVs) and review smear results in 441 solitary nodular goiters (SNGs) for this cytologic feature.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnThe first case was a 55-year-old male who presented with a huge mass in the left hip region; the second case was a 50-year-old male with a thyroid nodule and a large mass on the scalp. The age of the 441 ultrasonographically diagnosed SNG cases ranged from 11 to 75 years. The May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears of these cases were reviewed by one of the authors (D.K.D.) for various cytomorphologic features, including MVs.nnnRESULTSnFNA smears from the mass in the hip in the first case showed follicular cells with acinar formation and MVs, indicating metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). These features were of help in detecting the thyroid primary, which had previously gone undetected. Aspiration smears from the thyroid nodule and the mass on the scalp in the second case showed tumor cells of FTC with MVs and microfilariae. Review of 441 SNG cases revealed MVs in 42.6% of hyperplastic nodules; that rate was significantly higher (P < .001) than that of colloid goiter (5.2%) and neoplastic goiter (13.3%) but lower (P < .05) than that of thyrotoxic goiter (100%). MVs were limited to neoplasms with a follicular component; that included 15% of follicular neoplasms and 50% of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (FVPC). The difference between FVPC and the rest of the neoplastic goiters (6%) was statistically significant (P = .002).

Fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of carotid body tumor: report of a case and review of experience with cytologic features in four cases.

A 45‐yr‐old female presented with a left upper cervical swelling of 4 yr duration. The clinical suspicion of carotid body tumor (CBT) was confirmed by imaging findings, fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytology, and histology of the resected tumor. Review of our experience with four cases including the present one during 10 yr (1984–1994) showed that the age of the patients ranged from 35 to 45 yr with a mean of 40.8 yr. All four cases were females and had left‐sided upper cervical swelling. Clinically one case was diagnosed as cervical lymphadenopathy and there was clinical suspicion of CBT in two cases. Findings of digital subtraction angiogram in four cases and ultrasonography including Doppler ultrasound vascular imaging in three cases were consistent with CBT. The cytodiagnosis was CBT in three cases and inadequate (blood only) in one case. The analysis of detailed cytologic features in three cases revealed blood‐rich aspirate with poor to moderate cellularity, indistinct cell outline, and acinar formation. Giant bare nuclei, spindle‐shaped tumor cells, and cytoplasmic granulations were observed in two cases each. Histopathology of the resected tumors in two cases confirmed the cytodiagnosis of CBT. FNA cytology played a useful role in arriving at a tissue diagnosis of this rare neoplasm. Diagn. Cytopathol. 17:143–147, 1997.

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai‐Dorfman disease): Report of two cases with fine‐needle aspiration cytology

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) or Rosai‐Dorfman disease is a rare but well‐defined histiocytic proliferative disorder. There are only few reports or small series of cases on the fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic features of this entity. Our first case was a 14‐yr‐old girl who presented with low‐grade fever and neck swellings of 2 mo duration. FNA smears from the submandibular and cervical lymph nodes showed numerous histiocytes with evidence of lymphophagocytosis (emperipolesis) against a background of reactive lymphoid cells. The FNA cytodiagnosis was Rosai‐Dorfman disease. The patient was put on steroids, with improvement. The second patient was a 3½‐yr‐old girl who presented with fever and left cervical lymphadenopathy. The initial FNA smear from an outside laboratory was reported as reactive hyperplasia. A repeat FNA smear showed numerous histiocytes with evidence of emperipolesis, mild nuclear enlargement and multilobation/multinucleation in a few histiocytes, and reactive lymphoid cells. The cytodiagnosis was Rosai‐Dorfman disease. Review of the initial smear showed the Rosai‐Dorfman (RD) cells, but in smaller number. We conclude that FNA cytology is a useful tool in the diagnosis of SHML, but the diagnosis may be missed at initial stages when characteristic cytomorphologic features are not well‐developed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2001;24:42–45.

Oral Leiomyosarcoma in Childhood

BACKGROUND: Leiomyosarcomas are rare tumors in the pediatric age group, and occurrence of this neoplasm in the oral cavity is exceedingly rare. This article highlights the fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology diagnosis of a case of recurrent oral leiomyosarcoma in childhood. CASE: An 11-year-old male noticed a swelling in the oral cavity near the left lower jaw. It was excised and diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma on histopathology. Four months later the patient presented with a progressive swelling in the oral cavity that extended to the lower jaw. The recurrent swelling was subjected to FNA, and its cytologic features were consistent with leiomyosarcoma. There was a very good initial response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, because of noncompliance with advice for further therapy, the patient had a second local recurrence and dissemination of the disease to the skeletal system, abdomen and thorax. FNA cytology diagnosis of the second locally recurrent lesion and abdominal mass were consistent with leiomyosarcoma. Immunocytochemical staining revealed a positive reaction in the cytoplasm of tumor cells for vimentin and desmin in the FNA smear and paraffin section, respectively. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a useful technique for detection of recurrence and metastasis during follow-up of childhood oral leiomyosarcoma.

Cytohistological correlation as a measure of quality assurance of a cytology laboratory.

Cytohistological correlation as a measure of quality assurance of a cytology laboratory

Squamous metaplasia in hormonallytreated prostatic cancer significance during follow-up

Abstract A prospective study of 59 hormonally treated prostatie cancer cases was undertaken during follow-up with sequential transrectal palpation and fine-needle aspiration. At initiation of therapy patients ages ranged from forty-eight to eighty-two years (median, 68 years). The usual follow-up interval was 6 ± 3 months, and follow-up periods ranged from six months to one hundred twenty months (median 48 months). The cytologic findings were categorized under four cytologic response types and palpation findings under five response grades. Four different degrees of squamous metaplasia (1 +, 2 +, 3 +, 4 +) were observed in smears, depending on semiquantitative determination of squamous metaplaasic cells in relation to the total amount of benign and malignant epithelial cells in the smear. There were 341 follow-up observations in which both transrectal fine-needle aspiration cytology and palpation were done. In 306 of these, cytologic findings were found to be adequate. Comparison of squamous metaplasia with cytologic response types revealed a highly significant difference between the benign state and recurrence/frank malignancy. This was also true when frequency of squamous metaplasia was compared with palpatory response grades. It was found that squamous metaplasia can be a valuable adjunct to other cytomorphologic changes such as shrinkage of tumor cell size and decrease in size of nucleoli or its disappearance, in determining response to hormonal therapy.

Molluscum contagiosum. A case report with fine needle aspiration cytologic diagnosis and ultrastructural features.

BACKGROUNDnCytomorphologic and ultrastructural features of molluscum contagiosum, a rare skin lesion of viral etiology, are presented.nnnCASEnA 4-month-old female was referred for fine needle aspiration cytology of papules over the back and chest wall. A Giemsa-stained preparation of whitish material aspirated from the chest wall nodule showed numerous large, intracytoplasmic, basophilic bodies that pushed the host cell nucleus to the periphery, giving a signet-ring appearance to a few cells. A cytologic diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum was suggested. On electron microscopy numerous intracytoplasmic viral particles were demonstrated, thus confirming the cytologic diagnosis.nnnCONCLUSIONnIn clinically unsuspected cases, the cytologic diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum can be suggested by demonstrating pathognomonic molluscum bodies in aspirated material.