Ranjana Nawgiri

Is fine needle aspiration cytology a useful diagnostic tool for granular cell tumors? A cytohistological review with emphasis on pitfalls.

Background: Granular cell tumors (GCT) formerly known as Abrikossoff tumor or granular cell myoblastoma, are rare neoplasms encountered in the fine needle aspiration (FNA) service. Named because of their highly granular cytoplasm which is invariably positive for the S-100 antibody, the classic GCT is thought to be of neural origin. The cytomorphological features range from highly cellular to scanty cellular smears with dispersed polygonal tumor cells. The cells have abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm, eccentric round to oval vesicular nuclei with small inconspicuous nucleoli. The fragility of the cells can result in many stripped nuclei in a granular background. The differential diagnosis occasionally can range from a benign or reactive process to features that are suspicious for malignancy. Some of the concerning cytologic features include necrosis, mitoses and nuclear pleomorphism. Methods: We identified 6 cases of suspected GCT on cytology within the last 10 years and compared them to their final histologic diagnoses. Results: Four had histologic correlation of GCT including one case that was suspicious for GCT on cytology and called atypical with features concerning for a malignant neoplasm. Of the other two cases where GCT was suspected, one showed breast tissue with fibrocystic changes, and the other was a Hurthle cell adenoma of the thyroid. Conclusions: These results imply that FNA has utility in the diagnosis of GCT, and should be included in the differential diagnoses when cells with abundant granular cytoplasm are seen on cytology. Careful attention to cytologic atypia, signs of reactive changes, use of immunohistochemistry, and clinical correlation are helpful in arriving at a definite diagnosis on FNA cytology.

Particles internalization, oxidative stress, apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokines in alveolar macrophages exposed to cement dust

Exposure to cement dust is one of the most common occupational dust exposures worldwide, but the mechanism of toxicity has not been fully elucidated. Cement dust (N) and clinker (C) samples collected from Nigeria and another sample of cement dust (U) collected from USA were evaluated using alveolar macrophage (NR8383) cell culture to determine the contribution of different sources of cement dust in the severity of cement dust toxicity. Cement dust particles internalization and morphologic alterations using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cytotoxicity, apoptotic cells induction, intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, glutathione reduction, TNF-α, IL-1β, and CINC-3 secretion in alveolar macrophages (NR8383) exposed to cement dust and clinker samples were determined. Particles were internalized into the cytoplasmic vacuoles, with cells exposed to U showing increased cell membrane blebbing. Also, NR8383 exposed to U show more significant ROS generation, apoptotic cells induction and decreased glutathione. Interleukin-1β and TNF-α secretion were significantly more in cells exposed to both cement dust samples compared with clinker, while CINC-3 secretion was significantly more in cells exposed to clinker (p < 0.05). Endocytosis, oxidative stress induced-apoptosis and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines may be key mechanisms of cement dust immunotoxicity in the lung and toxicity may be factory dependent.

Correlation of microbiologic culture and fine-needle aspiration cytology: A 14-year experience at a single institution

Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) is an important tool for the diagnosis of infectious disease. FNA material should be appropriately submitted for cultures when indicated by preliminary findings. Correlation of cytologic diagnoses with culture results are important quality assurance tools. The current study reviewed 14 years of FNA‐culture correlation.

A Rare Case of a Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST): a Case Report and Review of the Literature

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of gastrointestinal (GI) tract, accounting for less than 1% of all GI tumors. The incidence of GIST is estimated to be approximately 10–20 per million people, per year [1]. GISTs are typically seen in the stomach (50– 60%), followed by small intestine (30–35%), colon and rectum (5%), and esophagus (< 1%) [2, 3]. There are only 38 cases of GISTs with metastasis to the bone that have been reported in the English literature [4–28].

Drug eluting beads on cytology smears

To the Editor, Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the most widely used primary treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TACE increases the in-situ dwell time and concentration of drug through vascular occlusion by drug-eluting beads (DEB). DEB consist of injectable polymeric microspheres of calibrated size that can be loaded with various antineoplastic solutions.[1] We describe here the appearance of doxorubicin drug eluding beads on cytology in a 60-year-old African-American male with a past medical history of hepatitis C, hypertension, HCC, hypothyroidism, and arthritis. The patient underwent three TACE procedures within the year for treatment of HCC. Four months after the last chemoembolization, a computed tomography (CT) scan showed a suspicious lesion next to the TACE area. An ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration and core biopsies were done of the suspicious lesion. The cytology showed moderately cellular smears composed of groups of neoplastic cells with endothelial wrapping consistent with HCC. Intermixed with hepatocytes were circumscribed dense eosinophilic globules consistent with the DEB from chemoembolization [Figures ​[Figures11–3], done 4 months ago. The core biopsy showed nests of malignant cells with focal pseudoacinar pattern, in background of cirrhosis. On reticulin stain the tumor showed decreased staining with thickened trabeculae confirming the diagnosis of HCC seen on smears. A total of four fine needle passes and two 18 gauge core biopsies were done. The chemoembolization beads were seen only in one air dried smear. Figure 1 Drug eluting beads on cytology smear (4× diff quik stain) Figure 3 drug eluting beads on cytology smear (4× diff quik stain) Figure 2 Drug eluting beads on cytology smear (4× diff quik stain) Developed in mid-2000, DEB can be loaded with cytotoxic drugs for the chemoembolization of hypervascular tumors.[2] These beads slowly release the cytotoxic drug in a controlled fashion into the tumor, inflicting local ischemia while reducing systemic drug concentrations.[2] In our patient the doxorubicin eluting beads were used. These were seen as homogenous, well circumscribed purple, foreign body globules measuring in size from 100–300 μm on air dried cytology smears stained with Romanowsky stain [Figures ​[Figures11–3]. Previously described microscopic appearance of drug eluting and radioactive beads has been reported in histology tissue sections.[1,3–5] The rationale of using these DEB is based on the assumption that the vector releases its chemotherapeutic agent, which is able to diffuse locally in the embolized area and causes the necrosis of the target tissue.[1] The tissue adjacent to beads shows characteristic coagulative necrosis and an inflammatory–fibrotic reaction few weeks after the procedure. The DEB have been demonstrated in the tissue sections from explanted liver, but to our knowledge they have not yet been described in a cytology preparation. In the current case we did see a foreign body type giant cell [Figure 4] but did not see any necrosis or fibro-inflammatory reaction adjacent to the beads. Figure 4 Foreign body type of giant cell (400× diff quik stain)

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of the celiac ganglion: A diagnostic pitfall

Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is now widely used as a primary tool in the evaluation of lymphadenopathy in both the mediastinum and abdomen. A sympathetic ganglion may be mistaken for an enlarged lymph node on endoscopic ultrasound and are rarely sampled as such. A 51-year-old female presented with a history of weight loss, vomiting for several months, and right upper quadrant discomfort. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed a dilated common bile duct (CBD) with a possible periampullary mass, paraaortic, and pericelial lymph nodes suspicious for metastatic disease. Endosonography revealed a 17 mm oval hypoechoic structure with distinct margins in the para-aortic, celiac axis region suggestive of an enlarged lymph node. An EUS-FNA was done. Cytology revealed ganglion cells with large oval epithelial-like cells with round nuclei and prominent nucleoli consistent with a benign sympathetic ganglion. It is crucial for the cytopathologist to be aware of the fact that the endoscopist might have sampled a celiac ganglion instead of a celiac lymph node and be able to distinguish the cytological features of a benign sympathetic ganglion from a malignant process.