• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.122-133
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• 1996

This is a retrospective review of fine-needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) smears of 153 cases of thyroid disease performed during August 1989 to July 1995, which were confirmed histologically following surgical operations. FNAC results showed 63 cases(41.2%) of adenomatous goiter, 45 cases(29.4%) of papillary carcinoma, 29 cases(19.0%) of follicular neoplasm, 4 cases(2.6%) of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma, 4 cases(2.6%) of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 4 cases(2.6%) of $H\ddot{u}rthle$ cell neoplasm, 2 cases(1.3%) of medullary carcinoma and one case(0.7%) each of subacute thyroiditis and of anaplastic carcinoma. The overall accuracy of cytological diagnosis was 83.7%. These data strongly suggest thyroid FNAC is a reliable preoperative diagnostic tool, but FNAC has been less valuable in the diagnosis of follicular lesions than any other disease of the thyroid. Adenomatous goiter was not infrequently interpreted as follicular neoplasia that requires surgery for diagnostic conformation and vice versa. The following findings are considered to be compatible with follicular neoplasm: 1) microfollicles, 2) nuclear grooving, 3) irregularity of nuclear membrane, and 4) irregular arrangement or crowding of follicular cells in groups. The FNAC criteria of adenomatous goiter are as follows: 1) atrophic follicular cells, 2) presence of macrophages, 3) abundant colloid, and 4) large follicles. It is recommended that aspiration of thyroid lesions in order to analyse with critical clinico-pathological approach and surgery is considered only for nodules that are clinically suspicious or unresponsive to hormone therapy or when a diagnosis of follicular neoplasm is made.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 1996

Fine needle aspiration(FNA) is an effective tool in diagnosing mammary carcinoma. We experienced 7 cases of histologically confirmed mammary mucinous carcinoma among 3,052 aspirated cases of breast from 1992 to 1996 in Asan Medical Center. The average age of the patient was 48(33-64) years. The mean size of the lesions was $1.6(0.7{\sim}3)cm$, and they were palpated as well-defined, firm to hard masses. The cytologic features that may be useful in making a FNA diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma of the breast were analysed. Mucinous background and tumor cell clusters with occasional single cells were observed in all cases. Among them, two cases showed abundant scattered single cells, whereas only few single cells were seen in the other two cases. Tumor cells exhibited mild pleomorphism in four cases and moderate pleomorphism in three cases. Nucleoli tended to be not prominent and are observed in three cases, rarely noted in other three cases and not seen in one. There was microcalcification in four cases(57%). In conclusion, mucinous background and clustered tumor cells showing mild to moderate pleomorphism with characteristic clinical findings allow us to diagnose mucinous carcinoma of the breast.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2001

Tuberculous lymphadenitis is not uncommon in Korea. Therefore, an inexpensive, safe and rapid method is needed to diagnose the tuberculous lymphadenitis. Flne needle aspiration cytology Is a good method for this purpose, but has several limitations in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis, especially when the presence of acid-fast bacilli is not proved. To evaluation the usefulness of the polymerase chain reaction with enzyme immunoassay technique in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) In the cervical Iymph node asplrates, the authors performed fine needle aspiration cytology and M. tuberculosis PCR with enzyme immunoassay for mycobacterial DNA sequences from 15 cases of the fine needle aspirates. Cytomorphologically, the cases were categorized into three types: predominantly necrotic materials; typical epithelioid cell granulomas with or without slant cells and caseous necrosis; and non-tuberculous lesions, such as reactive lymphadenitis, abscess, metastatic carcinoma and malignant lymphoma. M. tuberculosis DNA was found in 8 of 15 cases by PCR with enzyme immunoassay. Negative findings on PCR were achieved in 7 cases, which revealed non-tuberculous tymphadenopathy. In conclusion, we suggest that M. tuberculosis PCR with enzyme immunoassay using the fine needle aspirates is a very useful tool for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1998

To compare the diagnostic yields and complication rates of transthoracic fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) and gun biopsy in the diagnosis of pulmonary mass, a retrospective review was performed in 125 cases. Under the fluoroscopic guide, FNAC was performed by 20G Chiba needle in 91 cases, core biopsy was done by 18.5 G vaccum needle attached with automated biopsy gun in 74 cases and both procedures were done together in 37 cases. Overall sensitivity was 88.4% in FNAC and 87.5% in gun biopsy. For malignant pulmonary tumors, correct type correlation with final diagnosis was obtained in 33(76.7%) out of 43 cases by FNAC and 30(75.0%) out of 40 cases by gun biopsy. For benign pulmonary lesions, there were correct type correlation in 14(35.0%) out of 40 cases by FNAC and 14(53.8%) out of 26 cases by gun biopsy. The complication was pneumothorax and hemoptysis. Pneumothorax occured in 11.1% of FNAC, 10.9% of gun biopsy and 10.9% of both technique, among which chest tube drainages were necessary in one patient by gun biopsy and in three patients by both technique. Although no significant difference of diagnositc accuracy and complication rate was found between FNAC and gun biopsy, gun biopsy was more helpful in the diagnosis of pulmonary benign lesions than FNAC.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2006

In the investigation of superficial lymphadenopathy of unknown cause, fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology plays an invaluable role. It enables the differentiation of benign lymphadenopathy from lymphoid and non-lymphoid malignancies, obviating the need for open biopsy, and allowing the triage of patients. Cytopathologists should be familiar with the typical FNA patterns of benign lymphadenopathy, and recognize and differentiate among categories. In a minority of cases of benign lymphadenopathy, FNA can render a specific diagnosis. Benign lymphadenopathies are generally categorized into reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH), inflammatory or infectious processes, and benign lymphoproliferative disorders. RLH characteristically presents with a heterogeneous and polymorphous smear composed of normal cellular constituents of lymph nodes, in contrast with the homogeneous or monomorphic smear of most lymphomas. The caveat is that various malignant disorders may also present with polymorphous populations. It is also important to recognize thatbenign lymphoid smears may sometimes contain atypical cells that raise the suspicion of malignancy. Clinical information should always be the integral part of the diagnostic criteria in FNA of lymphadenopathy. If there is any doubt about the benign nature of the smear, it is prudent to suggest biopsy and ancillary studies.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 1996

Fine needle aspiration cytology of a pulmonary mass was performed on a 51-year-old man who had a left testicular mass. Cytologic features were composed of a homogeneous population of malignant cells associated with a background of foamy and lacelike material. The cellular features were characterized by monomorphous cell proliferation of relatively regular large cells, generally isolated or grouped. Occasionally, fine blanching stroma with large tumor cells and scanty lymphocytes were noted. The tumor cells had a round, regular nucleus, prominent round nucleoli, and a thin rim of cytoplasm containing large vacuoles or lacunae filled with glycogen. The fine needle aspiration cytologic diagnosis was highly consistent with metastatic seminoma from testis and less likely primary or other metastatic carcinoma. The diagnosis of resected testicular mass was classic seminoma. Despite the fact that cytopathologists were not familial with diagnosis of seminoma due to clinician's lack of interest in fine needle aspiration cytology of germ cell tumors including seminoma, it appears that a diagnosis of this tumor should not be problematic in cytologic material if specific histologic criteria are applied.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2004

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytological examination is an appropriate method for the evaluation of pulmonary nodules. In major types of lung cancer, Its diagnostic accuracy is quite high. However, it is sometimes difficult, using this technique, to differentiate between some unusual phenotypes including adenosquamous carcinoma, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), neuroendocrine tumor, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and sclerosing hemangioma. Here, we present a case involving extremely well differentiated adenosquamous carcinoma, mimicking benign lesions, such as pulmonary scar and adenomatoid malformation with squamous metaplasia. The patient was a 68-year-old man presenting with a solitary pulmonary nodule$(1.6\times1.6cm)$, which was incidentally found at the periphery of the right lower lobe. FNA revealed some clusters of glandular cells with minimal atypia, in addition to squamous cells at a nearly full maturational state. Histological examination verified the cytological diagnosis on a lobectomy specimen. The tumor exhibited a well differentiated adenocarcinoma component, mimicking the bronchioles in scarred lung tissue. and a well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma component, mimucking the squamous cell nests of adenoacanthoma, in the other organs. In the present case, the possibility of adenosquamous carcinoma should have been considered if squamous cells were seen in the FNA from the peripheral pulmonary nodule, even though they appeared to be benign.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.86-90
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• 2003

Kimura's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown cause and is most prevalent among Asians. The cytologic findings of Kimura's disease are significant numbers of eosinophils in a background of lymphoid cells, occasional fragments of collagenous tissue, proliferation oi vessels, and Warthin-Finkeldey polykaryocytes. Among these features, the most important cytologic feature of Kimura's disease is a significant numbers of eosinophils. We experienced a case of Kimura's disease in the parotid gland which we fatted to recognize on cytology due to the apparent paucity of eosinophils. On careful retrograde reviewing of the cytologic findings, a few scattered leukocytes, previously interpreted as polymorphous leukocytes, had bilobed nuclei and coarse green but granular cytoplasm on Papanicolaou preparation. These leukocytes showed obvious orange-red intracyloplasmic granules as in eosionophils on Giemsa stain. The paucity of eosinophils may be due to the thick fibrosis around lymphoid follicles or any technical error during aspiration. Whereas the Warthin-Finkeldey type giant cell is not a sensitive cytologic marker of Kimura's disease, it may be a helpful cytologic feature. To reach a correct cytologic diagnosis of Kimura's disease, It is important to keep in mind that searching for Warthin-Finkeldey type giant cells and evaluation of Giemsa stain for detection of eosinophils would be helpful.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 1999

The accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) of the lymph node was investigated through a review of 176 FNAC cases and the corresponding biopsies. We chose 157 FNAC cases after the exclusion of 19 inadequate ones. Sensitivity of malignancy was 94.0%, specificity 100%, false negativity 6.0%, and false positivity 0.0%. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 96.8%. Sensitivity of metastatic carcinoma was 98.0% and that of malignant lymphoma was 87.9%. False negative cases included one metastatic carcinoma and four malignant lymphomas. The aspirates of metastatic carcinoma with false negativity exhibited a diffuse smear of keratin debris without viable cells, which led to the difficulty in differentiation from benign epithelial cyst. The cases of malignant lymphoma with false negative diagnosis were two Hodgkin diseases, one Lennert's lymphoma, and one peripheral T cell lymphoma in the histologic sections. On the analysis of 39 cases of tuberculosis, 17 cases(43.6%) were diagnosed as tuberculosis, 4(10.3%) as granulomatous lymphadenitis, 3(7.7%) as necrotizing lymphadenitis, and 15(38.5%) as reactive hyperplasia or pyogenic inflammation. Sensitivity of tuberculosis was 53.9%. In conclusion, lymph node FNAC is an excellent non-invasive diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma. The diagnostic accuracy of malignant lymphoma could be improved with flow cytometry or polymerase chain reaction for antigen receptor genes. For the FNAC diagnosis of tuberculosis, AFB stain, culture, and PCR would be helpful as adjuvant techniques.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 1999

Fine needle aspiration cytology of the salivary lesions was performed on 221 patients at Soonchunhyang University Hospital for 10 years. Of 221 aspirates, 6 aspirates(2.7%) were inadequate, 116 cases(52.5%) were non-neoplastic lesions, 76(34.4%) cases were benign neoplasms and 23 cases(10.4%) were malignant neoplasms. The cytologic diagnoses could be correlated with histologic findings in 58 cases. FNAC correctly discriminated between neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions in fifty-seven lesions and failed in a case, and overall accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 98.3%, 98.0%, and 100.0%. FNAC correctly discriminated malignant neoplasms from benign neoplastic/nonneoplastic lesions in fifty-three cases and fatted in five cases, and overall accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 91.3%, 72.7%, and 95.7%. Among three false negative cases, two mucoepidermoid carcinomas were misdiagnosed as mucocele and benign neoplasm, and an acinic cell carcinoma were misdiagnosed as Warthin's tumor. Two false positive cases were a Warthin's tumor misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma and a pleomorphic adenoma misinterpretated as suggestive of malignancy. In conclusion diagnostic accuracy of FNAC of salivary lesions is high, and the possibilities of low grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma should be considered on hypocellular smears with mucoid or fluidy background.