• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.67-71
• /
• 2001

Primary malignant lymphoma of the thyroid gland is uncommon malignancies. Its fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) findings are rarely described in the literature. This article highlights the FNAC diagnosis of primary malignant lymphoma of the thyroid gland. A 70-year-old female presented with a rapidly enlarging thyroid mass of five months' duration. FNAC smears showed low cellularity consisting of predominantly atypical enlarged lymphoid cells admixed with a few small lymphocytes, plasma cells, and oncocytic cells. Some disrupted lymphoid cells were also present. The tumor cells infiltrated into the thyroid follicular epithelium forming lymphoepithelial lesion, The cytologic appearance showed a diffuse mixture of cell types with only a few small, mature lymphocytes and many enlaraed lymphoid cells. The enlarged lymphoid cells were atypical and pleomorphic with nuclear clefting and irregularities. Grossly, the left lobe of the thyroid was nearly replaced by a diffuse firm to soft solid mass with smooth tan fish-flesh homogeneous cut surface. Histological diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with areas of marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT type.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.127-130
• /
• 2001

Solid papillary carcinoma of the breast is a distinctive form of intraductal papillary carcinoma frequently associated with both mucinous carcinoma and infiltrating ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specific. To our knowledge, this case is the first description of the cytologic aspects of solid papillary carcinoma of the breast in the Korean literature. We experienced a case of solid papillary carcinoma of the right breast diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) in a 70-year-old female. FNAC from the right breast showed high cellularity consisting of mostly tight clusters of tumor cells and a few scattered tumor cells. The nuclei were monotonously round to oval in shape with inconspicuous nucleoli. The cytoplasm was abundant and finely granular. Scant amount of mucinous material was present on the background. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically and immunohistochemically.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.45-48
• /
• 2001

Acinic cell carcinoma(ACC) is the third common malignancy in major salivary gland. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a useful tool for the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. However, some low grade malignancies, such as ACC and mucoepidermoid carcinoma show relatively high false negative rate, mainly due to deceptively benign cytomorphologic appearance. We experienced a papillary-cystic variant of ACC, having different cytopathologic features compared with those of classic ACC. Our case showed monolayered sheets and papillary clusters without any acinic structures or naked nuclei of the tumor cells. Foamy proteinaceous material was seen in the background. The tumor cells had a large amount of granular cytoplasm and eccentric nuclei. Many vacuolated or clear cells were also noted.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.99-104
• /
• 1998

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma(ALCL) is an uncommon type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL) populated with anaplastic, often bizarre cells that express CD30 (Ki-1) antigen. The unusual histologic and cytologic features may cause confusion with other neoplasms, such as poorly differentiated carcinoma, melanoma, Hodgkin's disease, or true histiocytic lymphoma. Although the cytologic features of ALCL have been well described, there are few reports about cytologic findings of the sarcomatold variant of ALCL. We experienced a case of fine needle aspiration(FNA) cytologic findings of ALCL which mimicks malignant fibrous histiocytoma. FNA cytology of chest wall mass in a 62-year-old female with a history of peripheral T-cell lymphoma(Lennert lymphoma) revealed a heterogeneous population of single cells and poorly cohesive cells with large, pleomorphic nuclei and spindle cells gathering around vascular structures within an inflammatory background. Additional features of the neoplastic cells were eccentric, multilobated nuclei with occasional 'wreath-like' configuration; abundant cytoplasm with vacuolization; and prominent nucleoli. The cytologic features suggested sarcoma, especially malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The diagnosis was made retrospectively with an aid of immunocytochemical staining.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2000

Diffuse sclerosing papillary carcinoma(DSPC), a variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, is characterized by diffuse involvement of one or both thyroid lobes, and histologic features such as prominent sclerosis, intense lymphocytic infiltrate, numerous psammoma bodies, and squamous metaplasia together with the characteristic cytoarchitectural pattern of classical papillary carcinoma. We experienced a case of fine needle aspiration cytologic(FNAC) findings of DSPC, which was confirmed by histologic examination of the thyroidectomy specimens. The patient was 26 years old female who presented with diffuse firm enlargement of the thyroid gland with enlargement of many cervical lymph nodes. FNAC smears showed numerous psammoma bodies, many lymphocytes, metaplastic squamous cells, absence of stringy colloid, and epithelial cells showing classical features of papillary carcinoma, such as nuclear grooves, intranuclear unclusions, and ground glass chromatin pattern.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.221-225
• /
• 1998

Malignant tumors of the breast with stromal multinucleated giant cells are rare entity of uncertain clinical significance. There have been few reports on the fine needle aspiration cytologic(FNAC) findings about these rare tumors. We report a FNAC case of invasive mammary carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells not only for its rare occurrence but in particular for its distinctive cytologic picture on aspirated material. The patient was a 40-year-old woman who presented with a right breast mass for one month. Mammography showed a well-demarcated rounded mass density without calcification. The aspirates of FNAC were highly cellular and two main cell types were seen; malignant epithelial cells and osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells. The carcinoma cells occurred singly or arranged in loose clusters with ill-defined cytoplasm, oval nuclei, coarse chromatin and small but distinct nucleoli. The multinucleated giant cells showed variable number of nuclei with prominent nucleoli and abundant dense oxyphilic cytoplasm. The immunocytochemical studies suggested that osteoclast-like giant cells were not of epithelial origin, but rather of histlocytic origin.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.117-121
• /
• 1998

Cytologic features of a poorly differentiated "insular" carcinoma of the thyroid are presented. In fine needle aspiration cytology, the aspirates were highly cellular and tumor cells were arranged in loose cluster or singly dispersed on focally necrotic background. Occasional microfollicles were evident. The tumor cells had poorly defined, scanty cytoplasm and most of the nuclei were fairly uniform with coarse chromatin pattern. A few large pleomorphic cells were also noted. The cytologic findings of the present case were correlated well with the histologic findings, which showed typical insular pattern and the presence of uniform cells with occasional pleomorphism.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.241-244
• /
• 1998

Lipoblastoma is a rare benign neoplasm occurring exclusively in children below the age of three years. It affects chiefly the upper and lower extremities, and less commonly head and neck area, trunk, mediastinum, mesentery, and retroperitoneum. We present two cases of lipoblastoma occurring in the mediastinum of a 21-month-old boy and in the back of a 15-month-old boy. The characteristic features of Fine needle aspiration cytology smears were the presence of immature fat cells in the form of spindle-shaped cells, stellate cells and vacuolated lipoblasts along with lipocytes against a myxomatous background. Two tumors were histologically confirmed to be lipoblastomas. Lipoblastoma can be cytologically diagnosed by considering the cytologic findings and the age of the patient.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.19-24
• /
• 2000

Pulmonary hamartomas are uncommon benign tumors, usually discovered radiologically as a solitary coin lesion in asymptomatic individual. The approach to the patient with a peripheral lung nodule has changed with the increasing acceptance of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) as a rapid, safe, inexpensive, and highly accurate diagnostic tool. However, a few reports describing the FNAC findings of pulmonary hamarioma have appeared in the cytologic literature and the experience of FNAC is limited. We reviewed all 9 cases of pulmonary hamartoma with histologic confirmation after FNAC seen at Asan Medical Center since 1995 to evaluate cytologic findings and to determine the value of FNAC in identifying that lesion. Originally, seven of nine patients were diagnosed as pulmonary hamartoma, while two patients were diagnosed as inflammatory lesion and adenocarcinoma of each. On review, eight of nine patients were considered as diagnostic of pulmonary hamartoma. The diagnostic findings in FNAC of pulmonary hamartoma were the presence of fibrillary myxoid tissue with spindle cells as well as hyaline cartilage.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.49-52
• /
• 2001

Salivary duct carcinoma is an uncommon aggressive malignant epithelial neoplasm with similarity to intraductal carcinoma of the breast. This neoplasm occurs most often in the parotid gland of middle-aged and older males. About 7% of reported tumors occured in the submandibular gland. The report of salivary duct carcinoma with calcification is rare. We report a case of salivary duct carcinoma with calcification in the submandibular gland. The patient was a 73-year-old male with a mass of the right submandibular gland for 1 year. On the fine needle aspiration cytology, the aspirate showed scant cellularity, small clusters of tumor cells, and scattered small calcifications. Nuclei of the tumor cells showed mild pleomorphism and round to oval in shape, and cytoplasm was abundant and finely granular. Nucleoli were indistinct and necrosis was not noted. There were no cribriform or papillary arrangements of tumor cells. Cytologlc findings of salivary duct carcinoma are variable depending on histologic findings, and calcifications could be an additional cytologic findings.