• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2007

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has become a highly preferred, minimally invasive diagnostic tool of choice in the diagnosis of a palpable breast mass owing to its sensitivity, specificity, cost-effectiveness, and expediency. Although breast needle biopsies have been widely employed recently due to the increased detection rate of non-palpable early lesions, the importance of the use of FNAC cannot be underestimated. It comprises part of the diagnostic triad for the breast along with a physical examination and mammography, which together contribute to an increasing diagnostic accuracy. The differential diagnosis of a benign and malignant lesion is of the utmost importance in the diagnosis of breast lesions, and therefore the understanding of the possible diagnostic pitfalls is of great importance.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2000

Alveolar soft part sarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor. Few cases on fine needle aspiration cytology have been reported in the literature. We experienced a case of recurrent alveolar soft part sarcoma of the right thigh diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology in a 47-year-old man. Cytologic findings showed single cells and clusters associated with thin wailed vasculature in a distinct pseudo-alveolar pattern. The tumor cells exhibited round or ovoid abundant granular cytoplasm and large pleomorphic nuclei with prominent central nucleoli.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 1998

Polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma(PLGA) is a rare malignant tumor of the salivary gland. It is characterized by diverse histology, bland-locking cytology indolent behavior and favorable prognosis. The fine needle aspiration cytologic features of PLGA are described. The aspirates from the hard palate in a 33-year-old woman showed cellular smear composed of monotonous small round to oval cells with scanty cytoplasm. Papillary, tubular and cell ball arrangements with characteristic dense stromal spheres were recognized. PLGA could be suggested by fine needle aspiration cytology, if one encountered cellular smear with various architectures and uniform bland-locking cytologic feature.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2000

Since inflammatory myofibroblastic turner was initially recognized in the lung, this tumor has been described in other extrapulmonary sites. In spite of relatively uniform histologic findings in various organs, a rarity in extrapulmonary sites and highly vascular characteristics frequently lead to a misdiagnosis in preoperative radiology and fine needle aspiration cytology. We present a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor occurring in the mesentery of a 4-month-old girl. Fine needle aspiration cytology smear disclosed characteristic spindle cells intermixed with prominent mature plasma cells and lymphocytes. According to the immunohistochemical staining, we recognized that the intervening spindle cells are myofibroblasts which have reactivity for the both actin and vimentin.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2003

Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas is characterized by intraductal papillary proliferation of mucin-producing epithelial cells with or without excessive mucin secretion. According to the degree of epithelial dysplasia, intraductal papillary mucinous tumor is classified into adenoma, borderline tumor, and carcinoma. We recently experienced a case of fine needle aspiration cytology of the intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma in a 69-year-old male. The fine needle aspiration cytology yielded flat sheets of columnar, mucin containing epithelial cells in the background of dense mucin containing degenerated cellular material and histiocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 1993

Proliferative fasciitis is a benign pseudosarcomatous mesenchymal lesion occurring in the subcutis. The lesion occurs clinically as a tumorous mass that develops within a rather short time in elderly patients. We recently experiecened a case of fine needle aspiration cytology of proliferative fasciitis in the left anterior chest wall of a 72 year-old male patient. The smear revealed two types of cells. One was the large and mostly oval cell with one or two nuclei lying at the periphery of the cell body and abundant basophilic cytoplasm like the ganglion cell. The nuclei were round to oval, had vesicular chromatin and contained prominent nucleoli. The other was the spindle shaped fibroblast with an oval nucleus. The differential diagnosis includes a true tumor such as ganglioneuroma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and liposarcoma and therefore fine needle aspiration cytology is very much indicated in order to exclude these possibilities.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 1993

We describe a case of fine needle aspiration cytology of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the lymph node of the neck presenting a predominantly spindle cell pattern. A 36 year-old male patient complained of dysesthesia on the right face and a palpable neck mass. Fine needle aspiration was done on the neck mass. Tumor cells were present in syncytial groups or singly with mainly spindle shaped nuclei, vesicular chromatin, thin and regular nuclear membrane, occasional prominent nucleoli and a few fool of cellular cohesiveness. The cytoplasm was scant and pale with ill-defined borders. Mature lymphocytes were present in the background of aspirates and within the tumor cell clusters. Histologically, the tumor of nasopharynx showed several areas of spindle cell pattern. Because the tumor cells showed a predominantly spindle shape with vesicular nuclear chromatin, the differential diagnosis of spindle cell sarcoma or granuloma of epithelioid clils were considered, but the characteristic morphology of the nuclei with vesicular chromatin and prominent nucleoli, and cellular cohesiveness were important in making the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The possibility of metastatic carcinoma should always be considered in fine needle aspiration cytology of the lymph node in the neck because the incidence of metastatic carcinoma, particularly of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the lymph nodes of the neck is relatively high.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2002

To determine the usefulness on fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) of bone lesions and the complementary role of FNAC and percutaneous needle biopsy, 75 cases of FNAC taken from bone lesions were analyzed. Correlations with histopathology were possible in 47 cases, including 14 cases of simultaneous core biopsy and 33 cases of subsequent open biopsy due to inadequate aspirates. Among 75 cases, 4 cases were benign tumors and tumor-like lesion, 11 cases were malignant primary bone tumors, 17 cases were metastatic tumors, and 43 cases were nonneoplastic bone lesions. The aspirates were adequate in 35 cases(46.7%), in all of which the discrimination between benignancy and malignancy was possible. The main reason for Inadequate aspirates was due to hypocellularity. In the cases of aspiration and core biopsy simultaneously done, the diagnostic accuracy of aspiration, core biopsy, and both were 57%(8/14), 78.6%(11/14), and 92.9%(13/14), respectively. We conclude that a final diagnosis based on cytology is possible with the adequate aspirates and the clinical and radiological findings. Also we confirm the complementary role between FNAC and core biopsy in bone lesions.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 1998

A case of fine needle aspiration cytology of an osteoclastic giant cell tumor of pancreas, which is an uncommon variant of ductal adenocarcinoma, is described. Aspirated tumor cells were characterized by three populations: (1) bland osteoclast like giant cells with multiple small, round nuclei with distinct nucleoli, and abundant cytoplasm, (2) Individually scattered or loosely clustered medium sized mononuclear tumor cells, having fine chromatin, smooth nuclear membrane, often prominent nucleoli, and high N/C ratio, (3) bland or atypical spindle shaped cells. Osteoid like lacy material was also seen on cell block section. The immunohistochemical studies using paraffin embedded cell block section showed positivities for vimentin and lysozyme in both giant and mononuclear turner cells. However, they were negative for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, S-100 protein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and p53.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.170-174
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• 1990

The mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare tumor in the lung. A case of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology is presented. The smear showed many intermediate cells with occasional mucus-secreting cells. Malignant squamous cells were not present. The cellular arrangement of intermediate cells was overlapping and grouped in ball-like fashion. These cytologic features are unique for diagnosis of this tumor.