• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2005

Carcinoid tumors of the thymus are vanishingly rare, and the characteristic cytologic findings of this condition have never before been reported in Korea. Recently, we encountered a 58-year-old woman who had been suffering from general weakness and weight loss for several months. Radiological imaging revealed a large anterior mediastinal mass. A fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the mass showed predominantly scattered single cells, as well as some loose clusters of small cells with scanty cytoplasm. Some of these small cells exhibited plasmacytoid features, with moderately granular cytoplasm. We also discuss the cytological differential diagnosis between thymic carcinoid and other mediastinal tumors.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.58-61
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• 1995

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy has become the procedure of choice for initial diagnosis of adrenal masses. However, there have been relatively few reports discussing the FNA cytologic features of adrenal cortical carcinoma. Recently, we experienced a case of FNA cytology of bilateral adrenal cortical carcinoma in a 61-year old man. The smear revealed loosely cohesive pleomorphic tumor cells with hemorrhagic and necrotic background. The tumor cells showed oval to spindle hyperchromatic nuclei and prominent nucleoli with frequent mitotic figures. The cytoplasm of tumor cells was relatively abundant and sometimes vacuolated. These cytologic findings were interpreted as an ad renal cortical carcinoma, undifferentiated pattern.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 1999

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the liver is an extremely rare malignancy with poor prognosis. To our knowledge, 5 cases have been reported in English literatures, but there was no report about fine needle aspiration cytologic(FNAC) features. We experienced a case of osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the liver obtained by computed tomography(CT)-guided FNAC and needle biopsy. The cytologic findings mimicked slant cell tumor of the bone. A large hepatic mass of the left lobe with abdominal wall invasion was found by CT in a 46- year-old female complaining of epigastric pain. The FNAC showed moderately cellular smears consisting of osteoclast-like giant cells and mononuclear cells, which were individually scattered or intermingled in clusters. The osteoclast-like giant cells had abundant cytoplasms and multiple small round nuclei with fine chromatin and distinct nucleoli. The mononuclear cells had moderate amount of cytoplasm and relatively bland-looking oval nuclei with single small nucleoli. All of the cytologic features recapitulated the histologic findings of bland-looking osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells evenly dispersed throughout the background of mononuclear cell. The immunohistochemical study showed positive reaction for CD68 and vimentin, but negative for cytokeratin in both osteoclast-like slant cells and mononuclear cells.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.160-167
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• 1991

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare valiant of mammary cancer with better prognosis. The diagnosis is usually made by histologic examination of biopsy specimen. Recently, we have experienced a case of adenoid cystlc carcinoma initially diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology which revealed distinct cytologic features in a 45-year-old woman. Pink to red globules in the tumor cell clusters on Diff-Quik staining was a very helpful finding for cytologic diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 1994

Three cases of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA) of enlarged lymph nodes are reported. The FNA smears contained randomly activated lymphoid cells, necrotic debris and histiocytes. The same patterns were found in subsequently examined excised lymph nodes from these cases. The differential diagnosis of this entity is discussed and the value of preparing FNA cell blocks and accompanying AFB stain with culture is emphasized. FNA may be able to provide a diagnosis in case of this benign disease, therefore avoiding a more traumatic excisional biopsy.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.172-175
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• 1994

Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid is one of the most malignant tumors and survival for longer than three years after diagnosis is exceptional. Multinucleated giant cells of osteoclastlike appearance are seen un some of the anaplastic carcinoma, but only three cases in which the diagnosis was made by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology are reported in the international literature. We experienced a case of anaplastic carcinoma with osteoclastlike giant cells in a 66-yr-old female, diagnosed by FNA cytology. The smears revealed two cell populations: multinucleated giant cells and large polygonal or spindle shaped malignant cells. The FNA cytodiagnosis of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma containing osteoclastlike giant cells was substantiated by subsequent biopsy.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 1994

Malignant thymoma is usually manifested as a mediastinal mass. Occasiomally, these tumors may be associated with a variety of systemic syndromes, such as myasthenia gravis, pure red cell aplasia or hypogammaglobulinemia However, it is generally accepted that thymomas rarely metastasize and the frequency of extrathoracic metastasis has been reported as 1 to 15%. In general, nuclear changes of tumor cells such as enlarged size, irregular shape and altered textures are determining factors in the assessment of the grade of malignancy. We experienced a case of malignant thymoma of anterior mediastinum in a 35-year-old woman. After 3 years, she developed recurrent malignant thymoma in the right supraclavicular area, diagnosed by aspiration biopsy cytology.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.60-65
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• 2002

The accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for the diagnosis of follicular lymphoma was investigated by a review of 13 FNAC specimens from 10 patients. All patients Included in this study were confirmed by surgical biopsy preceded by FNAC. Three aspirates were unsatisfactory because of scanty cellularity. Among the remaining 10 cases, 5(50%) were diagnosed as lymphoma, 3(30%) as reactive hyperplasia, one (10%) as metastatic small cell carcinoma, and one (10%) as granulomatous inflammation. Cytologic distinction between follicular lymphoma and reactive hyperplasia is very difficult with cytomorphology alone. Compared to reactive hyperplasia, the characteristic cytologic features such as relatively homogeneous cellular constituent, paucity of tingible body macrophages and lymphohistiocytic aggregates, and less mitotic activity in follicular lymphoma are important findings to prevent false negative diagnosis. In addition, lymphoglandular bodies are useful in distinguishing malignant epithelial tumor from lymphoid lesion.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2008

Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (GCTTS) is a slowly growing, benign soft tissue tumor. The tumors occur predominantly on the hands and feet. Although the clinical and histopathologic features are well-defined, only a few reports have described the cytologic appearance of this entity. A 26-year-old woman presented with a gradually developing circumscribed soft tissue mass near the proximal phalanx of her left little finger for one year. Imprint and fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears were obtained from the excisional biopsy specimen. The imprint smears were composed of predominantly singly dispersed bland mononuclear cells and several giant cells. The mononuclear cells were polygonal to round, and they showed a histiocyte-like appearance. Osteoclast-type multinucleated giant cells of various sizes were randomly scattered throughout the smears, and these cells contained 3 to 50 nuclei. Nuclear atypia and pleomorphism were absent in both the single and giant cells. Loose aggregates of hemosiderin-laden macrophages and binuclear stromal cells were also seen. The cytologic features of the FNA smears were similar with those of the imprint, Additionally, the FNA smears contained several clumps of densely collagenous stromal tissue that were seldom noted in previously reported cytologic material. The cytologic features were well-correlated with the concurrent histologic findings and the diagnosis of GCTTS was made. When the clinical and radiologic datas are integrated, the diagnosis of GCTTS can be strongly suggested, based on the pre-operative cytologic specimen.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.183-187
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• 2008

Pseudohyperplastic prostatic adenocarcinoma is a rare histologic variant of prostatic adenocarcinoma that resembles benign nodular hyperplasia. Immunohistochemistry can verify the absence of basal cells, but it is frequently admixed with conventional adenocarcinoma. Because fine needle aspiration cytology is rarely performed in primary prostatic adenocarcinoma, the cytology of the pseudohyperplastic variant has not been described. We experienced a case of metastatic pseudohyperplastic adenocarcinoma in a pulmonary nodule of 75-year-old man. The cytologic smear was mostly composed of large, flat sheets with elongated branching papillae in a clean background. The sheets showed a well-defined honeycomb appearance of tall columnar, regularly arranged monotonous cells with little cytologic atypia. In subsequent prostatic biopsy, pseudohyperplastic variants were identified together with conventional adenocarcinoma of Gleason's grade 3 and 4. The cytologic features of pulmonary nodules were identical to those of pseudohyperplastic components of prostatic adenocarcinoma.