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 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.

In diagnosing a brain tumor, it is essential to obtain samples from many areas of the tumor. Although there are reports about the suitability of material obtained by cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator(CUSA), there is a paucity of reports regarding conventional intraoperative suction. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of the suction fluid and the effect of different hemolytic fixatives. Intraoperative suction fluid was obtained from 2 pituitary adenomas and 2 choroid plexus carcinomas. In two cases of mixed astro-oligodendroglioma, one of glioblastoma multiforme and 3 of meningioma, the fluid was collected by CUSA. Each sample was divided into four bottles for the different fixatives such as 0.1N HCI, 10% acetic acid, 95% alcohol, and no additive. All cases were evaluated by the both cytologic smear and cell block preparations, and were reviewed with concomitant histologic diagnosis. The result showed a good correlation between the cytologic study and the histologic diagnosis and 95% alcohol was found to be superior to other fixatives in ceil preservation.

Utilization of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of odontogenic tumors seems to have little attention. Ameloblastoma is the most common epithelial odontogenic tumor. However, the cytologic findings of ameloblastoma are described recently. We report a case of ameloblastoma diagnosed by FNAC. The aspirated blood-tinged mucoid fluid from maxillary mass showed a few clusters of tumor cells with distinct two-cell population: basaloid cells with palisading arrangement and squamous cells with more abundant and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Nuclear atypism, pleomorphism or mitosis were absent. A few keratinized bodies in the tumor cell clusters and the third component, stellate cells were also characteristic.

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma, also known as malignant lymphoepithelial lesion or lymphoepithelioma, is a rare tumor in salivary glands. Lymphoepithelial carcinoma has a characteristic histological findings comprising irregularly-shaped nests of malignant epithelial cells within a lymphocyte-rich stroma, occasionally forming lymphoid follicles. We recently experienced a case of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of lymphoepithelial carcinoma of parotid gland in a 61-year-old male. The FNAC yielded a hypercellular smear of many irregular clusters of malignant epithelial cells in the background of lymphoid stroma.

We report the cytologic features of a case of primary small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder with high grade transitional cell and signet ring cell carcinomatous components. A 64-year-old male presented with gross hematuria for one week. Computed tomography revealed an ill-defined mass in the left lateral wall of the urinary bladder. Urinary cytology showed hypercellularity with predominantly isolated single cells and clustered cells. They have scanty cytoplasm and naked hyperchromatic nuclei with finely granular nuclear chromatin and rare nucleoli. The tumor cells occurred predominantly singe cells, but a few in clusters. Nuclear molding was prominent. No glandular formation or nesting was noted. The second tumor cells had high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, irregular nuclear membrane, and coarse granular chromatin. The background was inflamed and necrotic. The histoiogic findings of transurethral resection were mainly composed of small cell carcinoma, and partly transitional cell and signet ring cell carcinomatous components. Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma have distinctive cytologic features to make a proper diagnosis.

Tubulolobular carcinoma is a tumor of the breast that shares histoiogic features of both tubular and lobular carcinoma of the breast. The cytologic features of this neoplasm have not been reported in Korea. We described a case of tubulolobular carcinoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology in a 46-year-old female. The tumor contained several cytologic features of both tubular and lobuar carcinoma, including tubular structures, single filing of cells, intracytoplasmic vacuoles, and low nuclear grade.

Scattered single cells or variable sized clusters of signet ring cells in the aspirated smears of breast lesions are almost exclusively associated with carcinoma. The signet ring cells are defined as those containing a prominent intracytoplasmic vacuole or amorphous cytoplasm diffusely dispersed with mucin. The primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the breast behaves more aggressively than carcinoma without signet ring cells. Therefore, it is very important to make a correct diagnosis of signet ring cell carcinoma. Fine needle aspiration cytology is useful for diagnosis of breast lesions Including signet ring cell carcinoma. We report two cases, which showed mostly signet ring cells in the aspirated smears of the breast. One case consisted of numerous individual signet ring cells and variable sized cell clusters in rather mucoid background. The tumor cells had abundant amorphous cytoplasm filled with dispersed mucin or occasionally mucin vacuoles(PAS +) and eccentric nuclei. The resected mass revealed mucinous carcinoma. The other showed the cytologic findings of low cellularity, and small loosely cohesive signet ring cell clusters with mild nuclear pleomorphism. It was confirmed as lobular signet ring cell carcinoma in the resected tumor.