• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 1996

Intraoperative cytologic examination of intracranial tumors using crush preparation provides useful information in operative decision making. The diminutive nature of many biopsy specimens, particularly those obtained by stereotactic neurosurgical procedures emphasizes the importance of combining the cytologic smear method with conventional frozen section interpretation. The great advantage of the cytologic smear method resides in its suitability for the study of minute fragments of tissue, allowing retention of the majority of the specimen for optimal processing. We present the cytologic features of 3 cases of intracranial germ cell tumors(2 germinomas and 1 endodermal sinus tumor), using crush preparation during intraoperative diagnosis and compare them with histologic findings. The cytologic features of the germ cell tumors were similar to those of the respective gonadal counterparts. The cytologic differential diagnosis of both types of germ cell tumors is described.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 1991

Liver is generally known as an organ which is most commonly involved by the metastic tumors. According to the tendency of using fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis of hepatic tumors, the differentital diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic carcinoma frequently has been a main issue in the poorly differentitated cases, especially to the pathologists of Korea, an endemic area of hepatocellular carcinoma. Until now the problem has been usually solved by the comparison of cytologic characteristics of their tumor cells but not by background cytologic features which rarely have been studied. We observed the background cytologic features helpful for the differential diagnosis through the analysis of 20 cases who had confirmed primary cancer and were diagnosed as metastatic carcinomas in the liver by fine needle aspiration cytology. Twenty cases included 9 adenocarcinomas, 7 spuamous cell carcinomas, 1 small cell carcinoma, 1 carcinoid, 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma, and 1 renal cell cacinoma. Analysis of background cytologic features revealed that 77% of adenocacinoma cases showed benign mesenchymal components and hepatocytes and spuamous cell carcinoma cases disclosed benign mesenchymal tissue (71%) and necrosis (57%), Remaining cases showed variable combinations of benign mesenchymal component, necrosis, hepatocytes, and bile duct epithelial cells. No case revealed atypical hepatocytic naked nuclei, a useful cytologic finding of hepatocellular carcinoma. In summary, the background cytologic features more commonly observed in metastatic carcinomas than in the hepatocellular carcinoma were benign mesenchymal components, hepatocytes, necrosis, and bile duct epithelium. The endothelial cells and hepatocytic naked nuclei, two relatively specific findings of hepatocellular carcinoma were not observed except for renal ceil carcinoma. Above background cytologic features are thought to be helpful for the differential diagnosis between the hepatocellular carcinoma and various metastatic carcinomas in the poorly differentiated cases.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 1993

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic findings in 16 cases of histologically confirmed thymoma are reported. The aspirates were obtained under fluoroscopic guidance. The cytologic diagnoses were inadequate sample in one case, thymoma in 12(75%), small cell carcinoma or thymoma in 1, benign mesenchymal tumor in 1, and germ cell tumor in one. The cytologic features were detailed according to the constituent epithelial cell type, and into 4 small of epithelial cells and lymphocytes. Fifteen cases were classified into 4 small epithelial cell type, 6 intermediate epithelial cell type, 1 large epithelial cell type, 1 large pleomorphic epithelial cell type, and 3 spindle-shaped epithelial ceil type. Cytologic differential diagnosis was discussed, and the important criteria for the cytologic diagnosis of thymoma were reviewed. This review leads us to think that nonoperative cytologic approaches in the diagnosis of the thymoma are possible, and that correct cytologic diagnosis of thymoma with FNAs can easily be made, if adequate samples are obtained However the invasiveness and histologic type could not be predicted by cytological features only. Knowing various cytologic and histologic features of thymoma will be helpful for the diagnosis of thymoma and the differential diagnosis of modiastinal tumors.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2001

Chordoma is a rare, clinically and morphologically well characterized tumor, which arises from remnants of the notochord, The majority(60%) occurs in the sacrococcygeal region, with 25% in the clival legion, and 15% in the spine. Although most chordomas do not develop metastasis, the long term prognosis is very poor due to local progressive tumor growth and tendency to recur if incompletely excised. The chordoma has characteristic cytologic features which make a preoperative diagnosis possible. We reviewed the cytologic findings of five patients with chordoma(one oropharynx, two clivus, and two sacrum). The patients were three male and two female, aged from 29 to 77 years(mean 60). Of five chordomas, there were local recurrences in two cases and metastasis of lymph node In one case. Four were FNA smears and one was squash smear taken from intraoperative consultation. All five cases show similar cytologic features. The dominating tumor cells were large with round nuclei and pale-stained vacuolated cytoplasm. The small round uniform cells and short spindle-shaped cells were frequently noted. The cells were surrounded by myxoid or mucoid matrix. The chordoma has characteristic cytologic features which make a preoperative diagnosis possible.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 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
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 1991

Fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology (FNA) is an important diagnostic tool in the management of thyroid nodule. Especially, papillary carcinoma of the thyroid has distinct morphologic features that allow a definite cytologic diagnosis with high degree of accuracy. We examined the characteristic cytologic features of 57 cases of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, and their frequency and diagnostic significance were evaluated. The results obtained are summerized as follows; 1. In pattern of cellular arrangement, papillary structure with or without stroma is predominant feature (96%). 2. In individual cell morphology, grooved nuclei (95%), intranuclear cytoplasmic invagination (89%) and nuclear lobulation (74%) are most frequent and important cytologic findings. 3. Chromatin pattern is usually fine. Coarse chromatin is infrequent finding (37%). Nucleoli are inconspicuous. Cytoplasm us plump and distinctly eosinophilic. 4. Psammoma bodies are identified only in 4 cases (7%), but they are considered as helpful diagnostic features. 5. There are other associated findings including multinucleated giant cells (51%), macrophages (37%) and cystic degeneration (16%).

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1990

The fluoroscopy-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy has been gaining widespread acceptance as a rapid and effective method to make a pre-operative diagnosis of mediastinal tumors including thymoma, malignant lymphoma, and metastatic carcinoma. Although thymoma is a most common tumor of the superior mediastinum, most cytopathologists are not experted in cytologic diagnosis of this tumor because of limited experience. In order to define the diagnostic cytologic features of thymoma, we have retrospectively reviewed imprinting smears and corresponding tissue sections from four cases of this tumor. All cases revealed an apparent biphasic pattern of epithelial cell clusters and lymphocytes with occasional branching capillary fronds extending from three dimensional epithelial cell clusters. Epithelial cell clusters predominated in one case and lymphocytes in two cases. Mixed epithelial cell and lymphocyte type represented in one of four cases. In the lymphocyte predominant type, the presence of epithelial cell clusters and small mature lymphocytes are helpful features to differentiate from a malignant lymphoma.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 1994

Aspiration biopsy cytology is a convenient, easy and non-invasive method for diagnosis of tumors. The results and cytologic features of carcinoma in various organs have been reported frequently, however, those of soft tissue sarcoma are relatively rare to find. Here we describe fine needle aspiration cytologic features of various soft tissue sarcomas and discuss cytologic differential points. The material is 6 cases of soft tissue sarcoma that were confirmed by histologic examination. They are composed of 2 cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and one case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, synovial sarcoma, alveolar soft pan sarcoma, and malignant schwannoma respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2006

Urine cytology is the most useful technique for detecting either primary or recurrent neoplasms in the urinary tract. Although urine cytology is the traditional method of detecting these neoplasms, its diagnostic accuracy has been underevaluated because of low sensitivity. The cytologic interpretation of urinary samples is not an easy task, even with some expertise in this area, for many reasons. In low-grade urothelial carcinoma, no reliable or reproducible diagnostic cytologic criteria can be provided because of the lack of obvious cytologic features of malignancy, which is one of the main factors lowering its diagnostic accuracy. Many diagnostic markers have been developed recently to enhance its diagnostic yield, but the results have not been satisfactory. However, urine cytology plays a role in detecting high-grade urothelial carcinoma or its precursor lesions. It still shows higher specificity than any of the newly developed urine markers. Understanding the nature of urine samples and the nature of neoplasms of the urinary tract, recognizing their cytologic features fully, and using cytologic findings under appropriate conditions in conjunction with a detailed clinical history would make urine cytology a very valuable diagnostic tool.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 1995

Urinary cytology has become an essential element in the diagnosis and management of transitional ceil carcinoma(TCC) of the urinary tract. It has the advantage of being noninvasive, inexpensive, and easily accessible. Besides that it can even detect malignancy when unsuspected at cystoscopy. We report a retrospective review of urine cytology un the diagnosis of 83 TCC cases that underwent 295 cytologic evaluation. All patients had biopsy-proven TCC of the bladder, ureter and renal pelvis, The overall incidence of the positive cytology cases was 66.2%. To define the cytologic features of tumor cells, we tried to use three cytologic gradings such as "grade 1", "grade 2", and "grade 3" according to the cytologic degree of anaplastic neoplastic cells. These cytologic gades of TCC were relatively well correlated with the histologic grade and tumor invasiveness. This result suggests that the recognition of characteristic cellular features of TCC can suspect the histologic grade and tumor stage. The false negative TCC cases were 78.9%. They showed severe inflammatory or bloody background and a few neoplastic cells. Therefore, a cautious approach for accurate interpretation, personal experience, and proper fixation and processing could expand the role of urinary cytology.