• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.76-81
• /
• 2003

Apocrine carcinoma of the breast is a very rare subtype. Although it has no clinical differences from usual ductal carcinoma of the breast, it should be categorized as a subtype of breast carcinoma because the cells of apocrine carcinoma reveal characteristic abundant eosinophillic cytoplasms with intraductal apical snouting as well as round or oval nuclei and central macronucleoli. On fine needle aspiration cytology, the cells of apocrine carcinoma have a lot of similarity to benign or reactive apocrine cells of the breast. Therefore, it is difficult to make a differential diagnosis of apocrine carcinoma from mammary neoplasms with similar cytologic findings unless the subtle cytologic differences are recognized. We report the cytologic and histologic findings of a case of apocrine carcinoma in the breast of a 40-year-old female patient. After the fine needle aspiration cytology, she received the lumpectomy and lymph node dissection. The cellularity was moderate to high. The cytoplasmic borders of tumor cells of three-dimensional clusters were relatively distinctive, and the cytoplasm was abundant, eosinophilic, and granular. Although the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio was low, the nuclei of the cells were variable in size and shape with prominent macronucleoli. Histologically, it was a typical invasive apocrine carcinoma, showing numerous cytoplasmic lysosomes and mitochondriae on electron microscopy.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.86-90
• /
• 2003

Kimura's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown cause and is most prevalent among Asians. The cytologic findings of Kimura's disease are significant numbers of eosinophils in a background of lymphoid cells, occasional fragments of collagenous tissue, proliferation oi vessels, and Warthin-Finkeldey polykaryocytes. Among these features, the most important cytologic feature of Kimura's disease is a significant numbers of eosinophils. We experienced a case of Kimura's disease in the parotid gland which we fatted to recognize on cytology due to the apparent paucity of eosinophils. On careful retrograde reviewing of the cytologic findings, a few scattered leukocytes, previously interpreted as polymorphous leukocytes, had bilobed nuclei and coarse green but granular cytoplasm on Papanicolaou preparation. These leukocytes showed obvious orange-red intracyloplasmic granules as in eosionophils on Giemsa stain. The paucity of eosinophils may be due to the thick fibrosis around lymphoid follicles or any technical error during aspiration. Whereas the Warthin-Finkeldey type giant cell is not a sensitive cytologic marker of Kimura's disease, it may be a helpful cytologic feature. To reach a correct cytologic diagnosis of Kimura's disease, It is important to keep in mind that searching for Warthin-Finkeldey type giant cells and evaluation of Giemsa stain for detection of eosinophils would be helpful.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 2004

To analyze the accuracy and usefulness of sputum cytology as a screening method, 103 cases of histologically proven lung cancer registered from 1998 to 2000 at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were retrospectively examined. We reviewed the original cytologic and surgical diagnoses for the cases, and the cytology slides of all cytologically negative cases. The overall sensitivity of sputum cytology was 0.83 ; the sensitivity of prebronchoscopy sputum cytology for bronchogenic carcinoma was 0.87. Central tumor location (P=0.002), tumor size (>2.4 cm), (P=0.027) and the number of sputum samples $(\geq3)$ (P=0.001) were associated with a positive cytologic diagnosis. Of the 18 cytologically negative cases, 9 cases(38% of smears) were determined to be insufficient for diagnosis, due strictly to low cellularity and saliva. After a review of the cytology slides of cytologically negative cases, we identified several atypical clusters in one case of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. This negativity was thus attributed to an interpretation error (1/18, 5.6%). Our results suggest that its sensitivity is more strongly related to the specimen adequacy and the times of sampling than to interpretation error. In terms of sensitivity, specificity, accessibility, cost, and morbidity associated with the screening tests, sputum cytology was found to be an accurate effective screening method for lung cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.129-134
• /
• 1997

To distinguish reactive mesothelial cells from malignant cells in body fluid, we applied silver staining of nucleolar organizer regions(AgNORs) to ethanol fixed cytologic preparations. Fifty aspirated samples of benign(22 cases) and malignant(26 cases) body fluids were studied using the one step silver staining method. Two cytologically atypical samples were also included in the study. In malignant cases the mean AgNOR count was $3.56{\pm}0.81$, while in benign cases the mean AgNOR count was $2.02{\pm}0.33$. The difference of AgNOR counts between these two groups were statistically significant(p<0.001). The mean of atypical cases was 2.91. Both were diagnosed as malignant in follow-up cytology. In malignant effusions, there is statistically significant difference in AgNOR counts between cells forming complex papillae or clusters and singly scattered cells(p<0.05), $3.29{\pm}0.95\;and\;3.83{\pm}0.55$, respectively. We concluded that AgNOR count appears to be useful as a diagnostic tool especially when the cytologic differentiation is difficult.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.23
• /
• pp.10307-10311
• /
• 2015

Background: The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is one of the main classification systems for thyroid nodules. It expects that 7% of all fine needle aspiration biopsies will be reported as atypia or follicular lesions of undetermined significance, and 5-15% of these undetermined nodules are malignant. Our study is a retrospective analysis of variables that may be associated with outcome in patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent thyroidectomy in our institution between 2010 and 2014 were retrieved from the institutional records database. Patient demographics and medical histories were recorded. All ultrasonography reports were examined for nodule features and biochemical blood levels, hormone levels and complete blood counts were recorded. Results: A total of 103 patient cytopathology reports were regarded as belonging to the undetermined category. Some 35% of patients had malignant nodules. Median preoperative red cell distribution width (RDW) level was 13.6 inthe benign group, while it was 14.3 in patients with malignancy, demonstrating a significant correlation (p=0.003). Only calcification presence was significantly different between benign and malignant groups on ultrasonography (p=0.034). Conclusions: Ultrasonography is one of the primary tools for this matter. RDW levels may become another promising tool to predict malignancy.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 1993

The recently proposed Bethesda system for cervical/vaginal cytology has made a standardization related to "atypia". In cellular changes due to inflammation or repair, the word "benign cellular change" has been suggested as a substitute for atypia. Terminology related to atypical cells may become standardized, but the cytologic criteria has not been well defined yet. We evaluated 160 cases of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASCUS) by the Bethesda Sys4em(TBS). Among 30,428 cases screened, a cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS was made in 498 cases(1.6%) and 160 cases were histologically verified ASCUS was diagnosed based on nuclear enlargement and nonclassical signs of condyloma. The results are as follows: One hundred and twenty three cases(76.9%) revealed chronic cervicitis. Thirty seven cases(23.1%) demonstrated squamous intraepithelial lesion. Among intraepithelial lesions, condyloma and mild dysplasia were 28 cases(75.7%). Moderate and severe dysplasia were 5 cases(13.5%) and 4 cases(10.8%), respectively. it is concluded that patients with ASCUS should be colposcopically examined.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.18-26
• /
• 1995

In order to compare cytologic findings ol breast carcinoma in fine needle aspiration cytology (FANC) with histologic findings and prognostic factors including histologic grading, lymph node metastasis and stage, 79 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma diagnosed by FANC and confirmed by histology were analysed. We especially attempted to col relate nuclear grade, cellularity and smear pattern with histologic grade, type, status of lymph node metastasis and stage. The results are as fellows. 1. High nuclear grade was correlated with high histologic grade, lymph node metastasis and advanced stage. 2. Individual cell pattern was more frequently identified in high histologic grade and scirrhous or solid-tubular type than in low histolgic grade and papillotubular type. 3. Cellularity increased with higher histologic grade and lymph node metastsis. However cellularity was low in scirrhous type. 4. There is no relationship between nuclear grade and histologic type, between smear pattern and lymph node metastasis or stage, and between cellularity and stage. These results suggest that cytologic findings of breast carcinoma such as nuclear grade, cellularity and smear pattern are indicative of histologic findings in relation to histolgic grade and type. Especially, nuclear grade of FANC may yield valuable prognostic information.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.156-162
• /
• 1995

Fine needle aspiration of the breast is an important diagnostic tool in malignant lesions, but is also useful in differentiation of inflammatory breast diseases mimicking carcinoma clinically and radiologically. Recently, the authors have experienced eight biopsy-proven cases of chronic inflammatory diseases of the breast, which consisted of 4 cases of duct ectasia, 2 cases of fat necrosis, and a case of tuberculous mastitis and granulomatous mastitis respectively. Their cytologic features mainly based on the components and the relative frequency of inflammatory cells were evaluated for differential diagnosis of chronic inflammatory breast diseases. The results are as follows; 1. In cases of duct ectasia, varying amount of neutrophils, mononuclear leukocytes, histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells were intermixed with benign epithelial cell clusters. 2 Abundant fat tissue fragments were diagnostic for fat necrosis. Histiocytes and mononuclear cells were main components but not rich, and neutrophils and giant cells were infrequently observed. 3. Characteristic granulomas composed of epithelioid cells, mononuclear leukocytes and Langhans' type giant cells and lymphocytic infiltrates were conspicuous in tuberculous mastitis, and occasionally neutrophils, necrotic materials and epithelial cell clusters were found 4. In granulomatous mastitis, epithelioid cell granulomas were also noted but numerous neutrophils and histiocytes were intermingled within or outside the granulomas.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.163-167
• /
• 1999

Primary small cell carcinoma of the salivary gland is a rare neoplasm that accounts for approximately 1.8% of all primary major salivary gland malignancies. Because of its rarify, it is difficult to diagnose small cell carcinoma of the parotid gland by fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC). We experienced a case of primary small cell carcinoma of the parotid gland in a 72-year-old woman who presented with two palpable masses of the left infraauricular and ocular legions of two to three month's duration, respectively. Aspirate smears from the left infraauricular area were highly cellular on necrotic and lymphocytic background and showed individually dispersed cells or three-dimensional clusters of small cells. The tumor cells were round to oval with a very high nucleocytoplasmic ratio. Nuclei were about two times the size of lymphocytes and had uniformly dispersed but hyperchromatic to pyknotic chromatin. Nucleoli were occasionally visible but were generally inconspicuous. Numerous mitotic figures were detected. The clusters of these small tumor cells exhibited angular nuclear molding, irregular nuclear outlines, and occasionally rosette like arrangement. The tumor was confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 1995

Cytodiagnosis of pleural and ascitic fluid is a commonly performed laboratory examination. Especially, positivity for malignant cells in effusion cytology is very effective and also presents the first sign of malignancy in unknown primary site of the tumor. We examined each 34 cases of pleural and ascitic fluid cytologic specimen diagnosed as metastatic tumor, which was selected among 964 pleural fluid cytology cases and 662 ascitic fluid cytology cases from September 1989 to June 1995. Among the pleural fluid cytology specimens examined, 34 specimens were positive in 27 patients. The lung was the most frequent primary site(44%), followed by the stomach (12%), lymphoreticular neoplasm(12%), pancreas(3%) and colon(3%). And the cases of unknown primary site with positive pleural biopsy alone were 24%. Among trio ascitic fluid cytology specimens examined, 34 specimens were positive in 29 patients. The most common primary neoplasms. were carcinomas of ovary(32%), stomach(22%), colon(6%), breast(3%), pancreas(3%), and lung(3%) and lymphoreticular neoplasms(3%) The metastatic tumor was predominantly adenocarcinoma type in both pleural(82%) and ascitic(91%) fluid. The study of metastatic adeno- carcinoma in effusion from lung, ovary, and stomach was undertaken to find distinctive features for the identification of the primary site. The smears of metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma had a tendency to show high grade pleomorphism and many large tight cell clusters, whereas that of the ovarian adenocarcinoma showed low grade pleomorphism with abundant intracytoplasmic vacuoles in relatively clear background. That of the stomach revealed the intermediate features.