• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.170-173
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• 2005

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of thyroid gland lesions has become a routine diagnostic method. And fine needle aspiration cytology is considered a safe, reliable and cost-effective means of selecting thyroid nodules with risk for malignancy. However, fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid may cause hemorrhage, infection, or trauma to adjacent structures. Hemorrhage sufficient to cause tracheal compression has not been reported. So we present a case of anterior neck hematoma causing tracheal compression after FNAC of the thyroid nodule.

• 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.16 no.2
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• pp.75-87
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• 2005

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a very useful tool in the preoperative diagnosis of lesions of the salivary gland. Surgical therapy of high-grade malignancies (salivary duct carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, squamous cellcarcinoma, carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, small cell carcinoma, and sebaceous carcinoma) is different from that of benign lesions or low-grade malignancies. Therefore, the recognition of high-grade malignancies is important in salivary gland FNAC. Although recognition of high-grade malignancies of the salivary gland by FNAC is not difficult, precise classification of these malignancies is often impossible. Additionally, because of its rarity, FNAC of spindle cells and mesenchymal lesions of the salivary glands is a tool that is not familiar to many cytopathologists. The characteristic cytomorphologic features of these lesions are reviewed here with a discussion of specific diagnostic problems.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-50
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• 2002

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an easy convenient non-invasive method in the diagnosis of superficial palpable masses. The cytologic findings by FNAC of reactive and neoplastic lesions in various organs including breast, lymph node, thyroid, salivary gland, etc., have been described, but, those of soft tissue lesions including proliferative fasciitis are relatively rare to find. We recently experienced a case of FNAC of proliferative fasciitis in the left back of a 72-year-old male. The FNAC smears were scant in cellularity and contained large cells with abundant basophilic cytoplasm, one to two nuclei lying at the periphery, and prominent nucleoli that resemble ganglion cells.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.82-89
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• 1992

Electron microscopy (EM) can provide a valuable contribution to light microscopy (LM) In the Interpretation of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) specimen, especially in the diagnosis of the tumor. However, considerable care in processing the specimen is mandatory to recover the cells and avoid altering the fine structures. We experienced a case of malignant melanoma in 33-yrs-old female, diagnosed by EM study of FNAC specimen from the axillary mass, who was initially thought as disseminated carcinomatosis on LM study. The technique of EM study on FNAC specimen consisted of washing the needle and syringe in 2.5% glutaraldehyde after a rapid stain (Diff-Quik), which was used to obtain a preliminary diagnostic impression and to assure the adequacy of the EM specimen. After centrifugation in the steps of fixation and dehydration, the sediment was made into an epon block and examined. The whole processing time of EM study can be shortened within 7 or 8 hours, and results can be available within 48 to 72 hours. Our experience suggests the EM study on FNAC can be a useful diagnostic method in the diagnosis of difficult FNAC cases.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.99-102
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• 2000

Pulmonary amyloid deposition generally occurs with concurrent primary systemic amyloidosis. Localized forms of pulmonary amyloidosis are rare and appear most frequently as an incidental finding on chest radiographs. We present a case of nodular pulmonary amyloid tumor suggested by fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) and confirmed by histology examination with the polarizing light microscopy. A 41-year-old woman presented with ill-defined nodules. In the middle and lower lobes of both lungs. FNAC of the nodules revealed waxy, acellular amorphous fragments. Thoracotomy for diagnosis may be avoided by FNAC diagnosis of this unusual lesion.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.218-224
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• 1996

We describe two cases of metastatic Wilms' tumor in the lung with emphasis on the cytologic features of specimens obtained by needle aspiration. One of them was extrarenal Wilms' tumor. The findings were correlated with the histopathologic features of the primary lesion. Cellular components in the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) slides included blastemal, epithelial, stromal and inflammatory cells with immature tubular differentiation and rosette formation. Recognition of these cellular components in FNAC smears help in establishing FNAC diagnosis of Wilms' tumor. The blastemal cells were represented by small to medium sized cells with scanty cytoplasm having ill-defined borders and round to slightly oval nuclei with evenly dispersed chromatin and small marginated nucleoli. They were seen in our two cases. The differential diagnosis includes neuroblastoma, malignant lymphoma, malignant rhabdoid tumor, clear cell sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. In conclusion, making a definite cytologic diagnosis of metastatic Wilms' tumor may be possible by light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. The above findings may contribute to the diagnosis of FNAC of metastatic Wilms' tumor.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2000

Cathepsin D is a protease which is known to facilitate invasion and metastasis of breast carcinoma. Overexpression of cathepsin D is associated with poor clinical outcome and biologic aggressiveness of the breast cancer. We underwent immunocytochemical assay(ICA) for cathepsin D in fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) specimens from the breast carcinoma and benign breast diseases. In FNAC specimens cathepsin D was expressed in 21(42.9%) out of 49 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, whereas negative result was observed in all 15 cases of benign breast diseases including 7 fibroadenomas, 6 fibrocystic diseases, and 2 benign ductal hyperplasias. Among the 11 FNAC specimens from ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS), cathepsin D was expressed in 3 cases(27.3%). In FNAC specimens immunocytochemistry for cathepsin D showed positive result in 24 out of 60 carcinomas(sensitivity, 40%) and negative result in 15 out of all 15 benign breast diseases(specificity, 100%). No significant correlation was noted between cathepsin D expression in FNAC specimen and clinicohistological characteristics of the breast carcinoma, such as hormone receptors and cell differentiation. In conclusion, ICA of cathepsin D in FNAC specimens thought to be a good adjunct to differentiate malignancy from benign breast diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2000

Pulmonary hamartomas are uncommon benign tumors, usually discovered radiologically as a solitary coin lesion in asymptomatic individual. The approach to the patient with a peripheral lung nodule has changed with the increasing acceptance of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) as a rapid, safe, inexpensive, and highly accurate diagnostic tool. However, a few reports describing the FNAC findings of pulmonary hamarioma have appeared in the cytologic literature and the experience of FNAC is limited. We reviewed all 9 cases of pulmonary hamartoma with histologic confirmation after FNAC seen at Asan Medical Center since 1995 to evaluate cytologic findings and to determine the value of FNAC in identifying that lesion. Originally, seven of nine patients were diagnosed as pulmonary hamartoma, while two patients were diagnosed as inflammatory lesion and adenocarcinoma of each. On review, eight of nine patients were considered as diagnostic of pulmonary hamartoma. The diagnostic findings in FNAC of pulmonary hamartoma were the presence of fibrillary myxoid tissue with spindle cells as well as hyaline cartilage.

• 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.