• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2002

Malignant myoepithelioma (myoepithelial carcinoma), is a very rare malignant epithelial accounting for less than 1% of all salivary gland tumors and has an intermediate malignant potential. We report a case of malignant myoepithelioma arising in the left parotid giand in a 54-year-old man, which was difficult to differentiate from pleomorphic adenoma and other malignant salivary gland neoplasms. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the parotid gland showed cellular smear, composed of overlapped sheets and clusters or individually scattered tumor cells without any acinic or ductal structures. The tumor cells were rather uniform, with distinct cell borders and moderate amount of cytoplasm. The eccentrically located nuclei were oval to round and pleomorphic and showed prominent nucleoli. A few clear cells were noted in the cellular aggregates Metachromatic matrix was seen between individual tumor cells in a lacelike fashion, resembling pleomorphic adenoma. According to the immunohistochemical staining, we recognized that the component cells are myoeplthelial in nature, showing reactivity for the S-100 protein, vimentin, and actin.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2002

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma(EMC) is a rare, low grade malignant tumor of the salivary glands. The EMC has a distinctive histological appearance comprising ductal structures with an inner epithelial cell component and an outer layer of myoepithelial cells which show plump clear cytoplasm. The cytologic features of the EMC have been rarely described. A correct cytological diagnosis to this rare tumor is difficult with high false negative rate. We report a case of EMC in which fine needle aspiration cytologic findings were misinterpreted as a pleomorphic adenoma.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 1991

Mixed squamous cell carcinoma and papillary carcinoma in the thyroid gland is a very rare malignant tumor characterized by rapidly progressive clinical course and radioresistance. A 63-year-old woman had mixed squamous cell carcinoma and papillary carcinoma in the thyroid gland diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA), and the diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. She had complained of a fixed, egg-sized mass of the anterior neck with hoarseness for 1 year. The findings of FNA consisted of sheets and clusters of polygonal epithelial cells with hyperchromatic, pleomorphic nuclei and eosinophilic, abundant, laminated cytoplasm. These findings were consistent with squamous cell carcinoma. Also, fool of papillary carcinoma were noted, and the cells exhibited nuclear groovings and intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions. Total thyroidectomy specimen showed a diffusely infiltrating tumor in the left thyroid which was composed of mixed papillary carcinoma and well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. In junction between two components, squamous metaplasia of papillary carcinoma was noted.

• 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.2
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• pp.184-188
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• 1994

Therapeutic management of brain tumors is based on accurate knowledge of their size, location and histologic type. Stereotaxic cytology under CT guidance has been applied to the investigation of brain tumors, especially in the sellar turcica, third ventricle, and pineal regions. In the present case, the tumor protruded into the nasal cavity, so we were able to get cytologic material via fine needle aspiration. Although pituitary adenoma is not an unsual tumor, there have been few reports about its cytologic features. We present the cyotologic and histologic features of a case of pituitary adenoma with immunohistochemical study.

• 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.17 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2006

Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare primary salivary gland malignancy characterized by histological features similar to those of ductal carcinomas of the breast. It is regarded as a high-grade malignancy associated with frequent local recurrences and early distant metastases that require aggressive treatment. The typical fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) findings in SDC include cellular smears showing tumor cells with eccentric pleomorphic nuclei and a granular cytoplasm arranged in flat sheets or cribriform patterns against a necrotic background. However, the presence of mucin-containing cells in SDC has been rarely described. We report the FNAC findings in a patient with histologically confirmed SDC that demonstrated numerous mucin-containing cells and was subsequently misdiagnosed as a high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Here we discuss the problems involved in distinguishing SDC from high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma on the basis of cytologic findings alone.

• 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.13 no.2
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• pp.88-92
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• 2002

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.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2007

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast is recently described rare variant of invasive ductal carcinoma. This variant has a distinctive histological features and aggressive biological behavior. We reviewed the cytologic features of eight cases of IMPC. The cytologic smears showed moderate to high cellularity and the tumor tissue was composed of atypical, angulated, cohesive clusters of neoplastic cells with a papillary to tubuloalveolar architecture, and a morular growth pattern without fibrovascular cores was seen on the histopathology. IMPC of the breast has distinctive cytologic features and it is important to make an early diagnosis via fine needle aspiration cytology due to this tumor's aggressive behavior.