• 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.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.2
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• pp.74-78
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• 2013

A 61-year-old woman came to the hospital with dyspnea and pleural effusion on chest radiography. She underwent repeated thoracentesis, transbronchial lung biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage, and thoracoscopic pleural biopsy with talc pleurodesis, but diagnosis of her was uncertain. Positron emission tomography showed multiple lymphadenopathies, so she underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes. Here, we report a case of malignant pleural mesothelioma that was eventually diagnosed by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration. This is an unusual and first case in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.76-82
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• 1997

Two cases of pulmonary atypical carcinoid tumor were diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology. Although the cytologic features of atypical carcinoid tumor have been relatively well described, it is easy to confuse atypical carcinoid tumor with typical carcinoid tumor, small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Atypical carcinoid tumor has been recognized as a distinct variant of pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma, with characteristic histopathologic and clinical features that separate it from both carcinoid and small cell carelnoma. The distinction of atypical carcinoid tumor from small cell carcinoma has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. The cytologic characteristics of atypical carcinoid tumor included polygonal to fusiform cells with a variable amount of lacy cytoplasm, oval nuclei with coarsely dispersed chromatin and frequent nucleoli, and mild pleomorphism. The malignant cells were arranged either in acinus-like clusterg or in epithelial sheets.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2004

Development of an invasive squamous cell carcinoma within a branchial cleft cyst (branchiogenic carcinoma) is very rare and this case is the first description of cytologic findings in Korea. A 62-year-old man presented with a 5-month history of an enlarged right neck mass. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the mass showed low cellularity and the background containing proteinaceous debris, inflammatory cells, and histiocytes suggested a cystic nature. Abundant lymphocytes, a few anucleated squames, and rare atypical squamous cells with pyknotic nuclei and abnormal keratinization were also noted. After excision of the mass, histologic findings were consistent with a branchiogenic carcinoma. We recommend to raise the possibility of carcinoma (primary or metastatic) when we observe a few dyskeratotic cells in a cystic mass within the neck area, especially in an old male.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2004

To evaluate the quality of fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis on malignant salivary gland neoplasms, cytologic findings were correlated with histologic diagnosis of 56 surgically removed malignant salivary gland tumors. Seven cases (12.5%) were insufficient, 23 cases (41.1%) were diagnosed as malignant, 17 (30.4%) cases were accurately diagnosed by histologic subtype, and 9 cases (16%) were diagnosed as benign. Five out of 9 false negative cases were misdiagnosed as pleomorphic adenomas. Except the cases with insufficient specimen, overall sensitivity was 81.6%, and the sensitivity varied according to the histologic subtype; 91% in salivary duct carcinoma, 100% in carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, 50% in mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 63% in adenoid cystic carcinoma, and 50% in acinic cell carcinoma. The diagnostic accuracy differed among cytopathologists irrespective of periods after acquisition of board of pathologists. These results confirm that salivary gland neoplasm can be easily misdiagnosed in fine needle aspiration cytology and a great caution should be given in diagnosing the benign appearing salivary aspirates to avoid under-diagnosis of malignant neoplasm with low grade cytologic atypia.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2004

The incidence of endometriosis in post-operative abdominal scars is rare. We describe two cases of abdominal endometriosis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA). Both patients presented with subcutaneous masses at previous cesarean section scars with cyclic symptoms of pain. The cytologic smears were cellular and comprised two distinct cell populations consisting of epithelial and stromal components. An epithelial component consisted of flat sheets of polygonal cells and the second stromal component showed crowded clusters of spindle cells or isolated single cells. Hemosiderin-laden macrophages were found in the background. FNA offers a safe and effective tool for diagnosis of abdominal wall endometriosis.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 1992

Apocrine carcinoma is a rare form of breast malignancy and is composed of entirely or predominantly of apocrine type epithelial cells. Apocrine metaplastic cells are frequently noted in fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) of breast lesions, especially fibrocystic disease. These apocrine cells may occasionally be atypical, to make a diagnostic difficulty. Two cases of apocrine carcinoma of the breast diagnosed by FNAC are described, and differential cytologic points between apocrine metaplasia and apocrine carcinoma are discussed. The first case is a right breast mass of a 37-year-old woman for 20 days. The smears show many single or sheets of large cells on bloody background. Each cell has a large vesicular nuclei with multiple macronucleoli and abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. The second case is a left breast mass of a 35-year-old woman for one month. The smears show similar findings as seen in the first one. Histopathologic findings of both cases are typical of apocrine carcinoma. Electron microscopy demonstrates variable numbers of large osmiophilic granules in diameter of $200\sim600nm$ in both cases.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.37-51
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• 1992

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology findings in 19 cases of primary neoplasia of the pancreas are reported. The aspirates were obtained under ultrasound guidance in 16 cases and under direct vision intraoperatively in three cases. These cases represented 79% of 24 diagnoses in a series of 30 pancreatic FNAs. Of these 30 cases no cytologic diagnoses were made in six cases (20%) because of insufficient or inadequate samples The cytologic diagnoses were confirmed by histologic examination following resection or biopsy of the tumors. The diagnoses included 9 duct ceil adenocarcinomas, 1 mucinous adenocarcinoma, 2 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 1 acinar cell carcinoma, 1 papillary cystic tumor 3 islet ceil tumors, 1 neuroendocrine carcinoma and 1 leiomyosarcoma. The cytologic features of the neoplasia were detailed and the differential diagnosis was discussed. The important criteria for the cytodiagnosis of pancreatic tumors were reviewed. This review leads us to think that nonoperative (percutaneous) cytologic approaches to the diagnosis of pancreatic tumor are advantageous for the management of patients, and that correct cytologic diagnosis with pancreatic FNAs can easily be made, if adequate samples are obtained.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2003

Insular carcinoma of the thyroid(ICT) is an uncommon thyroglobulin-producing neoplasm, intermediate between well differentiated and anaplastic carcinoma. Only a few publications have addressed the fine needle aspiration cytologic(FNAC) findings from ICT. We experienced a case histologically diagnosed as ICT and with preoperative FNAC in a 52 - year - old woman. The FNAC displayed scanty colloid and abundant monomorphic follicular cells presented singly, in small loose aggregates, and in cohesive trabecular or acinar clusters. Intact insulae of tumor cells were also identified. Necrosis and mitosis were rare. Tumor cells showed round and monomorphic nuclei, finely granular chromatin, and inconspicuous nucleoli. When insular structure is identified in thyroid FNAC specimen, ICT should be included in the differential diagnosis. Herein we discuss and review the cytologic criteria for separation of ICT from other thyroid neoplasms.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2001

Primary malignant lymphoma of the thyroid gland is uncommon malignancies. Its fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) findings are rarely described in the literature. This article highlights the FNAC diagnosis of primary malignant lymphoma of the thyroid gland. A 70-year-old female presented with a rapidly enlarging thyroid mass of five months' duration. FNAC smears showed low cellularity consisting of predominantly atypical enlarged lymphoid cells admixed with a few small lymphocytes, plasma cells, and oncocytic cells. Some disrupted lymphoid cells were also present. The tumor cells infiltrated into the thyroid follicular epithelium forming lymphoepithelial lesion, The cytologic appearance showed a diffuse mixture of cell types with only a few small, mature lymphocytes and many enlaraed lymphoid cells. The enlarged lymphoid cells were atypical and pleomorphic with nuclear clefting and irregularities. Grossly, the left lobe of the thyroid was nearly replaced by a diffuse firm to soft solid mass with smooth tan fish-flesh homogeneous cut surface. Histological diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with areas of marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT type.