Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Volume 1(1); June 1990

Original Articles

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Study on 247 Cases.: Kwang Gil Lee, Jong Tae Lee, Soo Im Choi, Chan II Park; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):1-17.

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Abstract PDF: Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is malignant tumor frequently occurring in Koreans. There have been few reports regarding the cytologic findings of fine needle aspiration(FNA) of HCC. Most have suggested a diagnostic problem in the cytology distinguishing HCC from some benign hepatic lesion-for example, a regeneration nodule in cirrhosis and liver cell adenoma. In spite of its high frequency in Korea, no cytologic study has been reported, concerning the FNA of HCC. In an attempt to achieve cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of HCC, the authors studied retrospectively cytopathologic findings of 247 cases of HCC. These cases were confirmed either by histologic examination including lobectomy, biopsy, or cell block material, or, when tissue diagnosis was unavailable, by a high serum alpha-fetoprotein level(over 400 I. U.). All aspiration smears were stained by the Papainicolaou method. In each case, the smears were analyzed for cell patterns and various cytomorphology of the tumor cells. The smear background was assessed for the presence of tumor cell necrosis and inflammatory components and compared to that of metastatic carcinomas. The cell patterns were classified as trabecular, acinar, dispersed, and irregular. The cytologic parameters analyzed included the degree of nuclear atypia and the presence of mitoses, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, nucleolar prominency, endothelial lining, multinucleated giant cells, eosinophilc, globules bile and Mallory body. Most of the FNA of HCC showed markedly cellular smears. The tumor cells were most frequently arranged in a trabecular pattern(80.3%). The irregular(12.6%), the acinar(5.5%), and the dispersed patterns(1.7%) followed in decreasing frequency. Individual hepatoma cells were larger than normal liver cells. However, they had morphologic features characteristic of the hepatic cells : the cells were round or polygonal, their cytoplasm was abundant and granular with eosinophilic or amphophilic stainability, and their nuclei were round to oval, located centrally, and tended to have prominent nucleoli. Anaplasia and pleomorphism of tumor cells were generally mild to moderate. These findings existed even in very well differentiated cases. Mitotic figures were present in about 85% of the cases. Prominent nucleoli were observed only in about half the cases. The frequency of other cytologic features was as follows : intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusion in 86.8% ; endothelial lining in 56.1% ; bile in 19.8% ; and giant cells in 60.1%. Clear cells were often present in 11.7%, Most aspiration smears of HCC displayed clean background without necrosis or inflammatory material in contrast to the dirty, necrotic background of metastatic cancers and cholangiocarcinomas. Based on the above mentioned features, it is suqqested that the cytologic critieria most important for the diagnosis of HCC include a markedly cellular smear, trabecular pattern. hepatocytoid appearance of tumor cells, endothelial lining, the presence of bile, giant cells, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, and prominent nucleoli, Among these, trabecular pattern, endothelial lining, giant cells and clean smear background are points to be considered in differentiating HCC from metastatic and cholangiocellular carcinoma.

Cytologic Diagnosis of hepatocellular Carcinoma by Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy.: Ki Kwon Kim, Eun Sook Chang; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):18-26.

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Abstract PDF: CT guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration(FNA) of the liver for both cytologic and histologic examination has great value in diagnosing liver malignancy. From March, 1986 to April, 1990, 62 patients with the clinical impression of liver malignancy underwent CT guided percutaneous FNA biopsy. Of these, 43 cases were reviewed for this study, 19 were reported to be liver cell carcinoma, 2 were adenocarcinoma, 11 were reported as anaplastic cell present, and the rest (11 cases) were negative (9) or necrotic (2). Among the 11 cases of the last group, 9 were diagnosed as liver cell carcinoma and 2 were necrotic histologically. Retrospective review, in order to clarify the casuse of cytologic diagnostic error, of both cytologic and histologic slides of all cases showed discordance of 23% between these diagnoses and sensitivity is 93.9% and specificity is 90.9%. The reasons were as follows :1) the lack of awareness of tumor cells of well differentiated liver cell carcinoma (4 cases), 2) missed tumor cells due to too scanty cellularity (1 case), 3) improper smear (2 cases) and no tumor cell in the cytologic smears (3 cases). In such cases, at the initiation of FNA, a correct diagnosis of liver malignancy could only be made by a combination of cytologic and histologic examinations. However after three years' experience we can conclude that cytomorphologic features of liver cell carcinoma are sufficiently distinctive from other liver malignancies to be diagnostic

Cytopathologic Diagnosis of Pulmonary Diseases by Transthoracic Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy.: In Ae Park, Eui Keun Ham; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):27-35.

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Abstract PDF: The authors report series of 360 cases of transthoracic fine-needle aspiration cytology(TFNA) from Oct, 1982, through Aug. 1986 at the Seoul National University Hospital. A diagnosis of neoplastic lesion was established in 50.3% of the cases. A non-neoplastic diagnosis was made in 38.5%, nondiagnostic one in 6.5% and inadequate one in 4.7% of the total. Statistical findings on cytological diagnoses were as follows. Specificity was 100% ; sensitivity, 92%; predictive value for positive, 1.0 ; predicitive value for negative, 0.9 : concordance rate, 84.2% ; diagnostic accuracy in non-neoplastic lesion, 65.4%, and typing accuracy in malignant tumor, 0.77.

Cytologic Study of Thymoma.: Gu Kong, Se Jin Jang, Jung Dal Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):36-42.

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Abstract PDF: 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 malignent lymphoma.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of the Mediastinal Lesions.: In Ae Park, Eui Keun Ham; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):43-50.

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Abstract PDF: The authors report 16 cases of mediastinal fine-needle aspiration cytology from Jan. 1985 to Mar. 1988 at the Seoul National University Hospital. Among them, diagnostic materal were obtained in fifteen cases, establishing the diagnosis of 7 thymomas, 2 germinomas, 2 neurogenic tumosr, 1 lymphoma, and 3 meastatic carcinomas. The 9 cytologic diagnoses could be confirmed by histologic examination in 8 patients and by another cytologic method in one patient, allowing concordance rate of 77%.

Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytology of Breast Tumors.: In Sook Kim, Jung Dal Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):51-59.

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Abstract PDF: Fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology (FNA) for diagnosis of a variety of breast tumors has been proven to be a simple, sate, and cost saving diagnostic methodology with high accuracy. Cytologic specimens from 1,029 fine needle aspirations of the breast during last 3-year period were reviewed and subsequent biopsies from 107 breast lesions were reevaluated for cytohistological correlation. FNA had a sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 98.3%. One out of 107 cases biopsied revealed a false positive result (0.9%) and the case was due to misinterpretation of apocrine metaplastic cells in necrotic background as malignant cells. A false negative rate was 8.4% (9 of 107 cases biopsied). Six of 9 false negative cases were resulted from insufficient aspirates for diagnosis, and remaining three of 9 false negative cases revealed extensive necrosis with no or scanty viable cells on smears. The results indicate that for reducing false positive and false negative rates of FNA, an experienced cytopathologist and a proficient aspirator are of great importance.

Diagnostic Features of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pleomorphic Adenoma, Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of Salivary Gland.: Eun Sook Nam, Won Bo Jo, Jung Ho Han, Insun Kim; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):60-67.

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Abstract PDF: The evaluate the diagnostic findings of salivary gland tumors, we reexamined aspiration cytology smears of 7 cases of pleomorphic adenoma, 3 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma, and 3 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, performed during April 1986 to March 1990, which were comfurmed by surgical excision and histologic diagnosis. The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1. All cases of pleomorphic adenoma showed branching cellular clusters of epithelial and myoepithelial cells. Acellular elements including myxomatous and chondroid components were observed. There were no cellular pleomorphism and nucleoli. Keratinizing squamous epithelial cells and keratin pearls were noted. 2. The smears of adenoid cystic carcinoma showed cell balls or cell cords containing a central hyaline core. Nuclear atypism and the nucleoli were frequently observed. There were no keratinizing squamous epithelial cells. 3. The smears of mucoepidermoid carcinoma showed mainly sheets or clusters of intermediate cells and some mucin-producing cells. Some nuclear pleomorphism was observed. Mucinous material and many inflammatory cells were present in the background.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis.: Dong Wha Lee, So Young Jin, Eun Suk Koh, Chung Ja Kwak; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):68-73.

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Abstract PDF: A total 48 cases of tuberculous lesion in the lymph nodes(43 cases), lung (3 cases) and soft tissue(2 cases), was subjected to fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC). The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 77 year-old(average 33.6 years in age) and the male to female ratio was 1:4. Thirty-four cases (70.8%) demonstrated distinct granulomatous reaction with or without caseastion necrosis, nine cases(18.8%) showed no granulomas, but large amount of necrotic debris with numerous polymorphonuclear cells and histiocytes, and five cases (10.4%) revealed acellular material only. The overall AFB positivity in smears was 62.5%. In areas associated with granulomatous reaction and necrosis, AFB positivity was 55.8%, while it was 80.0% in cases with acellular necrotic material. There were 2 cases of parasitic infestation which could not be easily differentiated from tuberculosis based on aspiration smears only.

Application of Immunohistochemical Technique in the Cytologic Diagnosis of herpes Simplex Virus Infection.: Hye Rim Park, Kap No Lee, Seung Young Paik; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):74-84.

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Abstract PDF: Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2(HSV-1, HSV-2) are the ubiquitous human pathogens responsible for a variety of afflictions, HSV-2 is one of the viruses that were suspected of promoting carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix. Certainly, there is a need for the more sensitive and accurate laboratory techniques for HSV detection. We examined total 80 cases of smears including 17 Tzanck smears of skin and 63 cases of Papanicolaou smears from total 77 patients with clinical impression of herpetic infections, from September, 1985 through August, 1989. Immunohistochemical typings for HSV-1 and HSV-2 were performed together with routine cytologic findings and compared The results are as follows : 1) patients were 9 males and 33 females, and age distribution was between 5 and 71 years 2) Subjective symptoms such as ulceration, vesicle, vaginal discharge, pruritus, and pain were complained in 36 patients and 38 cases were genital herpes. Recurrence was noted in 11 cases. 3) Positive results were obtained in 42 among 80 cases. 4) Both routine cytology and imunohistochemical staining were positive in 13 cases and in 24 cases only immunohistochemical staining were positive. 5 cases were positive only in routine cytologic smears. 5) The cases that immunocytochemical stain had been performed were 37 cases, which were all positive in type 2, Among the above 37 cases, type 1 also were positive in 5 cases. The results show that the immunoperoxidase technique is one of the rapid and reliable method to confirm the herpetic infection when suspected and that it is particularly useful when the Papanicolaou smear findings are equivocal

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Solid and papillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas: Report of a Case.: Mee Yon Cho, Kwang Gil Lee, Kyi Beom Lee, Hyeun Joo Jeong, Woo Hee Jung; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):85-92.

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Abstract PDF: We present the cytologic features of a case of solid and papillary neoplasm of the pancreas. Cytologically, the tumor was composed of a monotonous population of polygonal cells containing ecentrically located round nuclei with one or two distinct small nucleoli and a finely stippled chromatin pattern. The tumor cells were similar to those of the islet cell tumor and showed isolated loosety aggregated and solid sheedts or large cell clumps. The large cell clumps revealed a branching papillary structure containing fibrovascular central core, which is characteristic histologic feature of solid and papillary neoplasm of the pancreas. The case was confirmed by tissue examination including histochemical immunohistochemical and electron microscopical studies. Utrastructurally, the tumor cells contanined a few membrane-bound electron dense granules.

Two Cases of Giant Cell Tumor of the Bone Diagnosed by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology.: Na Hye Myong, Chang Won Ha, Kyung Ja Cho, Ja June Jang, Goo Hyun Baek, Soo Yong Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):93-97.

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Abstract PDF: Two cases of giant cell tumor of bone diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology are described. Case 1 was a 28-year -old male who had pain sense for one year at the right distal thigh. His radiologic finding revealed a destructive cortical lesion with soft tissue extension at medial side of epiphysis of the distal femur. Case 2 was a 21-year-old female complaining pain at left distal forearm for eight months and showed a well-demarcated expansile osteolytic lesion with multisepatation, and cortical destruction at epiphysis and metaphysis of the left distal radius on the X-ray. Fine needle aspiration of each lesion was performed. The aspirate of the case 1 reveated moderate cellularity, which was composed of scattered giant cells of osteoclastic type and small round to oval monotonous stromal cells in large areas. Giant cells were evenly distributed in single or small groups and had irregular but abundant cytoplasms with 10 to 20 nuclei in the center. The nuclei showed ovoid shape, fine granular chromatin, and a small but conspicuous nucleolus, Stromal cells were dispersed in isolated pattern or sometimes aggregated in clusters and showed the same nuclei as those of giant cells and scanty cytoplasms, Comparing to case 1, case 2 had a more translucent abundant cytoplasm in the giant cells and more spindled stromal cells, All two cases revealed neither nuclear atypism nor increased abnormal mitoses in both giant and stromal cells, suggesting no evidence of malignancy. Thereafter the lesions were treated with excision and curettage and histologically confirmed as giant cell tumors of the bone.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Hepatoblastoma: Report of Two Cases.: Young Nyun Park, Kwang Gil Lee, Chan II Park; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):98-102.

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Abstract PDF: Hepatoblastoma(HB) is a rare embryonic malignant tumor of the liver. Most morphological studies on HB have limited to the histological characteristics and only 3 cases of HB have been described in the cytology literature. We present 2 cases of HB occurring in children aged 1 year and 3 years, respectively. The distinctive cytologic features of fine needle aspiration of HB were clusters of tumor cells showing acinar and trabecular pattern, smaller tumor cells with a high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio and hyperchromatic nuclei having prominent nucleoli, and the presence of extramedullary hematopoiesis and osteoid material. These features were also found in the cell block and the biopsy specimen, and appeared very useful in the differentiation of HB from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Primary Non-clear-cell Adenocarcinoma of the Vagina: Report of a Case.: M K Jee, Y J Choi, K W Yang, B K Kim, S M Kim; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):103-110.

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Abstract PDF: A case of primary non-clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina is reported occurring in a 65-year-old woman without exposure to diethylstilbestrol(DES) in utero. The adenocarcinoma did not appear to be associated with vaginal adenosis. It lacked clear cell component and interestingly composed of columnar epithelial cells of endocervical-type Cytologically round to oval unclei revealed one or more small nucleoli and fine granular chromatin pattern. Cytoplasm was pulmp, faintly basophilic and homogeneously stained. Histologically well differentiated columnar epithelial cells were arranged in trabecular pattern mainly, and also occasional glandular lumina and small solid sheets were found. Mitoses were hardly found.

Composite Tumor of Adenocarcinoma and Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix: A Case Report.: Hye Rim Park, Yong Woo Lee, Young Euy Park; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):111-120.

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Abstract PDF: Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a distinct subtype of cervical cancer that appears analogous to oat cell carcinoma and carcinoid tumors of the lung. It has been assumed to be derived from the neural crest via argyrophilic cells in the normal endocervix. We have recently encountered a case of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix coexisting with adenocarcinoma which was argyrophil negative. A 66-year-old multiparous woman was admitted because of vaginal bleeding for 2 months. Cervicovaginal smear revealed several scattered clusters and sheets of monotonous small cells with some peripheral palisading in the background of hemorrhage and necrosis. Radical hysterectomy specimen revealed and ulcerofungating tumor on endocervical canal which was composed of two components. Major component of the tumor was made up of monomorphic population of small oval-shaped tumor cells arranged in sheets and partly in acinar structeres or trabecular fashion. Other component was adenocarcinoma, endocervical well-differentiated type. Argyropilia was present on the Grimelius stain and immunohistochemical studies revealed diffuse positivity to neuron-specific enolase and carcinoembryonic antigen. Electron microscopic examination showed clusters of small round to oval cells, which had a few well-formed desmosomes and several membrane-bound, dense-core neurosectetory granules.

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