Background Cytologic diagnosis of pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is frequently challenging and differential diagnosis with small cell carcinoma is often difficult. Methods: Eleven cytologically diagnosed cases of pulmonary AdCC were collected and reviewed according to fifteen cytomorphologic characteristics: small cell size, cellular uniformity, coarse chromatin, hyperchromasia, distinct nucleolus, frequent nuclear molding, granular cytoplasm, organoid cluster, sheet formation, irregular border of cluster, hyaline globule, hyaline basement membrane material, individual cell necrosis or apoptotic body, and necrotic background. Twenty cases of small cell carcinoma and fifteen cases of non-pulmonary AdCC were also reviewed for the comparison. Results: Statistically significant differences were identified between pulmonary AdCC and small cell carcinoma in fourteen of the fifteen cytomorphologic criteria (differences in sheet formation were not statistically significant). Cellular uniformity, distinct nucleolus, granular cytoplasm, distinct cell border, organoid cluster, hyaline globule, and hyaline basement membrane material were characteristic features of AdCC. Frequent nuclear molding, individual cell necrosis, and necrotic background were almost exclusively identified in small cell carcinoma. Although coarse chromatin and irregular cluster border were observed in both, they favored the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma. Hyaline globules were more frequently seen in non-pulmonary AdCC cases. Conclusions: Using the fifteen cytomorphologic criteria described by this study, pulmonary AdCC could be successfully distinguished from small cell carcinoma. Such a comprehensive approach to an individual case is recommended for the cytologic diagnosis of pulmonary AdCC.
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Background Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and adenoid basal carcinoma (ABC) are rare in the uterine cervix. ACC is more aggressive than ABC, thus accurate differential diagnosis is important. In this study, we identified cytologic features useful in distinguishing these two tumors for diagnosis. Methods: Three cases of ACC and five cases of ABC were selected for this study. Cervicovaginal smear slides were reviewed retrospectively, and the area, circumference, major axis, and minor axis of nuclei were measured using an image analyzer. Results: ACC displayed three-dimensional clusters with a small acini pattern. ABC displayed peripheral palisading without an acini pattern. The nuclei of ACC were more irregular and angulated than those of ABC, and the former showed a coarsely granular chromatin pattern. The nucleic area, circumference, major axis, and minor axis were 18.556±8.665 µm2, 23.320±11.412 µm, 5.664±1.537 µm, and 4.127±1.107 µm in ACC and 11.017±4.440 µm2, 15.920±5.664 µm, 4.612±1.025 µm, and 3.088±0.762 µm in the cases of ABC. All measured values showed statistically significant difference (p < .001). Conclusions: Although the nuclei of both of these tumor types were oval shaped, inferred from the ratio of minor axis to major axis (0.728 in ACC and 0.669 in ABC), the area of nuclei was approximately 1.7 times larger in ACC than in ABC. Distinguishing nucleic features, including area, morphology, and chromatin pattern, may be helpful in making a correct diagnosis.
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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.
An adenoid cystic carcinoma is a very rare primary pulmonary neoplasm. Bronchial washing and brushing cytological findings of pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma have rarely been described. Here, we report the bronchial brushing cytological findings of an adenoid cystic carcinoma, finally diagnosed in a 71-year-old female patient. The low-power view showed moderate cellularity and cohesive clusters of small to medium-sized cells. The high-power view revealed distinct nuclear moldings, a coarse chromatin pattern, and inconspicuous nucleoli, which was favorable to a diagnosis of small cell carcinoma. However, apoptotic bodies, nuclear debris, and mitoses were not seen frequently. The bronchial biopsy showed solid, trabecular, and cribriform patterns in small cells. Periodic acid Schiff staining disclosed globular basement membrane-like materials, and the immunohistochemical staining revealed the presence of myoepithelial cell components, strongly suggestive of a salivary gland type tumor, compatible with an adenoid cystic carcinoma. In this report, we describe the exfoliative cytological features of a pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma with emphasis on some diagnostic pitfalls.
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Comprehensive Cytomorphologic Analysis of Pulmonary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: Comparison to Small Cell Carcinoma and Non-pulmonary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Seokhwi Kim, Jinah Chu, Hojoong Kim, Joungho Han Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine.2015; 49(6): 511. CrossRef
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is an uncommon carcinoma accounting for less than 1% of the breast carcinoma. This type of carcinoma has a distinctive histology, such as cylindromatous, cribriform, glandlike space and solid pattern in the variable proportion.
Prognosis is favorable with rare recurrence or metastasis and the guideline for therapy is not well established. We experienced a case of ACC of right breast in the 48 year-old woman. Cytologically, it showed numerous three-dimensional, well outlined cell clusters with central core of homogeneous, eosinophilic material. The mass was well demarcated, firm and measured 2.5 2.5 2 cm. Cut surface was yellowish white and granular with focal necrosis.
Histologically, the tumor was composed of cylindromatous, adenoid and solid area with marked cellular atypia. Focal invasion was identified in the adipose tissue around the tumor. Histologic and nuclear grade was III by Kleer's grade. Nodal metastasis was not found.
A 65 year-old male patient presented with a large palpable mass beneath the areola of the right breast for 7 years. The resected breast tissue was almost totally replaced by a round large solid mass (9 6 cm) with a pink-gray to yellow firm, partly nodular cut surface. Microscopically, the tumor revealed the diagnostic biphasic cellular pattern of adenoid cystic carcinoma, which consisted of both cribriform pattern of myoepithelial cells and tubular pattern of epithelial cells.
On immunohistochemistry, the tumor revealed immunoreactivities for alpha-smooth muscle actin and S-100 protein in the myoepithelial cells and for AE1/AE3 in the epithelial cells.
Mitoses were scarce.
Multifocal lymphatic permeation and foci of perineural invasion were also found.
Underlying resection margins and overlying skin were invaded by the tumor. We diagnosed this tumor as grade II adenoid cystic carcinoma according to the system utilized for the salivary gland tumors.
A case of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung, originated from the trachea, was diagnosed by fine needle aspiration. Although the cytologic features of adenoid cystic carcinoma have been well described, it is easy to confuse adenoid cystic carcinoma with more common primary small cell neoplasms of the lung, i.e., small cell carcinoma, well differentiated adenocarcinoma, and carcinoid tumor of the lung. The features distinguishing adenoid cystic carcinoma from these neoplasms include 1) tight, globular, honeycomb pattern of cells, 2) acellular basement membrane material in the lumen, and 3) cells lacking true nuclear molding and having bland chromatin pattern. The morphologic feature of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma in this case was so distinctive as to permit a definite diagnosis by aspiration cytology.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma arising from the submucosal glands of the trachea and bronchial tree is rare. The histopathology and natural history of bronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma have been well documented, but detailed descriptions of its cytomor- phology are few. We report a case of primary bronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma in a 20-year-old female, diagnosed by bronchial brushing cytology. The cytologic specimens showed large clusters of small cells arranged around cystlike spaces containing globular basophilic material.
Cytopathologic findings of two cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea are reported. The carcinomas grew as a intratracheal mass. By bronchial washing, brushing and/ or post-bronchoscopic sputum cytology, large cohesive sheets, lobulated clusters, or three dimensional ball-like structures were obtained. They had numerous cyst-like spaces containing characteristic globular basophilic material. The tumor cells were uniform and had a small amount of cytoplasm. Nuclei were small and hyperchromatic. Nucleoli were occasionally observed. The cytological diagnosis was confirmed by bronchoscopic biopsies.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare tumor accounting for less than 1% of all cervical adenocarcinoma. This tumor is characterized by aggressive biological behavior with frequent local recurrence or metastatic spread, postmenopausal onset, and occasional association with conventional squamous cell carcinoma. The cytologic diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the uterine cervix is often difficult because of negative smear due to intact overlying mucosa, cytologic findings mimicking endometrial cells, and masquerade as squamous cell carcinoma.
Recently we have experienced a case of adenoid cystic carcinoma arising in the uterine cervix, which was identified on the routine Papanicolaou smear and was histologically confirmed by the consequent biopsy. The smear showed abundant cellularity composed of relatively uniform cells. The tumor cells were arranged in small clusters, acini, naked cells, and loose sheets with abortive cribriform pattern.
There were scattered globoid basement membrane-like materials and tumor diathesis. The nuclei were pleomorphic and showed hyperchromatic and coarsely granular choromatin with inconspicuous nucleoli. The punch biopsy of the uterine cervix showed typical histologic findings of adenoid cystic carcinoma characterized by tumor nests composed of hyperchromatic uniform basaloid cells, cribriform pattern, and cylindrical hyaline bodies.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma constitutes 4 percent of all benign and malignant epithelial salivary gland tumors and is a highly malignant tumor of the salivary glands. The cytologic presentation in aspirates is usually characteristic with spherical clusters(balls) of small tumor cells filled with hyaline material. But in case of the poorly differentiated variety(solid type), it is difficult to differentiate from other tumors because sheets of small, fairly monotonous malignant cells, with somewhat larger and more conspicuous nuclei are only seen. The cytologic findings of fine needle aspiration of solid type adenoid cystic carcinoma of buccal mucosa in a 51-year-old man are presented. On cytologic findings, solid sheets of monotonous tumor cells with focal necrosis was noted on a hemorrhagic background and the characteristic cytologic features of adenoid cystic carcinoma was absent.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare type of breast carcinoma and this tumor makes up less than 0.1% of all mammary carcinomas; ACC is known to show a relatively favorable prognosis. Among a variety of microscopic growth patterns of mammary ACC, a solid variant is the rarest and this can cause diagnostic difficulties. We present here a case of a solid variant of mammary ACC that occurred in the right breast of a 40-year-old woman who was initially diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. We discuss the histological and clinical characteristics of this case.
Tumors of the ceruminous gland are rare. However, careful histologic evaluation and classification are necessary for the proper treatment and ultimate prognosis. We present 5 cases of ceruminous gland tumors. Case l (73/M) and case 2 (52/M) were adenoid cystic carcinoma. They presented with protuding masses in the left external auditory canal for several months. Case 3 (76/M) was a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of auditory canal, who presented with right ear swelling.
The mass recurred 3 years after the surgical resection and combined radiation therapy. Case 4 (60/F) and case 5 (2l/F) were ceruminous adenoma, which showed diffuse or focal areas of glandular structures with one-or two-layer of eosinophilic columnar to cuboidal cells and sometimes with myoepithelial cells. These tumors showed non-infil-trative growth pattern and lack of mitosis, and had no capsule.