Thymic adenocarcinoma is extremely rare. Although its histologic features have been occasionally reported, a lack of description of the cytologic features has hampered the prompt and accurate diagnosis of this condition. Herein, we describe the cytologic findings and histology of four aspiration cytology specimens of thymic adenocarcinoma. The specimens were obtained from primary tumors, metastatic lymph nodes, and pericardial effusions. All four specimens showed three-dimensional glandular clusters with a loss of polarity and nuclear overlapping. One specimen had extensive extracellular mucinous material. Three specimens contained tumor cells with intracytoplasmic vacuoles. While the specimen with extracellular mucin showed relatively mild cytologic atypia, other specimens exhibited more atypical cytologic changes: irregular nuclear membranes, a coarse chromatin pattern, and prominent nucleoli. The cytologic features were correlated with the histologic features in each case of enteric type thymic adenocarcinoma. The differential diagnosis included other thymic carcinomas, yolk sac tumors, and metastatic adenocarcinoma from the lung or colorectum.
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It is difficult to distinguish nodular fasciitis (NF) from other neoplasm of the parotid gland, especially pleomorphic adenoma (PA) by fine needle aspiration cytology. A 39-year-old female noticed a mass in the parotid region. The aspirate material showed cohesive parts composed of the cells that had oval or spindle-shaped nuclei and relatively abundant cytoplasm and some cells with plasmacytoid features. The background substance was fibromyxoid. PA was diagnosed based on the cytologic findings. Subsequently, parotidectomy was performed and NF was diagnosed based on histologic and immunohistochemical findings. NF in the parotid region is rare and may be misdiagnosed as other benign or malignant tumors of the parotid gland. The clinical history of rapid growth and the presence of mitoses and inflammatory cells help to distinguish NF from PA. In addition, immunohistochemical stains for smooth muscle actin and CD68 are useful to confirm the diagnosis of NF.
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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%.
We herein describe a case of a 55-year-old healthy woman with localized primary thymic amyloidosis presented as a mediastinal mass, found incidentally by chest radiography.
Computed tomography revealed a 4.1 cm soft tissue lesion with nodular calcification in the left anterior mediastinum.
The resected specimen was a well-defined lobulating mass with calcification. Microscopically, the mass was consisted of amorphous eosinophilc hyalinized substances involving the thymus and intrathymic lymph nodes. These eosinophilic substances showed apple-green bi-refringence under polarized light after staining with Congo red. In immunohistochemical study, they were positive for kappa and lambda light chains and negative for amyloid A. There was no evidence of systemic amyloidosis in clinical investigations. A final diagnosis of localized primary thymic amyloidosis was made.
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EBUS-TBNA diagnosis of localised amyloidosis presenting as mediastinal lymphadenopathy Avnee Kumar, Barathi Sivasailam, Ellen Marciniak, Janaki Deepak BMJ Case Reports.2018; 11(1): e226619. CrossRef
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Localized Thymic Amyloidosis Presenting with Myasthenia Gravis: Case Report Seung-Myoung Son, Yong-Moon Lee, Si Wook Kim, Ok-Jun Lee Journal of Korean Medical Science.2014; 29(1): 145. CrossRef
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor(IMT) or inflammatory pseudotumor is a rare, solid tumor that most often affects children. This tumor is characterized by a spindle cell proliferation admixed with a variety of inflammatory cells.
Although it has disputed nosology, a distinctive fibroinflammatory and even pseudosarcomatous appearance have been well appreciated. Herein, we report a case of IMT in the posterior mediastinum in a 19-year-old girl with clinical findings. The immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies on the tumor cells are reported, and their distinctive characteristics are discussed in details.
Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) most often involve the pleura and also may encompass the peritoneum and nonserosal sites.
They occur as solitary encapsulated tumors and pursue a relatively benign clinical course. The usual criteria for malignancy are high cellularity, mitotic activity (more than 4 per 10 high-power fields), cellular pleomorphism, hemorrhage and necrosis as well as infiltrative growth. We report a case of malignant SFT of pleura who presented with an anterior mediastinal mass. Grossly, it was a 10x8x6.5 cm sized, encapsulated and well-demarcated, solid neoplasm with areas of extensive necrosis. Microscopically, parallel or haphazard arrangement of spindle cells with variable degrees of collagenous background were noted. Storiform fascicle formation, hemangiopericytoma-like pattern, and epithelioid cell clusters were often intermingled. Nodular areas with high cellularity and mitotic activity (> or =10/10 HPFs) were scattered throughout the neoplasm, however no definite cellular pleomorphism was encountered. Tumor cells were immunoreactive for vimentin and CD-34, which distinguished them from the mesothelial cells. Electron microscopically, they revealed fibroblastic and myofibroblastic differentiation.
Benign hemangioma of the mediastinum is rare. This slowly growing tumor is described as well circumscribed, cystic, hemorrhagic tumor. Histologically it can be differentiated into capillary or cavernous form. We present a case of mediastinal hemangioma. A 20-year-old-man was presented with a slowly growing posterior mediastinal mass of 6 years duration, 8x6 cm in size. The mass was relatively well defined but focally invasive. Microscopically, it was differentiated into vessels of capillary, cavernous, and venous patterns. A solid cellular proliferation with inconspicuous capillary lumens was focally seen. The stroma between variable-sized vessels showed marked myxoid change associated with some smooth muscle bundles and adipose tissue. Ultrastructurally, areas of solid cellular proliferation showed formation of lumens. These lumens were lined by active endothelial cells showing plasmalemmal vesicles and Weibel-Palade bodies on the abluminal surface.
Although heterotopia of pancreatic tissue is a developmental anomaly found in approximately 2% of all autopsies, pancreatic tissue within the thorax and mediastinum is uncommon. In most of these instances, the pancreatic tissue is a component of gastroenteric duplication cysts, intralobar pulmonary sequestrations or teratomas. We describe an anterior mediastinal cyst consisting entirely of pancreatic tissue. A previously healthy 27-year-old woman was admitted due to chest pain during deep inspiration. The computed tomographic scan of the thorax showed a large cyst occupying the right anterior mediastinum. The excised multilocular cystic lesion measured 12 cm in maximum diameter and contained a brown, turbid fluid. The wall was fibrotic and showed a haphazard mixture of ducts and exocrine acini without islets. The histogenesis of this lesion is unclear.
Pigmented extraadrenal paraganglioma is an unusual neoplasm that has rarely been reported in the literature. Based on histochemical staining or electron microscopy, pigment has been classified as lipofuscin, neuromelanin or true melanin. We report a case of pigmented extraadrenal paraganglioma in the posterior mediastinum of a 70-year-old woman. Histologically, the tumor had a characteristic organoid architecture of "zellballen" pattern with rich delicate microvasculature.
Tumor cells contained numerous coarse brown-black pigment granules.
Ultrastructurally, the tumor showed abundant large electron-dense pigment granules that vary in size and shape and smaller membrane-bound neurosecretory granules. The larger granules were consistent with neuromelanin or lipofuscin. Histochemically, the pigment is most likely neuromelanin, which is a waste product of catecholamine metabolism.
Fine needle aspiration has been effectively being applided to pediatric tumors since it renders a rapid diagnosis with minimal intervention. This measure is especially required for the large pediatric mass, which needs preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy to shrink the tumor to an operable size. A case of neuroblastoma of mediastinum, stage IV diagnosed by CT-guided FNA is described.
Ganglioneuroma is a well-differentiated, benign tumor of the sympathetic nervous system. These tumors belong to a family of neoplasm that exhibit a wide range of differentiation, with neuroblastoma at one end and ganglioneuroma at the other. Because it share morphologic features with other both benign and malignant neural tumors, accurate preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. Nonetheless, it is critical for proper management. Fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) in the diagnosis of the ganglioneuroma has been a little documented. We describe a case of mediastinal ganglioneuroma in a 33-month-old girl. The diagnosis was suggested on FNAC and was confirmed by histopathologic examination later.
Extraskeletal osteosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor of soft tissue. In addition, there are only several cases of osteosarcoma of the mediastinum as a primary site in the world. We report a case of extraskeletal osteosarcoma arising in the posterior mediastinum. A 54-year-old man visited our hospital because of chest pain. Chest CT showed a 12 cm sized huge mediastinal mass. The mass revealed solid and ivory-colored cut surface with multifocally ovoid cystic spaces and hemorrhage. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of polygonal stromal cells, giant cells and varying amounts of neoplastic new bone, and mitotic figures were frequently observed. There were no distant metastasis and regional lymph node involvement.
The presence of benign mesothelial cell inclusions in the mediastinal lymph node is extremely rare and thus difficult for the pathologist distinguishing from sinus histiocytosis, metastatic carcinoma, or metastatic mesothelioma. We recently had a case of benign mesothelial cell inclusions in the mediastinal lymph node, which is initially misinterpreted as metastatic carcinoma of unknown origin.
However, further clinical studies failed to identify the primary site. Subsequent immunostaining with calretinin demonstrated the strong nuclear and cytoplasmic immunore-activity, suggesting that these cells are mesothelial cells. It is important that when the nodal changes resemble metastatic carcinoma morphologically in the mediastinal lymph nodes, but the primary site can not be identified clinically, the possibility of mesothelial cell inclusions should be raised and the proper use of immunohistochemistry in conjunction with a clinical finding is recommended.