Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Original Articles

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pulmonary Hamartoma.: Tae Jin Lee, Jin Sook Lee, Gyung Yub Gong, Shin Kwang Khang, Jae Y Ro; Korean J Cytopathol. 2000;11(1):19-24.

Abstract PDF: Pulmonary hamartomas are uncommon benign tumors, usually discovered radiologically as a solitary coin lesion in asymptomatic individual. The approach to the patient with a peripheral lung nodule has changed with the increasing acceptance of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) as a rapid, safe, inexpensive, and highly accurate diagnostic tool. However, a few reports describing the FNAC findings of pulmonary hamartoma have appeared in the cytologic literature and the experience of FNAC is limited. We reviewed all 9 cases of pulmonary hamartoma with histologic confirmation after FNAC seen at Asan Medical Center since 1995 to evaluate cytologic findings and to determine the value of FNAC in identifying that lesion. Originally, seven of nine patients were diagnosed as pulmonary hamartoma, while two patients were diagnosed as inflammatory lesion and adenocarcinoma of each. On review, eight of nine patients were considered as diagnostic of pulmonary hamartoma. The diagnostic findings in FNAC of pulmonary hamartoma were the presence of fibrillary myxoid tissue with spindle cells as well as hyaline cartilage.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pulmonary Hamartoma: A Report of Two Cases.: Jeana Kim, Kyoung Mee Kim, Young Sill Kim, An hi Lee, Sang In Shim, Byung Kee Kim; Korean J Cytopathol. 2000;11(1):31-34.

Abstract PDF: Pulmonary hamartoma is an uncommon benign tumor consisting of a mixture of loose fibromyxoid tissue, cartilage, fat, and cleft-like spaces lined by cuboidal or ciliated epithelium. Cytologically, the presence of a mesenchymal component is essential for the diagnosis of pulmonary hamartoma. We report the fine needle aspiration cytologic findings of two cases of pulmonary hamartoma. Case 1 was a 71-year-old woman with a mass, measuring 1.8X1.5 cm in the upper lobe of the right lung. Case 2 was a 51-year-old woman with a mass, measuring 2.3 x 2.0 cm in the lower lobe of the right lung. Fine needle aspiration cytology of both pulmonary masses revealed several sheets of loose fibromyxoid tissue fragments with focal cartilaginous differentiation and a few clusters of bland cuboidal epithelial cells on the bloody background. The diagnosis was histologically confirmed by needle biopsy.

Case Report

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pulmonary Hamartoma: 3 cases.: Na Hye Myong, Kyung Ja Cho, Ja June Jang; Korean J Pathol. 1989;23(3):355-358.

Abstract PDF: Fine needle aspiration cytology of three cases of pulmonary hamartoma is presented. Case 1 was in a 67-year-old man with a 7 cm-sized left lung mass. Case 2 and 3 were in 47 and 53 year old females and consisted of 3 cm and 2 cm-sized right lung nodules, respectively. Fine needle aspiration of the masses revealed several fragments of irregularly shaped mature hyaline cartilage or fibromyxoid mesenchyme and sheets of benign epithelial cells in scanty to acellular background. Also scattered were inflammatory cells including lymphocytes, neutrophils and histiocytes and mature fat cells. These features were diagnostic for pulmonary hamartoma and case 1 was histologically confirmed by following surgical excision of the mass. Differential diagnoses about pulmonary hamartoma in the respect of conditions capable of producing cartilage on fine needle aspiration, were discussed.

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