Cytological recognition of invasive squamous cancer of the uterine cervix.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K C Suen.
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Forty-two histologically confirmed cases of pancreatic cystic lesions with cytologic evaluation by needle aspiration biopsy (NAB) were reviewed. There were 21 inflammatory pseudocysts (IPC), nine mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN), six microcystic serous adenomas (MSA), one macrocystic serous adenoma, and five papillary solid and cystic neoplasms (PSCN). Correct cytodiagnosis was made in all cases of IPC and MCN. The contents of IPCs were characterized by turbid or blood-tinged fluid containing cellular debris, numerous foamy macrophages, and other inflammatory cells. There were few or no epithelial lining cells. The aspirates from MCNs showed gelatinous mucoid material containing mucus-secreting cells that were present singly, in clusters, or in sheets. Depending on the individual case, benign or malignant columnar cells, or an admixture of these cells, were present in a mucinous background. The preoperative needle aspirates of five MSAs were acellular. In one case of MSA and in one example of macrocystic serous adenoma, small monolayered sheets of benign cubic epithelial cells were seen in the needle aspirates. Similar cytologic findings were noted in the materials obtained by intraoperative NAB performed under direct vision of the aforementioned five MSAs. Difficulties were encountered in typing three PSCNs that yielded in NAB cells resembling those of an islet cell tumor. They were diagnosed as low-grade neoplasms (PSCN vs. islet cell tumor). In two other patients, a cytodiagnosis of PSCN was correctly made as the NAB revealed monomorphic tumor cells wrapping around small capillary blood vessels.
Two cases of unusual benign tumors of the neck are described, both of which were initially misdiagnosed on cytology as carcinomas. Fine-needle aspiration findings in each case demonstrated a pleomorphic population of cells including bizarre multinucleated giant cells, the latter raising the false impression of malignancy. However, on review the cytological appearances of the tumors, a pleomorphic lipoma and a carotid body tumor, were characteristic. The correct diagnosis in each case would have been made or suggested if the pathologist had been familiar with the cytologic features characteristic of the lesion and the differential diagnosis of the head and neck tumors. In addition, the point is made that adequate clinical information is essential for the pathologist if all relevant conditions are not to be missed in the differential diagnosis.
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Fine-needle aspiration of an adrenal mass was performed to rule out metastatic disease in a patient with a bronchogenic carcinoma. The aspiration was misinterpreted as metastatic small cell anaplastic carcinoma. Review of the aspirate by the authors revealed the atypical small cells to be aggregates of bare nuclei of benign adrenocortical cells. Interpretation of these bare nuclei in isolation and unfamiliarity with the aspiration cytology of the adrenal gland led to the initial misdiagnosis.
The use of fine needle aspiration biopsy helps in reducing the number of thyroidectomies. Cytologic differentiation between cellular adenomas and well-differentiated follicular carcinomas is difficult, however; hence, both groups of lesions should be excised. Cytologic diagnosis of the common salivary gland tumors (ie, pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin's tumors) is accurate, but much experience is required for the cytodiagnosis of other tumor types. The majority of liver malignancies is metastatic in origin and poses no diagnostic problems. Pathologists also should be familiar with the cytology of hepatocellular carcinoma as the population of Asian immigrants in North America is increasing. Most of the pancreatic tumors are ductal adenocarcinomas, which can be diagnosed cytologically. Occasionally, atypical ductal epithelium in chronic pancreatitis may mimic malignancy. Cytodiagnosis of nonduct-cell neoplasms of the pancreas requires experience.
A screening programme to detect preinvasive carcinoma of the cervix was started in British Columbia in 1949. Since 1970 the number of women who have been screened at least once has been maintained at about 85% of the population at risk. More than 500,000 cervical smears are being examined each year in the central laboratory. There has been an appreciable increase in the number of cases and rates of carcinoma in situ seen since 1970, particularly in women between 20 and 30 years of age. Since the programme started over 26,000 cases of squamous carcinoma in situ have been detected and treated. The incidence of clinically invasive squamous carcinoma of the cervix has fallen by 78% during the period under review, and mortality from squamous carcinoma of the cervix has fallen by 72%. A colposcopy programme, introduced throughout British Columbia over the past 12 years, has been important in reducing the problems of managing preinvasive lesions, particularly in younger women. It is concluded that the reduction in morbidity and mortality from invasive squamous cancer of the cervix in British Columbia over the past 30 years is directly attributable to the province wide screening programme and that a large potential increase in invasive cervical cancer rates among younger women is being prevented.
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Herein is reported the cytologic features of four cases of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas as seen in fine-needle aspirates. Cytologically, the cases fall into two distinct groups: mucinous cystic neoplasm and serous cystadenoma. The aspirates from the mucinous cystic neoplasms characteristically showed columnar mucus-secreting epithelial cells, some of which were arranged in a papilloglandular pattern, with abundant mucous material in the background. The aspirates from the serous cystadenoma yielded small sheets of cuboidal cells with small nuclei and clear cytoplasm, without a background of mucous material. This cytologic division corresponds closely to the histologic classification proposed by Compagno and Oertel and hence is of prognostic and therapeutic value. The diagnostic challenges confronted by the cytopathologist are (1) to differentiate neoplastic cysts from the inflammatory pseudocysts; (2) to differentiate neoplastic epithelium from the normal epithelium of the bowel and pancreatic ducts; and (3) to differentiate mucinous cystic neoplasms from serous cystadenomas.
The records of 11 patients with cystic papillary carcinoma of the thyroid who had undergone preoperative sonography and fine-needle aspiration biopsy were retrospectively reviewed. The lesions varied from 1.5 to 5 cm in diameter. In only six (55%) of the 11 patients was the correct diagnosis made preoperatively. In the other 45%, the lesion was initially misdiagnosed as a benign or hemorrhagic cyst. These data indicate that needle aspiration often yields false-negative results in patients with cystic papillary carcinoma. All patients diagnosed on sonography and fine-needle aspiration as having benign cysts should have continued clinical follow-up. If lesions do not disappear either clinically or by sonography, a more aggressive approach should be taken.
We discuss the interpretation of thyroid aspiration cytology in the light of our experience and review the circumstances in which false positives and false negatives may occur. The technique is reliable but by no means infallible and it should not be regarded as a final diagnostic work-up. Its value lies in selecting patients with thyroid nodules for surgery. In the present series of 304 patients, 79 underwent operation and 37 malignancies were found. The incidence of malignancy among the surgically excised nodules was 47%, in contrast to 14% in the past. We estimated that 268 operations would be required to salvage the same number of malignancies without the use of fine needle aspiration biopsy.
Transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy provides valuable information influential in patient management, but at the same time it has introduced new interpretative problems. This paper presents some uncommon thoracic lesions, including thymoma, pulmonary hamartoma, pulmonary pseudolymphoma, typical carcinoid tumor, and spindle cell carcinoid mimicking oat cell carcinoma. Each of these cases has unique cytologic features. Since cells derived from these lesions are seen rarely or not at all in exfoliative cytology, lack of familiarity with their cytologic features may result in erroneous interpretation. Other factors contributing to the success of the needle aspiration biopsy are also discussed.
Aspiration biopsy is a widely accepted diagnostic modality for intrathoracic lesions. Between August 1978 and July 1980, percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy was utilized as a means to diagnose intrathoracic lesions in 82 patients. Cytologic diagnosis was obtained in 81 of 82 patients, 60 with a diagnosis of malignant lesions and 21 of nonmalignant lesions. Forty-four patients (53.7%) were treated surgically and 38 patients (46.3%) were treated conservatively, including radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Of the 44 patients who came to surgery, 35 had a malignant cytologic diagnosis. Surgery was performed in 11 patients with an initial benign cytologic diagnosis--there were 4 benign tumors, 4 inflammatory lesions and 3 false-negative cases. Of the 3 negatives, two patients had been biopsied on a second occasion with a malignant cytologic diagnosis. Of the 38 patients treated conservatively (malignant 27, benign 10, insufficient specimen 1) only one patient initially considered benign was later diagnosed with unresectable malignancy. The full collaboration of the radiologist and cytologist at the time of the biopsy has contributed to 94% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 100% predictive valve for aspiration biopsy of intrathoracic lesions.
Six cases of eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract were studied. Three cases were of the diffuse infiltrative variety (eosinophilic enteritis, two cases; eosinophilic peritonitis, one case), and three cases were of the circumscribed variety (so-called inflammatory fibroid polyp). Two of the infiltrative lesions showed necrotizing granulomas identical to those described by Churg and Strauss; one of the two also showed active vasculitis. One circumscribed lesion occurred in a patient with polyarteritis nodosa. Necrotizing eosinophilic granulomas were also noted in this lesion. Our observations suggest that the two forms of eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract are parts of a disease spectrum. Supporting evidence in the literature is presented. The relationship of this group of eosinophilic lesions to the hypereosinophilic syndrome, allergic granulomatosis and angiitis of Churg and Strauss, and polyarteritis nodosa is discussed.
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Imprints prepared from fresh surgical specimens give excellent cytological clarity. Used intraoperatively, the imprint method can provide valuable information when frozen-section interpretation is equivocal. However, cytologically well-differentiated tumours and tumours with a dense fibrous stroma, constituting 6% of the cases in the present series, cannot be diagnosed by this method. To increase diagnostic accuracy we recommend the combined use of imprints and frozen sections. The imprint technique requires little additional work and does not delay the frozen-section procedure.