Cytological results of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology for thyroid nodules: emphasis on correlation with sonographic findings

Purpose

To compare the cytological results of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) cytology of thyroid nodules to sonographic findings and determine whether US findings are helpful in the interpretation of cytological results.

Materials and Methods

Among the thyroid nodules that underwent US-FNA cytology, we included the 819 nodules which had a conclusive diagnosis. Final diagnosis was based on pathology from surgery, repeated FNA cytology or follow-up of more than one year. Cytological results were divided into five groups: benign, indeterminate (follicular or Hurthle cell neoplasm), suspicious for malignancy, malignant, and inadequate. US findings were categorized as benign or suspicious. Cytological results and US categories were analyzed.

Results

Final diagnosis was concluded upon in 819 nodules based on pathology (n=311), repeated FNA cytology (n=204) and follow-up (n=304), of which 634 were benign and 185 were malignant. There were 560 benign nodules, 141 malignant nodules, 49 nodules with inadequate results, 21 with indeterminate results, and 48 that were suspicious for malignancy. The positive and negative predictive values of the US categories were 59.1% and 97.0%, and those of the cytological results were 93.7% and 98.9%. The US categories were significantly correlated with final diagnosis in the benign (p=0.014) and suspicious for malignancy (p<0.001) cytological result groups, but not in the inadequate and indeterminate cytological results groups. The false positive and negative rates of cytological results were 1.9% and 3.2%.

Conclusion

Sonographic findings can be useful when used alongside cytological results, especially in nodules with cytological results that are benign or suspicious for malignancy.     

Intramammary lymph node involvement by mycosis fungoides diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

We report on a case of a patient with diagnosis of mycosis fungoides (MF) who subsequently developed enlargement of the intramammary lymph nodes, which were demonstrated to be involved by tumor on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. The patient was a 66-yr-old female who had recently noticed the appearance of circumscribed bilateral breast nodules. A mammographic study showed clearly outlined nodules of low density. FNA showed atypical small and large lymphocytes with cerebriform appearance, consistent with intramammary lymph node infiltration by MF. To our knowledge this is the first report of intramammary palpable lymph nodes involved by MF and confirmed by FNA. This case provides support for the use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy as an accurate method for staging MF successfully. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:124–126. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cytologic spectrum of 227 fine-needle aspiration cases of chest-wall lesions

This study was carried out with the objective of studying the cytomorphology of the wide variety of chest-wall lesions. Two hundred twenty-seven chest-wall lesions were studied over a period of 4 yr. Routine May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) slides were studied along with special stains, whenever required. The malignant lesions comprised 36.13% of all cases (81/227). Of the 126 benign lesions, the majority were inflammatory in nature (68/126), the next commonest lesion being lipoma (38/126). Rare cases of tuberculosis involving the sternum, epithelioid leiomyosarcoma, and neuroendocrine tumors involving ribs, malignant nerve sheath tumors involving the chest wall, metastatic carcinoma of the stomach and prostate, and papillary carcinoma thyroid are reported in this series. Histopathology was available in 24 cases, and hematological correlation in one case. A 100% cytohistological and cytohematological correlation was found, with no false positives or false negatives. In conclusion, fine-needle aspiration cytology is a rapid, diagnostic tool, eliciting many interesting lesions in the chest wall. It is useful not only in detecting primary and metastatic lesions, but also in follow-up of tumor recurrence.     

Adrenal histoplasmosis: Diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

A 54-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of fever, night sweats, and weight loss. He had hepatosplenomegaly, and bilateral adrenal masses were discovered on computed tomographic (CT) scan. CT-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the right adrenal mass demonstrated purulent material. Special stains done on this material showed organisms with morphologic features of Histoplasma capsulatum. The patient was started on antifungal therapy and discharged. FNAB of the adrenal gland is an effective method in the diagnosis of unusual infectious diseases. Special stains for micro-organisms proved helpful in the initial diagnosis of histoplasmosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 17:42–44, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration in supraclavicular lymphadenopathy: a study of 106 patients and review of literature.

The simplicity and safety of the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) make it a useful procedure for the initial evaluation of supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. We analyzed data (106 patients) in combination with the data of three recently published studies (total 301 patients) to make the observations more meaningful. The usefulness of various ancillary techniques such as special histochemical stains (SHC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and flow cytometry (FCM) in establishing specific diagnoses was also examined. Analysis of the combined data from 407 patients helps to reinforce certain trends observed by previous investigators such as the marked predominance of metastatic carcinoma (63%) over lymphoid malignancies (9%), reactive (19%) and infectious processes (2%), and the tendency of abdominal and pelvic primary carcinomas to metastasize to the left supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) (88%). In addition, the current study confirms utility of performing IHC, FCM, and SHC on the aspirate material obtained from supraclavicular lymph nodes, because in 19 of the 22 cases (86%), these ancillary techniques provided supplemental diagnostic information critical to patient management.     

Cytologically interesting cases of primary skin tumors and tumor-like conditions identified by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

The aims of this study are to depict the special but constant cytomorphologic features which allow a distinction among grossly similar skin tumors and to show that cytological assessment of many uncommon skin lesions is possible. The fine-needle aspiration findings of 181 cytologically interesting cases of primary skin tumors selected from 2,301 primary skin lesions examined in our department from 1990–1995 are described. Seventy-five cases were cytologically reported as benign and 89 as malignant. In 17 cases the aspirated material was considered inconclusive, although some possible diagnoses could be supported. A subsequent histological examination followed the cytologic assessment in all cases. Fine-needle aspiration cytology identified uncommon cutaneous cystic lesions (bronchogenic, dermoid, myxoid), benign and malignant tumors of epidermal appendages such as chondroid syringomas, cylindromas, pilomatrixomas, sebaceous carcinoma, and primary adenoid cystic carcinoma, as well as tumors of the dermis and subcutaneous fat. Primary cutaneous lymphomas were also diagnosed and classified morphologically and immunocytochemically. In our diagnoses of uncommon skin tumors new cytologic criteria were created and utilized and are described in this report in detail. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:17–28. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Multinodular goiter of the thyroid mimicking malignancy: Diagnostic pitfalls in fine-needle aspiration biopsy

A case of multinodular goiter with multicentric papillary hyperplasia is presented with cytologic features suggestive of thyroid papillary carcinoma. While the cytologic criteria for papillary thyroid carcinoma is well defined, occasional diagnostic difficulties can arise. Cytologically, the presence of focal papillary aggregates, the presence of a psammoma body within a background of copious colloid and scattered follicular cells led to diagnostic confusion. Histologically, the presence of secondary follicles in the papillae and protrusion of the papillary structures into colloid lakes supported the diagnosis of goiter. It is our opinion that most, if not all, of these difficulties can be circumvented by the incorporation of all major and some minor cytologic criteria for papillary carcinoma in the analysis of such lesions. Single criteria for papillary carcinoma, either major or minor, is not sufficient.     

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and ultrasonographic features of infracentimetric nodules in patients with nodular goiter: Correlation with pathological findings

We evaluated the usefulness of ultrasound-guided fine-needle-aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) for infracentimetric nodules. In addition, we used sonography to assess the risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules, and we evaluated the extent of disease in infracentimetric cancers. The cytopathological results of 472 US-FNABs from 207 nodular goiter patients (170 women, 37 men; mean age, 51.5±13.1 yr) seen between 1999 and 2004 were categorized into five groups: inadequate, benign, suspicious, follicular neoplasm, and malignant. There were 145 infracentimetric nodules and 327 supracentimetric nodules. All patients underwent surgery. Final histopathological results correlated with cytologic results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive vallue, and accuracy of US-FNAB for infracentrimetric nodules were 96.3%, 71.2%, 44.8%, 98.8%, and 76.1%; and for supracentimetric nodules, these values were 98.1%, 63.1%, 35.6%, 99.4, and 69.1%, respectively. There were no significant differences between infracentimetric and supracentimetric nodules. More thyroid cancer could be detected in infracentimetric nodules that were hypoechoic or had fine calcification on ultrasonography (which may be helpful in discriminating which nodules are appropriate for FNAB) than in supracentimetric nodules. However, logistic regression analyses showed that no single variable was predictive of malignancy in infracentimetric nodules. The malignancy rate in infracentimetric nodules was 21.4%. In this subgroup, 4 of 31 patients (12.9%) had multifocal tumors at surgery, 3 of 31 had extrathyroidal invasion, and 1 had a metastasis to the lung. In addition, at surgery, 11 of 55 tumors (20%) larger than 1 cm were multifocal. In conclusion, small tumor size does not guarantee a low risk of thyroid cancer, and US-FNAB may be useful tool for diagnosing malignant infracentimetric nodules.     

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of superficial lymph nodes

A series of 244 enlarged superficial lymph nodes was examined by fine-needle aspiration cytology. Twenty-nine smears (11.9%) were inadequate for study. Of the remaining 215, 108 were negative, 13 suspicious for malignancy, and 94 positive. Forty-five excisional biopsies were performed correlating the cytologic and histologic findings. There were two cytologic false-negative results; both were patients who had been treated for carcinoma and whose aspirates were cytologically negative. Of the 13 samples reported as suspicious for malignancy, there were three epidermoid carcinomas, nine reactive hyperplasias, and one non-Hodgkin's lymphocytic lymphoma. Of the positive cases, 83 were metastatic tumors, and 11 were malignant lymphomas (two non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and nine Hodgkin's lymphomas). The criteria used in the interpretation of these aspirates and the problems of differential cytological diagnosis are discussed. In spite of the drawbacks of inadequate and false-negative smears, fine-needle aspiration cytology is valuable in preliminary diagnosis of diseased lymph nodes and subsequent management.     

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of Kikuchi's lymphadenitis: a report of ten cases

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytologic features of Kikuchi's lymphadenitis (KL). Smears from 10 patients with histologically proven KL were reviewed. In all cases, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was performed prior to biopsy. To assess the validity of morphologic recognition, a blinded study, including smears from non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, nonspecific, and mycobacterial lymphadenitis was performed. At least 5 cases showed characteristic cytologic findings that permitted their specific recognition. A polymorphous lymphoid population with abundant karyorrhectic debris and histiocytes, many of which showed a small size and eccentrically placed, crescent nuclei, were characteristic features of KL. The remaining 5 cases failed to show typical findings and were indistinguishable from other nonspecific, reactive lymphadenopathies. When typical cytologic findings are present in an adequate clinical context (cervical nodes in young patients), a precise diagnosis is possible, avoiding unnecessary biopsies.     

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders: A fine-needle aspiration biopsy study

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has been used with high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, studies of FNAB of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are rare. The clinical course of 593 allograft recipients (cardiac, 288; renal, 250; lung, 50; and heart/lung, 5) was reviewed. Twenty-six patients developed PTLD with an overall incidence of 4.4%. Of these patients, 12 underwent FNAB. Their age ranged from 33–67 yr (mean, 55 yr). The interval between transplantation and FNAB ranged between 2–14 mo (average, 8.4 mo). The lungs were the most common site aspirated (7 cases), followed by lymph nodes (3 cases) and other extranodal sites (2 cases, liver and paraspinal mass). The cytologic features of these aspirates could be classified into two categories: a polymorphous smear composed of a spectrum of mature and immature lymphocytes with scattered plasma cells and histiocytes; and a monotonous population of large lymphoid cells consistent with malignant lymphoma, large-cell type. Surgical biopsies were available in 10 (83.3%) cases and confirmed the FNAB diagnosis. In summary, FNAB appears to be a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tool in patients with PTLD. Diagn. Cytopathol. 16:392–395, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Pleuropulmonary blastoma: Diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration cytology: A case report

Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is an unusual pleural-based blastoma presenting in childhood composed by undifferentiated sarcomatous tissue with divergent differentiation and occasional benign epithelial-lined structures. We are presenting the cytologic features of PPB as diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the lower lobe of the right lung in a 4-year-old girl. The smears showed highly malignant cells with hyperchromatic oval or multilobulated pleomorphic nuclei strongly suggesting an aggressive sarcoma. Histology of the aspirated material also revealed small fragments of a myxoid sarcoma with some pleomorphic anaplastic cells. Lobectomy and surgical pathologic investigation confirmed the diagnosis. PPB seems to be another tumor in which accurate diagnosis may be achieved by FNAC. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:303–305. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Breast and cutaneous mycobacteriosis: Diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

The breast and skin are considered to be rare sites of extrapulmonary mycobacterial infection, comprising 0.1% to 0.5% of all tuberculosis cases, respectively. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a rapid and minimally invasive approach to diagnose extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and has been used successfully in identifying tuberculous lesions in the lymph nodes, thyroid, kidney, pancreas, vertebrae, and testis. Two cases of extrapulmonary mycobacteriosis diagnosed by FNAB are described: a 59-year-old Hispanic male with cutaneous mycobacterial infection of the head and neck region, and a 58-year-old white male with a unilateral tuberculous mastitis. In both instances, the FNAB material demonstrated acute neutrophilic exudate, few isolated aggregates of epithelioid histiocytes and lymphocytes, and on Fite-Farraco stain mycobacteria. Reported cases of tuberculosis diagnosed by FNAB have been few; this is the first case of cutaneous tuberculosis diagnosed by FNAB. Diagn. Cytopathol. 17:45–49, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Nevus-cell aggregates in lymph nodes: fine-needle aspiration cytologic findings and resulting diagnostic difficulties

We report a case of nodal nevus present in enlarged lymph nodes with changes of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy sampled by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology prior to clinical evaluation of the patient. This lymph node pathology was established later by lymph node excisional biopsy, by which along with a skin biopsy the dermatopathic lymphadenopathy was tentatively attributed to early mycosis fungoides. The FNA revealed fairly atypical melanotic tissue from the dermatopathic lymphadenopathy along with nodules of uniform melanocytic nevoid cells, the presence of which in combination with the dermatopathic atypical tissue provided a tentative diagnosis of metastatic melanoma of unknown primary, with the diagnosis of nodal nevus presented as a less likely possibility. This is to our knowledge the first cytologic report on FNA of nodal nevus, which besides presenting cytologic findings of this entity highlights some of the problems related to providing an accurate diagnosis, if this exceptionally unusual pathologic entity is encountered in lymph nodes sampled for enlargement from pathologies unrelated to this entity. The subject of nevus changes in lymph nodes is briefly discussed.     

Effect of BRAF V600E mutation detection of fine-needle aspiration biopsy on diagnosis and treatment guidance of papillary thyroid carcinoma

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of detection of BRAF V600E mutation in the fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) specimens of thyroid nodules and the relationship between BRAF V600E mutation and the clinicopathological characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).MethodsA total of 252 patients who underwent initial thyroid surgery were retrospectively analysed. All the patients underwent a preoperative FNAC at our institution, and the thyroid puncture cell fluid was used for both the cytological diagnosis and BRAF V600E mutational analysis using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of BRAF V600E mutation in FNAC fluid in diagnosing PTC. The association between BRAF V600E mutation and the clinicopathological parameters of PTC was analysed using the χ² test.ResultsThrough FNAC, 21 (8%), 60 (24%), and 171 (68%) cases were cytologically diagnosed as benign, indeterminate, and malignant, respectively. Postoperatively, 242 cases were histopathologically diagnosed as PTCs and 10 as goitre nodules. In the FNAC samples, 12 (57 %) of the 21 benign, 48 (80 %) of the 60 indeterminate, and 152 (88.9 %) of the 171 malignant cases showed BRAF V600E mutation. The histopathological diagnosis was used as the gold standard. The sensitivity and specificity of BRAF V600E mutational analysis in the FNAC samples for the diagnosis of PTC were 91.7 % and 100 % in benign, 82.8 % and 100 % in the indeterminate, and 89.4 % and 100 % in the malignant cases, respectively.ConclusionBRAF V600E mutational analysis in FNAC samples of thyroid nodules can be used an effective supplementary diagnostic method at our institution. However, BRAF V600E mutation was not associated with aggressive characteristics in PTC.     

Malignant melanotic schwannoma fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings

We describe the cytologic, histologic, and clinical features of two cases of melanotic schwannoma, arising in the neck and superior mediastinum, respectively. Cytologic findings in both cases included the presence of cells with heavily pigmented cytoplasm, showing long branching projections. The cells were arranged in clusters, with ill-defined boundaries. Histologic findings included interlacing fascicles of cells, with abundant melanin pigment, calcification, and necrosis. Immunohistochemical stains were positive for S.100 protein and anti-human melanoma (HMB45). Both patients died with metastases. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;18: 284–286. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the evaluation of splenic lesions in a cancer center

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the spleen was performed on 50 patients, of whom 40 had had a previous diagnosis of malignancy (23 lymphoproliferative disorders, 13 carcinomas, 3 melanomas, and 1 sarcoma). The cytologic diagnoses included 22 cases positive for malignancy (10 lymphomas, 9 metastatic carcinomas, 2 metastatic melanomas, and 1 sarcoma), 18 cases negative for malignancy, 4 cases suspicious for malignancy, and 6 nondiagnostic specimens. No major complications were associated with the FNAB procedure; however, one patient did develop a pneumothorax that resolved spontaneously. Subsequent splenectomy was performed in 10 of the 50 cases. There were no false-positive diagnoses, and only one false-negative diagnosis, which was attributed to sampling error. The aspirate, showing only benign splenic parenchyma, was from a patient with splenomegaly and no previous diagnosis; subsequent splenectomy showed acute myelogenous leukemia. In our study, FNAB proved to be a safe and valuable diagnostic tool for evaluating splenic lesions in oncologic patients. Diagn. Cytopathol. 16:312–316, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Morphologic predictors of papillary carcinoma on fine-needle aspiration of thyroid with ThinPrep preparations

Although the cytologic features of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid are well-known, none is entirely specific. We conducted this study to determine the minimal criteria necessary to achieve 100% specificity for the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma on fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Forty patients with histologically confirmed papillary carcinoma and 17 patients with other thyroid lesions who underwent preoperative FNA at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center during a 4-yr period were included in the study. All cytology slides were prepared with the ThinPrep processing technique. Various architectural and nuclear features were evaluated, with a score assigned to each feature, and correlated with the histologic diagnosis of papillary carcinoma. Intranuclear inclusions, papillary and/or sheet arrangements, nuclear grooves, powdery chromatin, nuclear molding, high cellularity, and small nucleoli were significantly associated with papillary carcinoma (P < 0.05). The requirement of any intranuclear inclusions and many nuclear grooves, or a minimum of sum of scores (of the above eight features) of 10, yields 100% specificity and approximately 70% sensitivity. Cases with fewer features can be reported as suspicious or indeterminate for papillary carcinoma. A quantitative/probabilistic approach in the reporting of thyroid FNA provides a practical guide for management of patients with thyroid nodules.     

Cystic change in metastatic lymph nodes: a common diagnostic pitfall in fine-needle aspiration cytology

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of cystic metastases is a challenging diagnostic category and has been investigated in a limited number of malignancies and sites. The present study retrospectively reviewed 1,211 FNAC of superficial masses, including lymph nodes (1,102 aspirates), benign cystic lesions (64 aspirates), and lymphocysts (45 aspirates) with the aim of determining the tumors that cause cystic change in metastases. Cytology results from 1,102 lymph node aspirations were suspicious or positive for malignancy in 541 specimens (49.1%), benign in 230 (20.9%), and unsatisfactory in 331 (30%). There were 28 malignant aspirates demonstrating cystic change (5.2%). The tumor type that most frequently caused cystic change was thyroid papillary carcinoma (42.8% of cases), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (primary in the head and neck region 30.8% and in the skin 24%), tumors of unknown origin (6.3%), serous papillary carcinoma of the ovary or endometrium (4.8%), and malignant melanoma (2.1%). Cystic change was observed most commonly in the head and neck region lymph nodes (60%). The most challenging lesions to assess using FNAC were metastatic lymph nodes showing cystic change, accounting for six of the 16 false-negative diagnoses and one false-positive diagnosis. The results of this study suggest that cystic change in metastatic lymph nodes occurs in certain types of tumors and is an important cause of diagnostic error. FNAC should be repeated in case of suspicious hypocellular cystic aspirations, especially in patients with known malignancy.     

Syphilitic lymphadenitis diagnosed via fine needle aspiration biopsy

Syphilis is coming back in the recent a few decades especially in the gay and HIV populations. Since syphilis can be "the great mimic" clinically and pathologically, a case report with updated review can be helpful to the medical community. We report, a case of syphilitic lymphadenitis diagnosed via fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). The pitfalls associated with the diagnosis of syphilitic lymphadenitis will be discussed. The patient's medical records were reviewed. The pertinent history, clinical course, and ancillary studies including FNAB cytology with special stains are presented. In addition to the case report, we discuss the diagnosis of syphilitic lymphadenitis and the role of FNAB cytology. This was a 37-year-old man presenting with a two-month history of a growing neck mass, night sweats, and a ten pound weight loss. The patient had been treated one month earlier for primary syphilis. Examination of the head and neck revealed a 3 cm right level II mass. FNAB cytology showed heterogeneous population of lymphocytes and plasma cells suggesting reactive changes. Modified silver staining of the cell block slide was performed and revealed spirochetes, consistent with syphilis. The patient's lymphadenitis resolved with a course of antibiotic treatment. Although lymphadenopathy is a rare presentation of syphilis, it should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients who offer a suspect history. FNAB with silver staining is an effective, minimally invasive way to confirm the diagnosis.