Elastofibroma dorsi: Diagnostic problems and pitfalls

The diagnostic cytomorphologic findings in a case of elastofibroma dorsi are described in this report. The correct diagnosis was initially overlooked on fine-needle aspiration, and was subsequently made by open biopsy. Review of the FNA material, however, demonstrated scanty but diagnostic material. Cytologic examination revealed a mixture of fibroblasts, adipose tissue, and swollen lightly staining cyanophilic elastic fibers in a background of collagenous matrix. Cross sections of the elastic fibers had the typical serrated and globular appearance. These fibers stained positive with elastin stains. The cytomorphology of elastofibroma dorsi with diagnostic pitfalls and differential diagnostic dilemmas are discussed in this article. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Aspiration cytology diagnosis of a primary amyloid tumor of thoracic vertebra: a case report

Isolated primary amyloid tumor of bone is rare; however, preoperative diagnosis can be rewarding because the prognosis is excellent. There are no clinical or roentgenographic criteria that can establish this diagnosis. There are few previous reports of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) where diagnosis of amyloidoma was made retrospectively. They describe the presence of extracellular hyaline material along with plasma cells and lymphocytes. A 35-year-old female was referred to the FNA clinic with swelling in the right upper chest wall. Radiologic findings revealed a destructive lytic lesion involving the bodies of D1 and D2 vertebrae with extension into surrounding soft tissue. Repeated FNA smears were hypocellular but had abundant homogeneous flocculent material, which stained positive with Congo red. A few plasma cells and foreign-body giant cells were also seen. We conclude that preoperative FNA cytology diagnosis of amyloid tumor is possible. Hypocellular smears with flocculent material, plasma cells, and foreign-body giant cells in absence of granulation tissue should suggest the diagnosis.     

Subgrouping and grading of soft-tissue sarcomas by fine-needle aspiration cytology: a histopathologic correlation study

To evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of subgrouping and grading soft-tissue sarcomas by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), a blind review was conducted of 84 FNAB specimens from 77 malignant and 7 benign soft-tissue lesions. Cytomorphologic subgroups included 31 spindle-cell, 24 pleomorphic, 11 myxoid, 7 epithelioid/polygonal, 3 small round cell, and 8 nondiagnostic cases. Malignancies included one lymphoma and 41 primary, 15 recurrent, and 20 metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas. Adequacy was defined as a majority of slides with at least 5 clusters of 10 unobscured cells. Five originally false-negative cases were considered nondiagnostic on review. Sarcoma was recognized in 59 of 64 adequate cases (92%) with available histology; however, the specific histopathologic subtype was identified in only 9 cases (14%). Benign myxoid and spindle-cell lesions were difficult to separate from low-grade sarcomas in 4 cases, and a B-cell lymphoma with sclerosis mimicked a low-grade myxoid sarcoma. The assigned cytologic grade accurately reflected the histologic grade in 90% of sarcomas when segregated into high and low grades. Pleomorphic, small round cell, and epithelioid/polygonal subgroups corresponded to high-grade sarcomas in all cases with only minor noncorrelations. Major grading noncorrelations occurred in 50% of myxoid and 9% of spindle-cell sarcomas. Therefore, attention should be given to specimen adequacy, and caution should be exercised when attempting to grade myxoid and spindle-cell sarcomas by FNAB.     

Atypical glandular cells--an update

The diagnostic category of atypical glandular cells (AGC) in the Bethesda system for the reporting of cervicovaginal cytology has undergone significant modification since its inception in 1988. More than a decade later, this category remains a diagnostic challenge to both clinicians and cytopathologists because of the lack of uniform cytologic criteria, the lack of interobserver agreement in the diagnosis, and the lack of standardized patient management guidelines. This article reviews the current classification of AGC in the Bethesda system, the cytomorphologic features and differential diagnosis, the clinical significance of a diagnosis of AGC, and the clinical management of patients with AGC. This article provides a comprehensive clinicopathologic review of the category of AGC.     

Is patient age associated with risk of malignancy in a ≥4 cm cytologically benign thyroid nodule?

BackgroundCurrent data regarding the risk of malignancy in a large thyroid nodule with benign fine-needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB) is conflicting. We investigated the impact of patient age on the risk of malignancy in nodules≥4 cm with benign cytology.MethodsWe performed a single-institution retrospective review of patients who underwent surgery from 07/2008–08/2019 for a cytologically benign thyroid nodule ≥4 cm. The relationship between malignant histopathology and patient and ultrasound features was assessed with multivariable logistic regression.ResultsOf 474 nodules identified, 25(5.3%) were malignant on final pathology. In patients <55 years old, 21/273(7.7%) nodules were malignant, compared to 4/201(2.0%) in patients ≥55. Patient age ≥55 was independently associated with significantly lower risk of malignancy(OR:0.2,95%CI:0.1–0.7,p = 0.011). Increasing nodule size >4 cm and high-risk ultrasound features were not associated with risk of malignancy(OR:1.0,95%CI:0.7–1.4,p = 0.980, and OR:9.6,95%CI:0.9–107.8,p = 0.066, respectively).ConclusionsPatients <55 years old are 3.7-fold more likely to have a falsely benign FNA biopsy in a nodule≥4 cm.     

Diagnosis of metastatic lesions to the stomach by salvage cytology

Summary Secondary neoplasms of the stomach are rare and are often clinical and diagnostic problems. Three patients with bleeding volcano-like ulcers were diagnosed by combined endoscopic salvage cytology and surgical biopsy as having metastatic submucosal lesions from hematologic spread. The combination of endoscopic appearance, clinical findings, and tissue and cytologic examination can lead to the correct diagnosis. The results from these cases support the utility of this cytologic technique in combination with biopsy in this clinical setting.     

游离脂肪酸对大鼠骨骼肌细胞瘦素受体基因、蛋白表达及酪氨酸磷酸化的影响

目的　探讨游离脂肪酸是否会对大鼠骨骼肌细胞L eptin受体的基因、蛋白表达及酪氨酸磷酸化产生一定的影响 ,进而导致胰岛素抵抗及葡萄糖代谢的异常 .方法　分离、培养新生 Sprague- Dawley大鼠骨骼肌细胞 ,分别与软脂酸(0 .2 5 m mol· L- 1 )或油酸 (0 .12 5 mmol· L- 1 )孵育 12 ,2 4和36 h,提取蛋白后用 Western印迹法检测 L eptin受体的蛋白水平 .用 RT- PCR检测胰岛细胞内 L eptin受体 RNA含量的变化 .应用免疫沉淀法检测 L eptin受体的酪氨酸磷酸化程度 .结果　软脂酸和油酸孵育后大鼠骨骼肌细胞 L eptin受体的蛋白表达水平在孵育 12和 2 4h后同对照组相比无显著变化 ,在孵育 36 h后同对照组相比显著下调 [软脂酸 (0 .36±0 .0 3)和油酸 (0 .35± 0 .0 4) vs对照 (0 . 39± 0 .0 5 ) ,P<0 .0 5 ];L eptin受体的 RNA水平在孵育 12 h后同对照组相比无显著变化 ,孵育 2 4和 36 h 后显著下调 [2 4h:软脂酸(0 .2 6± 0 .0 3)和油酸 (0 .2 6± 0 .0 4) vs对照 (0 .31± 0 .0 3) ,P<0 .0 5 ;36 h:软脂酸 (0 .2 5± 0 .0 4)和油酸 (0 .2 3± 0 .0 3) vs对照 (0 .2 9± 0 .0 1) ,P<0 .0 5 ];L eptin受体的酪氨酸磷酸化程度在在孵育 12 h后同对照组相比无显著变化 ,孵育 2 4和36 h后显著下调 [2 4h:软脂酸     

道诺霉素抑制视网膜色素上皮细胞炎前因子的表达

目的　观察道诺霉素对视网膜色素上皮细胞细胞(RPE)炎前因子表达的影响 .方法　培养的人 RPE经 IL- 1β(10μg· L- 1 )刺激以及不同浓度的道诺霉素作用后 ,用EL ISA、免疫组化和原位杂交等方法 ,检测培养的人 RPE炎前因子 m RNA和蛋白质的表达 .结果　 EL ISA显示对照组培养 RPE在 IL- 1β刺激 8h后 ,上清中 IL- 6与 IL- 8分别为2 0 0 0 pg· m L- 1· 10 - 6 cells和 5 0 0 0 pg· m L- 1· 10 - 6 cells.使用 10 0 μg·L- 1 道诺霉素作用于培养的 RPE后 IL- 6与 IL-8分别为 180 pg· m L- 1 · 10 - 6 cells (P <0 .0 1)和 32 0pg· m L- 1· 10 - 6 cells(P<0 .0 1) .免疫组化和原位杂交亦显示不同浓度道诺霉素可以不同程度地抑制 RPE内炎前因子蛋白质与 m RNA的表达 .结论　道诺霉素能有效地抑制 IL -1β诱导的培养的 RPE IL - 6和 IL - 8的表达     

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells, also formerly known as osteoclast-like giantcell tumor, is a rare neoplasm of the pancreas and usually diagnosed after pancreatectomy. The presence of non-neoplastic osteoclast-like giant cells is the histological hallmark of this tumor and the diagnosis is usually not difficult on tissue sections. However there have been relatively few reports regarding the cytological features of this type of tumor in literatures.1-4 Here we.