Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of myxoid liposarcoma metastatic to the liver: cytomorphologic and cytogenetic features

Myxoid liposarcoma has characteristic cytomorphological features and carries a specific cytogenetic abnormality. Here we describe a case of myxoid liposarcoma metastatic to the liver, which was diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The aspirate smears revealed numerous oval to round tumor cells embedded in a myxoid background admixed with arborizing capillary vasculature. Some of the tumor cells showed adipocytic differentiation and a few lipoblasts were present. A fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using CHOP break apart probe 12q13 demonstrated the presence of chromosomal translocation involving the CHOP gene, confirming the diagnosis. The case illustrates that cytomorphological evaluation with a targeted cytogenetic study can render a definite diagnosis of myxoid liposarcoma via fine-needle aspiration biopsy.