Cancer Cytopathology

In the current study a ThinPrep sample was subjected to sedimentation in the inverted ThinPrep filter cylinder and processed for histology cell block. Remarkable conservation of tissue architecture was noted on the histology slides that were produced.

CD34 staining can be of value in distinguishing between benign and malignant hepatocellular lesions in cell blocks and thin core biopsies, although it provides little additional information to a reticulin stain.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the lung is an accurate diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of lung malignancies and is an excellent technique for distinguishing small cell carcinoma from other malignant neoplasms.

The cytologic diagnosis of low grade mammary carcinoma is difficult, with considerable overlapping occurring between in situ and invasive forms. Endocrine carcinoma is one of several subtypes of low grade mammary carcinoma. In the current study, the authors report the characteristic cytologic features of plasmacytoid morphology and the cytoarchitectural pattern of elaborate arborizing papillary fronds in patients with endocrine carcinoma. The authors believe that such features may assist in cytologic diagnosis.

Accurate discrimination between benign and malignant mass lesions within somatic soft tissue can be achieved in most patients biopsied by fine-needle aspiration. Pathologic subtyping of soft tissue tumors is possible in most of these cases.

The authors examined the expression of both E-cadherin and CD44 in 35 pelvic washing specimens and concluded that both markers are useful in the differentiation between reactive mesothelial cells and metastatic adenocarcinoma cells.

Cytokeratin 19 is a highly sensitive and specific ancillary tool for the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma in fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid.

Calretinin immunohistochemistry on cytologic cell block preparations is useful in the differential diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma versus metastatic adenocarcinoma.