Microcystic adenoma of the pancreas: clinical, radiologic, and cytologic features.

Background: Cytology literature on pancreatic microcystic adenoma is sparse. It is important to separate microcystic adenoma from adenocarcinoma and mucinous cystic neoplasms on aspiration cytology, because patients with microcystic adenoma can be treated conservatively unless they are symptomatic. Potential pitfalls with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) sampling of these lesions is discussed.

Cytologic features of granulosa cell tumors in fluids and fine needle aspiration specimens.

Objective: To describe the cytologic features of granulosa cell tumors in fluids and fine needle aspiration specimens, with histologic confirmation.

Study Design: Histologically confirmed granulosa cell tumors, 6 adult type and 1 juvenile type, were identified. All patients had local recurrences or metastases.

Cytologic differential diagnosis of papillary pattern in breast aspirates: correlation with histology.

Papillary neoplasms, fibroadenoma, fibrocystic change, low-grade ductal carcinoma, and apocrine carcinoma are among "gray zone" lesions in breast cytology. They often have cellular smears with a papillary or pseudopapillary pattern. To better define cytologic criteria useful in distinguishing these entities, we correlated them with histology.

Thyroid plasmacytoma mimicking medullary carcinoma: a potential pitfall in aspiration cytology.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP), a malignant neoplasm of the soft tissues composed of plasma cells, may occur either as a solitary plasma-cell tumor (primary EMP) or as a manifestation of multiple myeloma (secondary EMP). We report on the aspiration cytology findings of an intriguing case of EMP of the thyroid that was initially misinterpreted as medullary carcinoma on clinical and cytologic examination. A major contributing cause for the cytologic misinterpretation was the presence of amyloid in the aspirate and the clinical impression of a "thyroid mass.

Hyaline globules in renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. A clue or a diagnostic pitfall on fine-needle aspiration?

The cytologic similarity to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of 2 cases of granular renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with hyaline globules (HGs) prompted us to evaluate the frequency of HGs in RCC and HCC and the association between cell type, differentiation, and malignant potential of these 2 neoplasms and the presence of HGs. We studied fine-needle aspirates from 23 cases of RCC (primary, 7; metastatic, 16) and 23 cases of primary HCC and noted anatomic site, tumor cell type, and presence, quality, and quantity of HGs. Fuhrman nuclear grade was assigned to RCC and overall differentiation to HCC cases.