Trupti Patel

Objective: To determine the role of routine cervical Pap smears in detecting endometrial carcinomas.Method: A retrospective study was carried out from the histopathology archives for cases diagnosed as endometrial carcinomas with Pap smears within 6 months before histological diagnosis. The demographic details, reports of Pap smears and other tumor parameters on histopathology were noted.Results: We identified 380 of 482 cases of endometrial carcinoma with a documented Pap smear within 6 months before histopathogical diagnosis. Out of 380 cases, 187 cases (49.2%) had shown abnormalities on Pap smear of which 80 cases (42%) were diagnosed as atypical glandular cells and 78 cases (41.7%) were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. The presence of glandular abnormality on Pap smear significantly correlated with the tumor type, myometrial invasion and cervical involvement on histopathology (P < .05). Cases which had higher FIGO staging also had a higher detection rate on Pap smear (P < .05).Conclusion: The Pap smear may help in detection of endometrial carcinoma especially in cases with type 2 endometrial carinomas, tumor with cervical involvement and/or advanced FIGO stage.

Background: Malignant lymphomas (ML) are often complicated by serous effusions. The present study is an attempt to cytologically assess a large series of serous effusions associated with ML, identify the immunoreactivity of cells and to evaluate the role of various ancillary methods in confirming and subtyping these cases.Methods: A cross‐sectional study of 4612 serous effusions was undertaken at the Department of Cytology, Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute by retrieving data from the year 2015 to 2017. Total 169 cases of ML, clinically suspicious, were included. All cerebrospinal fluids, serous effusions involved by myeloid neoplasms, and cases of primary effusion lymphomas were excluded from our study. Pap stained smears of all these serous effusions were examined. Ancillary methods such as immunohistochemistry were used to further subtype the positive cases using the WHO classification of hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms (2016).Results: Out of total 169 clinically suspicious cases, 109 cases were cytologically positive for ML which included 73 (66.9%) pleural effusions, 34 (31.1%) ascitic fluids, and 2 (1.8%) pericardial effusions. T‐lymphoblastic lymphoma (36.9%) and Burkitt's lymphoma (38.2%) were the most common ML involving the pleural and ascitic fluids respectively. Non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) more frequently involved the serous cavities than Hodgkin's lymphoma. (P value <.0001). Among the NHL, T‐cell lymphomas more commonly lead to serous effusions than B‐cell lymphomas (P value <.0048).Conclusion: Cytological examination of serous effusions is an accurate, prompt, affordable technique having diagnostic and therapeutic implications. With the help of ancillary methods, we can identify the phenotype of cells, classify as well as confirm our diagnosis.

Background: Ovarian masses are frequent finding in females of reproductive age group. Image-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of ovarian lumps is being increasingly used for the successful diagnosis of ovarian tumors, although borderline cases may be difficult to diagnose by this method. Objective: The present study was performed to evaluate the role of US-guided FNAC in pre-operative cytological diagnosis of ovarian masses in comparison with histopathology and to assess the pitfalls and limitations of cytological interpretation. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 160 female patients. Diagnosis was established by FNAC performed under image guidance (ultrasonography/computed tomography) followed by histopathological examination. Cytologic diagnoses were compared with the histopathological diagnosis. Results: On cytology and histopathology comparison, concordance was found to be 90.4% in case of malignancy, 94% in cases of suspicious for malignancy, 100% in cases of inflammatory lesions, 50 % in cases of metastasis. Chi-square test was performed and p value was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: USG-guided FNAC seems to be a relatively safe, simple, fast and cost-effective procedure where most ovarian malignancies either present late in their course or no screening method is available. In addition this procedure may be useful in deciding management guidelines prior to any surgical intervention.

Background: Soft‐tissue sarcoma (STS) rarely metastasizes to lymph node compared to carcinoma. Fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) carries a pivotal role in diagnosis of metastatic tumor to lymph node. This study highlights the role of FNAC in diagnosis of STS metastasis to lymph node.Method: A retrospective study over a period by 4 years carried out. FNAC of enlarged lymph node was performed in patients with STS. Cytology smears were examined in conjunction with clinical details. Histopathology and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) were correlated in synchronous cases.Results: Out of 326 patients, 21 with STS had enlarged lymph nodes, of which 19 cases showed involvement (5.8%). Sixteen cases were metachronous and 3 cases showed synchronous involvement. Fifteen cases had regional lymph nodes while 4 cases had distal lymph node involvement. Head and neck and lower extremities were the most common primary sites of STS. Rhabdomyosarcoma was the most common sarcoma metastasing to the lymph nodes followed by synovial sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, and clear cell sarcoma. Other rare tumors included leiomyosarcoma, epitheloid sarcoma, liposarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor. We had a case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance (DFSP) of scalp with cervical lymph node metastasis. Very unusual about this case was its rare primary site and the rarer lymph node metastasis.Conclusion: FNAC plays an important role in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in cases of STS.

Background: Sub typing of non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) has an important task in the era of molecular and targeted therapies. Differentiating between squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC) is challenging when limited material is available in lung carcinoma. We investigated the accuracy and feasibility of sub typing NSCLCs in cytology and small biopsy material.Methods: Concurrent cytology and biopsy material obtained in a single CT‐ guided procedure in lung carcinoma over a year period retrospectively. Both materials were individually sub typed and analyzed. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed. Accuracy was determined by comparing the results with IHC.Results: Total 107 of 126 cases of NSCLCs were included for analysis, where both cytology and biopsy material were adequate for interpretation. FNAC allowed tumor typing in 83 (77.6%) cases; 36 (33.6%) were ADC, 47 (43.9%) cases were SQCC and 24 (22.4%) cases diagnosed as Non‐small cell carcinoma not otherwise specified (NSCLC‐NOS). In biopsy, 86 cases (80.4%) were typed, among which 34 (31.8%) were ADC, 52 (48.6%) were SQCC and 21 (19.6%) were of NSCLC‐NOS type. The result of Chi‐square index was significant. With the aid of IHC, NSCLC‐NOS reduced from 14 (13%) cases to 2 (1.9%) cases.Conclusion: Cytology and small biopsy specimens achieved comparable specificity and accuracy in sub‐typing NSCLC and optimal results were obtain when findings from both modalities combine. The advantage of paired specimens is to maximize overall diagnostic yield and the remaining material will be available for ancillary technique like IHC or for molecular testing. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2017;45:598–603.

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the liver is a very rare malignancy. In this case report, we describe a case of primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) in a 60-year-old man who presented with lump and pain in the abdomen of 2 months' duration. The patient had altered liver function, normal serum alfa fetoprotein level (AFP), normal hemogram and bone marrow. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed an ill-defined hypodense mass with specks of calcification involving the liver, suggestive of primary malignant mass of liver. Diagnosis of PHL was established on the cytology smear and confirmed by immunohistochemistry on tissue biopsy. This case demonstrates that PHL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of space-occupying liver lesions in the presence of a normal level of AFP. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a faster and safer diagnostic modality even in such a rare case. The case has many unique features like negative serology for viruses, no type B symptom and normal lactate dehydrogenase level.

Metastasization and distinction from mammary carcinoma is of great clinical importance because of different treatment modalities. Here, we discuss a case of stage IIIC ovarian serous carcinoma, presenting with bilateral axillary nodes metastasis after 25 months interval of its initial presentation. Increased serum CA-125 level caused clinical suspicion. Computed tomography scan of abdomen and pelvis showed no residual disease or any abdominal lymphadenopathy. Mammography of both breast were normal. Bilateral axillary nodes were noted. Guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and biopsy of ovarian carcinoma to axillary node is a rare event. Its recogn done. Cytomorphology revealed poorly differentiated carcinoma, compatible to that of primary ovarian tumor. Thus, metastatic carcinoma to axillary node from ovary was confirmed. This case illustrates a rare metastatic presentation of ovarian carcinoma and unequivocal role of FNAC to provide rapid diagnosis and preferred to be first line diagnostic procedure.

Thyroid carcinoma metastatic to the maxillofacial area is extremely rare. Other carcinomas can metastasize to this area, but very few cases of follicular thyroid carcinoma metastasizing to the nasopharynx have been reported. Carcinoma from the kidney, liver, large bowel, prostate, and thyroid are known to have the potential for clear cell differentiation, and all of them can metastasize to the sinonasal area. Histochemical and immunohistochemical evaluations, along with clinical details, are useful in distinguishing metastases of these clear cell tumors from primary sinonasal tumors. In this article we describe a rare case of metastatic thyroid carcinoma with clear cell change mimicking metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the nasopharynx.