Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Reviews

The Asian Thyroid Working Group, from 2017 to 2023: Kennichi Kakudo, Chan Kwon Jung, Zhiyan Liu, Mitsuyoshi Hirokawa, Andrey Bychkov, Huy Gia Vuong, Somboon Keelawat, Radhika Srinivasan, Jen-Fan Hang, Chiung-Ru Lai; J Pathol Transl Med. 2023;57(6):289-304. Published online November 14, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2023.10.04

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The Asian Thyroid Working Group was founded in 2017 at the 12th Asia Oceania Thyroid Association (AOTA) Congress in Busan, Korea. This group activity aims to characterize Asian thyroid nodule practice and establish strict diagnostic criteria for thyroid carcinomas, a reporting system for thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology without the aid of gene panel tests, and new clinical guidelines appropriate to conservative Asian thyroid nodule practice based on scientific evidence obtained from Asian patient cohorts. Asian thyroid nodule practice is usually designed for patient-centered clinical practice, which is based on the Hippocratic Oath, “First do not harm patients,” and an oriental filial piety “Do not harm one’s own body because it is a precious gift from parents,” which is remote from defensive medical practice in the West where physicians, including pathologists, suffer from severe malpractice climate. Furthermore, Asian practice emphasizes the importance of resource management in navigating the overdiagnosis of low-risk thyroid carcinomas. This article summarizes the Asian Thyroid Working Group activities in the past 7 years, from 2017 to 2023, highlighting the diversity of thyroid nodule practice between Asia and the West and the background reasons why Asian clinicians and pathologists modified Western systems significantly.

Citations

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Risk of Infertility in Reproductive-Age Patients With Thyroid Cancer Receiving or Not Receiving 131I Treatment
Chun-Yi Lin, Cheng-Li Lin, Chia-Hung Kao
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Association Between Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Thyroid Cancer
Sang Yi Moon, Minkook Son, Jung-Hwan Cho, Hye In Kim, Ji Min Han, Ji Cheol Bae, Sunghwan Suh
Thyroid®.2025; 35(1): 79. CrossRef
Letter to Editor: “High Rates of Unnecessary Surgery for Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules in the Absence of Molecular Test and the Cost-Effectiveness of Utilizing Molecular Test in an Asian Population: A Decision Analysis” by Fung et al.
Kennichi Kakudo, Andrey Bychkov, Jen-Fan Hang, Mitsuyoshi Hirokawa, Somboon Keelawat, Zhiyan Liu, Radhika Srinivasan, Chan Kwon Jung
Thyroid®.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Thyroid Nodules with Nuclear Atypia of Undetermined Significance (AUS-Nuclear) Hold a Two-Times-Higher Risk of Malignancy than AUS-Other Nodules Regardless of EU-TIRADS Class of the Nodule or Borderline Tumor Interpretation
Dorota Słowińska-Klencka, Bożena Popowicz, Joanna Duda-Szymańska, Mariusz Klencki
Cancers.2025; 17(8): 1365. CrossRef
Welcoming the new, revisiting the old: a brief glance at cytopathology reporting systems for lung, pancreas, and thyroid
Rita Luis, Balamurugan Thirunavukkarasu, Deepali Jain, Sule Canberk
Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine.2024; 58(4): 165. CrossRef
Are we ready to bridge classification systems? A comprehensive review of different reporting systems in thyroid cytology
Esther Diana Rossi, Liron Pantanowitz
Cytopathology.2024; 35(6): 674. CrossRef
Aggressive Types of Malignant Thyroid Neoplasms
Maria Boudina, Eleana Zisimopoulou, Persefoni Xirou, Alexandra Chrisoulidou
Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(20): 6119. CrossRef
Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnoses of follicular thyroid carcinoma: results from a multicenter study in Asia
Hee Young Na, Miyoko Higuchi, Shinya Satoh, Kaori Kameyama, Chan Kwon Jung, Su-Jin Shin, Shipra Agarwal, Jen-Fan Hang, Yun Zhu, Zhiyan Liu, Andrey Bychkov, Kennichi Kakudo, So Yeon Park
Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine.2024; 58(6): 331. CrossRef

Thyroid Cytology in India: Contemporary Review and Meta-analysis: Shipra Agarwal, Deepali Jain; J Pathol Transl Med. 2017;51(6):533-547. Published online October 5, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2017.08.04

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Abstract PDF

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a screening test for triaging thyroid nodules, aiding in subsequent clinical management. However, the advantages have been overshadowed by the multiplicity of reporting systems and a wide range of nomenclature used. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) was formulated in 2007, to give the world a uniform thyroid cytology reporting system, facilitating easy interpretation by the clinicians. Here, we review the status of thyroid FNAC in India in terms of various reporting systems used including a meta-analysis of the previously published data. An extensive literature search was performed using internet search engines. The reports with detailed classification system used in thyroid cytology were included. The meta-analysis of published data was compared with the implied risk of malignancy by TBSRTC. More than 50 studies were retrieved and evaluated. TBSRTC is currently the most widely used reporting system with different studies showing good efficacy and interobserver concordance. Ancillary techniques have, as of now, limited applicability and acceptability in thyroid cytology in India. Twenty-eight published articles met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. When compared with TBSRTC recommendations, the meta-analysis showed a higher risk of malignancy for categories I and III. Thyroid FNAC is practiced all over India. TBSRTC has found widespread acceptance, with most institutions using this system for routine thyroid cytology reporting. However, reasons for a high malignancy risk for categories I and III need to be looked into. Various possible contributing factors are discussed in the review.

Citations

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Spinal metastases in primary thyroid malignancies: Single center experience of 44 cases
Basir Ahmed, Edmond Jonathan, M. J. Paul, Krishna Prabhu
World Journal of Surgery.2025; 49(2): 409. CrossRef
Thermal imaging based pre-diagnostics tool for Graves’ disease
Vaishali Sharma, Vandana K Dhingra, Snehlata Shakya, Ashok Kumar, Mayank Goswami
Measurement Science and Technology.2024; 35(3): 035702. CrossRef
High Malignancy Risk and Its Predictors in South Indian Patients With Bethesda II Thyroid Nodules
Sunanda Tirupati, Pradeep Puthenveetil, Shilpa Lakkundi, Anudeep Gaddam, Vijaya Sarathi
Cureus.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Nuclear features in thyroid cytology: features helpful for a morphological diagnosis in routine practice
Priya Bhagwat, Sabine Pomplun
Diagnostic Histopathology.2024; 30(6): 312. CrossRef
DIAGNOSTIC EFFICACY OF FNAC IN THYROID LESIONS, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO BETHESDA SYSTEM WITH CYTOHISTOLOGICAL CORRELATION
KIRAN KUMARI MEENA, SANDHYA BORDIA, POOJA KANWAT, SEEMA MEENA, PRAGYA JAKHAR
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research.2024; : 125. CrossRef
Evaluation of Thyroid Lesions by the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology
Syed Asif Hashmi, Monika Aggrawal, Rahul Pandey, Deepika Gulati, Inam Danish Khan
Journal of Marine Medical Society.2023; 25(1): 73. CrossRef
Incidence and Malignancy Rates in Thyroid Nodules in North-East Indian Population by Bethesda System: A Single Institutional Experience of 3 Years
Suvamoy Chakraborty, Manu C. Balakrishnan, Vandana Raphael, Prachurya Tamuli, Anuradha Deka
South Asian Journal of Cancer.2023; 12(02): 166. CrossRef
Evaluation of Concordance of Ultrasound, Cytology, and Histopathology in Solitary Thyroid Nodules
Sunil Chumber, Surabhi Vyas, Kamal Kataria, Shipra Agarwal, Yashwant S Rathore, Gopal Puri, Sushma Yadav, Kanika Sharma, Amit Patidar
Indian Journal of Endocrine Surgery and Research.2023; 18(1): 17. CrossRef
Cytomorphological Spectrum of Head and Neck Lesions by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in a Tertiary Care Center
Amandeep Kaur, Sonali Poonia, Karandeep Singh, Dalbir Kaur, Mohit Madhukar, Ravish Godara
Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences.2023; 15(Suppl 1): S315. CrossRef
The Asian Thyroid Working Group, from 2017 to 2023
Kennichi Kakudo, Chan Kwon Jung, Zhiyan Liu, Mitsuyoshi Hirokawa, Andrey Bychkov, Huy Gia Vuong, Somboon Keelawat, Radhika Srinivasan, Jen-Fan Hang, Chiung-Ru Lai
Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine.2023; 57(6): 289. CrossRef
Cytomorphological Categorization of Thyroid Lesions according to The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology and Correlation with their Histological Outcome
Meenakshi Kamboj, Anurag Mehta, Sunil Pasricha, Gurudutt Gupta, Anila Sharma, Garima Durga
Journal of Cytology.2022; 39(1): 44. CrossRef
Is Surgery Necessary in Benign Thyroid Lesions?
Pushkar Chaudhary, Naseem Noorunnisa
Journal of Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences University.2022; 17(3): 799. CrossRef
Effect of the Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm With Papillary-Like Nuclear Features (NIFTP) Nomenclature Revision on Indian Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration Practice
Chanchal Rana, Pooja Ramakant, Divya Goel, Akanksha Singh, KulRanjan Singh, Suresh Babu, Anand Mishra
American Journal of Clinical Pathology.2021; 156(2): 320. CrossRef
The combination of ACR‐Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data system and The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology in the evaluation of thyroid nodules—An institutional experience
Shanmugasundaram Sakthisankari, Sreenivasan Vidhyalakshmi, Sivanandam Shanthakumari, Balalakshmoji Devanand, Udayasankar Nagul
Cytopathology.2021; 32(4): 472. CrossRef
Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Anita M. Borges
Journal of Head & Neck Physicians and Surgeons.2021; 9(2): 69. CrossRef
Risk of malignancy in Thyroid “Atypia of undetermined significance/Follicular lesion of undetermined significance” and its subcategories – A 5-year experience
Abha Thakur, Haimanti Sarin, Dilpreet Kaur, Deepak Sarin
Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology.2019; 62(4): 544. CrossRef
Thyroid FNA cytology in Asian practice—Active surveillance for indeterminate thyroid nodules reduces overtreatment of thyroid carcinomas
K. Kakudo, M. Higuchi, M. Hirokawa, S. Satoh, C. K. Jung, A. Bychkov
Cytopathology.2017; 28(6): 455. CrossRef
The Use of Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) Cytology in Patients with Thyroid Nodules in Asia: A Brief Overview of Studies from the Working Group of Asian Thyroid FNA Cytology
Chan Kwon Jung, SoonWon Hong, Andrey Bychkov, Kennichi Kakudo
Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine.2017; 51(6): 571. CrossRef

Original Articles

Mdm2 and p53 Expression in Radiation-Induced Sarcomas of the Head and Neck: Comparison with De Novo Sarcomas: Min Jeong Song, Joon Seon Song, Jong-Lyel Roh, Seung-Ho Choi, Soon Yuhl Nam, Sang Yoon Kim, Sung Bae Kim, Sang-wook Lee, Kyung-Ja Cho; Korean J Pathol. 2014;48(5):346-350. Published online October 27, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2014.48.5.346

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Abstract PDF

Background: The pathogenesis of radiation-induced sarcomas (RISs) is not well known. In RIS, TP53 mutations are frequent, but little is known about Mdm2-p53 interaction, which is a recent therapeutic target of sarcomas. Methods: We studied the immunohistochemical expression of Mdm2 and p53 of 8 RISs. The intervals between radiation therapy and diagnosis of secondary sarcomas ranged from 3 to 17 years. Results: Mdm2 expression was more common in de novo sarcomas than RISs (75% vs 37.5%), and p53 expression was more common in RISs than in de novo cases (75% vs 37.5%). While half of the RISs were Mdm2(–)/p53(+), none of de novo cases showed such combination; while half of de novo sarcomas were Mdm2(+)/p53(–), which are a candidate group of Mdm2 inhibitors, only 1 RIS showed such a combination. Variable immunoprofiles observed in both groups did not correlate with tumor types, except that all of 2 myxofibrosarcomas were Mdm2(+)/p53(+). Conclusions: In conclusion, we speculated that both radiation- induced and de novo sarcomagenesis are not due to a unique genetic mechanism. Mdm2- expression without p53 overexpression in 1 case of RIS decreases the future possibility of applying Mdm2 inhibitors on a subset of these difficult tumors.

Citations

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Radiation-induced osteosarcoma in the head and neck region: Case report and literature review
Iara Vieira Ferreira, Marcelo Elias Schempf Cattan, Carlos Takahiro Chone, Arthur Antolini, Erika Said Abu Egal, Albina Altemani, Fernanda Viviane Mariano
Oral Oncology.2025; 162: 107216. CrossRef
Radiation-Induced Sarcomas of the Head and Neck: A Systematic Review
Andrés Coca-Pelaz, Antti A. Mäkitie, Primož Strojan, June Corry, Avraham Eisbruch, Jonathan J. Beitler, Sandra Nuyts, Robert Smee, Johannes A. Langendijk, William M. Mendenhall, Cesare Piazza, Alessandra Rinaldo, Alfio Ferlito
Advances in Therapy.2021; 38(1): 90. CrossRef
Genomic Characterization of Radiation-Induced Intracranial Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma
Christopher S. Hong, Edwin Partovi, James Clune, Anita Huttner, Henry S. Park, Sacit Bulent Omay, Balraj Mittal
Case Reports in Genetics.2021; 2021: 1. CrossRef
Radiation-Induced Sarcoma of the Head and Neck: A Review of the Literature
Lorenzo Giannini, Fabiola Incandela, Marco Fiore, Alessandro Gronchi, Silvia Stacchiotti, Claudia Sangalli, Cesare Piazza
Frontiers in Oncology.2018;[Epub] CrossRef

Cytologic Diagnosis of hepatocellular Carcinoma by Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy.: Ki Kwon Kim, Eun Sook Chang; Korean J Cytopathol. 1990;1(1):18-26.

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Abstract PDF: CT guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration(FNA) of the liver for both cytologic and histologic examination has great value in diagnosing liver malignancy. From March, 1986 to April, 1990, 62 patients with the clinical impression of liver malignancy underwent CT guided percutaneous FNA biopsy. Of these, 43 cases were reviewed for this study, 19 were reported to be liver cell carcinoma, 2 were adenocarcinoma, 11 were reported as anaplastic cell present, and the rest (11 cases) were negative (9) or necrotic (2). Among the 11 cases of the last group, 9 were diagnosed as liver cell carcinoma and 2 were necrotic histologically. Retrospective review, in order to clarify the casuse of cytologic diagnostic error, of both cytologic and histologic slides of all cases showed discordance of 23% between these diagnoses and sensitivity is 93.9% and specificity is 90.9%. The reasons were as follows :1) the lack of awareness of tumor cells of well differentiated liver cell carcinoma (4 cases), 2) missed tumor cells due to too scanty cellularity (1 case), 3) improper smear (2 cases) and no tumor cell in the cytologic smears (3 cases). In such cases, at the initiation of FNA, a correct diagnosis of liver malignancy could only be made by a combination of cytologic and histologic examinations. However after three years' experience we can conclude that cytomorphologic features of liver cell carcinoma are sufficiently distinctive from other liver malignancies to be diagnostic

Cytologic Features of Benign Phyllodes Tumors as Compared to Fibroadenomas of the Breast.: Jae Hee Suh, Gyung Yub Gong, Jeong Mi park, Sei Hyun Ahn, On Ja Kim; Korean J Cytopathol. 1996;7(2):151-156.

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Abstract PDF: Phyllodes tumor(PT) is a rare distinctive fibroepithelial breast tumor that occasionally shows unpredictable clinical behavior. Wide excision should be the primary treatment of PT and enucleation, the standard procedure for fibroadenoma(FA), is proscribed due to high frequency of local recurrence. Therefore an accurate preoperative diagnosis of PT is essential in order to ensure proper surgical treatment. However, the differentiation between benign PT and FA is often difficult on the basis of cytologic findings. In an attempt to better understand the cytologic features of benign PT and possibly to differentiate PT from FA on the findings of fine needle aspiration(FNA)smears, we reviewed cytologic smears from 22 histologically diagnosed cases each of benign PT and FA, respectively. The cytologic features assessed were cellularity and atypia of both epithelial and stromal components, and shape of epithelial cell clusters. Atypia of stromal cells was more frequent in PT, while blunt branching pattern of epithelial cells was more frequent in FA. The specific cytologic diagnosis of PT is not possible in many cases, but the abundance of stromal cells with moderate nuclear atypia in the correct clinical setting such as older age and larger size(>4cm) allows the diagnosis.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of the Breast Lesions: Application of the Masood's Scoring System.: Ae Lee Kim, Hye Sun Kim, Han Kyeom Kim, Nam Hee Won, Mee Ja Park, Bum Hwan Koo; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(1):45-54.

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Abstract PDF: Fine needle aspiration cytology is considered as a useful diagnostic procedure in management of patients with breast lesions. This study was undertaken to evaluate the scoring system of Masood in the interpretation of breast aspirates, to establish the most useful cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of breast lesions, and to subclassify the benign breast diseases. To assess the feasibility of a cytologic grading system, 57 cases of benign breast disease, 61 cases of malignant breast disease were studied, respectively. The aspirates were evaluated for the cellular arrangement, the degree of cellular pleomorphism and anisonucleosis, and the presence of myoepithelial cells and nuceoli. Values ranging from 1 to 4 were assigned to each criterion and the sum of the individual values was made for each case. The presence of stroma, apocrine metaplasia, foamy histiocytes and inflammatory cells, background of the smear, and cellularity were also evaluated. Cut-off value of the scoring system of Masood between benign and malignant lesion was 15. Among the cytologic criteria, cellular arrangement, presence of myoepithelial cells, nucleoli, and stroma, status of chromatin pattern, and background of smear were useful criteria in the differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. Application of the scoring system of Masood does not always make the accurate diagnosis and the subclassification of benign breast disease.

Case Reports

Multiple Angiomyolipoma of the Liver: Report of a Case with Diagnosis by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology.: Hyu Lee Yim, Kwang Wha Park, Kyi Beom Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(1):79-84.

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Abstract PDF: Angiomyolipoma(AML) of the liver is a rare benign tumor; about 60 cases, almost solitary, have been reported. We present here a extremely rare case of multiple AML in the liver diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Two large masses were found in a 51 year-old woman complaining of abdominal discomfort by computed tomography and several smaller masses are scattered in the liver. FNAC was performed, showing bundles of spindle shaped smooth muscle cells intermingled with mature fat cells. FNAC may be a valuable method for definitive diagnosis of hepatic AML. The diagnosis was further confirmed by histologic examination with immunohistochemical studies.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pulmonary Lesions in Wegener's Granulomatosis: A Case Report.: Eun Joo Seo, Hi Jeong Kwon, Ki Ouk Min; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(1):85-88.

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Abstract PDF: We described the findings of fine needle aspiration cytology of the lung from a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of the patients with Wegener's granulomatosis is essential for a better prognosis. However, the variety of clinical presentations and nonspecific radiologic infiltrates of Wegener's granulomatosis frequently make the diagnosis difficult. Although an open lung biopsy is required for a firm diagnosis, fine needle aspiration cytology & biopsy preparation can also provide an adequate tissue sample, when the findings of fine needle aspiration are considered with clinical manifestations and ANCA value in the serum. The cytologic smears showed scattered necrotic tissue fragments entrapping many neutrophils and occasional epithelioid cells. Multinucleated giant cells were infrequently observed. Ziehl-Neelsen stain for acid fast bacilli was negative. All the cytologic features recapitulated the histopathologic findings of purulent and necrotizing granulomatous inflammation seen in Wegener's granulomatosis.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report.: Yeong Ju Woo, Sung Sook Kim, Jong Wha Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(1):95-98.

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Abstract PDF: Papillary renal cell carcinoma(RCC) is an uncommon subtype of RCC that has distinctive gross, histologic, and cytogenetic features. The cytologic features of FNA are abundant papillary clusters and relatively few single cells. The cells are usually small and contain uniform nuclei; numerous macrophages with foamy cytoplasm are often found in the background. We describe a case of papillary renal cell carcinoma evaluated by fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) in a 42 year-old man. The smear showed a few papillary clusters and numerous macrophages with foamy cytoplasm in the background. With adequate cellularity, papillary RCC can be distinguished reliably from non-papillary RCC by FNAC.

Original Article

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Adenomyoepithelioma of the Breast: Comparison with Typical Fibroadenoma.: Hye Kyoung Yoon, Soo Jin Jung, Mi Seon Kang; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(1):105-110.

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Abstract PDF: Adenomyoepithelioma is an uncommon benign tumor of the breast. We present the fine needle aspiration cytologic features of adenomyoepithelioma in a 23 year-old Korean women, initially diagnosed as fibroadenoma. Aspiration cytologic findings of the left breast mass revealed high cellularity, small to medium sized, less cohesive epithelial clusters, rich naked cells and amorphous materials on background. The epithelial cells were round and uniform with no cytologic atypia or mitosis. Myoepithelial cells were conspicuous with peripheral rimming along the epithelial clusters. Small amount of fibrotic stromal tissues were observed. Distinguishing features from typical fibroadenoma are less tight epithelial clusters, dyscohesive epithelial cell aggregates, more abundant naked cells and scant stromal tissue fragments.

Case Report

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Metastatic Melanoma in the Breast: A Case Report.: Young Lyun Oh, Young Hyeh Ko; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(1):111-116.

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Abstract PDF: Although the characteristic cytologic features of melanoma have been well described, the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) may be difficult in the case of amelanotic melanoma and in the absence of awareness of clinical history. Furthermore, when the breast is the site of initial presentation, it could simulate a primary breast carcinoma leading to misdiagnosis. The recognition of metastatic malignant melanoma in FNAC material is essential to avoid an unnecessary mastectomy and to ensure appropriate chemotherapy. We experienced a case of metastatic melanoma of breast which presented as solitary breast mass in a 56-year-old woman. She had a history of surgical excision of right foot for melanoma one year ago. The cytologic smears were composed of noncohesive epithelioid cells with round or eccentric nuclei, bi-or multi-nucleation, prominent nucleoli, fine chromatin, and intranuclear inclusions. The cytoplasm of tumor cells had scanty melanin pigment but were diffusely positive for S-100 protein.

Original Article

Cytopathologic Analysis on Fine Needle Aspiration Cytologic Misdiagnoses of the Thyroid .: Chan Pil Park, Joo Seob Keum, Won Mi Lee, Moon Hyang Park, Jung Dal Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(2):169-180.

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Abstract PDF: Fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) has been used effectively as the initial modality in evaluating various thyroid lesions. We correlated cytologic and histopathologic features to investigate the diagnostic pitfalls of FNAC of the thyroid. A total of 1,593 FNACs of the thyroid were diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Hospital, from January 1993 to December 1997. There were 963 cytologically benign cases(60.5%), 97 suspicious cases(6.1%), and 75 malignant cases(4.71%). The remaining 458 cases(28.8%) were unsatisfactory. Subsequent surgical resection was done in 192 cases. Seventy-two cases(37.5%) were cytologi cally diagnosed as benign, 45 cases(23.4%) suspicious, 56 cases(29.2%) malignant, and 19 cases(9.9%) unsatisfactory. Histopathologically, 101 cases were benign(11 thyroidites, 52 adenomatous hyperplasias, 34 follicular adenomas, and four Hurthle cell adenomas), and 91 cases malignant(72 papillary carcinomas, 16 follicular carcinomas, one medullary carcinoma, one anaplastic carcinoma, and one granular cell tumor). After excluding 19 unsatisfactory cases, 63 were misdiagnosed. They included 17 benign(three thyroidites and 14 adenomatous hyperplasias), 27 suspi cious(16 follicular adenomas, four Hurthle cell adenomas, and seven follicular carcinomas), and 19 malignant(16 papillary carcinoma, one medullary carcinoma, one anaplastic carcinoma, and one granular cell tumor) lesions. The accuracy rates in the benign, suspicious, and malignant categories were 54.9%, 49.8%, & 92.8%, respectively. The cytological pitfalls were as follows: (1) bloody background, (2) crowded follicular cell clusters indistinguishable between follicular neoplasia and adenomatous hyperplasia, (3) papillary structure, irregular nuclear membrane and pleomorphism mimicking those of papillary carcinoma, (4) indistinct eosinophilia in follicular epithelial cells, (5) unusual cellular components not commonly seen in FNACs of the thyroid.

Case Reports

Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma of the Lung Diagnosed by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology: A Case Report .: Dae Su Kim, Young Lyun Oh, Young Hyeh Ko; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(2):187-192.

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Abstract PDF: Alveolar soft part sarcoma(ASPS) is a rare malignant neoplasm with a distinct clinicopathologic entity of which fine needle aspiration(FNA) cytologic findings have been described in only a few reports. Although patients usually present with an isolated soft-tissue mass in the extremity, metastasis can occur in about 13 % of total cases and the most frequent metastatic site is the lung. We have recently experienced a FNA cytologic case of ASPS in the lung. A 23-year-old female patient was admitted to this hospital due to 2-month-history of cough. She had been good in health before the visit. Chest computed tomography revealed multiple, variable sized, bilateral pulmonary nodules. Physical examination and other staging work up revealed no other lesions except for pulmonary nodules. A percutaneous transthoracic FNA was performed from the pulmonary nodules. The smear was cellular and most cells were arranged singly. In addition, a few clusters lined by thin-walled vasculature with a pseudoalveolar pattern were present. Some of the tumor cells were large and polygonal to oval with abundant granular or vacuolated cytoplasm. Most cells were naked nuclei showing finely granular chromatin pattern with prominent central nucleoli.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Glycogen-Rich Clear Cell Carcinoma of the Breast: A Report of Two Cases .: Wan Seop Kim, Won Mi Lee, Eun Kyung Hong, Moon Hyang Park, Jung Dal Lee; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(2):213-219.

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Abstract PDF: Glycogen-rich clear cell carcinoma of the breast is an unusual variant of carcinoma with a recorded incidence of 1.4-3% of breast carcinomas. The cytologic characteristics have not been well described. We report two cases of glycogen-rich clear cell carcinoma with corresponding fine needle aspiration(FNA) cytologic findings and compare them to infiltrating ductal carcinoma and other clear cell malignancies with a review of literature. One was a 62-year-old woman exhibiting a palpable mass of the right breast. The smears showed atypical tight cell clusters and individually scattered single cells containing foamy or clear abundant cytoplasm with well defined cytoplasmic margins. Mild to moderate nuclear pleomorphism and a prominent nucleolus were present. The other was a 42-year-old woman who was admitted with a right breast mass. The smears showed moderately cellular, tightly cohesive tumor cells. The cytoplasmic outline was generally well demarcated. The tumor cells contained foamy to clear abundant cytoplasm with large and small vacuoles. The nuclear pleomorphism was marked. Both tumors resected by modified radical mastectomy, were diagnosed as glycogen-rich clear cell carcinoma. Histologically, the clear cell nature of tumor cells were not characteristic enough to predict this type of the tumor. Some cytologic features can be distinguished other clear cell breast cancer from glycogen-rich carcinoma. Recognition of these unusual patterns in a breast FNAC should raise the suspicion of a clear cell carcinoma including glycogen-rich subtype. Cytological localization of glycogen using PAS and D-PAS staining may permit the correct identification and differential diagnosis of this tumor.

Cytologic Findings of Infectious Mononucleosis Lymphadenitis: A Report of Four Cases .: Jin Hee Sohn, Eun Ha Jung, Hye Rim Park; Korean J Cytopathol. 1998;9(2):227-232.

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Abstract PDF: Infectious mononucleosis(IM) is an acute self-limiting lymphoproliferative disorder associated with infection by the Epstein-Barr Virus(EBV), with the characteristic triad of fever, sore throat, and cervical or generalized lymphadenopathy. And also there are atypical lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Cytological findings of IM lymphadenitis are characterized by a florid immunoblastic and atypical lymphoid cell proliferation. However, the small number of cases were studied by fineneedle aspiration cytology(FNAC) even though there was a complexity of lymph node pathology. It is important to recognize the reactive pattern of IM that would initiate EBV study and to avoid unnecessary biopsy. We studied findings of lymph node FNAC from 4 patients with EBV infection confirmed by EBV-specific serologic studies. All of the cases were positive for viral capsid antigen(VCA) and one case was positive for anti-EBV nuclear antigen(EBNA). Cytologically, all of the cases exhibited high cellularity and atypia with great numbers of large immunoblastic lymphocytes.

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