Cytological features of chronic follicular cervicitis in liquid-based specimens: a potential diagnostic pitfall

A review of negative split-sample cervical cytology cases revealed five cases reported as chronic follicular cervicitis. These cases showed characteristic morphological features in conventional smears with lymphoid cells, plasma cells and tingible body macrophages smeared across the slides. This contrasts with the presentation of ThinPrep samples (Cytic Corporation, Boxburgh, MA, USA), where cells were observed aggregated in clumps. The different presentation noted in liquid-based samples may require careful microscopic evaluation at high-power magnification.     

Production of somatic hybrids by electrofusion in Solanum

Summary Conditions are described for large scale electrofusion of mesophyll protoplasts of dihaploid S. tuberosum with those of diploid S. brevidens. Overall fusion frequencies of 20%–30% were achieved, and following fusion, large numbers of protoplast-derived calli were obtained. Putative somatic hybrid plants were selected from the regenerated shoots by examining their morphological characteristics. Twenty-one somatic hybrids were confirmed by isoenzyme analysis and six somatic hybrids were further confirmed by Southern hybridization. Tetraploid hybrids were obtained, but cytogenetic studies indicated that more of the regenerated hybrids were hexaploid than had previously been found following chemical fusion of the same partners. Some advantages of electrofusion over chemical fusion are discussed.     

An alternate model of thyroid cytology: practical not perfect

A sample of 384 thyroid cytology specimens prepared by cytospin over a 2.5-year period was classified by original report into inadequate, non-neoplastic and suspicious of neoplasia or worse. This was then compared with subsequent histology. The resulting data showed an inadequacy rate of 33%, a sensitivity of 55%, a specificity of 59%, a positive predictive value of 64% and a negative predictive value of 93%. On review of the cytology, in knowledge of the subsequent histology, the maximum achievable results were determined to have a positive predictive value of 79% and a negative predictive value of 97%. No clinically significant adverse event was detected.     

Radiation-induced changes in oral carcinoma cells – a multiparametric evaluation

The aim of this study was to see whether serial cytological evaluation of various cellular abnormalities in tumours from patients receiving fractionated radiotherapy can predict radio-response in oral carcinoma. Cytological assessment was carried out in scrape smears collected prior to and during the course of radiotherapy in 68 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity planned for radical radiotherapy with accelerated fraction schedule. Smears were evaluated for a set of 15 radiation-induced cellular abnormalities. The relationship between the cellular alterations and the cumulative radiation dose was analysed by Kruskal-Wallis one-way anova. The results showed that among the various quantifiable changes that occur in irradiated cancer cells, karyolysis, karyorrhexis, pyknosis, cytolysis, multinucleation, micronucleation and nuclear budding show significant increase depending on the dose of radiation. The radio-resistant group of patients exhibited a lesser degree of change compared with the radio-sensitive group. This suggests that radio-resistance may be due to the defective induction of cell damage and that these cytological features may have potential use as predictive markers of radio-sensitivity in oral carcinoma.     

Correlation of endoscopic cytology and histology in oesophageal cancer: results in Porto Alegre,RS—Brazil

A retrospective study of oesophageal cytopathology at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), RS, Brazil, from 1989 to 1992 was made to assess the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy of endoscopic cytology and biopsy; and study the correlation between cytopathological and histopathological diagnosis. Specimens from 94 patients were available for review. The final diagnosis was based on surgical pathology and follow up. The 81 patients with cancer of the oesophagus had the following sex distribution: 64 males and 17 females (a 3.7–1 ratio). No tumour was found in 13 patients. The following conclusions were made: (i) there is excellent correlation between cytology and histology in oesophageal lesions sampled by endoscopy; (ii) a correct positive cytologic report was obtained in 77 (95%) of the 81 proven oesophageal cancers; a false-negative or unsatisfactory result was given in four patients. A false-positive diagnosis of cancer was not made. There were 13 true-negative reports. These findings result in a sensitivity of 95% with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 90.26–99.74%; a specificity of 100% (CI of 98.5–100%); a positive predictive value of 100% (CI of 99.3–100%); a negative predictive value of 76% (CI of 55.7–96.3%); (iii) a correct positive histological report was obtained in 67 (83%) of the 81 proven oesophageal cancers; a false-negative or unsatisfactory result was given in 14 patients. A false-positive diagnosis of cancer was not made. There were 13 true-negative reports. These findings result in a sensitivity of 83% with 95% CI of 74.82–91.18%; a specificity of 100% (CI of 98.5–100%); a positive predictive value of 100% (CI of 99.25–100%); a negative predictive value of 48% (CI of 29.16–64.84%); (iv) of 81 patients with proven cancer, in 79 (98%) at least one of the methods was positive. In only two patients with cancer were both methods negative. These findings result in a combined sensitivity of 98% (CI of 94.92–100%); a specificity of 100% (CI of 98.5–100%); a positive predictive value of 100% (CI of 99.31–100%); and a negative predictive value of 87% (CI of 70–100%). Our series confirms the value of the combined use of cytology and biopsy for the investigation of oesophageal lesions. However, it should be remembered that even with the combined use of cytology and biopsy there are some tumours that will be negative by both procedures: we had only two such cases, confirming the rarity of such an event.     

Breast Carcinoma With Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells

The cytological and histological findings of a case of breast carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells are presented. A fine needle aspiration specimen demonstrated the characteristic combination of malignant epithelium and reactive multinucleated cells and enabled identification of this rare variant of breast cancer. Immunocytochemical studies using the monoclonal antibody KP1[CD68] support a histiocytic origin for the osteoclast-like cells.     

Investigation and documentation of hybridization betweenParkinsonia aculeata andCercidium praecox (Leguminosae:Caesalpinioideae)

Morphometric, cytogenetic, geographical and ecological evidence for hybridization betweenParkinsonia aculeata andCercidium praecox is presented. Morphometric investigation using the character count procedure and cytogenetic observations confirm hybrid status. All diagnostic morphometric characters were intermediate in the hybrid. Both parents (2n = 28) show regular tetrad formation and pollen fertility greater than 94%. Hybrids have a chromosome number of 2n = 28 or 2n = 30, and display meiotic abnormalities including lagging chromosomes and micronucleus formation; less than 21% of hybrid pollen was fertile. Ecological and geographical information suggests that hybridization is occurring at increasing frequency due to the expanding range ofP. aculeata associated with cultivation as an ornamental, coupled with ecological disturbance and weediness, and the cultivation ofC. praecox and hybrids as fodder, ornamental and shade trees. Hybrid fertility and phenological observations, in conjunction with F-weighted principal component analysis, suggest that the progeny of F₁ hybrids are established. The hybrid is formally described asP. ×carterae.     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of three cases of squamous cell carcinoma presenting as a thyroid mass: cytological findings and differential diagnosis

M. Rosa and K. Toronczyk Fine needle aspiration biopsy of three cases of squamous cell carcinoma presenting as a thyroid mass: cytological findings and differential diagnosis Objective: Primary squamous cell carcinomas of the thyroid gland are extremely rare, comprising about 1% of thyroid malignancies. Although squamous cell carcinomas are readily identified as such on aspiration cytology in the majority of cases, the differentiation of primary versus metastatic tumour might not always be easy. Herein, we report three cases of squamous cell carcinomas involving the thyroid gland. Methods: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed in three patients with a thyroid mass using standard guidelines. Smears were stained with Diff‐Quik and Papanicolaou stains. Results: Two patients were male and one was female, aged 59, 45 and 35 years, respectively. In all three patients a thyroid mass was present. FNAC smears in all cases showed cytological features of squamous cell carcinoma including keratinization and necrosis. After clinical and cytological correlation, one case appeared to be primary, one case metastatic, and in the third case no additional clinical information or biopsy follow‐up was available for further characterization. Conclusions: Because primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid is a rare finding, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma should always be excluded first. Metastatic disease usually presents in the setting of widespread malignancy, therefore a dedicated clinical and radiological investigation is necessary in these cases. In both clinical scenarios the patient’s prognosis is poor.