Current status of endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.

The new Kyoto guidelines for the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of IPMN. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a diagnostic modality with a high spatial resolution that allows detailed observation and obtaining cyst fluid or tissue samples via EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). Currently, EUS is an indispensable examination method for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. On the other hand, there have been concerns that EUS imaging tends to be highly operator-dependent, and may lack objectivity. Previous guidelines have assigned EUS as an option for patients with worrisome features. However, recent reports indicate that the sensitivity of EUS for the diagnosis of mural nodules (MNs) is more than 90%, comparable or superior to that of contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. The specific advantages of EUS in the diagnosis of IPMN are: (1) high spatial resolution imaging for the diagnosis of MNs, (2) contrast-enhanced EUS for differentiation of intra-cystic MNs from mucous clots, and (3) pathological diagnosis using EUS-FNA and differential diagnosis of a pancreatic cystic tumor by cystic fluid analysis. In order to utilize EUS in the diagnosis of IPMN, endoscopists are required to have the skills to provide sufficiently objective imaging findings.

A case of intra-abdominal gossypiboma diagnosed preoperatively by endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle-aspiration.

Gossypiboma is an extremely rare adverse event occurring post-surgery, where surgical gauze is left within the body. If aseptically retained, it can lead to the formation of granulation tissue through chronic inflammation and adhesion with surrounding tissues, potentially persisting asymptomatically for many years. While diagnosis of this condition has been reported through various imaging modalities such as abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography, cases not presenting with typical findings are difficult for preoperative diagnosis, and instances where it is discovered postoperatively exist. Particularly when in contact with the gastrointestinal tract within the abdominal cavity, differentiation from submucosal tumors of the digestive tract becomes problematic. This report describes the imaging characteristics of endoscopic ultrasound and the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound-fine-needle-aspiration for tissue diagnosis in the preoperative diagnosis of intra-abdominal gossypiboma.

Diagnostic Endoscopic Ultrasound.

The last two decades have seen the emergence of endoscopic technologies and techniques allowing for minimally invasive modalities for assessing and sampling lesions inside and outside of the gastrointestinal lumen, including the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Incorporating these new endoscopic approaches has revolutionized the diagnosis and staging of intraluminal and extraluminal lesions and enabled more accessible and safer tissue acquisition.

Plasmablastic Lymphoma in the Submandibular Region Diagnosed by FNAC: A Case Report and Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide a literature review of FNAC-diagnosed plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) cases and present a case of PBL in an HIV patient diagnosed by FNAC. METHODS: A literature review was conducted across eight databases to compile information on FNAC-diagnosed PBL cases without restricting the site of involvement. RESULTS: The literature review included 23 PBL, with 13 (56.5%) affecting head and neck region. The mean age of patients was 49 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.9:1, and 13 (56.5%) patients were HIV positive. Ten (43.5%) of 23 patients tested positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Twenty-one FNAC procedures and two cytological smears were performed. Plasmacytoid/plasmablastic morphology was described in seven cases (30.4%). Large cells were observed in 17 cases (73.9%). Pleomorphism was noted in 10 cases (43.5%). A cytological diagnosis of malignancy was achieved in 91.3% of cases. In 20 cases assessed for concordance, complete agreement was found in 8 cases (34.8%), while discordance was noted in 12 cases (65.2%). We also report a case of PBL diagnosed via FNAC in a 55-year-old male patient who presented with a painful, hard, nonmobile mass in the left submandibular region, approximately 10 cm in size, with 1 month of evolution. FNAC was performed, and cytologic smears, along with cell block (CB) preparations, were made. After staining with Diff-Quik, HE and Papanicolaou stain, numerous cells exhibiting plasmacytic morphology were observed. Immunohistochemical analysis showed negativity for LCA, CD3, CD20, Pax5, CD79a, ALK and HHV-8, and positivity for CD138, MUM1 and Ki-67 (100%). EBV positivity was also confirmed, leading to a diagnosis of PBL. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the efficacy of FNAC in diagnosing PBL. The immunophenotypic profile and morphological features observed through FNAC, combined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridisation, were crucial for an accurate diagnosis. The literature review underscores the value of FNAC as a diagnostic tool for PBL, demonstrating a high rate of cytological diagnosis and significant cytohistological concordance.

The Role of Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Evaluation of Breast Lumps.

Background Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, accounting for more than one in ten new cancer cases each year. It ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women. The majority of patients present with palpable breast lumps. Effective surgical management of breast cancer largely depends on accurate preoperative pathological diagnosis. This study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic implications of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) compared with core needle biopsy (CNB) in breast carcinoma. Objectives The objectives of this study are to assess the sensitivity and specificity of FNAC and CNB, to compare the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC and CNB against histopathological findings from gross specimens in the evaluation of breast lumps, and to identify and examine the limitations associated with both FNAC and CNB procedures. Materials and methods This study included female patients presenting with clinically suspicious palpable breast lumps at the General Surgery OPD of Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital, Bankura. All patients underwent FNAC followed by CNB. The cytological and CNB diagnoses were compared with the final pathological diagnosis obtained from excisional biopsy. Results The study included 44 female patients aged 20 to 70 years. The most common age group for breast carcinoma was 50-59 years (36.36%). Malignancy was diagnosed in 75% of cases (33/44), with right breast involvement (65%) being more common than the left. The upper outer quadrant (59%) was the most frequently affected area. Among the 33 confirmed malignant cases, 69.70% had lesions larger than 5 cm. FNAC demonstrated a sensitivity of 93.93%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 84.61%, and diagnostic accuracy of 95.45%. CNB showed a sensitivity of 96.97%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, NPV of 91.67%, and diagnostic accuracy of 97.73%. Both methods correlated significantly with the final histopathology results (p < 0.05). FNAC identified ductal carcinoma in 93.55% of cases, while CNB identified it in 96.77%. Conclusion CNB provides additional information on receptor status but is more resource-intensive. FNAC remains a cost-effective and time-efficient first-line diagnostic tool, especially in resource-constrained settings like rural India. FNAC should be employed for initial diagnosis, with CNB reserved for cases requiring further clarification.

A case report on incidentally detected pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma: a diagnostic challenge.

Introduction and importance: Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP) is a rare non-cancerous lung tumor that is usually asymptomatic, but may cause respiratory distress if it becomes large. PSPs are often detected incidentally because of their slow growth, lack of symptoms, characteristic radiographic features, and increased use of imaging studies. Although it is not a malignant tumor, it can mimic malignancy on imaging and histology, leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery. Case presentation: A 23-year-old asymptomatic female was incidentally diagnosed with PSP during evaluation for a breast fibroadenoma. A chest CT revealed a 3 cm lobulated mass in the left upper lobe. Cytology showed malignant cells with necrotic debris. Immunohistochemistry was positive for TTF-1 and EMA, negative for p63 and AE1/AE3. Histopathology confirmed a well-circumscribed benign neoplasm, consistent with pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma. There was no mediastinal lymph node invasion, and the post-surgery prognosis was good. Clinical discussion: PSP is a slow-growing tumor that is often asymptomatic until it reaches a significant size. Owing to their well-circumscribed margins and the presence of calcifications, they are often detected incidentally during imaging studies, such as routine chest radiography or CT scans for unrelated conditions. Although these tumors are often incidental, it is important to diagnose and treat them appropriately to prevent potential complications and malignant transformation. Conclusion: The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature, increase awareness of this rare tumor, and provide insights into its diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

A Comparative Study of Sodium Alginate and Plasma Thrombin Cell Block in Diagnostic Cytopathology.

Background: Cell block is an indispensable supplement in the practice of cytopathology. The diagnostic utility of cytology specimens is significantly impacted by the capacity to generate sufficient cell blocks obtained from concentrated fluid samples or fine-needle aspiration specimens after routine processing. This routine processing involves getting directed passes to produce a cell block, especially if the cytopathologist believes additional immunocytochemical stains and/or molecular studies would be required. Objective: This study compared two methods of cell block preparation: the sodium alginate (SA) method and the plasma thrombin (PT) method. A comparison was made regarding overall cellularity, morphological preservation, and concealed artifacts. Methodology: This cross-sectional study evaluated 104 serous fluid samples and fine-needle aspirates. Cell blocks were prepared for each sample using the plasma thrombin and sodium alginate technique. The formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cell blocks were subjected to histochemical staining with hematoxylin and eosin, and slides were assessed for cellularity, artifacts, and morphological preservation. Results: The study utilized chi-square tests to analyze cellularity, morphology, and artifact presence, demonstrating significant differences in cellularity and artifacts between the two methods, with the sodium alginate method showing more cellularity and more artifacts, while morphologically, there was no significant difference between the two methods. Conclusion: Our study's findings have practical implications for cytopathologists. We conclude that, compared to plasma thrombin methodology, the sodium alginate cell block technique yields higher cellularity, while there was no difference in morphology. Even though artifacts were more prevalent in sodium alginate cell blocks than in plasma thrombin cell blocks, our study suggests that the former can be a better alternative for cell block examination.

Prevalence of malignancy in thyroid nodules with AUS cytopathology: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Category III (AUS; Atypia of Undetermined Significance) of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) was established to describe thyroid nodule features that are neither benign nor cancerous. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the rate of thyroid malignancy in patients diagnosed with AUS at the Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region (AFHSR), Saudi Arabia. Method: The patients (508) diagnosed with AUS in their thyroid nodules underwent fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Data were collected through a chart-based approach, reviewing patients' medical records and relevant information. Results: Among the cases, the majority were females (84.6%). Among the different age groups, individuals between 40 and 50 years had the highest prevalence of thyroid nodules (32.5%). Approximately 27% of patients exhibited tumor sizes larger than 4 cm. FNAC results revealed 16.5% benign, 26% AUS, and 22.4% follicular neoplasm cases. Histopathology indicated 54.1% of benign and 37.2% of malignant cases. Papillary carcinoma accounts for 80.4% of all malignant cases. A significant correlation was observed between FNAC and postoperative histopathology (P value < 0.05). Hypoechoic nodules exhibited 33.9% of malignant cases, and calcification was observed in 25% of the cases. A significant association was found between malignancy and echogenicity and between malignancy and calcification (P value = 0.003 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The findings of this study identify malignancy in thyroid nodules with AUS cytopathology, particularly in the Southern region of Saudi Arabia. The correlation between pre-surgery FNAC and postoperative histopathology supports FNAC's diagnostic value. Additionally, echogenicity and calcification can potentially contribute to predicting nodule malignancy.

Diagnostic sensitivity of fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroid cancer.

Introduction Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an effective tool in the diagnostic work-up of patients with thyroid nodules. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic sensitivity of FNAC in thyroid cancer (TC) in Sweden by correlating the findings of preoperative FNAC with those obtained through final histology of the surgical specimen. Methods A Swedish nationwide cohort of patients having surgery for TC (n = 2519) from the Scandinavian Quality Register for Thyroid, Parathyroid and Adrenal surgery between 2004 and 2013 was obtained. Data was validated through scrutinizing patient FNAC and histology reports. Results Among the 2519 cases operated with a final diagnosis of TC, the diagnosis was substantiated and validated through the histology report in 2332 cases (92.6%), included in the present study. Among these, 1679 patients (72%) were female and the median age at TC diagnosis was 52.3 years (range 18-94.6). In 353 cases (15.1%) FNAC was not performed at all; whereas in the remaining 1965 cases, the diagnostic sensitivity of FNAC was 81.6%. In lesions > 1 cm, FNAC diagnostic sensitivity reached 86.5%, whereas in lesions < 1 cm, FNAC yielded a sensitivity of 61.5%. Approximately 85% of FNACs (n = 1981/2332) were performed using ultra-sonographic (US) guidance. In TC lesions > 1 cm, the diagnostic sensitivity of US-guided FNAC (n = 1504) was 86.9% as compared to 76.9% in clinically applied FNAC without US utilization (n = 118). Conclusions FNAC is performed in most patients operated for TC in Sweden (85%) and retains its value as a tool in TC diagnostic work-up with an overall sensitivity of 82%, reaching 87% in lesions > 1 cm, that harbor clinically relevant TC.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pancreatoblastoma in Adult/Adolescent Patients, One With Histology Mimicking NUT Carcinoma.

Pancreatoblastoma is a rare malignant neoplasm. Cytologic diagnosis is challenging due to the tumor's heterogeneity and requirement of the presence of squamoid nests. Commonly affects children, but the tumor rarely is seen in adult patients. We are reporting three cases from two patients. First patient was a 38-year-old male with a mass in the pancreatic body and numerous hepatic lesions. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the pancreas showed a biphasic malignancy, predominantly composed of a primitive component with intermingled squamoid nests. Subsequent Liver FNA from the same patient showed a similar biphasic malignancy. NUT carcinoma was the top differential and was ruled out by molecular testing. Second patient was a 24-year-old female with a history of pancreatoblastoma related to Gardner's syndrome initially diagnosed in 2015 at age 17, status post distal pancreatectomy and chemotherapy. Celiac lymph node FNA in 2021 showed few cohesive clusters of atypical epithelioid cells, which were highlighted by beta-catenin. Lastly, the literature was reviewed; differential diagnosis and ancillary testing were discussed.

American Thyroid Association Policy Statement: Impact of Changes in Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Reimbursement on Clinical Care of Patients with Thyroid Nodules in the United States.

Introduction: The Clinical Affairs Committee of the American Thyroid Association has developed this statement to describe recent changes in the billing and coding of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration procedures of thyroid nodules, and to raise awareness of the adverse consequences that have arisen as a result. Review: A reduction in payment of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration procedures was enacted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2019. The Clinical Affairs Committee has sought to examine the effects of the change in reimbursement on the care of patients with thyroid diseases. Summary: The historical background of the changes in payment structure for ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules is discussed. The years 2019 and 2020 saw a significant decline in claims for ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration procedures, concomitant with a shift in the performance of these procedures away from non-facility outpatient settings and a rise in costs to the health care system. Conclusion: Several negative consequences of the decrease in reimbursement for ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules have arisen. This has led to significant concern among clinicians who care for patients with thyroid diseases regarding delays in patient access to care and diagnosis, and a diminished pool of qualified thyroid specialists to perform these procedures in the future.

Neck Schwannoma Masking as Thyroid Tumour: Into the Deep of Diagnostics and Anatomy.

Schwannomas are benign nerve sheath tumours that exhibit a slow rate of growth. In the vast majority of cases, schwannomas manifest as asymptomatic masses. The presence of symptomatic lesions may necessitate surgical removal. The incidence of schwannomas ranges from 4.4 to 5.23 cases per 100,000 population, accounting for approximately 7% of all primary tumours in the central nervous system. There is a limited number of case reports describing schwannomas outside the central nervous system. In rare instances, schwannomas may originate at the level of the thyroid gland. In such cases, incidental neck schwannomas may be mistaken for thyroid or parathyroid tumours. The increasing incidence of thyroid cancer draws more attention to all thyroid nodules, both benign and malignant. Thyroid nodules are detected in up to 65% of autopsies, with only 4-6.5% being malignant. Thyroid tumours are typically diagnosed by USG; however, they are often revealed incidentally during neck CT or MRI for other conditions. To rule out malignancy, tumour verification is required. The modern diagnosis of thyroid cancer is based on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and cytology, which is classified according to the Bethesda classification system. However, not all FNAs are informative, and the differential diagnosis and treatment strategies in cases of unsatisfactory results are not standardized, leading to potential intraoperative challenges. We present a case study of a patient with a thyroid nodule that was ultimately diagnosed with a schwannoma of the neck according to core-needle biopsy.

Role of Liquid-Based Cytology in the Endoscopic Diagnosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Recently, endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) has been widely used to diagnose pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The histological examination of core tissues acquired using novel biopsy needles is the primary diagnostic approach for patients with PDAC. However, in patients with early-stage PDAC, such as Stages 0 and I, EUS-TA can be challenging, and its diagnostic accuracy may be limited. This presents a clinical dilemma: The earlier that clinicians attempt to accurately diagnose PDAC, the more difficult it becomes to do so using EUS-TA. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is a technique for preparing pathological specimens from liquefied cytology specimens by placing the collected material in a special fixative preservative fluid. LBC offers advantages, such as specimen optimization with reduced blood interference, a high cell-collection rate, and the simplicity of the procedure in the endoscopy room. The use of LBC may improve diagnostic accuracy, particularly for early-stage PDAC. Therefore, we emphasize that cytology remains a valuable tool for the endoscopic diagnosis of PDAC. In this review, we discuss the role of LBC in the endoscopic diagnosis of PDAC.

Endoscopic Ultrasound and Gastric Sub-Epithelial Lesions: Ultrasonographic Features, Tissue Acquisition Strategies, and Therapeutic Management.

Background and objectives: Subepithelial lesions (SELs) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract present a diagnostic challenge due to their heterogeneous nature and varied clinical manifestations. Usually, SELs are small and asymptomatic; generally discovered during routine endoscopy or radiological examinations. Currently, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the best tool to characterize gastric SELs. Materials and methods: For this review, the research and the study selection were conducted using the PubMed database. Articles in English language were reviewed from August 2019 to July 2024. Results: This review aims to summarize the international literature to examine and illustrate the progress in the last five years of endosonographic diagnostics and treatment of gastric SELs. Conclusions: Endoscopic ultrasound is the preferred option for the diagnosis of sub-epithelial lesions. In most of the cases, EUS-guided tissue sampling is mandatory; however, ancillary techniques (elastography, CEH-EUS, AI) may help in both diagnosis and prognostic assessment.

Pattern of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Head and Neck Swelling in Patients Attending a Tertiary Health Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a simple, rapid, cost-effective method in diagnosis of head and neck swelling with minimal risk of complications. Head and neck swellings include a broad spectrum of diseases with different management for each. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a suitable and useful method for assessment of these swelling. This study was done with the objective to study the frequency and distribution of various head and neck lesions detected by fine needle aspiration cytology. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pathology in a tertiary care center from February 1 to July 31, 2023 after obtaining ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: IRC-PA-191/2078-79). All the patients presenting with head and neck swelling during the study period were included in this study. Total sampling was done. Fine needle aspiration was done and cytological diagnosis was made. Descriptive analysis was done where frequency and percentage were calculated. RESULTS: Out of 112 cases included in the study, 43 (38.40%) were of lymph nodes, 36 (32.14%) of thyroid, 22 (19.64%) of skin and soft tissue and 11 (9.82%) of salivary glands. Among the lymph nodes cases, there were 11 (25.57%) metastases. In thyroid lesions, beingn lesions were seen in 24 (66.68%). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that lymph nodes were the most common site for head and neck swellings, frequently involving metastatic lesions.

Unicentric Castleman disease masquerading as a gluteal mass: A diagnostic challenge.

Castleman disease, a rare lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by non-neoplastic lymph node enlargement, typically presents as nodal involvement, while extranodal manifestations are uncommon. We present a unique case of unicentric Castleman disease localized to the gluteal region in a 27-year-old female. Initially mistaken for a neurogenic or vascular tumour, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) revealed a polymorphous population of lymphoid cells with numerous traversing capillaries suggestive of reactive hyperplasia, possibly Castleman disease, which was later confirmed by histopathology. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by rare extranodal presentations of Castleman disease and underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in accurate diagnosis and management.

Diagnostic performance of European and ACR-TIRADS classification systems in thyroid nodules over 20 mm in diameter.

BACKGROUND: The challenge of selecting thyroid nodules for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology has led to the development of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS), primarily in two formats: EU-TIRADS and ACR-TIRADS. Clinical observations suggest imperfect risk assessment for TIRADS 3 nodules ≥20 mm. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of TIRADS systems in distinguishing benign from malignant nodules in this subgroup. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2023 to March 2024, 1,094 patients with thyroid nodules were referred for ultrasound (US) at a University Hospital. Data on clinical, ultrasound, cytological, and histopathological parameters were collected. Nodules ≥20 mm were categorized by EU-TIRADS and ACR-TIRADS, and their predictive performance for malignancy was assessed through post-thyroidectomy histopathology or FNA cytology (Bethesda classification). RESULTS: 267 patients (mean age 60.3 ± 14.3 years; 46 men, 221 women) with 308 nodules were analyzed. Twenty-two malignancies and 286 benign nodules were recorded. Recalculating EU-TIRADS 3 performance using 25 mm and 30 mm thresholds (ACR-modified EU-TIRADS) avoided 24% and 41% of FNAs, respectively, while ACR-TIRADS would prevent 26.6% (p>0.05). Two malignancies were missed. CONCLUSION: EU-TIRADS and ACR-TIRADS show similar efficacy when using a 25 mm FNA threshold. Raising the cut-off for FNA in EU-TIRADS 3 nodules could reduce unnecessary procedures but may increase the risk of missed malignancies, impacting patient outcomes.

MRI and CT imaging characteristics in parotid tumors with false-negative fine-needle aspirations.

BACKGROUNDS: Preoperative imaging, particularly with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, plays a crucial role in distinguishing between benign and malignant parotid gland tumors, while the reliability of Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) in diagnosing these masses remains a topic of debate. METHODS: This two-center retrospective analysis was conducted on 347 patients with parotid gland tumors who had FNA and preoperative imaging (CT or MRI). All patients underwent surgery and final histopathological examination was available, along with complete medical records between January 2008 and May 2023. RESULTS: Among the 347 patients, 318 (92%) had benign and 10 (3%) had malignant tumors based on FNA, with 19 (5%) unsatisfactory specimens. Final histological diagnosis revealed 303 (87%) benign and 44 (13%) malignant lesions, with a false-negative rate of 10.6% for FNA. Multivariate analysis identified irregular shape and invasion as independent predictors of malignancy in patient with benign or unsatisfactory FNA results. The odds ratio for irregular shape was 3.06 and for invasion was 12.73. CONCLUSION: Imaging characteristics, such as irregular shape and invasion may indicate towards malignant parotid tumors, even in patients with false-negative benign findings in FNA.

The diagnosis of pulmonary carcinoid using intraoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Surgeons often need to make intraoperative decisions regarding resection of lung tumors without a preoperative pathological diagnosis. Although intraoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) often provides useful diagnostic information, literatures on its usefulness in pulmonary carcinoids is limited. CASE PRESENTATION: A medical chest radiograph revealed an abnormal shadow in the right upper lung field of a 45-year-old Japanese man. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a solid 2.5-cm nodule in the right upper lobe. Follow-up CT for one year showed that the tumor size had increased. In case of lung cancer, it was clinically detected to be resectable at stage IA3 with clinical T1cN0M0. Intraoperative FNAC confirmed a specific appearance, and a diagnosis of carcinoid was made. Right upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection were performed via video-assisted thoracic surgery. The final histopathological diagnosis was a typical carcinoid with positive chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and CD56, a Ki-67 labeling index of 5 %, and pathological stage IA3 with T1cN0M0, which was consistent with the intraoperative diagnosis. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This is the first report describing the diagnosis of pulmonary carcinoid by intraoperative FNAC with the publication of characteristic pathological images, demonstrating the usefulness of intraoperative FNAC. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative FNAC may be a low-risk and short-duration procedure for diagnosing pulmonary carcinoids.