Comparing scraping cytology with touch imprint cytology and frozen section analysis in the intraoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a common cancer in the female population. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) in breast cancer patients can be evaluated by different methods including intraoperative frozen section analysis (FSA), touch imprint cytology (TIC), and scraping cytology (SC). In this study, in addition to investigating TIC and FSA, we focused on SC to evaluate the diagnostic value of this almost new method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, the quadrantectomy and sentinel lymph node resection of 150 specimens with mammography and core needle biopsy-confirmed breast cancer were examined. Of the 150 participants, 77 and 73 had negative and positive results for the permanent pathology of SLN metastasis, respectively. Intra-operative FSA, TIC, and SC for SLN were performed for the patients and all were confirmed by permanent pathology. RESULTS: All the specimens were taken from females aged between 25 and 82 years. The sensitivity and specificity of TIC, FS, and SC were 73% and 50%, 92.6% and 50%, and 92.1% and 50%, respectively. Among the three techniques, TIC had the lowest positive and negative predictive values. However, FS had the highest positive predictive value whereas SC had the highest negative predictive value. CONCLUSION: In addition to FS and TIC as rapid, cost-effective, and reliable diagnostic methods in SLN metastasis, SC is an acceptable and highly sensitive method. A combination of these methods may provide a more favorable diagnostic value for SLN assessment in breast cancer patients.

Fine-needle aspiration findings of fibroadenoma with pseudolactational changes in the vulva: A case report.

Fibroadenoma is a common benign neoplasm of the breast and ectopic breast tissue, associated with possible lactational changes in pregnant or lactating women. Uncommon pseudolactational changes are possible in this neoplasm among nulliparous women. Fibroadenoma and lactating adenoma are rarely seen in the vulvar region. Theoretically, pseudolactational changes can occur in fibroadenomas of the vulva in young nulliparous women although there have been no reports so far. In this case report, we describe the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of a vulvar fibroadenoma with pseudolactational changes in a young nulliparous woman. This type of neoplasm has not been reported so far, and it may be misdiagnosed as a malignancy because of its cytological features, such as isolated cells with large nuclei and distinct nucleoli.

Multiple Auer Rods in Fine-Needle Aspiration Smears of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: An Unusual Finding.

BACKGROUND: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare tumor. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is a popular method for the preoperative diagnosis of MTC. CASE REPORT: A 45-year-old man was referred to our center for a palpable thyroid nodule. Ultrasound-guided FNA was carried out for the patient. Cytology slides showed many isolated and small clusters of round to oval cells, some with a moderate amount of cytoplasm and red cytoplasmic granules. Rare cells showed multiple red Auer rods. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of MTC. CONCLUSION: Cytologic findings of MTC in FNA are variable, and several rare cytologic findings have been reported. Cytoplasmic red granules are one of the usual findings, whereas detection of cells containing multiple Auer rods is an unusual finding, which has not been reported so far.