Cytodiagnostic Dilemma in a Lung Mass as the First Presentation of Testicular Mixed Germ Cell Tumor Metastasis.

Testicular mixed germ cell tumors (TMGCTs) are rare malignant tumors comprising of two or more types of germ cell tumors. Their onset may be undetectable and the patient may first present with symptoms of metastasis. We hereby report a case of a young male who presented with respiratory discomfort and had no symptoms of primary testicular tumor. CT-guided FNAC lung revealed mainly necrotic, keratinous debris with a focus of chondromyxoid stroma. Differential diagnoses of components of teratoma, squamous cell carcinoma and inclusion cyst was considered. FNAC was reported out for the possible presence of teratoma components. Retrospectively, physical examination and subsequent USG revealed testicular tumor. The case led to a diagnostic dilemma as the patient presented with no prior history suggestive of metastasis from testicular mixed germ cell tumor. The aim of the current case report is to alert the pathologists and clinicians about this uncommon clinical presentation and diagnostic relevance of FNA. It highlights that FNA lung revealing keratinous material should always be searched for the possibility of teratoma component.

Diagnostic utility of p16 immunocytochemistry in metastatic cervical lymph nodes in head and neck cancers.

BACKGROUND: Human papilloma virus (HPV) testing can be useful in work-up of patients presenting with cervical node metastasis, suspected to be of head and neck origin as HPV positive tumors show better response to therapy. The current study was planned to detect HPV in aspirates from metastatic cervical nodes using p16 immunocytochemistry in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Further correlation of HPV status between node metastasis and primary tumor was done. METHODS: The prospective study included 50 patients diagnosed as metastatic SCC in cervical nodes on fine needle aspiration with either known head and neck primary or primary detected post cytodiagnosis. Immunostaining for p16 was carried out on both smears and tissue sections. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were male and seven were female. Age of the patients ranged from 35 to 80 years. Primary sites of HNSCC were oropharynx (25), oral cavity (14), and larynx (11). Immunocytochemistry for p16 on smears showed positivity in 28 cases. Immunohistochemistry for p16 in primary tumors was positive in 34. There was substantial agreement between p16 immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry (Kappa value: 0.823). The sensitivity of p16 immunocytochemistry for the detection of HPV in metastatic HNSCC was 82.4% while the specificity was 100%. The positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 72.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: P16 immunocytochemistry in HNSCC metastatic to cervical node mirrors the HPV status of the corresponding primary tumor. Hence in tumors of unknown origin presenting as cervical node metastasis, p16 immunocytochemistry can be employed for localization of the primary.