Utility of guided FNAC and cell block preparation from liver and gall bladder masses: Learning experience from a tertiary care center.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound- and CT-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) increases the accessibility of intra-abdominal masses to the liver and gall bladder with the advantages of low cost and high diagnostic yield. Cell block technique has been known for further increasing the diagnostic accuracy. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the effectiveness of FNAC and the cell block method in cytological diagnosis of liver and gall bladder masses. We also followed a step-wise approach to increase the success rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 2-year observational study was done from July 2020 to June 2022. Total 80 guided (CT and ultrasound) aspirations were done from space occupying/mass lesions in the liver [74 (92.5%)] and gall bladder [6 (7.5%)], out of which cell blocks by the plasma thrombin method were prepared in 12 cases (15%). The on-site radiological details were noted, and rapid on-site evaluation was done in 65 cases (81.25%). The prepared cytology slides were stained with Papanicolaou, H and E and May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) stain. The cytological diagnosis was noted, and the uses and limitations (if any) were observed in each case. A step-wise structured questionnaire format was developed to assist the reporting pathologist so as not to miss out on important diagnostic observations, if present. RESULTS: FNAC in 71 cases (88.7%) gave a conclusive diagnosis. The maximum number of cases were of adenocarcinoma [38 (51.3%)] from the liver followed by hepatocellular carcinoma in 10 cases (13.5%). In gall bladder masses, all 6 cases (100%) were positive for malignancy, out of which 4 cases (66.7%) could be characterized as adenocarcinoma. The cell block preparation was helpful in reaching the diagnosis as well as typing the malignancy in 10 cases (83.3%). The chief limitation observed on conventional cytology smears was inadequate cellularity, which caused inconclusive diagnosis in 9 cases (11.25%). The reporting questionnaire was helpful chiefly in terms of time-efficient reporting in 34 cases (42.5%), increasing the ease and confidence in 69 cases (86.25%) and the advantage of reproducibility of data in all cases (100%) according to the case-by-case evaluation by the reporting pathologists. CONCLUSION: Guided FNAC in conjunction with the cell block technique is extremely helpful in the evaluation of mass lesions of the liver and gall bladder for cytological diagnosis. A proper step-wise approach may be useful to reach a quick and effective diagnosis.

Role of scrape cytology smear preparation in the diagnosis of ovarian masses-utility and pitfalls.

BACKGROUND: Scrape cytology technique is useful for rapid intraoperative diagnosis of ovarian mass lesions that acts as an adjunct to frozen section examination. Though ovaries can be accessed by laparoscopy and USG guided FNAC, there are controversial reports regarding the safety of these procedures. The present study has been designed to evaluate the role of scrape cytology in a variety of ovarian mass lesions. OBJECTIVES: To study the cyto-morphology of ovarian mass lesions and to evaluate the role of scrape cytology technique in correctly diagnosing the ovarian lesions taking histopathological diagnosis as gold standard. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective observational study done on 61 ovarian mass lesions as received from the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of our Institution. RESULT: Out of 61 cases, 58 (95.08%) cases were correctly diagnosed with respect to categorization and typing. The age ranged from 14 to 65 years with the mean age being 38.1 years. On histopathology, out of 61 cases, 39 (63.93%) were epithelial along with sub categorization of benign, borderline, and malignant, 13 (22.9%) were germ cell tumors, 5(8.19%) were sex cord stromal tumors, 3 (4.91%) were hemorrhagic cysts and the remaining 1 (1.63%) was massive ovarian edema. Thus, on comparing with histopathology, the sensitivity and specificity of scrape cytology technique were 93.55% and 96.67%, and the diagnostic accuracy was 95.08%. CONCLUSION: Scrape cytology of ovarian lesions can give quick and reliable results. Also, proper training of cytopathologists chiefly regarding the sampling technique, gross presentation of ovarian lesions and interpretation of scrape cytology smears is needed. Further studies to provide standard guidelines and reporting criteria will prove to be helpful.

Cytomorphological findings of Trichophyton rubrum infection in an elderly hypertensive woman.

Trichophyton is a dermatophytic fungi causing superficial skin infections which affects outermost layer of the epidermis, stratum corneum, and mainly involves feet, groin, scalp, and nails. Invasion into the dermis occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients. A 75-year-old hypertensive female presented with a nodular swelling on the dorsum of right foot for 1 month. The swelling was 1.0 × 1.0 cm and gradually progressive in nature. FNAC revealed many thin filamentous branching and fungal hyphae along with foreign body granulomas and suppurative acute inflammation. The swelling was excised and sent for histopathological examination which confirmed the above findings. Periodic Acid Schiff stain showed fungal hyphae in both cytology smear as well as histopathology section. On fungal culture, microconidia with septate hyphae suggestive of Trichophyton rubrum was seen. Trichophytons mainly affect immunocompromised and diabetic patients, however, may present as nodular lesions without any history of superficial dermatophytosis as seen in the present case. The characteristic cytological picture helped to clinch the diagnosis in this case and facilitated further management.

Intraoperative Cytology of Ovarian Neoplasms with an Attempt to Grade Epithelial Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative cytology (IOC) is a simple and quick technique with excellent preservation of cellular details. In the present study, we have evaluated the role of IOC by various methods of smear preparation and compared it with frozen section diagnosis. A scoring system was followed for epithelial tumors for characterization and grading on the basis of cellularity, pattern, nuclear, cytoplasmic features, and background details. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted during a time span of 2 years in total 48 cases of ovarian tumors. Fine-needle aspiration cytology, touch/imprint, scrape, and crush techniques were used. The smears so prepared were processed for toluidine blue and Giemsa and Papanicolaou staining. Cases were cytomorphologically categorized into four groups: Indeterminate; unequivocally benign; borderline tumor with equivocal morphology; and unequivocally malignant (graded into well, moderately, and poorly differentiated). RESULTS: In our study, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of 88.88, 96, 96, 88.88, and 92.31%, respectively, were recorded. This was comparable to frozen section diagnosis with a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 85.18, 96.15, 95.83, 86.21, and 90.56%, respectively. In epithelial tumors, cytological grading correlated with histopathological grading in 85.29% cases of epithelial tumors. CONCLUSION: IOC gives comparable results to frozen section and can be used for intraoperative assessment of ovarian tumors. Grading of epithelial tumors on IOC can be performed and may become an important step in intraoperative decision-making for better management and outcome of the patient.

Ceruminous adenoma: A rare tumor diagnosed on cytology with histological correlation.

Ceruminous adenoma (CA) is a rare, benign tumor of the ceruminous gland found in the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal (EAC). The tumor is diagnosed on histopathology and shows a characteristic dual population of luminal epithelial cells and basal myoepithelial cells. However, CA can be diagnosed on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) prior to surgery and the cytopathologist should be well aware of its cytological findings to avoid any misdiagnosis. The tumor shows an excellent prognosis with possible recurrence and malignant transformation. The present case emphasizes the cytological features of CA, which have been scantily described in the literature and highlights the role of cytopathologists in preoperative diagnosis.

Two Unusual Cases of Acinic Cell Carcinoma: Role of Cytology with Histological Corelation.

Acinic Cell Carcinoma (AcCC) is a slow growing, malignant tumour of salivary glands, predominantly found in parotid gland and rarely in submandibular gland or minor salivary glands. Rarely, the tumour can arise in Heterotopic Salivary Gland Tissue (HSGT) and can present bilaterally. Synchronous contralateral tumour or tumour arising in HSGT is easily missed clinically. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is an important preoperative diagnostic investigation in cases of AcCC. Sometimes its diagnosis on cytology is very difficult and it is easily misdiagnosed as benign, affecting the long term prognosis. Here, we present two unusual cases of AcCC. One developed in HSGT and the other was synchronous bilateral. Though the histological features of AcCC appear to be characteristic but clinical suspicion and cytological features have been described as equally important for preoperative diagnosis. Present cases highlight the importance of a cytopathologist who plays an important role in its preliminary diagnosis.

Primary intraosseous atypical inflammatory meningioma presenting as a lytic skull lesion: Case report with review of literature.

Primary extradural meningiomas of the skull comprise 1% of all meningiomas, and lytic skull meningiomas are still rarer and are said to be more aggressive. We present a case of 38-year-old male with an extradural tumor which on histopathological examination showed features of inflammatory atypical meningioma (WHO Grade II). The intense inflammatory nature of osteolytic primary intraosseous meningioma has not been reported before. This entity deserves special mention because of the need for adjuvant therapy and proper follow-up.

Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Masquerading as a Primary Ovarian Mass in a Post-Operative Case of Meningioma and Renal Cell Carcinoma.

The clinical presentation of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to ovary is extremely rare as well as confusing due to its close resemblance to primary ovarian tumors, especially clear cell carcinoma. We present a case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma diagnosed in a 48-year-old female, who had renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney and right sphenoid wing meningioma of transitional type.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma with osseous metaplasia: Rare case report.

Osseous metaplasia with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is exceedingly rare. There are less than 20 reported cases of osseous metaplasia in association with RCC. We present a case of 39-year-old male patient presented to outpatient department with complaints of pain in the left lumbar region since 4 years. Computed tomography scan revealed a heterogeneous enhanced mass lesion having areas of necrosis and specks of calcification involving the left kidney. Clinicoradiological diagnosis of RCC was made and left radical nephrectomy was performed. Histological sections from the growth revealed features of clear cell carcinoma Fuhrman grade-2 with a focal area of metaplastic bone formation. The prognostic implications of calcification per se are not very clearly mentioned in the literature. Patients with osseous metaplasia generally present with early stage disease and a favorable prognosis. However, few of them were of high grade and poorer prognosis.

A case of cystic schwannoma in the neck masquerading as branchial cleft cyst.

One-third of schwannomas occur in head and neck region, mostly in the parapharyngeal region. Cystic change is seen in only 4% of schwannomas. The diagnosis of such tumors remains a challenge due to the rarity of these lesions and limited utility of fine needle aspiration cytology. When cystic, branchial cleft cyst is an important differential diagnosis more so due to radiological resemblance. We present a case of 42-year-old male with left sided neck mass masquerading as branchial cleft cyst clinically and radiologically. Multiple sections examined from the cystic areas of the mass revealed lymphoid aggregates beneath the cyst wall in addition to the schwannomatous areas.