Subject(s)
Gastritis/diagnosis , Aged , Diagnosis, Differential , Gastritis/pathology , Humans , Immunoglobulins , Male , Plasma Cells/pathologyABSTRACT
Müllerian papilloma is a rare benign tumor of the cervix and/or vagina that occurs predominantly in young children. The cytologic features of benign müllerian papilloma have never been described. We report for the first time, to our knowledge, the cytologic findings of a benign müllerian papilloma from the vaginal fluid specimen of a 15-mo-old girl using touch prep, ThinPrep, and cell block preparations. The deceptive cytologic features of a cellular specimen with complex papillary fronds composed of overlapping and crowded small hyperchromatic cells, with a high nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio, and feathering in this case resembled a malignant neoplasm. The clinical findings and cytomorphology of a benign müllerian papilloma can mimic those of malignant lesions of the female lower genital tract such as sarcoma botryoides and adenocarcinoma. An awareness of this entity and its potential to mimic these more aggressive neoplasms is essential for accurate diagnosis and to avoid over-treatment.
Subject(s)
Papilloma/pathology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathology , Adenocarcinoma/diagnosis , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Infant , Papilloma/diagnosis , Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal/diagnosis , Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal/pathology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The cytologic features of melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) have been described in rare cases only, and these reports have been based solely on direct smears obtained from aspirated tumor material or from touch preparations of resected tumors. CASE: We report, to our knowledge, the first documented case of an epididymal MNTI diagnosed from aspirated hydrocele fluid processed using the ThinPrep system (Cytyc Corp., Boxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.). CONCLUSION: Based on a 15 year retrospective review of scrotal fluids submitted for cytologic evaluation to our laboratory, MNTI represented the sole neoplasm that was represented in the fluid and could be specifically diagnosed. Compared to the direct smear evaluation in our case and other published reports, the ThinPrep method enables the recognition of both neuroblast-like cells and larger melanin-containing epithelial cells in scrotal fluid, thereby aiding in the specific diagnosis of MNTI and minimizing the risk of misdiagnosing this tumor as a more aggressive neoplasm.
Subject(s)
Epididymis/pathology , Genital Diseases, Male/diagnosis , Genital Diseases, Male/pathology , Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic/diagnosis , Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic/pathology , Scrotum/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Scrotum/diagnostic imaging , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
The absence of ganglion cells (GCs) is the primary anatomic abnormality in Hirschsprung disease. Light microscopy is the mainstay in establishing this diagnosis. However, establishing a condition of aganglionosis may be challenging on routine H&E-stained sections of colonic biopsies and resections. We studied the identification of GCs by retinoblastoma oncoprotein (ret) immunoreactivity and routine H&E light microscopy by evaluating 53 blocks from 34 patients demonstrating GCs on original H&E-stained sections and 55 blocks from 38 patients lacking GCs on original H&E-stained sections. All blocks demonstrating GCs on H&E-stained sections also were positive for GCs on ret staining (100%). In 3 blocks that were negative for GCs by H&E staining (5%), GCs were shown on ret-stained sections. Immunoreactivity for ret has comparable specificity but slightly higher sensitivity to routine light microscopic evaluation in identifying GCs. GCs are identified more readily by ret immunoreactivity than by routine morphologic examination.
Subject(s)
Enteric Nervous System/metabolism , Ganglion Cysts/pathology , Hirschsprung Disease/diagnosis , Immunoenzyme Techniques/methods , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/metabolism , Biomarkers/metabolism , Colon/innervation , Colon/pathology , Enteric Nervous System/abnormalities , Ganglion Cysts/metabolism , Hirschsprung Disease/metabolism , Humans , Myenteric Plexus/metabolism , Myenteric Plexus/pathology , Rectum/innervation , Rectum/pathology , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Submucous Plexus/metabolism , Submucous Plexus/pathologyABSTRACT
The occurrence of twins, triplets, and other multiple births increased significantly between 1970 and 2000 in the United States and other industrialized countries. The number of triplet placentas submitted for examination as pathologic specimens has also markedly increased, but no reference values are published for triplet weights. We examined 196 normal triplet placentas. Specimens with associated conditions known to affect the weights of the placentas were excluded. The gestational ages ranged between 20 and 38 weeks. Mean weights for different gestational ages are summarized as follows: 253 g for 20 weeks, 319 g for 22 weeks, 406 g for 24 weeks, 509 g for 26 weeks, 621 g for 28 weeks, 738 g for 30 weeks, 855 g for 32 weeks, 965 g for 34 weeks, 1,065 g for 36 weeks, and 1,147 g for 38 weeks. Weight gain of triplet placentas appears to parallel that of twin placentas. The mean values of placental weights for triplets at each gestational age are less than triple those of singleton weights for the same duration of gestation. The placental weights in multiple gestations do not increase proportionately with the number of fetuses.
