Subject(s)
Cholesterol/metabolism , Thyroid Gland/pathology , Thyroid Nodule/pathology , Adult , Crystallization , Cysts/metabolism , Cysts/pathology , Female , Humans , Predictive Value of Tests , Staining and Labeling/standards , Thyroid Gland/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Gland/metabolism , Thyroid Nodule/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Nodule/metabolism , Tissue Fixation/standards , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the presence of vimentin and leukocyte common antigen (LCA)-negative molding cells (VLNMC) could help in identifying rare small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cells. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-four cell blocks of pleural effusions (PEs) from 26 patients with confirmed SCLC were stained immunohistochemically with vimentin and LCA antibodies and compared with hematoxylin and eosin-stained preparations. RESULTS: VLNMC were present in 22/22 PEs originally diagnosed as positive or atypical/suspicious for SCLC. Focal vimentin staining was seen in SCLC in 10/22 cases, and 1 case showed many vimentin-positive SCLC cells. One of 11 PEs originally interpreted as negative showed rare groups of VLNMC. This was supported by a subsequent PE obviously positive for SCLC. CONCLUSION: Immunoperoxidase stains for vimentin and LCA highlight SCLC in PEs as VLNMC; however, morphologic criteria must prevail in making the final diagnosis.
