A rare case of extramedullary spinal cord germinoma.

A rare case of spinal cord germinoma in a 20-year-old Japanese female is presented. The tumor was detected at the level of T11 and L3 by myelography. Histological findings of the resected tumor were identical to germinoma, which is characterized by polygonal tumor cells, lymphocytic infiltrate, and granuloma. Tumor cells and lymphocytes reacted with antibodies for placental alkaline phosphatase and CD45, respectively. A few multinucleated giant cells, negative immunohistochemically for human chorionic gonadotropin were also seen. The present case is the 10th case of spinal cord germinoma and is thought to be the first case of such a tumor located extramedullary. Diagnosis of such a rare tumor in an unusual location needs proper histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evaluation.

[Review and quality assurance of cytological follow-up cases of class III readings].

Standardization in diagnostic cytology remains limited. In this study, I reviewed laboratory reports which resulted in class III readings. Of 28,644 cytology specimens submitted between 1992 and 1996, a total of 1,335 (4.7%) were classified as class III. These class III cases were divided into eight groups; atypical cells in small number (I), low-grade atypical cells (II), combination of groups I and II (III), dysplasia (IV), unknown-origin cells (V), benign tumor cells (VI), degenerative cells by irradiation (VII) and poor fixation (VIII). More than half of the cases were from groups I, II and III. However, poor sample preparations (VIII) were found in 5.8%. Among the gynecologic specimens with class III readings, nearly 50% showed no malignancy by histological examination, but 28% exhibited carcinoma and the remaining 24% showed dysplasia. The results indicated that class III reports included a variety of findings from poor quality specimens to malignancy. At present, class III reports are regarded as a buffer zone by laboratories but cause misunderstanding among clinicians. Therefore, it is very important for laboratories to describe in detail why the specimen resulted in a class III reading.

Pigmented neuroectodermal tumor of infancy in the epididymis. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Pigmented neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (PNTI) is a rare pigmentary tumor. Cytologic study of this tumor had not been performed before. In the present study, cytology of such a tumor was done in addition to histology, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. CASE: A 5-month-old infant had a scrotal tumor. After tumorectomy, touch smear for cytology revealed small and large tumor cells. The small cells showed a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, and the large cells contained pigment in their cytoplasm. Histologically, the small cells and large, pigmented cells showed a typical alveolar and tubular pattern, respectively. The small cells neuroblastlike and the large cells showed melanocytelike features ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically. CONCLUSION: Cytology has not been applied to the diagnoses of PNTI. In our opinion, fine needle aspiration cytology could be helpful in the preoperative diagnosis of this tumor.