Cytomorphometry of fine-needle aspiration biopsy material from the liver tumours.

The present study describes morphometric analysis of nodular changes examined by using fine-needle aspiration biopsy guided ultrasonographically. A group of 49 patients with suspected neoplastic changes of the liver was studied including 4 hepatocellular carcinomas, 21 neoplasms metastasizing to the liver, 23 non-neoplastic changes. The whole material was divided into three major groups: A with neoplastic cells, B with non-neoplastic cells and C with suspected cells. In each case 100 cells were measured, and in each cell the surface area, maximal diameter and coefficient of shape of the cytoplasm, nucleus and nucleolus were measured. It was found that neoplastic cells have larger nuclei and nucleoli; the ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm was shifted in favour of the nucleus. The largest nucleoli are typical for hepatocellular carcinoma. Most rounded are cells of adenocarcinomas metastasizing to the liver. Morphometric measurements automatically isolate large liver cell dysplasia. The present study provides morphometric parameters of the hepatocytes in the cytological material, which may be the basis for further studies.

Does microhistology improve the cytological diagnosis of liver and pancreatic tumours?

Guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytodiagnosis of the liver, retroperitoneum and pancreas was performed in 197 patients. In 42 cases, material left after the smears were prepared was embedded in paraffin wax for histological examination. Six liver tumours and seven pancreatic tumours were identified in this material. In two cases the diagnosis of liver cell carcinoma was made only after microhistological examination. Re-examination of the cytological material in both cases disclosed features of liver cell carcinoma which were underestimated in the first examination and diagnosed only broadly as cancer cells. On the other hand, in another case cancer cells were present only in the smear and absent in the microhistological preparation. Diagnosis of pancreatic tumours was generally not improved by microhistological examination. In one case cancer cells were present only in the cytological material. In another case a cytological diagnosis of suspected cancer was confirmed as adenocarcinoma by microhistology. The diagnosis of non-neoplastic material in the remaining 29 cases were identical by cytopathology and microhistology. It is concluded that the microhistology of needle aspirate material complements cytological examination and can refine diagnosis although it increases cost.

Immunohistology of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.

DAKO quick staining kits were used to immunostainings for Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA) Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein (S-100) in 18 carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract classified according to Soga and Tazawa. EMA was always absent in carcinoid tumors, being at the same time present within glandular epithelium. 88% of cases showed positive immunostaining for NSE. S-100 immunostaining showed immunopositive stellate cells present within the tumor especially within type A carcinoids. In addition in one carcinoid tumor thick, strongly S-100 positive bundles were noticed at the periphery of nests of tumor cells. Combined immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies are needed to elucidate interrelation of neoplastic and neural elements within carcinoid tumorsa.

Blood groups antigens distribution in pancreatic cancer. An immunohistochemical study.

Distribution and immunolocalization of blood groups antigens ABO were investigated in pancreatic cancer with the use of immunoperoxidase method. In contrast to earlier investigations no correlation was found between histological differentiation of pancreatic cancers and maintenance of the blood groups antigens in tumor cells.

Cytology of solid and papillary epithelial neoplasms of the pancreas: a case report.

A case of rare pancreatic tumor in a 39-yr-old woman is reported. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed; frozen sections later allowed definite diagnosis. Cytologic features of the tumor are described, and histogenesis is discussed.