Received July 16, 2008; Accepted September 04, 2008.
Abstract
Adenocarcinomas with micropapillary patterns are generally aggressive and show lymphotropism. Only a few reports on pulmonary adenocarcinoma with micropapillary patterns have described cytologic findings. A 70-year-old Korean woman was admitted to the hospital because of intermittent dry cough and chest pain. Cytology after bronchial washing showed neoplastic cells in small, angulated, cohesive clusters consisting of 3-20 cells without a fibrovascular core. The resected right middle lobe showed a tumor occupying almost the entire lobe. Histologically, about 90% of neoplastic cells proliferated with micropapillary morphology in the background of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. Cytologic smears of a bronchial washing showing tumor cells in small, cohesive clusters without a fibrovascular core may indicate an adenocarcinoma with micropapillary pattern.
Keywords: Lung; Micropapillary; Cytology
Figures
Fig. 1 Cytologic findings of bronchial washing. A cohesive cluster of neoplastic cells, consisting of less than 20 cells without fibrovascular core and resulting in micropapillary configuration, is observed (Papanicolaou stain).
Fig. 3 Histologic findings. Most neoplastic cells proliferate and form small nests without a fibrovascular core in the background of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (H&E).
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