Objectives. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is increasingly used in diagnosis of pancreatic tumors. Our study aims to identify cytological characteristics of on-site evaluation helpful for recognizing pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Methods. Our study comprises 5 cases of pancreatic tumors with cytological features suggestive of neuroendocrine origin, obtained by EUS-FNA which diagnosis was confirmed by surgical excision. For each case we analized: cytological smears, cell block sections and immunocytochemical stains. Results. All cases show similar and peculiar cytological characteristics of on-site evaluation: smears were richly cellular with poorly cohesive small cells; they display a monotonous basophilic appearance with scanty cytoplasm and small eccentric nucleus with speckled or dusty chromatin pattern conferring a plasmocytoid appearance. Immunocytochemical stains (Chromogranin A, Synaptophysin), performed on cell-block, confirmed neuroendocrine differentiation. Conclusion. EUS-FNA is a useful method of identification of pancreatic NETs. Recognizing cytopathological features of neuroendocrine origin improves the diagnostic yield of the procedure, allowing a three-tiered approach in planning the handling of FNA specimens.
P. Campisi, G. Accinelli, C. De Angelis*, I. Castellano, S. Asioli, D. Pacchioni, et al. (2007). On-site cytopathological evaluation of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
On-site cytopathological evaluation of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
ASIOLI, SOFIA;
2007
Abstract
Objectives. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is increasingly used in diagnosis of pancreatic tumors. Our study aims to identify cytological characteristics of on-site evaluation helpful for recognizing pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Methods. Our study comprises 5 cases of pancreatic tumors with cytological features suggestive of neuroendocrine origin, obtained by EUS-FNA which diagnosis was confirmed by surgical excision. For each case we analized: cytological smears, cell block sections and immunocytochemical stains. Results. All cases show similar and peculiar cytological characteristics of on-site evaluation: smears were richly cellular with poorly cohesive small cells; they display a monotonous basophilic appearance with scanty cytoplasm and small eccentric nucleus with speckled or dusty chromatin pattern conferring a plasmocytoid appearance. Immunocytochemical stains (Chromogranin A, Synaptophysin), performed on cell-block, confirmed neuroendocrine differentiation. Conclusion. EUS-FNA is a useful method of identification of pancreatic NETs. Recognizing cytopathological features of neuroendocrine origin improves the diagnostic yield of the procedure, allowing a three-tiered approach in planning the handling of FNA specimens.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.