To evaluate the histologic alterations due to the fine‐needle aspiration (FNA), a comparative study between 20 aspirated and 20 nonaspirated thyroidectomy specimens was performed. The most common findings in the aspirated group were hemorrhage (80%) and vascular proliferation and/or vascular thrombosis (45%). In one of the aspirated cases with the cytologic diagnosis of follicular neoplasm, histologic sections revealed prominent vascular and endothelial proliferation. Fibrosis, cystic degeneration, and infarction were other histologic findings in the aspirated group. Hemorrhage was seen in 45% and cystic degeneration in 25% of the nonaspirated cases. Fifty percent of the nonaspirated cases did not have any additional findings. In conclusion, knowledge of previous FNA application and awareness of possible histologic alterations due to the needling is necessary while evaluating the histologic sections of the thyroidectomy specimens. Diagn. Cytopathol. 16:230–232, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The treatment of Alveolar Hydatid Disease is curative radical resection. Thus, pre-operative imaging studies to determine the extent and stage of the disease are of crucial importance.

A 58-yr-old patient who presented with obstructive jaundice was evaluated with ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). Diffuse irregular stenosis of the extrahepatic bile ducts and periductal ill-defined soft tissue density along the hepatoduodenal ligament was determined. The patient was originally misdiagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma and, because the extent of disease process made surgical bypass impossible, was treated with a percutaneously inserted metallic stent. Histopathological examination of the endoluminal biopsy revealed ductal tuberculosis (TB). Most of the previous reports in the literature indicated that biliary obstruction was due to enlarged tuberculous lymph nodes compressing the bile duct. To our knowledge, only three cases of biliary stricture due to tuberculous involvement of the bile ducts were reported previously. This case illustrates the importance of tissue diagnosis in all cases of obstructive jaundice to avoid missing rare but curable diseases.

Twenty-three patients with symptomatic giant hemangioma of the liver were treated by surgery between 1979 and 1996 at the department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova. Twenty-three enucleations were performed in 21 patients, left lateral segmentectomy in one patient and enucleation plus left lobectomy in one patient. The tumors were enucleated along the interface between the hemangioma and normal liver tissue. The diameters of the tumors ranged from 5×5 to 25×15 cm. The mean blood loss for enucleations was 525 ml (range 500–1000 ml). There was no mortality and no postoperative bleeding. Three patients had postoperative complications. Enucleation is the best surgical technique for symptomatic giant hemangioma of the liver. It may be performed with no mortality, low morbidity and the preservation of all normal liver parenchyma.

A 66-year-old woman was referred with a two-week history of a lump in her left breast. This had not changed in size, nor was there any associated pain or nipple discharge. She was otherwise fit and well and had suffered no illnesses of note. There was a mobile lump, 2 cm in diameter with a smooth surface, in the upper and outer quadrant of her left breast. There were no other abnormalities and no palpable axillary lymph nodes. She was admitted to hospital and the lump excised. The surgeon noted that the lump was solid and yellow with a necrotic centre. Histological examination showed a typical carcinoid tumour containing argentaffine cells ( figure). The results of urinary 5-hydroxy indole-acetic acid assays were normal. She remained well 12 months after removal of the tumour and the results of further 5-hydroxy indole-acetic acid assays remain normal. Clumpso tu 4 jClumps of argentaffine cells in tumour abutting normal breast tissue.