Background: The phenotypical identification of diagnostic cells is crucial for the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the immunocytochemical (ICC) expression of CD30, CD15, and PAX5 in Hodgkin's cells (HC) and Reed-Sternberg cells (RSC) on smears and cell-blocks (CB) of HL and to compare the performance of each antibody on smears and CB.Methods: In 21 FNAC cases of histologically confirmed classical HL, ICC identification of HC and RSC was performed using CD15, CD30, and PAX5 on smears and CB, respectively.Results: CD30 was positive in 19/21 cases (90.5%; 11/11 smears and 8/10 CB), CD15 was positive in 14/21 cases (66.7%; 5/11 smears and 9/10 CB), and PAX5 was positive in 13/21 cases (61.9%; 9/11 smears and 4/10CB).Conclusions: CD15, CD30, and PAX5 are useful to the FNAC identification of HC and RSC. CD30 is the most sensitive, followed by CD15 and PAX5, which are more effective on CB and smears, respectively. K E Y W O R D SCD15, CD30, fine-needle aspiration cytology, Hodgkin lymphoma, PAX5

Background Enlarged intra‐parotid lymph nodes (pLNs) may be misdiagnosed at ultrasound (US) being rare entities and because of their similarities to parotid nodules. Fine‐needle cytology (FNC) is used in the preoperative diagnosis of parotid nodules, and may be used on pLNs to assess their nature and the underlying pathological processes. Methods Twenty consecutive pLNs underwent US‐guided FNC and rapid on‐site evaluation (ROSE). Flow cytometry (FC) was also performed in all the cases. Immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) gene rearrangement PCR was performed in five cases. Data obtained were checked by follow‐up and histological controls, when available. Results Ultrasound‐guided FNC and ROSE identified 20 pLNs. According to FNC‐FC and PCR data, pLNs were diagnosed as reactive processes(18), FL (1) and B‐cell, NHL NOS (1). Clinical follow‐up (18 cases) and histological assessment (three cases) confirmed FNC‐FC diagnoses of reactive processes and two NHL. Conclusions Fine‐needle cytology is a sensitive procedure in the identification of pLNs. FNC is useful in the management of pLNs; it allows a simple follow‐up in case of reactive processes and surgical excision in case of NHL, thus sparing useless excisions for reactive processes.

Gray zone lymphoma (GZL) is a rare B‐cell lymphoma with features intermediate between diffuse Large B‐Cell Lymphoma and classical Hodgkin Lymphoma. The fine‐needle cytology of a GZL observed in a cervical lymph node is described and compared to the corresponding histological features. This case highlights the cytological and histological diagnostic difficulties and the need of a timely and accurate diagnosis.

Background: The injection of tissue adhesives has been proposed as an alternative to standard laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair but no evidence is available in the pediatric population. This study aimed to evaluate safety, efficacy, and feasibility of injection of tissue adhesives for inguinal hernia repair in a rabbit model. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six New Zealand White male rabbits underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. In each animal, the hernia defect was repaired using glue on the right side and purse-string suture on the left side. The animals were divided in 3 groups, each 1 of 12 animals, according to the glue used: Glubran 2 (cyanoacrylate), Histoacryl (cyanoacrylate), and BioGlue (bovine serum albumin-based). For each group, 6 animals were sacrificed at 7 days postoperatively, and 6 animals at 90 days postoperatively. Histopathological exam of testis and spermatic bundle was performed. Results: The hernia defect was successfully closed on both sides in all cases. The injection of glue was faster than suture repair (P = .001). Postoperative complications (epiploonparietal adhesions, spermatic vessel ectasia, and hydrocele) rate was significantly higher on the right side compared to the left side at both short-and longterm follow-up (P = .001). Furthermore, a lower maturity of testicles treated by adhesive compared with suture was histologically demonstrated at both short-and long-term follow-up (P = .001). Conclusions: The present experimental study confirmed the feasibility and efficacy of inguinal hernia repair by injection of tissue adhesive. However, several critical issues emerged about the safety of this technique. The use of glue was associated with higher incidence of postoperative complications and significant decrease of testicular maturity compared with standard suture repair. Based upon these preliminary results, repair using suture remains the standard of care for inguinal hernia in children. Further experimental studies are needed to assess the safety of injection of tissue adhesives for pediatric inguinal hernia repair.

The cytological features of granular cell tumour (GCT) are generally quite typical but, in some cases, the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) diagnosis of GCT may be difficult or impossible because of unusual sites of onset or equivocal cytological features. In this report, two GCTs with atypical FNAC features are described in order to investigate the causes and provide possible diagnostic tips. From a series of nine histologically proven GCTs, two inconclusive FNAC cases were retrieved. Smears were poorly cellular showing isolated naked nuclei, anisonucleosis, granular chromatin and occasional small nucleoli. The background was finely granular in one case. Histological controls of these cases revealed marked fibrosis. Tumour‐associated fibrosis in GCT is variable and does not seem to influence clinical behaviour but it influences the harvest and the integrity of granular cells collected by FNAC. When GCT smears are poorly cellular, attention should be paid to the granular background and to the few granular cells, if any, as they might be the only features to suggest a GCT.