We reviewed 4 cases of high‐grade transitional‐cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary tract with solitary pulmonary metastases that were studied by transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy cytology. There were two grade II and two grade III TCCs. The two grade II tumors yielded, in needle aspirates, syncytial tumor‐cell clusters showing ill‐defined, granular cytoplasm and slightly pleomorphic nuclei with inconspicuous nucleoli. In one case the tumor‐cell clusters showed a focal acinar arrangement, mimicking cells of an adenocarcinoma. In both cases the electron microscopy (EM) study of aspirated tumor cells revealed epithelial cells with well‐formed cell junctions, intracytoplasmic vesicles, apical short microvilli, and focal interdigitation of lateral cell membranes, suggesting a urothelial neoplasm. The two grade III TCCs yielded, in needle aspirates, pleomorphic malignant cells singly and in small clusters, showing well‐defined, granular cytoplasm and pleomorphic nuclei containing prominent nucleoli, suggesting a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or an anaplastic large‐cell carcinoma. By EM examination the aspirated tumor cells from one case revealed well‐formed cell junctions, intracytoplasmic vesicles, poorly formed microvilli, and focal interdigitation of lateral cell membranes, suggesting a urothelial differentiation. In the other case the tumor cells were pleomorphic cells with occasional cell junctions and no ultrastructural features as seen in the other 3 cases of TCC. The tumor cells from the two grade II TCCs showed strong immunopositive reaction with keratin 7 antibody and weakly positive reaction with carcinoembryonic antigen antibody (CEAA), while those of the two grade III TCCs displayed only a weak and focal immunopositive staining with keratin 7 antibody and strong reaction with CEAA. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;18:409–415. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Cytologic examination of peritoneal fluid in a patient with known myelofibrosis and previous splenectomy revealed megakaryocytes along with erythroid and myeloid precursors. These findings were consistent with extramedullary hematopoietic (EMH) implants of the peritoneum. A few similar cases have been occasionally reported in the literature. This case represents an additional example of a primary diagnosis of peritoneal EMH in which therapy was based on the cytologic findings and sequential cytologic observations were made.

Over the past 3.5 yr, we have examined 195 head and neck fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens from three diverse medical settings. Specimens were collected in saline solution or Saccomanno fixative and processed using cytocentrifugation or membrane filtration. This allowed us simultaneously to perform cytologic evaluations, special stains, and immunologic marker studies from a single specimen. Good correlation between clinical experience with FNA and obtaining satisfactory specimens was demonstrated. Our sensitivity (89%) and specificity (94%) reflect problems associated with specimen collection in a training environment where clinician experience with the procedure is low. A definitive diagnosis was possible in most cases, and the treatment plan was often based on the FNA results. In patients without a history of a primary malignancy, a FNA done early in the clinical course helped direct the initial workup of the patient, saving time and expense.

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