Clinical utility of fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis and management of neuroblastoma

Abstract

Eleven fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies were performed in five children with neuroblastoma, including one patient with peripheral neuroectodermal tumor of the thoracopulmonary region (Askin tumor). Cytologic features in conjunction with immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy on the aspirated material enabled us to make a primary diagnosis in four of the five patients and diagnose local recurrence and metastatic disease in three patients. There were no false-positive or false-negative cytologic diagnoses; therefore, diagnostic accuracy was 100%. FNA is an extremely useful technique for the primary diagnosis and management of neuroblastoma and excludes other small cell malignancies of children. The results of this study and literature review demonstrate that FNA cytology coupled with ancillary techniques of immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy is a rapid, safe, minimally invasive procedure which can aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with neuroblastoma without resorting to more aggressive diagnostic procedures in selective cases.

Primitive neuro-ectodermal tumor of the lung in an adult

“…Fine needle aspiration biopsy identifies the presence of small cells with neurosecretory granules, microtubules, and cytoplasmic extensions. [6] Results of 123I-Tyr-3-Octeotride scintigraphy are positive for most of the tumors and metastasis. [7] Characteristics PENT pathologic findings include compact nests of small cells, Homer-Wright pseudo rosettes with an acidophilic core of neurofibrillar characteristics, and uptake of neuron specific enolase stain.…”

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Metastatic Olfactory Neuroblastoma

“…1,[3][4][5][6]8 In general, the cytologic features of ONB mimic those of conventional neuroblastoma. [9][10][11][12][13] Overall, authors found single cells and cell groups with a variable number of rosettes or pseudorosettes. On critical review of photomicrographs in the English-language literature, our case revealed true rosette formation as compared with previous cases.…”

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of small round cell tumors of childhood: A comprehensive approach

“…The tumor cells usually reveal large numbers of intertwining cytoplasmic processes containing longitudinally arranged microtubules and scattered neurosecretory granules. 1,4,[31][32][33][34] The tumor cells and cell processes have large synaptic cell junctions.…”

“…C-6A). [30][31][32][33][34][35] The morphology of the smears may vary considerably, depending upon the degree of differentiation of neuroblastic cells. 36,37 Similar to the histologic classification, the tumors may be divided into undifferentiated, poorly differentiated, and differentiating NB.…”