Cytomorphologic features of well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma in peritoneal effusion: A case report
Friday, June 6th, 2008.
Diagnostic Cytopathology. 2008 Jun 4;36(7):512-515. [Epub ahead of print] [Link]
Ikeda K, Suzuki T, Tate G, Mitsuya T.
Department of Pathology, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Fujigaoka, Yokohama, Japan.
Abstract
Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM), a distinct subtype of diffuse malignant mesothelioma, usually occurs in the peritoneum and is seen most commonly in women of reproductive age. Histologic features of WDPM include papillary growth and stout fibrous cores surrounded by a single layer of tumor cells. We present the case of a 73-year-old woman without subjective symptoms who showed signs of peritoneal effusion during a routine examination and for whom cytologic examination of the ascitic fluid was performed. Many spherical clusters, with a smooth external surface composed of a single layer of uniform cuboidal cells, were observed. Within each cluster, a collagenous ball showed light green Papanicolaou staining. Immunohistochemistry of surgical specimens showed tumor cells positive for calretinin, D2-40, and HBME-1 staining. The histologic diagnosis was WDPM. The identification of a collagenous ball within these clusters is a useful cytologic finding for the diagnosis of WDPM. WDPM should be suspected when numerous collagenous balls are present by effusion cytology and isolated cells are not.
Keywords: well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma, peritoneal effusion, cytology, immunohistochemistry
Glossary
- diagnosis
- identifying a disease by its signs or symptoms, and by using imaging procedures and laboratory findings. The earlier a diagnosis of cancer is made, the better the chance for long-term survival.
- cytology
- (cy-tahl-uh-gee) the branch of science that deals with the structure and function of cells.
- tumor
- an abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
- peritoneal
- (pair-uh-tuh-nee-al) the serous membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen. (More on Peritoneal Mesothelioma.)
