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Fifteen patients with cerebral involvement by malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were identified, among more than 200 patients who underwent stereotactic biopsy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. All but one of these cases were diagnosed accurately by the stereotactic biopsy procedure. In 12 of 14 patients, the material was adequate to classify the lymphoma according to the Working Formulation. Because all but one of the lesions were intermediate or high-grade neoplasms, a diagnosis of lymphoma was often possible by conventional light microscopic examination alone. Monotypic light chain expression was demonstrated by immunohistochemical techniques in six patients, and positivity for B-cell markers was observed in an additional case. In one instance, two stereotactic biopsy specimens were interpreted as being suggestive of lymphoma, but necrosis and inflammation prevented a definitive diagnosis. Nine patients had no known risk factors for cerebral lymphoma, and the diagnosis often was unsuspected clinically.

Barrett esophagus, the columnar-lined distal esophagus acquired as a consequence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux, is associated with the development of columnar epithelial dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. To determine the efficacy of cytopathology in identifying Barrett esophagus and related neoplasia, observations were compared on 150 esophageal cytology samples with concurrent endoscopic biopsy specimens. Sixty-six specimens that contained benign columnar epithelium in either cytologic or biopsy material were identified. Distinctive-type Barrett mucosa with incomplete intestinalization, considered diagnostic of Barrett esophagus, was found in 34 of 66 cases (52%) and was present only in cytologic material in 11 cases. Twenty-two specimens contained cardiac-type mucosa (present only in cytology in ten cases), a finding of uncertain significance due to lack of localization of the sample with respect to the gastroesophageal junction. Fundic-type mucosa was not observed in any specimen. Two cases of distinctive-type Barrett mucosa with columnar epithelial dysplasia were identified in both biopsy and cytology specimens. Among eight Barrett-associated carcinomas (seven adenocarcinomas and one squamous), cytologic material was diagnostic for malignancy in seven and highly suspicious in one. It was concluded that cytopathologic studies are a useful adjunct to biopsy histopathology in the diagnosis of Barrett esophagus and associated carcinoma. The role of cytopathology in the diagnosis of Barrett-related columnar epithelial dysplasia requires further study, and at present a cautious approach with biopsy confirmation is recommended.

Fifty-nine successive cases of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the liver were reviewed to determine the efficacy of various rinse and smear preparations in rendering a diagnosis of cancer. Preparations included Papanicolaou- and Diff-Quik®-stained smears, Millipore® filters, cytocentrifugation, and cell blocks. Of 33 of 59 cases diagnostic for cancer, 90% were positive on rinse, 78% on smear, and 69.6% on both rinse and smear. Seven cases (21.2%) were diagnostic on rinse preparation only and would otherwise have been interpreted as equivocal. Papanicolaou smears and cell block rinses were most valuable to evaluate malignancy in the liver, using the FNA technic. The authors believe rinse preparations justify their cost for assessment of cancer and are essential to establish the diagnosis in a significant number of cases.

The Saccomanno technique of sputum preparation is widely used. This study evaluates the role of this preparation in conjunction with fresh smears in the diagnosis of lung cancer. All sputum samples from September 1973 to July 1975 showing atypia were randomized and negative controls added. The Saccomanno and fresh smears were evaluated independently and blindly and classified as negative, atypical, suspicious, or cancer. When each preparation was compared with the original diagnosis, the diagnostic accuracy for 55 squamous carcinomas was similar (fresh 95%, Saccomanno 86%) but significantly less in the Saccomanno preparations of 22 small cell carcinomas (fresh 100%, Saccomanno 24%) and 26 adenocarcinomas (fresh 96%, Saccomanno 52%). Four cases negative on fresh smears were suspicious or diagnostic of cancer on the Saccomanno slides. There were no cases of small cell carcinoma in which the Saccomanno preparations added information not available on the fresh smears. The authors conclude that in conjunction with fresh smears, the Saccomanno preparation may contribute to the diagnosis of non-small cell carcinomas but does not appear to aid in the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma.

The diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration of salivary gland lesions is now widely accepted. The cytologic appearance of two rare monomorphic variants of pleomorphic adenomas is described. The trabecular-tubular adenoma consisted of a trabecular arrangement of uniform small cells with scant basophilic cytoplasm and round nuclei. No mucoid spheres were present. The canalicular adenoma also had a distinctive cytologic appearance consisting of papillae and interconnected canaliculi lined by a layer of columnar epithelium. Monomorphic adenomas have unique morphologic appearances that can be recognized in fine-needle aspiration cytology. Preoperative diagnosis can greatly aid the surgeon in the planning of definitive surgical excision of salivary gland neoplasms.