Exfoliative cytologic findings of primary pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinom:a report of 2 cases with a review of the cytologic features.
BACKGROUND: Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a very rare primary pulmonaryneoplasm. Cytologic findings of pulmonary washing and brushing in 2 cases of primary bronchialadenoid cystic carcinoma with special histologic features are described, with an emphasis on somepoints that have not been reported previously, together with the diagnostic pitfalls. CASES: Twocases of primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung were diagnosed on exfoliative cytology. Thepatients’ ages were 55 and 65 years old. Cytologic findings included large and small clusters ofsmall cells in both 2 and 3 dimensions with occasional cystlike spaces containing mucoid material.The cells were arranged in spherical, cylindrical, basaloid and rosettelike arrangements. There werealso abundant small and large mucoid globules, cylinders of homogeneous, acellular, mucous materialand “cannon balls.” Cytoplasmic and intranuclear round inclusions were noted in case 1. Rarefindings of nuclear molding were noted. In case 2, chondromyxoid material and a bimorphic populationof tumor cells caused diagnostic confusion with other salivary gland-type tumors of the lung.CONCLUSION: These cases showed characteristic cytologic findings of adenoid cystic carcinomatogether with rare findings of intracellular and extracellular inclusionlike bodies, myxochondroidmaterial, bimorphic populations and nuclear molding, which can cause diagnostic confusion with otherlung tumors.
Daneshbod,Y　Modjtahedi,E　Atefi,S　Bedayat,GR　Daneshbod,K
Cytopathology Department, Dr. Daneshbod Pathology Laboratory, Shiraz, Iran.daneshbk@yahoo.com
findings　 Adenoids　 Materials　 Pulmonary Lung
