Cytology of small-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in serous effusion: A report on two cases

✍ Scribed by Surapan Khunamornpong; Sumalee Siriaunkgul; Prapaporn Suprasert

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 128 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 8755-1039
• DOI: 10.1002/dc.1055

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Cytologic features of 2 cases of small‐cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in the body fluid are described. Case 1 was a 34‐yr‐old woman with a stage IIA cervical tumor. Pleural effusion developed 6 mo after initial diagnosis. Case 2 was a 38‐yr‐old woman with a stage IB tumor. Ascites was detected 11 mo after hysterectomy. Histologically, both cervical tumors were indistinguishable from small‐cell carcinoma of oat‐cell type in the lungs or other sites. Cytologically, the tumor cells in the pleural effusion of case 1 had characteristic features of small‐cell carcinoma, including nuclear molding. However, almost all tumor cells in the ascites of case 2 showed a single‐cell pattern mimicking malignant lymphoma. Mitotic figures and karyorrhetic bodies were occasionally seen. Nuclear molding was rarely identified. Small‐cell carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of malignant effusions containing lymphoma‐like cells. Diagn. Cytopathol. 24:253–255, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.