Do fine needle aspirate cytomorphological features correlate with positron emission tomography findings of metastatic non‐small cell lung carcinoma in lymph nodes?

• Published in: Cancer medicine (Malden, MA) MA), 2023-04, Vol.12 (7), p.8218-8227
• Main Authors: Keyhanian, Kianoosh, Sekhon, Harmanjatinder S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Aged; Biopsy; Cancer therapies; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Cellular biology; Cytology; Cytoplasm; Disease management; Female; fine needle biopsy; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung carcinoma; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lymph nodes; Lymph Nodes - diagnostic imaging; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic system; Lymphocytes; Lymphoid tissue; Male; Mediastinum; Medical imaging; Medical screening; Metabolism; Metastases; Metastasis; Neoplasm Staging; Non-small cell lung carcinoma; Patients; Physical characteristics; Positron emission tomography; Retrospective Studies; Scandals; Small cell lung carcinoma; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tomography; Tumors; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 2045-7634; 2045-7634
• DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5629

Background Our objective was to correlate cytomorphological features of metastatic non‐small cell lung carcinoma (mNSCLC) with maximal standardized uptake value (mSUV) of positron emission tomography (PET) in Lymph nodes (LNs). Methods Positive cytology slides of 114 LNs were reviewed from 100 patients with mNSCLC who had undergone PET study. Student's t‐test was used for statistical comparisons. Results Mean patients' age: 68.5, 54% male. LNs locations were: mediastinum: 99, lung hilum: 13, peribronchial: 1, axilla: 1. Final diagnoses were: Adenocarcinoma: 86, squamous cell carcinoma: 28 LNs. Within the adenocarcinoma subgroup, histological patterns correlate with mSUV. Acinar and papillary patterns were associated with significantly lower mSUVs (mean ± standard error (SE): 7.9 ± 0.9 and 9.2 ± 0.8, respectively) than solid pattern (13.0 ± 1.2; p values: 0.001 and 0.009, respectively). Similar difference exists between patterns associated with low‐ and high‐grade adenocarcinoma (Mean ± SE: 9.2 ± 0.8 and 12.0 ± 1.0, respectively. p value: 0.02). Interestingly, micropapillary pattern was associated with the lowest mSUV amongst all patterns (Mean ± SE: 5.4 ± 1.1). Other features that correlated with higher mSUV were necrosis, moderate/severe nuclear atypia, lower lymphoid tissue yield, and contralateral LN involvement. Conclusions In LNs with mNSCLC, certain cytomorphological features are associated with higher mSUV. Micropapillary, a pattern considered as high‐grade, is associated with lower SUV values; hence, a lower SUV threshold may raise concern for metastasis. Although high SUV is associated with LN metastasis, lower SUV levels in certain adenocarcinomas suggest correlation with clinical and morphological characteristics could be valuable in tailoring therapeutic management. In lymph node cytology specimens from non‐small cell lung carcinoma, certain cytopathological features including architectural pattern, grade, presence of necrosis, and moderate/severe nuclear atypia are associated with higher maximal standard uptake value of positron emission tomography.