Application of adjunct techniques in cytologic material in the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma: Case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Diagnostic cytopathology 2002-06, Vol.26 (6), p.384-386
• Main Authors: Bhattacharya, Baishali, Sariya, Dinesh, Reddy, Vijaya B., Kluskens, Larry, Gould, Victor E., Gattuso, Paolo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Abdominal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Abdominal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Abdominal Neoplasms - pathology; adjunct studies; Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; cytology; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; pleural fluid; rhabdomyosarcoma; Rhabdomyosarcoma - diagnosis; Rhabdomyosarcoma - diagnostic imaging; Rhabdomyosarcoma - pathology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary tract. Prostate gland
• ISSN: 8755-1039; 1097-0339
• DOI: 10.1002/dc.10069

A 4½‐yr‐old female presented with right‐sided pleural effusion and a retroperitoneal mass. Cytologic analysis of the pleural fluid yielded malignant small round blue cells, which were noncohesive, 3–4 times the size of lymphocytes. The malignant cells had hyperchromatic, pleomorphic nuclei with moderate amounts of vacuolated cytoplasm. A few fiber‐shaped cells were also seen. Immunostains for desmin, muscle‐specific actin were positive; ultrastructural findings of thick and thin actin‐myosin filaments confirmed the diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. This case illustrates the importance of performing appropriate immunohistochemical stains and ultrastructural studies on cytological material to arrive at a definitive diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;26:384–386. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.