Sarcomas, excluding lymphomas, are relatively uncommon targets of transthoracic fine needle aspiration. This paper presents a series of 11 adult patients with a variety of histologically documented sarcomas that were positive on transthoracic fine needle aspiration. Most tumors were metastatic from extrathoracic primary sites. We summarize the cytologic appearances of the aspirates and the clinical roles of fine needle aspiration in this setting. The aspirates resembled the corresponding histologic sections in cellular morphology. Nine different histologic types of sarcomas therefore produced a wide variety of cytologic appearances. Two findings, though not specific for sarcomas, were common and are suggested as clues to the recognition of sarcomas: (1) poor cohesion of cells and (2) numerous spindle cells. Transthoracic fine needle aspiration confirmed a strongly suspected clinical diagnosis in 7 cases, and it clarified a more obscure clinical diagnosis in 4 cases. Suggestions are presented for differential diagnosis.
SUMMARY
We have observed a case of myoblastoma in the bladder neck in a 66‐year‐old man who was referred for urological examination for pyuria and hæmaturia. Cystoscopy revealed an ulcer of unusual appearance in the bladder neck. The ulcer and surrounding tissue were removed by transurethral resection with McCarthy's apparatus. The histological examination revealed myoblastoma. No signs of metastases were found on X‐ray examination of the lumbar spine, pelvis, and lungs. The patient is symptom‐free and there are no signs of recurrence.
As far as can be seen, this is the first published report of a benign myoblastoma in this region. It is important to have this diagnosis in mind in cases of unusual alterations in the bladder neck, and also for the histological diagnosis so that the case is not interpreted as cancer and incorrectly treated with radiotherapy which has no effect on myoblastomas. Horn and Stout (1943) report a case from the tongue which was treated with radium. They write: “This case provides evidence of the marked radio‐resistance of this type of neoplasm, since the tumour survived a sufficient dosage of radium to produce necrosis of the tongue.”
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