Although subacute granulomatous thyroiditis (SGT) is usually diagnosed clinically, there are other thyroid conditions that must be ruled out. This task is achieved by means of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA). In retrospect, the clinical and cytologic findings seen in 36 SGT cases are reassessed with a view to deciding which findings are most reliable for reaching a confident cytologic diagnosis. These are: the simultaneous presence in the same aspirate of the following cells: 1) follicular cells with intravacuolar granules and/or plump transformed follicular cells; 2) epithelioid granulomas; 3) multinucleated giant cells; 4) an acute and chronic inflammatory dirty background; 5) the absence of the following cells: fire‐flare cells, hypertrophic follicular cells, oncocytic cells, and transformed lymphocytes. The absence of one or more of these requirements does not exclude SGT but does increase the number of thyroid conditions that come into the differential diagnosis. In these cases, it is essential to review clinical data carefully and to submit the patient to a close clinical and FNA follow‐up. Diagn. Cytopathol. 16:214–220, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

We have reassessed the fine‐needle aspirates of ten cases previously diagnosed as granulomatous prostatitis (GP). Presence of unequivocal epithelioid granulomas (EG) or typical caseous necrosis was required for a smear to be diagnosed as nonspecific granulomatous prostatitis (NGP) or tuberculous prostatitis (TP), respectively. As a consequence only six cases met the criteria set up for the diagnosis of NGP and two for TP. The purpose of this revision was fourfold: to find out if there are other prostatic conditions which may be confused with GP cytologically, to investigate if there is a single cytologic finding that permits a confident diagnosis of GP, to find out if the etiology can be suggested on cytologic grounds alone, and, finally, to assess if carcinoma can be ruled out safely. We conclude the following: 1) There are various prostatic conditions which share some cytologic findings with GP; 2) the presence of distinct EG is the hallmark criterion of GP; 3) NGP and TP can be safely diagnosed cytologically but other forms of GP would require additional clinical data and ancillary techniques; and 4) carcinoma can be safely distinguished from GP cytologically. To succeed in this task the cytopathologist must diagnose carcinoma only if clear‐cut carcinoma cells are present and must be aware of the reactive changes induced by the inflammatory infiltrate both in duct/acinar and metaplastic cells. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;18: 215–221. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Although subacute granulomatous thyroiditis (SGT) is usually diagnosed clinically, there are other thyroid conditions that must be ruled out. This task is achieved by means of fine-needle aspiration (FNA). In retrospect, the clinical and cytologic findings seen in 36 SGT cases are reassessed with a view to deciding which findings are most reliable for reaching a confident cytologic diagnosis. These are: the simultaneous presence in the same aspirate of the following cells: 1) follicular cells with intravacuolar granules and/or plump transformed follicular cells; 2) epithelioid granulomas; 3) multinucleated giant cells; 4) an acute and chronic inflammatory dirty background; 5) the absence of the following cells: fire-flare cells, hypertrophic follicular cells, oncocytic cells, and transformed lymphocytes. The absence of one or more of these requirements does not exclude SGT but does increase the number of thyroid conditions that come into the differential diagnosis. In these cases, it is essential to review clinical data carefully and to submit the patient to a close clinical and FNA follow-up. Diagn. Cytopathol. 16:214-220, 1997. r 1997

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