TY - JOUR
T1 - Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor Involving Serous Fluid
T2 - Cytologic Features and Diagnostic Pitfalls: A Series of 8 Cases
AU - Fakhri, Nibras L.
AU - Gan, Qiong
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pathology. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/10/1
Y1 - 2023/10/1
N2 - When desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is present in serous fluid, the cytomorphology can be diverse and can mimic metastatic carcinomas and thus present a diagnostic challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytomorphologic and immunocytochemical features of this rare tumor in serous effusion specimens. Methods: Demographic, clinical, radiologic, and pathologic information from patients who had a DSRCT diagnosis on body fluid specimens was collected and cytologic slides were reviewed. Results: Nine specimens were identified (5 pleural fluid and 4 ascitic fluid specimens) from 8 patients (5 male and 3 female). The mean patient age at diagnosis was 26 years. The most common symptoms were abdominal distension and pain, with 5 patients having abdominal masses. Other findings included peritoneal carcinomatosis, liver masses, ascites, and pleural nodules. The predominant cytomorphology was loose cellular clusters, followed by tight clusters of small cells with scant occasional vacuolated cytoplasm and a sphere-like pattern. Conclusions: Serous fluid may be the first available specimen to diagnose DSRCT. In young patients with no history of malignancy and radiologic finding of peritoneal implants, DSRCT should be considered a possibility in the differential diagnosis, and sensitive markers should be used for accurate diagnosis.
AB - When desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is present in serous fluid, the cytomorphology can be diverse and can mimic metastatic carcinomas and thus present a diagnostic challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytomorphologic and immunocytochemical features of this rare tumor in serous effusion specimens. Methods: Demographic, clinical, radiologic, and pathologic information from patients who had a DSRCT diagnosis on body fluid specimens was collected and cytologic slides were reviewed. Results: Nine specimens were identified (5 pleural fluid and 4 ascitic fluid specimens) from 8 patients (5 male and 3 female). The mean patient age at diagnosis was 26 years. The most common symptoms were abdominal distension and pain, with 5 patients having abdominal masses. Other findings included peritoneal carcinomatosis, liver masses, ascites, and pleural nodules. The predominant cytomorphology was loose cellular clusters, followed by tight clusters of small cells with scant occasional vacuolated cytoplasm and a sphere-like pattern. Conclusions: Serous fluid may be the first available specimen to diagnose DSRCT. In young patients with no history of malignancy and radiologic finding of peritoneal implants, DSRCT should be considered a possibility in the differential diagnosis, and sensitive markers should be used for accurate diagnosis.
KW - Body fluids
KW - Cytomorphology
KW - Desmoplastic small round cell tumor
KW - Pitfalls
KW - Serous effusion
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U2 - 10.1093/ajcp/aqad062
DO - 10.1093/ajcp/aqad062
M3 - Article
C2 - 37289439
AN - SCOPUS:85174080061
SN - 0002-9173
VL - 160
SP - 417
EP - 424
JO - American journal of clinical pathology
JF - American journal of clinical pathology
IS - 4
ER -