Cytological examination:
This is a hypercellular aspirate.
The illustration shows numerous, irregularly arranged, cohesive clusters
of epithelial cells. The cells within these clusters are showing a marked
degree of anisocytosis and anisokaryosis, and considerable variation in
nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio is evident.
The cytoplasm appears vacuolated and there is evidence of multinucleation.
Nuclear chromatin has a coarse stippled appearance and the nuclei contain
one or more variably sized nucleoli. Some of these nucleoli are exceptionally
large.
Many cells have a 'signet ring' appearance.
The cellular, nuclear and nucleolar features described
above are typical of those associated with malignancy. A bronchogenic carcinoma
is the prime differential here although metastatic neoplasia, for example
from a mammary gland carcinaoma, should also be considered. |