Korean J Cytopathol.  2002 Dec;13(2):60-65.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytologic Features of Follicular Lymphoma

• Chung JH
• Ha HJ
• Park SH
• Koh JS
• Kim MS
• Lee SS
• Cho KJ

Abstract

The accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) for the diagnosis of follicular lymphoma was investigated by a review of 13 FNAC specimens from 10 patients. All patients included in this study were confirmed by surgical biopsy preceded by FNAC. Three aspirates were unsatisfactory because of scanty cellularity. Among the remaining 10 cases, 5(50%) were diagnosed as lymphoma, 3(30%) as reactive hyperplasia, one(10%) as metastatic small cell carcinoma, and one(10%) as granulomatous inflammation. Cytologic distinction between follicular lymphoma and reactive hyperplasia is very difficult with cytomorphology alone. Compared to reactive hyperplasia, the characteristic cytologic features such as relatively homogeneous cellular constituent, paucity of tingible body macrophages and lymphohistiocytic aggregates, and less mitotic activity in follicular lymphoma are important findings to prevent false negative diagnosis. In addition, lymphoglandular bodies are useful in distinguishing malignant epithelial tumor from lymphoid lesion.

Keyword

Fine needle aspiration cytology; Follicular lymphoma; Reactive hyperplasia

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*
Carcinoma
Carcinoma, Small Cell
Diagnosis
Humans
Hyperplasia
Inflammation
Lymphoma
Lymphoma, Follicular*
Macrophages