title: Preoperative cytological diagnosis of gastric leiomyosarcoma. A report of three cases.
abstract: Gastric leiomyosarcoma has rarely been diagnosed prior to operation. Three cases are presented in which a cytological diagnosis compatible with leiomyosarcoma could be made preoperatively by exfoliative cytology using a brushing technique under direct vision. Data which favor the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma are: (1) spindle-shaped cells with malignant looking nuclei; (2) cells with extremely long, fiber-like cytoplasms and hyperchromatic nuclei; (3) large, anaplastic malignant cells. Smears from 3 patients showed a mixture of these different cell types. This cytological presentation is probably unique and diagnostic for leiomyosarcoma.
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013270:Stomach / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology