title: Cytologic, cytochemical, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural diagnosis of a sacrococcygeal chordoma in a fine needle aspiration biopsy specimen.
abstract: The cytologic, cytochemical, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural findings on the aspirated material are presented for the case of a 57-year-old man with sacrococcygeal chordoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Cytologically, two types of cellular elements were differentiated: medium-sized cells with few cytoplasmic vacuoles and classic physaliferous cells. Both types showed marked cytoplasmic positivity for keratin and S-100 protein; the absence of nuclear positivity in the physaliferous cells was notable. Ultrastructural study demonstrated the existence of true intracytoplasmic vacuoles and frequent rough endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria complexes. The cytologic differential diagnosis with chondrosarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, ependymoma and metastases of mucosecretory carcinomas is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Pathologic Anatomy Service, Gómez Ulla Military Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Plaza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ballestín
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Barrios
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Agustín
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002817:Chordoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003050:Coccyx; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012447:Sacrum; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure