title: Cytology of extranodal Ki-1 anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
abstract: Ki-1-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is an uncommon neoplasm which may present with extranodal as well as nodal disease. By definition, the tumor cells are immunoreactive for Ki-1 or Ber-H2 antigen (CD30). There have been few published cytologic descriptions of this lymphoma, or of its detection in extranodal sites. We describe the cytologic findings in five cases of extranodal Ki-1 lymphoma. Cytologic findings in all five cases were similar and consisted of a heterogeneous population of lymphocytes and bizarre, pleomorphic tumor cells. These cells were characterized by generous amounts of vacuolated, basophilic cytoplasm, eccentric, multilobulated nuclei with some showing "wreath-like" configurations. Some nuclei contained huge nucleoli simulating Reed-Sternberg cells. All cases showed the characteristic surface membrane and cytoplasmic paranuclear dot-like staining for CD30. Our findings indicate that fine-needle aspiration and exfoliative cytology have a useful role in the diagnosis of Ki-1 ALCL in extranodal sites. Furthermore, effusions containing anaplastic cells suspicious for lymphoma, particularly in AIDS patients, should be immunostained with antibodies to CD30.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zakowski
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feiner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finfer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wollner
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Filippa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000652:urine; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies