Intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions (Melamed-Wolinska bodies). Association with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma in pleural fluid.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions (Melamed-Wolinska bodies) (ECIs) can help to distinguish metastatic transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) from pulmonary carcinoma (PC) in pleural effusions.


METHODS
The presence of ECIs was evaluated in malignant pleural effusions from 8 cases (5 patients) of TCC and 38 cases of pulmonary carcinoma (PC). ECIs were categorized as absent, rare (< 2 per case), occasional (2 per case to < 1 per high-power field), frequent (1-2 per high-power field) or numerous (> 2 per high-power field).


RESULTS
In pleural fluids with TCC, ECIs were numerous in 1 case, frequent in 2 cases, occasional in 3 cases and absent in 2 cases. In contrast, in pleural fluids with PC, ECIs were occasional in 1 case, rare in 5 cases and absent in 32 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
While not present in every case, frequent ECIs in a malignant pleural effusion are suggestive of TCC rather than PC.
Renshaw
A A
AA
Department of Pathology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Madge
R
R
Granter
S R
SR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies