Cytologic distinction between bronchioalveolar carcinoma and reactive/reparative respiratory epithelium: a cytomorphometric analysis.
Cytologically, the distinction between bronchioalveolar carcinoma and reactive/reparative processes of respiratory epithelium can be difficult. Retrospectively, we have identified 11 consecutive cases of bronchioalveolar carcinoma from the cytology files of University Missouri-Kansas City/Truman Medical Center. On average, a combined 5.71 cytologic/histologic procedures were performed before reaching a definitive diagnosis for this group. An additional seven random cases of reactive/reparative respiratory cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome patients were used as a control. Cytomorphometric analysis was performed. The mean average nuclear diameter for the carcinoma group was 13.76 microns and for the reactive/reparative group was 13.29 microns. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (paired student t test, P > .05). It appears from our data that mean nuclear diameter is not a discriminator for the cytologic distinction between bronchioalveolar carcinoma and reactive/reparative respiratory epithelium and that the accepted cytologic parameters of for bronchioalveolar carcinoma are more valid.
Department of Pathology, Truman Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri 64118, USA.
R M
RM
Fiorella
S D
SD
Gurley
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S
Dubey
D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies