Cytology of ascitic fluid in a patient with metastasizing malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Transitional cell ("Brenner") tumors represent about 2% of all ovarian neoplasms. Brenner tumors are almost always benign. Malignant Brenner tumors of the ovary resemble urothelial carcinomas and are extremely rare.


METHODS
A 77-year-old, white female presented with malignant Brenner tumor in both ovaries as well as lung and abdominal metastases. The cytology of the ascitic fluid revealed many activated mesothelial cells and three-dimensional cell clusters arranged in a papillary pattern. The round to oval nuclei displayed mild anisokaryosis and hyperchromasia but had a quite evenly dispersed opaque or finely granular nucleoplasm. Enfoldings of the nuclear membrane gave them the appearance of so-called coffee bean nuclei. The cytoplasm stained light bluish.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of the cytologic features of ascitic fluid might allow a preoperative diagnosis of malignant, or at least proliferating, ovarian Brenner tumor.
Ahr
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Frankfurt, Germany.
Arnold
G
G
Göhring
U J
UJ
Costa
S
S
Scharl
A
A
Gauwerky
J F
JF
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D000368:Aged; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D001948:Brenner Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology