Fine needle aspiration cytology of the Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To study the cytomorphologic features of the Ewing's sarcoma (ES) family of tumors.


METHODS
During a period of eight years (1990-1997), 123 soft tissue tumors and 65 bone tumors were evaluated by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC); 14 cases were diagnosed as in the ES family of tumors. The ages of the patients ranged from 8 to 30 years. All the cases were histologically confirmed.


RESULTS
Of 14 cases of the ES family of tumors, 7 were ES, 3 extraosseous ES (EOE), 2 peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PPNET) and 2 Askin tumor. Cytologically, smears from all the cases showed round tumor cells with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. On detailed examination, subtle differentiating features were observed. The cells in ES had finer nuclear chromatin in comparison to those of PPNET and Askin tumor, and punched-out clear cytoplasmic vacuoles were present. PPNET showed nuclear molding, unipolar cytoplasmic tags and Homer-Wright rosettes. Histologically, all cases of ES and EOE and one case of Askin tumor showed periodic acid-Schiff-positive inclusions.


CONCLUSIONS
FNAC features coupled with clinical findings enable a rapid diagnosis of the ES family of tumors, from which treatment modalities can be determined.
Sahu
K
K
Department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, South India.
Pai
R R
RR
Khadilkar
U N
UN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018241:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*