Cytologic findings in carotid body tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the cytologic findings in 13 cases of carotid body tumors (CBTs) and discuss the differential diagnoses.


METHODS
Cytologic smears were obtained from 13 cases of carotid body tumors by fine needle aspiration. All tumors were clinically suspected and later confirmed by arteriography or color Doppler ultrasonography. The cytomorphologic findings are described.


RESULTS
The smears revealed hypercellularity, a bloody background, isolated and clusters of round to oval cells with indistinct cytoplasm, reticular chromatin, no prominent nucleoli, giant bare nuclei, anisocytosis, acinar structures and plasmacytoid cells. These findings suggested metastatic tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
The cytologic diagnosis of CBTs is very difficult. The aspiration findings can be easily mistaken for those of metastatic tumors. However, when used with clinical and color Doppler findings, fine needle aspiration plays an important role in the preoperative diagnosis and management of CBTs.
Monabati
Ahmad
A
Department of Pathology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hodjati
Hossein
H
Kumar
Perikala V
PV
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color