title: Fine needle aspiration of parathyroid lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the cytologic features of parathyroid lesions and to determine if it is possible to differentiate between parathyroid hyperplasia (PH) and parathyroid adenoma (PA) based on fine needle aspiration (FNA).
  
  
  METHODS
  FNAs of 14 parathyroid lesions were performed during intraoperative consultation. Alcohol-fixed, Papanicolaou-stained smears and air-dried Diff-Quik-stained smears were prepared in each case. Cytologic features were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cases, PA and PH, showed numerous bare nuclei in the background. Ninety percent of PA contained microfollicular groups in addition to sheets and syncytia, while PH was arranged primarily in sheets and syncytia without microfollicles. Nuclear pleomorphism was seen in 33% of PA and absent from PH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Careful evaluation of cytologic features might help to differentiate between PA and PH on FNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Rhode Island Hospital, Women and Infants Hospital, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gnepp
authors.forename: Latha R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pisharodi
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology*; D001399:Azure Stains / Q000592:standards; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000592:standards; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D001399:Azure Stains; C067461:Diff Quik; D014966:Xanthenes; D008751:Methylene Blue