Unusual cytologic findings in low grade papillary transitional cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To describe cases of low grade papillary transitional cell carcinoma (LG-pTCC) with a low nuclear cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio and unusual cytologic patterns with many isolated, single neoplastic cells.


METHODS
We defined the following unusual cytologic findings as "isolated, single cell pattern": (1) numerous single cells sometimes with a few flat cell clusters; (2) very low N/C ratio; (3) angulation of cytoplasmic contour; (4) pale, homogeneous cytoplasm; (5) hyperchromatic nuclei with an uneven contour; (6) monotonous cytologic appearance; and (7) clear background. We studied 2,956 cytologic specimens of voided urine from 114 LG-pTCC patients at our university hospital during a 10-year period.


RESULTS
Thirty-six specimens had the isolated, single cell pattern. The isolated, single cell pattern showed less celllular atypia than does the typical pattern of LG-pTCC. On histology the cases with the isolated, single cell pattern showed a papillary structure with an erosive surface and were composed of mildly atypical neoplastic cells with very low N/C ratios.


CONCLUSIONS
Some LG-pTCCs show many single, atypical transitional cells.
Murata
Shin-ichi
S
Department of Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Nakakoma-gun, Yamanashi, Japan. smurata@yamanashi.ac.jp
Kishikawa
Toshiharu
T
Isojima
Yoshitaka
Y
Tsuchihashi
Yasunari
Y
Katoh
Ryohei
R
D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000652:urine; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000652:urine; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000652:urine; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology*