title: Fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the muscle: a report of 2 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary skeletal muscle lymphoma has been reported in very few cases. Although such imaging techniques as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can supply diagnostic indications, the most reliable data are obtained by means of muscle biopsy investigations. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has not been considered before for the diagnosis of muscle lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In case 1, 60-year-old man presented with 2 masses in the pectoral muscle and neck. FNAC of the neck mass was performed. The diagnosis was non-Hodgkin's diffuse B-cell lymphoma of the muscle; the diagnosis was confirmed by surgical biopsy of the pectoral muscle. In case 2, a 70-year-old man presented with a mass in the quadriceps muscle. The results of FNAC aroused suspicion of lymphoma, and a muscle biopsy confirmed the presence of a non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry identified it as non-Hodgkin's marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNAC can be a valuable starting point in muscle involvement by lymphoma because of the possibility of obtaining material by means of multiple aspirations without causing patients any discomfort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Amedeo Avogadro University of East Piedmont, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bozzola
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boldorini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramponi
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000378:metabolism; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D018951:Antigens, CD20; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen