Fine needle cytology of endometriosis: experience with 10 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether commonly used cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of endometriosis are sufficiently specific, to assess the possible role of special methods in the differential diagnosis and to assess the clinical meaning and drawbacks of a cytopathologic diagnosis of endometriosis by fine needle aspiration.


METHODS
We retrieved 10 cases of endometriosis from our files that had been diagnosed primarily by fine needle cytology (FNC) with subsequent tissue study. In some cases additional cytospin preparations and/or smears had been used for cytochemistry (periodic acid-Schiff stain, mucicarmine) or immunocytochemistry (pan-cytokeratin, cytokeratin 7, vimentin, CD10) using a 3-step streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase reaction.


RESULTS
The cell pattern and immunocytochemical profile of the cases suggested a diagnosis of endometriosis. All cases were histologically confirmed.


CONCLUSIONS
With optimal preparations a confident cytologic diagnosis of endometriosis may be made with ease, permitting correct treatment of the disease and, in selected cases, planning of preoperative pharmacologic therapy.
Fulciniti
Franco
F
Cytopathology Service, Department of Pathology, University Federico II, Naples, Italy. fulcinit@unina.it
Caleo
Alessia
A
Lepore
Maria
M
Fortunato
Adriana
A
Vetrani
Antonio
A
Palombini
Lucio
L
D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053552:Keratin-7; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000032:analysis; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C507497:KRT7 protein, human; D053552:Keratin-7; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins; D015260:Neprilysin