Cytologic diagnosis of small cell anaplastic hepatoblastoma: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Small cell anaplastic hepatoblastoma (HB) is the least common subtype of HB. There are few articles in the literature describing the cytologic characteristics of this rare subtype.


METHODS
A 5-year-old girl present with a progressively enlarging abdominal mass. Ultrasound examination revealed the mass to be arising within the right lobe of the liver. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the mass revealed primitive cells with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and hyperchromatic, ovoid nuclei in poorly cohesive clusters as well as dispersed singly. These cells closely resembled those of small round cell tumors of childhood.


CONCLUSIONS
The cytologic differential diagnosis of undifferentiated HB must include small round cell tumors of childhood. With knowledge of the typical cytomorphologic appearance of HB in association with clinical and radiologic information, one can offer a reliable preoperative diagnosis on FNA.
Philipose
Thoppil Reba
TR
Department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. rebaphilipose@hotmail.com
Naik
Ramadas
R
Rai
Sharada
S
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D018197:Hepatoblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity