title: The diagnosis of malignancy in effusion cytology: a pattern recognition approach.
abstract: This review presents a pattern recognition approach for the diagnosis of malignant effusions. The cytomorphologic features of reactive mesothelial proliferation, mesothelioma and metastatic carcinoma are presented. In addition, the role of ancillary studies in challenging cases and the importance of integrating clinical findings are stressed. An algorithmic approach to the workup of serous effusions as well as pitfalls for false-positive diagnosis are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, and Drexel University College of Medicine, USA. tpereira@wpahs.org
authors.forename: Telma C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Reda S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.forename: Yulin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary; D000465:Algorithms; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000473:pathology*; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000473:pathology*