Cell cannibalism and nucleus-fragmented cells in voided urine: useful parameters for cytologic diagnosis of low-grade urothelial carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify whether the 3 parameters of cell clusters, cell cannibalism and nucleus-fragmented cells could improve diagnostic accuracy for grade 1 urothelial carcinoma (G1UC).


METHODS
A total of 52 voided urine samples from 31 patients histologically diagnosed as having G1UC were reviewed. In addition, 10 voided urine samples from cases with grade 3 demonstration urothelial carcinoma (G3UC) and 30 voided urine samples from 25 patients with a histologic diagnosis of chronic inflammation of the bladder were evaluated for comparison. Areas of tumor cells with cannibalism were measured.


RESULTS
Cell cannibalism was evident in 12 of 31 G1UC cases (38.7%), significantly less often than with G3UC, but never identified in the control group. Mean areas of tumor cells featuring cannibalism were significantly smaller in G1 UC than in G3UC cases. Nucleus-fragmented cells were also less frequent in G1UC than in G3UC, but more common than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Cell cannibalism and nucleus-fragmented cells in voided urine with special attention to areas of tumor cell with cannibalism could be applied as a parameter to improve diagnostic accuracy for G1UC.
Hattori
Manabu
M
Department of Clinical Cytology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan. mhattori@nc.kitasato-u.ac.jp
Nishino
Yuki
Y
Kakinuma
Hirokuni
H
Matsumoto
Kazumasa
K
Ohbu
Makoto
M
Okayasu
Isao
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology*; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*