title: Exfoliative cytologic findings of primary pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinom: a report of 2 cases with a review of the cytologic features.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a very rare primary pulmonary neoplasm. Cytologic findings of pulmonary washing and brushing in 2 cases of primary bronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma with special histologic features are described, with an emphasis on some points that have not been reported previously, together with the diagnostic pitfalls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cases of primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung were diagnosed on exfoliative cytology. The patients' ages were 55 and 65 years old. Cytologic findings included large and small clusters of small cells in both 2 and 3 dimensions with occasional cystlike spaces containing mucoid material. The cells were arranged in spherical, cylindrical, basaloid and rosettelike arrangements. There were also abundant small and large mucoid globules, cylinders of homogeneous, acellular, mucous material and "cannon balls." Cytoplasmic and intranuclear round inclusions were noted in case 1. Rare findings of nuclear molding were noted. In case 2, chondromyxoid material and a bimorphic population of tumor cells caused diagnostic confusion with other salivary gland-type tumors of the lung.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These cases showed characteristic cytologic findings of adenoid cystic carcinoma together with rare findings of intracellular and extracellular inclusionlike bodies, myxochondroid material, bimorphic populations and nuclear molding, which can cause diagnostic confusion with other lung tumors.
authors: Cytopathology Department, Dr. Daneshbod Pathology Laboratory, Shiraz, Iran. daneshbk@yahoo.com
authors: Yahya
authors: Y
authors: Daneshbod
authors: Ebrahim
authors: E
authors: Modjtahedi
authors: Sohrab
authors: S
authors: Atefi
authors: Gholam Reza
authors: GR
authors: Bedayat
authors: Khosrow
authors: K
authors: Daneshbod
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged