title: Cytomorphologic features of the plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma: a case report.
abstract: The plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma is an uncommon form of urothelial carcinoma with a distinctive histologic appearance. Descriptions of the cytologic features of this particular type of urothelial carcinoma in urinary specimens are limited. The present report details the urinary cytomorphologic findings of a plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma occurring in the urinary bladder of a 66-year-old male. Bladder washings showed the presence of scattered dyscohesive cells with a plasmacytoid appearance characterized by abundant amounts of cytoplasm, eccentrically located nuclei, and inconspicuous nucleoli. The diagnosis of plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma was confirmed upon histologic examination of a concurrently performed transurethral resection specimen, with immunohistochemical studies supporting this interpretation. Although rare, the plasmacytoid variant of urothelial carcinoma should be a diagnostic consideration when atypical cells with plasmacytoid features are encountered in a urinary specimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. SLau@coh.org
authors.forename: Sean K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*