Diagnosis of adult rhabdomyoma by fine needle aspiration cytology: a report of 2 cases.
BACKGROUND
Adult rhabdomyoma (ARh) is a rare, benign tumor originating in striated muscle cells. Ninety-three percent of the tumors occur in the head and neck region and sometimes mimic malignant tumors clinically. The preoperative correct diagnosis of this tumor is important as it can help in deciding on management.


METHODS
We report two cases of ARh diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Case 1 was a 43-year-old male who presented with a recurrent tumor in the region of the floor of the mouth. Case 2 was a 37-year-old male who presented with soft tissue swellings in bilateral submandibular regions. On cytology in both cases, the smears showed numerous large tissue fragments of tumor cells, which were large, polygonal cells with abundant, vacuolated cytoplasm and bland, eccentrically placed nuclei. Characteristic cross-striation and intracytoplasmic inclusions were not conspicuous on cytosmears. However, a primary cytodiagnosis of ARh could be offered based on characteristic morphologic features.


CONCLUSIONS
ARh has characteristic cytomorphologic features, which are described in detail in the present report, and they can help in diagnosing this tumor on FNAC.
Department of Cytopathology and Gynecologic Pathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160015, India. nalini203@rediffmail.com
Nalini
N
Gupta
Arvind
A
Rajwanshi
Satyawati
S
Mohindra
Rakesh Kumar
RK
Vasishta
Charu
C
Batra
Ashok Kumar
AK
Gupta
D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D009055:Mouth / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012207:Rhabdomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed