title: Study of cytomorphology of solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas and its differential diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Solid pseudopapillary tumor is a rare pancreatic neoplasm with uncertain to low malignant potential. This is an uncommon neoplasm with many pseudonyms, occurring predominantly in young woman under the age of thirty years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the cytomorphological features of six cases of solid and pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasm of pancreas diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in years 2005 to 2007 and its cyto-histological correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Image-guided FNAs was done in these six patients preoperatively. Alcohol-fixed smears were stained with Papanicolaou stain, cytomorphological findings were evaluated and diagnosis was made. Diagnosis was later confirmed by histology in all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All six cases show characteristic cytological features such as hypercellular smears with presence of abundant delicate papillary fragments, dyscohesive cells, monomorphic tumor cells with delicate folded nuclear membranes, and foamy macrophages in the background.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative correct diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas is possible on FNAC and by doing so it helps in management of this surgically curable neoplasm.
authors.affiliation: The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Lopa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Modi
authors.forename: Trupti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shah