Crush cytologic findings of a cerebral granular cell astrocytoma.
BACKGROUND
Granular cell astrocytoma (GCA) is a rare variant of astrocytoma, characterized by an aggressive prognosis compared to conventional astrocytomas of the same World Health Organization grade. Intraoperative smears provide useful clues in diagnosing neuropathology, especially in rarely encountered central nervous system tumors.


METHODS
The patient was a 53-year-old man who presented with a huge mass at the left temporal lobe with peritumoral edema on MRI. The crush smears revealed singly-scattered, large eosinophilic cells with eccentrically located nuclei as well as plump, finely-granular cytoplasm with distinct borders. Mild cellular atypia and absence of mitotic activity were noted. These cells were admixed with small mature lymphoid cells. Histology showed scattered large granular cells which were positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein.


CONCLUSIONS
The most helpful imprint cytologic findings of GCA were as follows: (1) large cells containing eosinophilic granular cytoplasm rather than the foamy or bubbly cytoplasm associated with macrophages or renal cell carcinomas; (2) distinct granular cell borders in contrast to the ruffled membrane of macrophages, and (3) markedly large-sized granular cells, ranging from 60 to 100 µm in diameter.
Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
Myunghee
M
Kang
Na Rae
NR
Kim
Dong Hae
DH
Chung
Chan Jong
CJ
Yoo
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein