title: From cytomorphology to molecular pathology: maximizing the value of cytology of lymphoproliferative disorders and soft tissue tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The field of cytopathology has been rapidly advancing in the era of molecular pathology and personalized medicine. On-site cytologic evaluation for adequacy and triaging specimens for small core biopsy or fine-needle aspiration (FNA) are often required. Cytopathologists face the challenge of how to best triage small specimens for diagnosis, molecular testing, and personalized treatment. Owing to its minimally invasive nature, FNA alone or combined with core biopsy for lymphoproliferative disorders and soft tissue tumors has gained popularity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review and author's institutional experience are used for this review article. This article will focus mainly on lymphoproliferative disorders and soft tissue tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evaluation combining cytomorphology, immunohistochemistry, and/or molecular pathology is often needed to accurately diagnose and classify lymphomas and soft tissue tumors. Many molecular tests have been performed on cytologic specimens, such as tests for BRAF and RET in thyroid FNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Molecular pathology has been widely integrated into conventional cytopathology for diagnosing lymphoproliferative disorders and soft tissue tumors, and the diagnostic value of FNA on those tumors has increased significantly. Cytology will play a more important role in the era of personalized medicine.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, MSB 2.216, Houston, TX 77030; e-mail: Songlin.Zhang@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Songlin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D057089:Pathology, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014218:Triage
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Cytology; Fine-needle aspiration; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Lymphoproliferative disorder; Molecular pathology; Polymerase chain reaction; Soft tissue tumor