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Primary diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma by fine‐needle aspiration of a supraclavicular lymph node
Author(s) -
Tafazzoli Alireza,
Raza Anwar,
Martin Sue Ellen
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/dc.20314
Subject(s) - medicine , mesothelioma , lymph node , fine needle aspiration , supraclavicular lymph nodes , biopsy , pathology , radiology , cancer , metastasis
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm with poor prognosis. The pleural form is defined as a malignant tumor of mesothelial cells with a diffuse growth pattern involving the visceral and parietal surfaces of the pleura. To our knowledge, there have only been two reported cases in the literature where fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) of a lymph node was the primary mode of diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. We describe a 40‐yr‐old male in whom the primary diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma was made by FNA of a supraclavicular lymph node. The mesothelial origin of the tumor was confirmed with immunohistochemical studies. A pleural biopsy immediately preceding the FNA was interpreted as chronic inflammation. Most patients with clinically documented lymph node metastases of malignant mesothelioma have had a previously established diagnosis of mesothelioma. Our case demonstrates that FNA can be a simple and invaluable method of diagnosis in those unusual cases where diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma has not already been made before lymphadenopathy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2005;33:122–125. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.