Malignant pleural effusions due to adeno-endocrine-cell carcinoma of the appendix: a case report

Diagn Cytopathol. 1997 Jun;16(6):522-5. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0339(199706)16:6<522::aid-dc10>3.0.co;2-k.

Abstract

The cellular features of adeno-endocrine-cell carcinoma of appendiceal origin are presented. The pleural fluid contained metastatic predominantly atypical cells in linear cluster accompanied by numerous mesothelial cells. The cells had small round nuclei, with a slight tendency to molding; nucleoli were absent. The cytologic findings in Papanicolaou-stained smears of the pleural fluid suggested a metastatic small-cell carcinoma of the lung. Subsequently, adeno-endocrine-cell carcinoma of the appendix was demonstrated at autopsy. Reports of such occurrences are few; no study, to the best of our knowledge, has previously documented the cytologic diagnosis in pleural fluid.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / chemistry
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Aged
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Carcinoid Tumor / chemistry
  • Carcinoid Tumor / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / chemistry
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pleural Effusion / pathology*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Biomarkers