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Cercariform cells: are they specific for transitional cell carcinoma?
1Department of Pathology, Cytopathology and Cytometry Section, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Cancer
|May 5, 1999
Summary
Cercariform cells (CCs) are not specific for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). However, a high number of CCs (>20) strongly suggests metastatic TCC, as all metastatic TCC cases had at least one CC.
Area of Science:
- Cytopathology
- Oncology
- Uropathology
Background:
- Cercariform cells (CCs) are a cytologic clue for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).
- CCs are characterized by a globular body and a unipolar cytoplasmic process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the diagnostic specificity of CCs in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples.
- To evaluate the association between CC presence and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).
Main Methods:
- Reviewed 45 poorly differentiated malignant epithelial neoplasms (PDMEN) and 11 metastatic TCC cases.
- Quantified CCs in Diff-Quik stained slides, Papanicolaou stained slides, and Millipore filter preparations.
Main Results:
- CCs were found in 36% of PDMEN cases (16/45).
- CCs were identified in all 11 metastatic TCC cases.
- A high count of CCs (>20) was significantly more frequent in metastatic TCC (45%) than PDMEN (4%).
Conclusions:
- Finding a few CCs is not specific for TCC.
- The presence of >20 CCs strongly indicates metastatic TCC.
- Absence of CCs makes metastatic TCC unlikely; all metastatic TCC cases had at least one CC.