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Cytology of angiosarcoma in effusions
G J Berry1, C J Anderson, W C Pitts
1Department of Pathology, Stanford University, California.
Acta Cytologica
|September 1, 1991
Summary
Cytologic and immunocytochemical analysis of pleural effusions aids in diagnosing angiosarcoma. Key markers like Ulex europaeus and vimentin help differentiate it from other cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Cytology
Background:
- Angiosarcoma is a rare malignant vascular tumor.
- Pleural effusions can present diagnostic challenges, especially differentiating angiosarcoma from metastatic carcinomas.
Observation:
- Three cases of angiosarcoma with pleural effusions were analyzed.
- Cytologic examination revealed single malignant cells or small clusters with delicate, vacuolated cytoplasm.
- No specific morphologic features were pathognomonic for angiosarcoma.
Findings:
- Immunoperoxidase studies showed positive staining for Ulex europaeus and vimentin in all three cases.
- Factor VIII-related antigen was expressed in two cases.
- Epithelial markers were negative, aiding in differential diagnosis.
Implications:
- Immunocytochemistry is crucial for distinguishing angiosarcoma from metastatic adenocarcinoma in pleural effusions.
- Combined clinical history and immunoprofiling are essential for accurate diagnosis.
- This study highlights the utility of specific markers in challenging cytologic samples.