Occurrence of cilia in exfoliated ovarian adenocarcinoma cells

Cilia identifiable by light microscopy occur extremely rarely in malignant tumor cells. This report documents the presence of cilia on exfoliated malignant tumor cells shed from an ovarian adenocarcinoma. Cilia-bearing tumor cells were observed in abdominal and pleural fluids. These cilia occurred at atypical locations. They were observed as unipolar, bipolar, lateral, and pericellular structures. Diagnostic features and implications of cilia in relation to malignant cells are discussed.