Fine needle aspiration cytology of alveolar soft-part sarcoma. A case report

A fine needle aspiration specimen from a mass in the thigh of a 25-year-old woman was submitted for cytologic examination. Malignant cells were found singly and in well-defined nests, resulting in an alveolar pattern. Individual cells were large, with moderate amounts of granular cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. The aspiration cytology findings plus the clinical setting suggested an alveolar soft-part sarcoma. Histologic and electron microscopic examination of the tumor mass confirmed the diagnosis.