Cytologic studies of malignant melanoma of the vagina

Four cases of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina are described and discussed with respect to vaginal smears. Two cases treated with radiotherapy began to increase the amount of the melanin pigment during the course of irradiation. Characteristic cytologic features found in the four cases are summarized as follows: a) Distribution of cell 1) Scattering, no tendency of grouping 2) Moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis b) Cytoplasm 1) Cyanophilic wispy cytoplasm 2) Indistinct cytoplasmic rim 3) Relatively clear cytoplasm 4) Relatively low N/C ratio c) Melanin pigment 1) In melanoma cells-finely granular and diffusely packed in cytoplasm 2) In histiocytes-coarsely granular and densely packed in cytoplasm d) Nucleus 1) Extremely eccentric nucleus 2) Thin and irregular nuclear membrane 3) Relatively regular chromatin distribution 4) Finely or moderately granular chromatin pattern 5) Prominent nucleolus 6) Giant malignant cells (3-4 nuclei) 7) Intranuclear vacuole (punched out).