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Pigmented neuroectodermal tumor of infancy in the epididymis. A case report
1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
Background:
Pigmented neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (PNTI) is a rare pigmentary tumor. Cytologic study of this tumor had not been performed before. In the present study, cytology of such a tumor was done in addition to histology, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry.
Case:
A 5-month-old infant had a scrotal tumor. After tumorectomy, touch smear for cytology revealed small and large tumor cells. The small cells showed a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, and the large cells contained pigment in their cytoplasm. Histologically, the small cells and large, pigmented cells showed a typical alveolar and tubular pattern, respectively. The small cells neuroblastlike and the large cells showed melanocytelike features ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically.
Conclusion:
Cytology has not been applied to the diagnoses of PNTI. In our opinion, fine needle aspiration cytology could be helpful in the preoperative diagnosis of this tumor.