Pap stain: Medium power
Malignant cells in a small cluster with round to oval nuclei in a background of small lymphocytes
Pap stain: Medium power
Malignant cells in a small cluster showing uniform cells with round to oval nuclei in a background of small lymphocytes
Pap stain: Medium power
Malignant cells in a small cluster showing uniform cells with round to oval nuclei, small nucleoli in a background of small lymphocytes
Note lobular carcinoma may be present as single uniform cells; look for intracytoplasmic mucin vacuoles
Features
• Top three metastatic malignancies involving CSF
- Lung
- Breast
- Melanoma
• Multiple samples or immunocytochemistry may be needed to confirm disease
• Metastatic carcinoma may form small clusters or cannon-balls
• Single cells usually stand out since they are larger in comparison to lymphocytes
• Single cell filing may be seen in lobular carcinoma
• Usually high N:C ratio
• Cytoplasm may have intracytoplasmic lumens
• Nuclei enlarged, round, uniform
• Nuclei may be eccentrically located
• Usually prominent nucleoli