ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF A CASE OF TUMORAL CALCINOSIS

The fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic findings in a case of non-f amilial tumoral calcinosis are described. These include abundant calci fic amorphous deposits, mononuclear histiocytes, osteoclast-type multi nucleated giant cells, and fragments of tissue consisting of osteoblas t-type cells with atypical epithelial-like features mimicking an epith elial malignancy. This is the first reported case describing the cellu lar morphology of tumoral calcinosis in an FNA specimen. A previously reported case described the evacuation of acellular calcific fluid onl y. In the present case, vigorous aspiration of the solid portions of t he lesion yielded cellular material representative of the histology of the lesion. Points of caution for a correct interpretation of the cyt ologic findings are discussed. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.