CYTOLOGIC FEATURES OF VILLOUS ADENOMA OF THE AMPULLARY REGION

Villous adenoma of the ampulla of Vater is a rare but distinct patholo gic entity. We studied seven brush cytology specimens from four patien ts with this unusual lesion all of whom had surgical pathologic confir mation and clinical follow-up. The distinguishing cytologic appearance Includes the presence of slender, elongate columnar cells arranged si ngly or in small sheets and clusters. Long, thin, basally oriented nuc lei occupy about one third of the cell and have fine, granular chromat in with one or more nucleoli Although brushings of villous adenoma of the ampullary region may reveal a relatively benign bur distinctive mo rphologic pattern, the aggressive nature of these lesions has been wel l documented, including those in our patients. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, In c.