FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF SEMINOMA - A REVIEW OF 16 CASES

We report the cytomorphologic features of 16 fine-needle aspiration (F NA) biopsies of seminoma obtained from 16 male patients. The aspirates included two primary gonadal tumors (one occurring in a cryptorchid t estis), two primary mediastinal tumors, and 12 metastases (two with un known primaries). Analysis of the aspirates revealed a primarily dispe rsed cell population of large cells with scant to moderately abundant cytoplasm. The nuclei were round to slightly irregular, had finely gra nular chromatin, and had either one central prominent nucleolus or two to three smaller nucleoli. Variable numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells were intermingled with the tumor cells. Only a few cases had ep ithelioid histiocytes or the characteristic ''tigroid'' background. Th e cytologic features of the metastases were distinctive and were consi dered diagnostic for therapeutic management. In six cases, an initial diagnosis of seminoma by FNA biopsy identified the neoplasm as germ ce ll in origin rather than other neoplasms in the differential diagnosis , thereby expediting therapeutic management. Diagn Cytopathol 1995;12: 327-333. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.