CYTOLOGY OF MALIGNANT-MELANOMA OF SOFT PARTS - FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATES AND EXFOLIATIVE SPECIMENS

We describe the morphologic features of 25 cytology specimens (13 fine -needle aspirates and 12 exfoliative specimens) obtained from nine pat ients with malignant melanoma of soft parts (MMSP). Analysis of the fi ne-needle aspirates and exfoliative specimens revealed primarily a dis persed cell population with occasional cell clustering. Tumor cells we re round to polygonal with moderately abundant cytoplasm and had round nuclei with prominent nucleoli. In two cases, an initial definitive d iagnosis of MMSP was rendered on material obtained by fine-needle aspi ration with the aid of immunocytochemical and ultrastructural studies. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.