Ds. Raso et al., MORPHOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS OF LIESEGANG RINGS IN CYST ASPIRATES - REPORT OF 2 CASES WITH ANCILLARY STUDIES, Diagnostic cytopathology, 19(2), 1998, pp. 116-119
Liesegang rings are laminated ring-like structures occasionally found
in benign cysts and abscesses. They have been confused with parasites
(especially eggs), algae, calcifications and psammoma bodies. We exami
ned Liesegang rings from fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies of a be
nign cost of the breast and a complex renal cyst. Liesegang rings were
best observed with Papanicolaou, hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrom
e, acid-fast (AFB), and cram stains, which accentuate the concentrical
ly laminated morphology An amorphous electron-dense core and fibrillar
y lucent concentric rings were seen with transmission electron microsc
opy with no significant energy peaks by electron probe microanalysis o
r distinct diffraction patterns by X-ray diffraction. This investigati
on indicates that Liesegang rings are composed of organic substances m
ost likely formed by periodic precipitation from a supersaturated solu
tion within cystic fluid. Awareness of the Liesegang phenomenon within
cystic lesions will decrease the possibility of erroneous misdiagnosi
s as another type of pathologic process. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:11
6-119. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.