Abstract
Background : Large cell carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype is a rare, highly aggressive subtype of large cell carcinoma.
Case : A 50-year-old woman presented with fever. A rapidly enlarging mass in the lower left lung was detected on computed tomography and lobectomy was subsequently performed. One year and 10 months postoperatively, the tumor had not recurred. Touch imprint cytology revealed tumor cells as large eccentrically located nuclei with prominent nucleoli and abundant cytoplasm, loosely cohesive tumor cells scattered on a necrotic background, and lightly Papanicolau-stained paranuclear inclusions. Histological analysis revealed tumor cells with mostly rhabdoid features and some large cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the paranuclear inclusions comprised rhabdoid cells that were positive for both anti-vimentin and anti-cytokeratin and the cell membrane was positive for anti-HER2, anti-EGFR. Electron microscopy revealed aggregated filaments. Thus, this tumor was diagnosed as large cell carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype.
Conclusion : Due to the poor prognosis associated with large cell carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype, it is clinically important to recognize the characteristic cytological findings.
