Lipid-like vacuoles on May-Giemsa staining of ascites from a patient with ovarian yolk sac tumor

Abstract

Background : Ovarian yolk sac tumors (YST) are rarely found diagnosed by ascitic fluid cytology. Herein, we report the findings of lipid-like vacuoles on May-Giemsa (MG) staining of cytology specimens of ascitic fluid.

Case : A woman in her 40s was diagnosed as having stage ⅢC ovarian cancer. Partial omentectomy and intraoperative cytology of the ascitic fluid were performed. Papanicolaou staining revealed balloon animal-like cell clusters. MG staining revealed distinct small, bumpy vacuoles resembling fat granules in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the cells.

Conclusion : When lipid-like vacuoles are observed in MG staining of ascites, ovarian YST should be suspected.