Sputum cytologic features of disseminated immunoblastic lymphoma

A case report

Abstract

Sputum cytologic features of immunoblastic lymphoma were observed with Papanicolaou staining.
The cytologic smears were fairly cellular. The tumor cells were present singly without cell clustering and appeared round to ovoid, measuring from 10 p to 14 p in diameter. The nuclei were round with distinct nuclear membrane and centrally or slightly eccentrically located in the cytoplasm. Nuclear chromatin was coarse with some clumping and scant to ample cytoplasm was appeared appeared clear.
It was necessary to differentiate these tumor cells from those of small cell carcinoma of the lung, which were thought to show more fine and hyperchromatic patterns with indistinct nuclear membrane. But it seemed to difficult to diagnose as malignant lymphoma of the immunoblastic type in the Papanicolaou stained sputum preparations.