Abstract
Here we report chiefly about cytologic features in neoplastic cardiac tamponade from a patient with mediastinal embryonal carcinoma.
The patient was a 55-year-old female who had complained of hoarseness and coughing for a few months. Later, cardiac tamponade suddenly occurred. Although many atypical cells suggested of adenocarcinoma were seen in the aspirated pericardial effusions, the primary focus was not made clear.
The tumor cells generally appeared in clusters of glandular or papillary arrangement. They had cytoplasms stained well with light green and ovoid-shaped nuclei with slight anisonucleosis. The nuclear membrane was clear and one or two prominent nucleoli were recognized. Some tumor cells had markedly indented nuclei.
A definite diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy. Macroscopically, a mass, 6×4×4.5 cm in size, was detected in the anterior superior mediastinum and had invaded directly to the pericardium. Histopathologically, the tumor was diagnosed as embryonal carcinoma which proliferated in glandular, papillary or medullary fashion. The tumor cells were negative for PAS reaction, and also negative for alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and placental alkaline phosphatase in immunohistochemical staining using the peroxidase antiperoxidase technique. Neoplastic changes or scar fibrosis were not recognized in bilateral ovarian tissues.
