Fine needle aspiration cytology of undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma of the liver. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma of the liver (UESL) is a rare malignant mesenchymal hepatic tumor with an incidence among liver tumors of 27.7%. It occurs predominantly in children under the age of 15.

METHODS

The cytologic findings in a case of UESL in fine needle aspiration biopsy material in a 12-year-old girl are described. The patient presented clinically with upper abdominal pain and a palpable mass in the right hepatic lobe. Cytologic features included a combination of polygonal and spindle cells. The polygonal cells were large, with round or lobulated nuclei, and occasionally multinucleated, with one or several nucleoli and variable cytoplasm with poorly defined borders. A few intracytoplasmic and extracytoplasmic eosinophil globules were observed. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies were performed, and staining for vimentin and alpha-1 antichemotrypsin was positive.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to recognize the cytologic features of this type of liver tumor since rapid diagnosis and initiation of early treatment may improve the poor prognosis of these neoplasms.