Cytologic, cytochemical, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural diagnosis of a sacrococcygeal chordoma in a fine needle aspiration biopsy specimen

Acta Cytol. 1989 Jan-Feb;33(1):89-92.

Abstract

The cytologic, cytochemical, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural findings on the aspirated material are presented for the case of a 57-year-old man with sacrococcygeal chordoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Cytologically, two types of cellular elements were differentiated: medium-sized cells with few cytoplasmic vacuoles and classic physaliferous cells. Both types showed marked cytoplasmic positivity for keratin and S-100 protein; the absence of nuclear positivity in the physaliferous cells was notable. Ultrastructural study demonstrated the existence of true intracytoplasmic vacuoles and frequent rough endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria complexes. The cytologic differential diagnosis with chondrosarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, ependymoma and metastases of mucosecretory carcinomas is reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Chordoma / diagnosis*
  • Chordoma / pathology
  • Chordoma / ultrastructure
  • Coccyx*
  • Cytodiagnosis
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sacrum*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Spinal Neoplasms / ultrastructure