Tumoral calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease: cytopathologic findings on fine-needle aspiration

Diagn Cytopathol. 1996 Nov;15(4):349-51. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0339(199611)15:4<349::AID-DC20>3.0.CO;2-N.

Abstract

Tumoral calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD) is a rare non-neoplastic entity which mimics primary or metastatic soft-tissue or skeletal malignancy. Fewer than a dozen cases have been reported in the literature with only histologic descriptions. We present cytologic findings of a unique case of CPPD in a 73-year-old black female with a history of end-stage renal disease. A fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was done on a 4 x 4-cm neck mass which was clinically thought to be malignant. Cytopathologic examination showed numerous macrophages with markedly distended cytoplasm and containing multiple yellowish-orange, short rhomboid crystals. These were strongly birefringent on polarized microscopy, consistent with CPPD crystals.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Calcium Pyrophosphate / metabolism*
  • Chondrocalcinosis / metabolism*
  • Chondrocalcinosis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / metabolism
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / pathology

Substances

  • Calcium Pyrophosphate