Fine-needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of pediatric neoplasms

Cytogenetic evaluation of neuroblastoma using fine needle aspiration cultures

PURPOSE

Open surgical biopsies of the primary tumor and bone marrow sampling in metastatic disease are the major sources of tumor material for genetic studies in neuroblastoma. The possibility of using cultures of material procured through Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) for upfront cytogenetic studies of neuroblastomas is studied.

METHODS

From January 2006 to April 2008, 18 patients were diagnosed as neuroblastoma on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). FNA material was cultured and processed to obtain metaphases and chromosomal analysis was performed. Minimum of five selected metaphases were analyzed and changes were documented.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of neuroblastoma was confirmed by FNAC in all. Among the 18 cases, 9 cases (50%) showed metaphases on cultures. Four cultures did not grow and five cultures got contaminated. Out of the nine cases that showed metaphases, four cases showed cytogenetic abnormalities. Near triploidy and Double minutes (Dmins) were seen in one case and tetraploidy in another case. 1q gain and 2q gain were observed respectively in third and fourth cases.

CONCLUSION

FNA provides viable single cell suspension suitable for cultures. This may be a good alternative strategy to acquire material for cytogenetic studies in neuroblastoma.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of small round cell tumors of childhood: A comprehensive approach

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings in small round cell malignant tumors of children are briefly reviewed. All of these tumors usually have characteristic cytomorphology which, when recognized, may lead to a definitive diagnosis. However, when these tumors are undifferentiated, morphologic criteria may not be sufficient for arriving at a correct diagnosis. A variety of ancillary studies including electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and DNA ploidy, cytogenetics, and fluorescent in situ hybridization may provide valuable additional information for precise characterization of these neoplasms. Some of the ancillary studies may also be used for assigning these cases to prognostically significant subgroups. This information may also help in defining the most suitable chemotherapeutic regimens for these tumors. Since most of these special studies require only a small amount of cellular material, fine-needle aspiration biopsy is ideally suited for obtaining samples for these procedures. It is hoped that as cytogenetic and molecular techniques become available in many diagnostic laboratories, a comprehensive evaluation of aspiration biopsies from round cell malignant tumors, encompassing a precise pathologic diagnosis, determination of prognosis, and prediction of response to therapy, will be possible in a majority of cases. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:81-91.