#SPINDLE CELLS SERIES#

Do the cells show cytologic criteria of malignancy?.Are they neoplastic or non-neoplastic (e.g.If the cells are not expected for the aspirated site, what is their lineage – epithelial, mesenchymal, round or discrete cell, endocrine/neuroendocrine?.Are they expected normal for the aspirated site?.Can a cause for the inflammation be identified?.Does the smear contain inflammatory cells in excess of blood?.

#SPINDLE CELLS SERIES#

It helps to ask a series of questions when working through smears: If the sample has adequate cellularity and the cells are well-stained and well-preserved, the next step in cytologic diagnosis is the identification of the cell types and pathologic process that are present. aspiration of the salivary gland when attempting mandibular lymph node aspiration. Sampling error: Aspiration of surrounding fat or another structure, e.g.excessive pressure put on the syringe during aspiration) or smear preparation (excessive pressure put on the spreader slide – squashing cells), though some tumor cells are excessively fragile and prone to rupture. Many smudged or ruptured cells: This may result from exuberant collection methods (e.g.They do not help with interpretation and can hinder it. When we describe cellularity, we usually do not include blood-associated leukocytes. Excessive blood contamination: This contributes leukocytes, which need to be differentiated from a true inflammatory infiltrate, which can be difficult.Poor cellularity of the sample: Due to a poorly exfoliating lesion or poor sample collection.There are many reasons for obtaining a non-diagnostic sample: Note: Often more than one category is present, as inflammation can result in dysplastic changes in the surrounding tissue and inflammation often accompanies a neoplastic process. The following are the general categories of cytologic interpretation:

Spindle cells