Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40605374›Full record

ArticleJournal of pathology and translational medicine2025

Pancreatic cancer in liquid-based cytology: cytological features and cell block utility from 254 fine-needle aspiration samples.

Jaeyong Min, Wookjin Oh, Baek-Hui Kim

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Article in Journal of pathology and translational medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Jaeyong MinKorea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Wookjin OhKorea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Baek-Hui KimKorea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the increasing use of liquid-based cytology (LBC) for pancreatic cancer diagnosis, relatively few studies have directly examined such research. This study analyzed the cytopathological features of pancreatic cancer in LBC and demonstrated the utility of cell blocks in diagnosing pancreatic lesions.

methodsA retrospective review identified LBC from 254 pancreatic fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) (221 patients). FNAs were categorized into five subgroups based on cytopathological, clinical, and histopathological findings. Two pathologists evaluated cytological features in LBC samples, cell blocks, and tissue slides. Comparative analysis assessed differences between groups.

resultsCompared to benign lesions, LBC of pancreatic cancer more frequently showed a necrotic background, intermediate to high cellularity, mixed architecture, nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio >0.8, anisonucleosis >4:1, irregular and thick nuclear membranes, multinucleated tumor cells, hyperchromatic nuclei, coarse to clumped chromatin, and a prominent single nucleolus. In cases of conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the palliative treatment subgroup showed a higher incidence of necrotic background than the resection subgroup. In the cell block analysis, tumor cells not identified in LBC slides were detected in 16 FNAs. Additionally, 13 FNAs contributed to differential diagnosis: ancillary tests aided diagnosis in 12 FNAs, while histopathological evaluation of the cell block slide alone was helpful in one case.

conclusionsThe cytological features of pancreatic cancer in LBC are similar to those observed in conventional smears, with a necrotic background suggesting advanced (unresectable) disease. The cell block methodology minimizes tumor cell loss and facilitates differential diagnosis by enabling ancillary testing.

Indexed as

Biopsy, fine-needleCytological techniquesImmunohistochemistryPancreatic neoplasms

Identifiers

PMID40605374
PMCPMC12267980

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