Paper
Document
Download
Flag content
0

Cytomorphological characteristics of low‐grade papillary urothelial carcinoma in voided urine samples: Distinction from benign and high‐grade papillary urothelial carcinoma

Save
TipTip
Document
Download
Flag content
0
TipTip
Save
Document
Download
Flag content

Abstract

Abstract Objective Given its frequent recurrence and the potential for high‐grade transformation, accurate diagnosis of low‐grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (LGPUC) in urine cytology is clinically important. We attempted to identify cytomorphologic features in urine samples, which could be helpful for the identification of LGPUC. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of voided urine specimens collected from patients with histopathologic diagnoses of LGPUC. Their cytomorphological features were compared with those from patients with benign conditions and high‐grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (HGPUC). Results A total of 115 voided urine specimens were evaluated, including 30 benign, 41 LGPUC, and 44 HGPUC cases. In LGPUC, 18 cases (44%) were diagnosed as atypical, a proportion significantly higher than that observed in benign cases (4 cases, 13%), while the remaining 23 cases (56%) were diagnosed as negative. LGPUC urine samples tended to have higher cellularity than benign cases, but the difference was not statistically significant. Three cytological features, namely nuclear enlargement, higher nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio, and presence of small cell clusters, were statistically more prevalent in LGPUC compared to benign cases, although the changes were relatively subtle. In contrast, cytomorphological distinction between LGPUC and HGPUC was evident, as high cellularity, nuclear enlargement, hyperchromasia, high N/C ratio, irregular nuclear membrane, and apoptosis were significantly more prevalent in HGPUC cases. Conclusions Several cytomorphologic features in voided urine samples were more prevalent in cases with LGPUC, albeit not observed in all instances. Since these alterations were relatively subtle, meticulous attention to these cytomorphologic details is crucial to suggest the possibility of LGPUC.

Paper PDF

This paper's license is marked as closed access or non-commercial and cannot be viewed on ResearchHub. Visit the paper's external site.