This study was to clarify the nuclear features of "condensed clusters of stromal cells (EGBD-stromal cells)" and "metaplastic clumps with irregular protrusions (EGBD-metaplastic cells)" which may be recognized in endometrial glandular and stromal breakdown (EGBD) cases in liquid-based cytologic (LBC) preparations of endometrial brushings. The material consists of cytologic smears of 20 cases of proliferative endometrium (PE), 20 cases of EGBD, and 20 cases of endometrioid adenocarcinoma grade 1 (G1) for which histopathological diagnosis was obtained by endometrial curettage. Nuclear findings were examined in PE cells, EGBD-stromal cells, EGBD-metaplastic cells, and G1 cells, respectively. It was examined about the following items: (1) Nuclear shape; (2) A long/minor axis ratio in cell nuclei; (3) An area of cell nuclei; (4) Overlapping nuclei; (5) The distribution pattern of nuclei within cell clusters. The following observations were made: (1) In PE cells, round-oval nuclei appeared to predominate, overlapping nuclei were not observed, and a slightly abnormal distribution pattern of nuclei was recorded; (2) In EGBD-stromal cells, reniform nuclei were characteristically observed, nuclei had small size and a generally elongated appearance, overlapping nuclei were recognized, and a remarkable abnormal distribution pattern of nuclei was found; (3) In EGBD-metaplastic cells, spindle nuclei were a characteristic feature, nuclei were larger in size and had a bipolar appearance, overlapping nuclei with moderately abnormal distribution pattern of nuclei were identified; (4) In G1 cells round-oval nuclei predominated, overlapping nuclei with moderately abnormal distribution pattern of nuclei were found. The study demonstrates that the analysis of selected nuclear findings appears to be very useful in the cytopathological assessment of endometrial lesions in LBC samples, especially for the discrimination of EGBD and G1.
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