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Background: Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) accounts for about 2% of all lymphomas. Recognition of T/B-LBL albeit of their rareness is very important as they present as localized diseases with low tumor burden. They can present both at nodal and extranodal sites. Limitation of diagnosis and classification of lymphoma on fine needle aspirate (FNA) can be minimized by clubbing it with flowcytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) to ensure diagnostic accuracy rapidly. Aim: Study of a series of 18 cases of LBL to assess the utility of FCI on FNA and effusion samples in extramedullary LBL. Methods and Material: FCI was done on FNA and effusion samples from 130 morphologically diagnosed/suspicious cases of lymphoreticular malignancy, followed by peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) examination. The patients diagnosed to have B/T LBL, based on WHO 2017 classification, were selected for further analyses. Results: FCI of 130 cases showed 91 mature and 18 precursor lymphoid neoplasms. These 18 cases were from lymph nodes (11), pleural fluid (03), and soft tissue masses (04). Peripheral blood and BM of 15/18 cases were normal of which FCI revealed T-LBL (11) and B-LBL (04). Two cases (both T LBL) showed BM involvement (<25%), while one case of B-LBL which was misdiagnosed as mature lymphoma by immunohistochemistry (IHC) evolved as B ALL. Conclusions: Diagnosis of extramedullary B/T-LBL needs comprehensive evaluation of clinical presentation, cytomorphology, and immunophenotyping. Rapid and accurate diagnosis by FCI on FNA and effusion samples allows early therapeutic decisions, thereby avoiding leukemic dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the performance of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of tuberculosis mastitis. Materials and Methods: Diagnostic test performance evaluation using two methods--as compared to an alloyed gold standard as well as in the absence of a gold standard. Alloyed gold standard combined the results of acid fast bacilli in cytology smears, histopathological confirmation, and response to treatment. Bayesian estimation of test parameters was done in the absence of the gold standard. Results: FNAC was carried out in 6,496 consecutive cases of breast lump and 104 cases of granulomatous mastitis were detected. Both methods of test parameter estimation identified a high specificity of FNAC for the diagnosis of tuberculosis mastitis (98.9% and 98.4%, respectively). Estimation of sensitivity was falsely high (100%) using the alloyed gold standard because of a workup bias and falsely low (8.41%) using the Bayesian estimation because of low prevalence. Likelihood ratios by both methods suggested that FNAC has good discriminatory capability. Conclusion: In situations where prevalence of tuberculosis is high and where facilities for histopathological evaluation do not exist, FNAC can offer an optional alternative to base the therapeutic decision for starting antitubercular treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the research "Syncytial variant of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease: A diagnostic pitfall in fine-needle aspiration cytology" by Kamal M.M. and colleagues, present within the issue. Topics discussed include nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease (NSHD), identification of the syncytial variant of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), and immunoperoxidase labeling using antibodies against CD15 and CD30 antigens.

Introduction: In the diagnosis of malignant tumors, cytological examinations of various body fluids are useful. For the preparation of body fluid, many methods are used till date. The use of liquid-based cytology is new upcoming in the field., Aim: To examine the performance of liquid-based cytology on body cavity fluids as compared to conventional cytopreparatory techniques., Methodology: In the present study, 700 body fluid samples were processed by both liquid- based cytology (BD SurePath ™ ) and conventional cytopreparatory technique (Thick & Thin). The performance of both techniques was compared in terms of "smear quality" and "overall diagnostic test performance.", Results: Out of 155 body fluid samples from proven malignancy patients, 32 (20.65%) were reported as Positive for malignancy, 23 (14.84%) as Suspicious of malignancy, and 100 (64.51%) as Negative for malignancy by CS (Thick and Thin). A total of 44 (28.39%) were reported as Positive for malignancy, 12 (7.74%) as Suspicious of malignancy, and 99 (63.87%) as Negative for malignancy by LBC., Conclusion: Liquid-based cytology is advantageous over conventional techniques in cytomorphology of body fluids, but not better in sensitivity and specificity. Also saves cytopathologist's valuable time for screening., Competing Interests: None