Fine needle cytology of endometriosis: Experience with 10 cases

Objective To evaluate whether commonly used cytologic criteria for the daignosis of endometriosis are sufficiently specific, to assess the possible role of special methods in the differential diagnosis and to assess the clinical meaning and drawbacks of a cytopathologic diagnosis of endometriosis by fine needle aspiration. Study design We retrieved 10 cases of endometriosis from our files that had been diagnosed primarily by fine needle cytology (FNC) with subsequent tissue study. in some cases additional cytospin preperations and/or smears had been used for cytochemistry (periodic acid-Schiff stain, mucicarmine) or immunochemistry (pan-cytokeratin, cytokeratin 7, vimentin, CD10) using a 3-step streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase reaction. Results The cell pattern and immunocytochemical profile of the cases suggested a diagnosis of endometriosis. All cases were histologically confirmed. Conclusion With optimal preparations a confident cytologic diagnosis of endometrosis may be made with easze, permitting correct treatment of the disease and, in selected cases, planning of pereoperative pharmacological therapy.