Aspiration cytology of mesoblastic nephroma in an adult: Diagnostic dilemma

A case of adult mesoblastic nephroma (MN) was erroneously interpreted as a benign mesenchymal tumor on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. MN is a rare tumor in infants and is extremely uncommon in adults. A 50-yr-old female presented with a renal lump with the clinicoradiological possibility of renal-cell carcinoma. Giemsa-stained smears were highly cellular and showed cohesive interlacing fragments of spindle cells embedded in abundant pink fibrillary stromal matrix. Epithelial component was seen in the form of tubules. Pleomorphism, mitosis, and necrosis were absent. Cytologic features in both adult and infantile MN are similar, but in an adult can be mistaken for benign or malignant mesenchymal tumor and the sarcomatoid variant of renal-cell carcinoma. FNA in such a rare yet cytomorphologically characteristic lesion can be helpful in guiding the management. Awareness on the part of both the clinician and the cytopathologist is necessary to resolve the diagnostic dilemma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2000,23:124-126. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.