Islet cell neoplasms. A fine-needle aspiration cytology study with immunocytochemical correlations.

Islet cell neoplasms (ICNs) are uncommon tumors that may present with bizarre endocrine manifestations. Only rarely have their fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytomorphologic characteristics been reported. The authors have studied FNAs of ICNs in ten patients, including immunocytochemistry (ICC) directly on the aspirates. FNA yielded moderately to markedly cellular specimens with numerous individual cells and large aggregates. Although moderate pleomorphism was present in three cases, striking uniformity in nuclear size and contour and in delicate nuclear membranes was evident. Typically the round nuclei were eccentric, imparting a plasmacytoid appearance. Cytoplasmic granularity was noted in only a minority of tumor cells. Five of the ICNs were positive for chromogranin (CG). In comparison, seven ICNs were positive for CG in tissue sections. None of the cytologic material showed immunoreactivity with insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, or gastrin. Histologic material showed positivity for these hormones in 33% (three of nine), 22% (two of nine), 22% (two of nine), and 11% (one of nine), respectively. Although CG is the most useful immunocytochemical marker for ICNs, and thus is helpful in confirming a diagnosis of ICN in FNA material, it is negative in half of the cases and may be negative when the histologic material is positive.