Interdigitating dendritic reticulum cell sarcoma: cytologic, histologic and immunocytochemical features

Tumors of dendritic reticulum cells are rare neoplasms that exhibit significant morphologic overlap with other malignancies. Fine-needle aspiration cytologic appearances of this neoplasm are not well understood. A 33-yr-old woman presented with a rapidly growing nodular mass in the right upper cervical region and right-sided ptosis. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the mass showed dissociated as well as clustered, large, polygonal cells that showed high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. Nuclei were round, oval, or irregular in shape. Large and small blastoid forms with prominent nucleoli and chromatin clumping as well as binucleated cells and cells with lobulated nuclei were seen. Numerous mitoses were observed. The tumor cells expressed focal immunocytochemical reactivity to CD45 and CD68, but were negative for CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD30, CD45RO, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), cytokeratin, and HMB45. Histologic sections of the biopsy from the growth showed nodal tissue effaced by a tumor composed of large, pleomorphic neoplastic cells with some binucleate and multinucleate forms resembling Reed-Sternberg cells. The intervening stroma contained numerous small lymphocytes. Tumor cells expressed vimentin, S-100 protein, CD68, and MAC387, but were negative for LCA, CD1a, CD3, CD15, CD20, CD21, CD23, CD30, CD35, carcino-embryonic antigen, HMB45, cytokeratin AE1/3, EMA, myeloperoxidase, lysozyme, smooth-muscle actin, and desmin. The combined histologic and immunohistologic features suggested a histiocytic/dendritic reticulum cell neoplasm and a diagnosis of interdigitating dendritic reticulum cell sarcoma was made.