A case of sclerosing hemangioma of the lung diagnosed preoperatively by fine needle aspiration cytology

A case of sclerosing hemangioma of the lung in a 60-year-old woman was diagnosed preoperatively by fine needle aspiration cytology. The cytological features of this tumor are discussed and compared with the histological features of the specimen obtained at operation. Results were as follows: 1) Cuboidal cells were arranged in single or multi-layered anastomosing cords to form a ribbon-like arrangement. Histologically, cuboidal and/or low columnar cells lining the papillary projections were similar to type II pneumocytes. 2) Smallish immature cells, which had pale cytoplasm and coarse nuclear chromatin, showed increased cellularity and slight overlapping. “Pale cells” were seen in the solid areas and the stalks of papillary projections. 3) Spindle-shaped stromal cells were noted among the immature cells in fibrous and sclerotic areas. 4) Foamy cells and histiocytes, some of which had hemosiderin pigments, were scattered among the tumor cells. In conclusion, we considered that it was possible to make a preoperative diagnosis of sclerosing hemangioma of the lung on cytological grounds by the above characteristic features.