Cytologic Characteristics of Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma in Squash Smears

Abstract

To evaluate the squash smear features of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) in comparison with gemistocytic astrocytoma and giant cell glioblastoma.We compared the squash smear features of 3 cases of SEGA, 9 cases of gemistocytic astrocytoma and 3 cases of giant cell glioblastoma with the morphometric findings.SEGA had, on average, a 15.84 +/- 5.03-microm nucleus, 33.22 +/- 12.05-microm cytoplasm and 0.50 +/- 0.12 nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio in squash smears. In addition, SEGA showed hairlike processes distributed along the squash direction like strap cells. While the gemistocytic astrocytoma had several tumor cells showing a vertically located nucleus, the tumor cells of SEGA showed nuclei oriented mainly in parallel.These squash cytologic features of SEGA can be very helpful in the differential diagnosis by excluding mimics.