Radiation Gallery

Discussion
Radiation treatment of malignant lesions in the female genital tract traumatizes the epithelium causing ulceration that can cytologically mimic dysplasia or carcinoma. The extent of this trauma depends on the type and duration of therapy, therefore the cellular changes may resolve within six months or can persist for a lifetime. Some chemotherapeutic agents can also produce similar cellular changes, making patient history a valuable tool. Post-radiation dysplasia (PRD) has been reported in up to 23% of patients with the atypia resembling that of non-radiated patients. Considering the difficulties in distinguishing PRD from recurrent carcinoma, colposcopy and biopsy are recommended to rule out the latter.

Cytology
Cytomegaly is the most well known radiation related change. Cytomegalic cells have enlarged and/or multiple nuclei and abundant cytoplasm while maintaining a fairly normal N/C ratio. The nuclei can be pale and the chromatin can be finely granular to "smudgy" with possible micro- and macronucleoli and vacuoles. The cytoplasm may exhibit bichromasia and vacuoles with or without engulfed polys. Bizarre cell shapes may also be seen. The background of these specimens will contain degenerated blood that appears "stringy", cellular debris, polys and histiocytes. Reparative changes can be seen frequently and occur in single-layered, cohesive, streaming sheets with pale nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Radiated fibroblasts are present and have delicate cytoplasm with vacuoles and cytoplasmic projections. The nuclei are pale, finely granular with possible nucleoli. Degenerated tumor cells may be seen in specimens initially following radiation.

Reminder: You may click on any slide image for an enlarged view.

Cytomegalic cell
Cytomegalic cell with multiple enlarged nuclei and abundant cytoplasm. Compare size with normal cells. 20x

Cytomegalic cell
Cytomegalic cell exhibiting bichromasia and multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles. 20x

Bizarre cells
Bizarre cells forms with ingested polys. Note the irregular macronucleolus. 20x

Cytomegalic cell
Cytomegalic cell and bizarre cell forms in an inflammatory background. 10x

Cytomegalic cell
Cytomegalic cell due to radiation. Compare cell size to surrounding polys. 20x

Reparative changes
Reparative changes in single-layered, streaming sheet. Note the pale chromatin and nucleoli. 20x

Radiation changes
Radiation changes present in an inflammatory background. 20x

Radiation changes
Radiation changes in a debritous, bloody background with a "stringy" appearance. 20x

Fibroblast
Fibroblast with pale chromatin, nucleolus and delicate cytoplasm. 40x

Group of fibroblasts
Group of fibroblasts. Note the cytoplasmic projections. 20x

Group of fibroblasts
Note the cytoplasmic projections. 20x

Fibroblasts
Higher power view of fibroblasts seen above. The chromatin is pale and finely granular. 60x

Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma present in a post-radiation specimen. Note the "stringy" background. 20x

Squamous cell carcinoma
Higher magnification of group shown above. Varying cell sizes and shapes with irregular nuclear borders and projections. Prominent nucleoli are present. 60x

Squamous cell carcinoma
A different group of post-radiation Squamous cell carcinoma. 60x

Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma in a post-radiation ThinPrep. Prominent nucleoli and varied nuclear size can be seen at low power. 20x

Adenocarcinoma
Higher power view of group above. Note the irregular nucleoli, clumped chromatin and varied nuclear size. 40x

Nuclear irregularites
Nuclear irregularities can be further appreciated. Some cells have multiple nucleoli. 60x

References

Atkinson/Silverman: Atlas of Difficult Diagnoses in Cytopathology, 1998: 32, 57, 69, 79, 105.
DeMay, R: Practical Principles of Cytopathology, 1999: 17.
Nguyen/Kline: Essentials of Exfoliative Cytology, 1992: 101-108.