Fine-needle aspiration cytological features of Cherubism

Abstract

Cherubism is a rare benign, non-neoplastic condition characterized by facial alteration due to symmetrically expansion of bilateral mandibles and maxillas. A fine-needle aspiration of a right cheek mass was performed in a 17-year-old teenager who was previously diagnosed Cherubism. The smears showed moderate cellularity with spindle cells mixed with multinucleated giant cells of osteoclast type. The cells appeared bland with normal nuclear/cytoplasm ratio. The nuclei were round or oval with smooth nuclear membranes and fine, evenly distributed chromatin. These cytologic features were considered consistent with but not diagnostic of Cherubism. Clinical correlations are needed in distinguishing Cherubism from other lesions containing giant cells. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:188–189. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.