Ultrastructure of Human Breast Carcinoma from a Pleural Effusion

Abstract

The fluid aspirated from pleural effusions contains various cells including lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophages, mesothelial cells, fibroblasts, and a few tumor cells in neoplastic patients (Hofmann et al. 1984). The cause of the effusion is often unknown and the tumoral component is often insufficient to make a certain cytologic diagnosis. We propose that the cellular component should be analyzed ultrastructurally to characterize the cell histotypes. Furthermore, the few tumor cells present in the fluid can be plated in vitro for a short-term cell culture, offering a valid source of fresh living cells to study better the specific causes of the initial pleural effusion.

This work was partially supported by an Italian CNR Grant (PFO-CNR 87.01360.44).