Recurrent multifocal adult rhabdomyoma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology: report of a case and review of the literature.

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of a recurrent multifocal extracardiac adult rhabdomyoma is described, and the literature is reviewed. The patient presented with dysphagia and bilateral palpable neck masses 21 yr after resection of a rhabdomyoma of the tongue. The clinical differential diagnoses included ptotic submandibular glands and lymphadenopathy. The aspiration smears and cytospin preparations contained large polygonal cells with abundant granular cytoplasm with indistinct borders and uniform, peripherally located nuclei. Cross-striations were identified within the cytoplasm of some cells on Papanicolaou and modified Wright-Giemsa stains. This case represents only the fourth description of the cytology of this entity and the first reported case of a recurrence diagnosed by FNA. The characteristic cytomorphologic features enabled a definitive diagnosis to be made 21 yr after the original resection, sparing a poor-risk patient a debilitating surgical procedure for a benign, slow-growing neoplasm.