BH: A 72-year-old female presented with a mass in the neck that had been present for 1 month. A 35 mm × 20 mm LN was observed in the left submandibular region during US, while 24 mm × 16 mm and 26 mm × 15 mm nodules were observed in the right thyroid isthmus and the left lobe, respectively. Clinical prediagnosis included lymphoma and metastasis; US-FNA was performed on all three lesions. Cytologic findings: LN: high numbers of pleomorphic, multinuclear, bizarre and undifferentiated cells were noted in the left submandibular mass []. Thyroid nodules: The findings were compatible with “adenomatous nodule” (FNA was performed in the same session to exclude thyroid malignancy). Cytologic diagnosis of the submandibular mass was “undifferentiated pleomorphic malignant tumor.” Histoimmunopathology: Anaplastic large cell lymphoma. THM: The detection of many multinuclear, large, “bizarre” cells led us to consider the presence of three lesions during the differential diagnosis: Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, melanoma and anaplastic carcinoma/sarcoma.
BH: A 6-year-old male had an LN 30 mm in diameter in the right submandibular region and multiple LNs, the largest of which measured 25 mm and 15 mm, in the right cervicojugular region. US findings: Compatible with abscess/necrotic appearance. A US-FNA was performed on the largest LN (3 cm in size) in the right submandibular region. The procedure could not be repeated on the other LNs, as the pediatric patient could not be controlled.\nCytologic findings: Epithelioid histiocytes, epithelioid histiocytic granulomas, and Langhans-type giant cells were observed adjacent to a cell population with a high number of large atypical lymphoid cells []. Cytologic diagnosis: atypical lymphoid proliferation comprising granulomatous structures. Comment: granulomatous structures may be components of granulomatous inflammation (e.g., tuberculosis, sarcoid) or may develop secondarily to a lymphoproliferative lesion or carcinoma metastasis. Histopathology: Burkitt lymphoma with secondary granulomatous inflammatory foci (no information could be obtained regarding the cause of granulomatous inflammation proposed in histopathological diagnosis).\nTHM: (1) In the absence of typical cytological components of granulomatous inflammation, individually or sporadically represented epithelioid histiocytes and granuloma-like structures are not sufficient for the diagnosis of “granulomatous inflammation.” (2) In such cases, it would be more appropriate to write “granulomatous reaction” and add a remark in a similar context like our above-mentioned comment. (3) Granulomatous reactions and granulomas are not usually expected to accompany non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; they mostly accompany Hodgkin's lymphoma.[]