Osteosarcomas provide most often more cellular aspirates than other sarcomas.
Large clusters are not usually observed.
Osteoid is a relatively defining characteristic and is identified by fibrillar acidophilic (pink/purple) material between cells.
Tumour cells can vary but classically osteoblastic cells are round with plentiful dark (sometimes vacuolated) basophilic cytoplasm and contain acidophilic granules (arrowhead). They display moderate to marked anisokaryosis.
Large and often multiple nucleoli are often identified.
Cells often resemble plasma cells when well differentiated and when well differentiated and should be distinguished from normal osteoblasts.
First published: Tue, Oct 5 2010