Benign mesothelial cells in lymph nodes and lymphatic spaces associated with ascites

Marco Pizzi¹, Elisa Valentini¹, Alessandra Galligioni¹, Sonia Cesaro¹, Patrizia Pontisso², Gianfranco Da Dalt³ and Massimo Rugge<sup>1

1</sup>Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, ²Clinica Medica 5, Department of Medicine-DIMED; University of Padova and ³Clinica Chirugica 3, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology-DiSCOG, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

Offprint requests to: Massimo Rugge, M.D., F.A.C.G., Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University of Padova, Via A. Gabelli, 61 35121 Padova, Italy. e-mail: massimo.rugge@unipd.it

Summary. Intra-nodal mesothelial cells are assumed to be indicative of metastatic mesothelioma. The invasion of benign mesothelial cells into lymph nodes is an extraordinary complication of different (mostly inflammatory) disorders involving the serosal cavities. In a cirrhotic patient with recurrent ascites, this report describes the first case of mesothelial cell spreading into lymphatic vessels, coexisting with non-malignant inclusions of mesothelial cells in multiple abdominal lymph nodes. Histol Histopathol 31, 747-750 (2016)

Key words: Intra-nodal mesothelial cells, Benign mesothelial implants, Cirrhosis, Ascites

DOI: 10.14670/HH-11-711