Table 1:

Cytomorphology of mesothelial cells —the spectrum.

Uniform cell population

Monotonous, oval to round nuclei

Mononucleated cells with mostly centrally placed nuclei

Evenly distributed fine powdery chromatin

Inconspicuous to prominent nucleoli

Multinucleation with anisonucleosis

Moderate amount of translucent cytoplasm

Two-zone cytoplasm

Peripheral vacuoles containing glycogen

A faint staining thin halo along the edge (microvilli)

Fuzzy cell border (due to microvilli)

Peripheral blebs in Diff-Quik-stained smears

Monolayer cell aggregates

Doublets or triplets with clasp-like articulation

Mesothelial windows between the cells

Occasional papillary groups

Ballooning of cytoplasm with signet-ring-like vacuolization