Increased number and size of atypical reticular cells in the palatine tonsil of patients with remote cancer.

Atypical cells have been consistently found in the palatine tonsil (PT) in patients with breast, stomach, and rectal cancer, and less often with gastric polyposis, mastopathy, and soft tissue papilloma. The vast majority of the atypical cells is represented by reticular cells, which are found in smears irrespective of the tumor stage. The number and size of PT atypical reticular cells in patients with remote cancer is higher than in those with non-malignant conditions and have brightly expressed dysplasia. No atypical reticular cells were found in cytologic smears in normals or in patients with similar demographics and with oral, local, or systemic infection.