Preoperative Cytological Diagnosis Research Articles

THYROID SURGERY IN THE TROPICS

In the tropics thyroid surgery is carried out either by general surgeons or ear, nose and throat surgeons and there are few places with a subspecialist endocrine or head and neck surgeon. The aim of this review is to determine the pattern of thyroid pathology, surgery and surgical outcomes in the tropics. A review of thyroid surgery in tropical regions was carried out based on published articles in English in Medline (1965-2004). The findings are also discussed in the light of the authors' own experience of thyroid disease and thyroid surgery in four continents. The pattern of thyroid pathology varies in the tropics, particularly in regions where endemic goitre is common. Endemic goitre usually regresses with iodine therapy. There is a rising incidence of thyroid autoimmune disease, particularly Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, probably related to an environmental immunological stimulus associated with development. Surgery is indicated for the same reasons as in the developed countries: thyrotoxicosis (more often in the absence of radioactive iodine therapy), solitary thyroid nodule and multinodular or malignant goitre. However, a preoperative cytological diagnosis will only be available in important centres where there is a pathologist. Malignancy appears more prevalent in nodules and goitres in the tropics than in the developed countries, perhaps because patients with malignancy are more likely to be referred to a surgeon. Nonetheless, the evidence suggests that thyroid surgery can be carried out safely with a minimum of complications even in remote mission hospitals with limited facilities for investigation. Standards can be set in terms of surgical outcomes; for example, mortality (0%), permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury (<2%), re-exploration for haematoma(<2%), permanent hypocalcaemia (<5%) and wound infection (2.5%). The choice of operation depends on the local pathology and the likelihood of being able to obtain lifelong thyroxine. Total thyroidectomy should be avoided whenever possible if thyroxine supplies are unreliable. Advanced thyroid cancer presents a therapeutic challenge and some cases will be unresectable. The management options are limited by the resources available. Similar surgical outcomes should be able to be achieved no matter where the surgery is carried out.

Breast Cancer Diagnostic Methods: Screen-Detected and Clinical Cases. An Italian Survey of Women's Experiences

The real practice of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is often very different from guideline recommendations. Screening programs should minimize deviations from "best practice". The aim of the study was to compare cases detected by screening programs with cases that were not part of the public screening program, analyzing the diagnostic pathways from the first suspected breast problem to therapeutic intervention for breast cancer. We interviewed a random sample of 268 women aged 49-70 years in three Italian regions (Lazio, Tuscany, Basilicata) who were treated for breast cancer, stratified by screening participation. In the nonscreened group, 48% of women were symptomatic and 50% were diagnosed by preventive tests. The proportion of women treated within 30 days of diagnosis was significantly lower in the screened group, 21.3% vs 35.8% (P = 0.0003). The mean number of tests (mammography, ultrasonography, cytology and histology) performed in the screened group was significantly higher than in the nonscreened group, 3.7 vs 2.8 (P = 0.001). The percentage of women treated without a preoperative histological or cytological diagnosis was lower in the screened group than in the nonscreened group, 14% vs 25% (P = 0.024). Participation in screening programs seems to lead to more appropriate disease management even for breast cancer cases treated at the same hospital.

Hepatobiliary and pancreatic tuberculosis: a two decade experience.

BackgroundIsolated hepatobiliary or pancreatic tuberculosis (TB) is rare and preoperative diagnosis is difficult. We reviewed our experience over a period two decades with this rare site of abdominal tuberculosis.MethodsThe records of 18 patients with proven histological diagnosis of hepatobiliary and pancreatic tuberculosis were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic features, sign and symptoms, imaging, cytology/histopathology, procedures performed, outcome and follow up data were obtained from the departmental records. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was based on granuloma with caseation necrosis on histopathology or presence of acid fast bacilli.ResultsOf 18 patients (11 men), 11 had hepatobiliary TB while 7 had pancreatic TB. Two-thirds of the patients were < 40 years (mean: 42 yrs; range 19–70 yrs). The duration of the symptoms varied between 2 weeks to 104 weeks (mean: 20 weeks). The most common symptom was pain in the abdomen (n = 13), followed by jaundice (n = 10), fever, anorexia and weight loss (n = 9). Five patients (28%) had associated extra-abdominal TB which helped in preoperative diagnosis in 3 patients. Imaging demonstrated extrahepatic bile duct obstruction in the patients with jaundice and in addition picked up liver, gallbladder and pancreatic masses with or without lymphadenopathy (peripancreatic/periportal). Preoperative diagnosis was made in 4 patients and the other 14 were diagnosed after surgery. Two patients developed significant postoperative complications (pancreaticojejunostomy leak [1] intraabdominal abscess [1]) and 3 developed ATT induced hepatotoxicity. No patient died. The median follow up period was 12 months (9 – 96 months).ConclusionTuberculosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis, particularly in young patients, with atypical signs and symptoms coming from areas where tuberculosis is endemic and preoperative tissue and/or cytological diagnosis should be attempted before labeling them as hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancy.

Ciliated foregut cyst of pancreas: Cytologic findings on endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration

The cytologic findings of a ciliated foregut cyst of the pancreas diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) are described. Cytologic features of ciliated foregut cysts include the presence of ciliated columnar cells and detached ciliary tufts in a cystic fluid background with amorphous debris and rare macrophages. These cytologic findings are clearly distinct from those of cystic mucinous neoplasms and other pancreatic cysts with which the ciliated foregut cyst may be confused. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reporting the cytologic findings of a pancreatic ciliated foregut cyst sampled by endoscopic ultrasound-guided FNA. We believe that the distinctive and characteristic cytologic features can allow a preoperative cytologic diagnosis of this highly unusual pancreatic cystic lesion.

Primary giant cell tumour of soft parts - Report of a case with fine needle aspiration cytology and histology findings

A cytohistopathological study of a rare case of giant cell tumour of soft tissues in a 30-year-old male patient is presented. The cytological features when evaluated in conjunction with clinical and radiological features are sufficiently diagnostic. The primary knowledge of its existence and knowledge of its cytological features are important for a correct preoperative cytologic diagnosis.

Surgical misadventure: A case for thoughtful patient preoperative assessment

Breast abscess is a common problem in women particularly in lactating women in Tropical Africa. Occasionally a chronic breast abscess may mimic carcinoma of the breast. This is a case presentation of a 45-year old woman who presented with a 1year history of progressively increasing right breast swelling associated with enlarged axillary lymph nodes. It was diagnosed breast cancer and patient had a radical mastectomy in a peripheral hospital. Histology of the specimen however revealed a chronic breast abscess with granulation tissue formation,extensive fibrosis of the surrounding breast tissue and nodal hyperplasia. Patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged home. An assessment of the psychological impact of losing a breast in this patient was not possible as patient was lost to follow up. Optimal clinical examination by the surgeon and preoperative cytological diagnosis would ensure that the patient is spared unnecessary mutilating surgery. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Research Vol. 7(1&2) 2005: 214-215

A mathematical model to predict for pre-malignant or malignant diagnosis among patients with Birad 4 breast lesions

10578 Background: Preoperative cytological or histological diagnosis of breast lesions is mandatory in order to avoid unnecessary surgical biopsies, but on the other side preoperative work-up may dangerously delay specific care of breast cancer. Solid lesions or microcalcifications (M) scored as Birad 4 are increasingly prevalent in western countries. A highly variable proportion of these lesions (20–80%) are breast cancer. Tools to help clinicians recognize cancers and preneoplastic lesions among true benign conditions may be very helpful in clinical practice. Methods: Radiological, clinical and pathological data of consecutive patients with Birad 4 breast M (N = 384 biopsies among 354 patients) or nodular lesions (N = 172 FNAC among 167 patients) seen in a multidisciplinary breast clinic were prospectively recorded. A multivariate analysis of factors predicting for a final cancer or pre-malignant diagnosis was performed and two nomograms were constructed using the R statistical package for both nodular lesions and M. They were validated by bootstrapping. Variables tested included age, size and palpability of lesion, Gail score, menopausal status, HRT use, progression of lesion (M), and presence of associated symptoms. Results: Median age was 57 years (18–92) for the entire population. Patients with nodular lesions were menopausal in 64.5%, median size of their lesion was 12 mm (4–50), 32% were palpable; 43% had a final diagnosis of breast cancer and 3.5% of atypical hyperplasia or LCIS. 69% of patients with M were menopausal, 31.25% had a final diagnosis of breast cancer and 9.8% of atypical hyperplasia or LCIS. Among patients with nodular lesions, age and palpability were the sole independent predictors of cancer or precancerous lesions (p = 0.04 and 0.004), but the other variables (Gail, menopause, HRT) added discrimination with a concordance index of 0.71. Among patients with M, the only independent predictive variable was the recent progression of the lesions (p = 0.01). The nomogram had a concordance index of 0.69. Conclusion: Our study provides two original nomograms for the prediction of the pre-malignant or malignant nature of recently discovered solid breast lesions and M. Gail model alone is not a highly useful tool in daily individual cancer prediction. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Transbronchial Fine Needle Aspiration Cytological Examination: A Useful Tool for Diagnosing Primary Lung Cancer

Obtaining a definitive preoperative diagnosis plays a critical role in deciding upon the treatment approach for lung carcinoma. However, success in making definitive diagnoses of small primary lung cancers will require new approaches because these cancers are difficult to detect using standard biopsy procedures. We evaluated the results of morphologic definitive diagnosis together with various clinical factors in 1003 primary lung cancers resected surgically. Patients underwent transbronchial brushing, fine needle aspiration cytology, forceps biopsy, and/or forceps biopsy-stamp cytology for preoperative diagnoses, in conjunction with the use of Diff-Quik to confirm that hits had been made on the radiographic shadows before terminating the examinations. Sensitivities of the diagnostic procedures for primary lung cancers were as follows: 64.8% for brushing, 56.1% for transbronchial forceps biopsy, 72.0% for transbronchial forceps biopsy-stamp cytology, and 86.4% for transbronchial fine needle aspiration. The four transbronchial biopsy procedures had a combined overall sensitivity of 92.7%. In patients with peripheral lung cancers of 2 cm or less in diameter, transbronchial fine needle aspiration had a sensitivity of 75.9%, which was the highest sensitivity for all transbronchial examinations. In the subset of 296 patients who underwent all four transbronchial biopsy examinations, transbronchial fine needle aspiration had the highest sensitivity of preoperative diagnosis of all the transbronchial examination methods. The sensitivity of preoperative cytological diagnosis for primary lung cancers, especially transbronchial aspiration cytology, is high. Transbronchial fine needle aspiration cytology is useful for the preoperative diagnosis of primary lung cancer.

Comparison of Preoperative Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology Diagnosis and Histopathological Diagnosis of Salivary Gland Tumors

We investigated 115 patients with salivary gland epithelial tumors who had undergone preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of salivary glands and had been diagnosed by postoperative histopathological examination. We compared the findings of preoperative FNAC with their histopathological types in salivary gland tumors, and discuss the results and problems. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of preoperative FNAC of salivary glands were 98.2%, 88.2%, and 100%, respectively. The percentage of inadequate specimens was 6.1%. The rates of agreement in the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma, Warthin tumor, and basal cell adenoma were 96%, 92.9%, and 55.5%, respectively. The rate of agreement of histopathological types in the malignant tumors was 30%. We realized again not only that the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative FNAC for salivary gland tumors was high, but also that it was a safe, easy-to-perform, clinically very useful diagnostic procedure. However, this study exposed several problems which are the inadequate sampling rate and the difficulty in diagnosing malignant tumors. We have been making efforts to take appropriate specimens by writing comments on the cytological report indicating a re-examination, or by the presence of the clinical laboratory technician at the FNAC procedure. We consider it necessary to adequately re-aspirate the solid portion after cyst fluid aspiration, or to re-perform FNAC at a later date, and to improve the diagnostic accuracy by further experience with more patients.

Utility of BRAF V600E mutation detection in cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules

BackgroundFine needle aspiration (FNA) is widely utilized for evaluation of patients with thyroid nodules. However, approximately 30% are indeterminate for malignancy. Recently, a mutation in the BRAF gene has been reported to be the most common genetic event in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). In this retrospective study, we assessed the utility of BRAF V600E mutation detection for refining indeterminate preoperative cytologic diagnoses in patients with PTC.MethodsArchival indeterminate thyroid FNAs and corresponding formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) surgical samples with PTC were identified in our patient files. DNA extracted from slide scape lysates and 5 μm FFPE sections were evaluated for the BRAF V600E mutation using LightCycler PCR and fluorescent melting curve analysis (LCPCR). Amplification products that showed deviation from the wild-type genomic DNA melting peak, discordant FNA and FFPE matched pairs, and all benign control samples, underwent direct DNA sequencing.ResultsA total of 19 indeterminate thyroid FNAs demonstrating PTC on FFPE surgical samples were included in the study. Using BRAF mutation analysis, the preoperative diagnosis of PTC was confirmed in 3/19 (15.8%) FNA samples that could not be conclusively diagnosed on cytology alone. However, 9/19 (47.4%) FFPE tissue samples were positive for the V600E mutation. Of the discordant pairs, 5/6 FNAs contained less than 50% tumor cells.ConclusionWhen used with indeterminate FNA samples, BRAF mutation analysis may be a useful adjunct technique for confirming the diagnosis of malignancy in an otherwise equivocal case. However, overall tumor cell content of some archival FNA smear slides is a limiting factor for mutation detection.

Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma

Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma (AMFH) is a rare, low-grade malignant mesenchymal neoplasm that affects mostly the extremities of children and young adults. Excisional surgery is the adequate treatment. The cytologic, immunocytologic, and histologic features noted in two patients having AMFH are presented. Cytologic smears showed histiocyte-like cells dispersed and in clusters, in close relation with eosinophilic mesenchymal fragments in a bloody background with lymphocytes. The tumor cells showed mild to moderate anisocariosis, often with nucleolus and vast, fragile cytoplasm. A fibroblastic-like spindle to ovoid cell population was also present in one patient. Immunohistochemical results are most consistent with myofibroblastic cell differentiation. When accompanied by adequate clinical information and ancillary techniques, a specific preoperative cytologic diagnosis is possible.

Tumores sincrónicos de glándula salivar: A propósito de dos casos

We present two new cases of synchronous tumors of the salivary gland. The first one refers to two benign tumors in the same parotid gland, while second one shows a benign lesion and a malignant tumor in two ipsilateral salivary glands. The appearance of synchronous multiple unilateral parotid tumors of different histologic types is extremely rare, accounting for less than 0.3%; this is usually a Warthin?s Tumor associated to other tumors. The current literature has been reviewed and 42 cases have been found entailing two different parotid tumors coexisting. Of these 11 referred to adenolymphoma associated with pleomorphic adenoma. Preoperative cytological diagnosis, as well as an exhaustive intraoperative inspection are the clues to discover nonidentified second tumors.

Metachronous adrenal masses in resected non-small cell lung cancer patients: therapeutic implications of laparoscopic adrenalectomy

In literature only few reports focused on the resection of solitary adrenal gland metastasis in patients operated on for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We report our experience on laparoscopic adrenalectomy for suspected or confirmed metachronous solitary adrenal metastasis from NSCLC and discuss its therapeutic role. From June 1993 to March 2003, 14 patients (pts), who had been undergone lung resection for NSCLC, with suspected or confirmed solitary adrenal gland metastasis at the follow-up, underwent 15 laparoscopic adrenalectomy (in 1 patient it was bilateral). All the patients had enlarged adrenal glands at the abdominal ultrasound or CT. All but 2 pts underwent at least 1 adrenal fine needle aspiration. All the patients underwent a careful staging to exclude other sites of metastasis. The adrenal gland was in 6 cases the right, in 9 cases the left. In 7 cases we had a preoperative cytological diagnosis of metastasis. In 1 case adrenalectomy was not performed because of infiltration of vena cava and in 1 case it was necessary to perform a small laparotomy because of bleeding. The pathologic examination confirmed in 11 cases a NSCLC metastasis while in 4 cases it was a cortical adenoma. Regarding the 10 patients with NSCLC metastases, 3 are still alive and well at 37-80 months from the lung resection. One patient (who underwent bilateral adrenalectomy) is still alive at 44 months with local relapse. Two patients died 5 and 6 months after the adrenalectomy for other causes, 1 died at 14 months for local and systemic relapse and the remaining 3 patients died at 12 to 38 months for systemic relapse. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients resected for NSCLC is a safe mini-invasive procedure. Even though this series is still too small, laparoscopic adrenalectomy should be considered an effective therapeutic tool in case of progressive adrenal gland enlargement, also with negative cytological examinations. A bigger series and other institution experiences will clarify its oncological value.

Transthoracic needle biopsy in the diagnosis of large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung

To determine the effect of cytological diagnosis, fine-needle aspiration and brush cytology on lung tumors and core-needle biopsy, we retrospectively reviewed 11 cases of large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) found in our archives between the years 1997 and 2004. The preoperative cytological diagnosis of LCNEC is challenging because of the broad histologic similarity to other neuroendocrine tumors of the lung. The original cytologic diagnosis was LCNEC in nine of the cases while the remaining two were misdiagnosed as small-cell lung carcinoma. Smears were composed of clusters of intermediate-size cells with amphophylic cytoplasm, some with large nuclei and prominent nucleoli. In two of the cases there was discordance between the cytological findings and the immunohistochemical results. The cytological findings were correlated with histopathological observations.

Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene Expression and the Surgical Management of Suspicious Thyroid Tumors

Patients with a preoperative cytologic diagnosis of a suspicious thyroid nodule present a therapeutic dilemma because surgery differs for benign and malignant lesions. To address this issue, several molecular markers, including human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), have been tested as markers of thyroid cancer. Because most studies select cases falling into well-defined categories to test new markers, they may overestimate their discriminatory power when applied to samples that are difficult to classify. Fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) of the thyroid with indeterminate cytology are an example of such cases. We examined whether assessing TERT mRNA by reverse transcription-PCR could have improved the surgical management in a cohort of 100 patients undergoing thyroidectomy for indeterminate FNA results. Ninety percent of 48 cancers were TERT positive, as were 35% of 52 benign lesions. When 10 cases with concomitant lymphocytic thyroiditis were excluded, the overall sensitivity of TERT was 91% (95% confidence interval, 80-98%) and specificity was 79% (64-90%). No clinical or tumor variable contributed to the predictive ability of TERT except for tumor size, which added only marginally. Basing the surgical approach on the TERT assay alone would have reduced lobectomies performed for malignant disease from 11 to 4 cases and reduced total thyroidectomies for benign lesions from to 15 to 9, an overall 50% reduction in suboptimal treatment. The overall performance of preoperative differential diagnosis for thyroid tumors with indeterminate FNA results can be substantially improved by the inclusion of molecular markers such as TERT.

Preoperative Brush and Impression Cytology in Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasms

Preoperative cytologic diagnoses of ocular surface squamous neoplasms were evaluated and compared with histologic diagnoses. Impression cytology (Millipore filter paper) and brush cytology were applied to 32 patients who had conjunctival neoplasms. Papanicolaou-stained cytologic preparations and hematoxylin and eosin-stained histologic sections were examined by light microscopy. The brush technique was used on 27 patients; impression cytology was applied in 5 cases. Cytologic and histologic diagnoses were concordant in 26 cases. Squamous cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ was diagnosed in 18 and dysplasia in 4 cases. Squamous metaplasia and normal-appearing conjunctival epithelial cells were diagnosed cytologically in four cases; of those histologic diagnoses, one was pterygium and three, conjunctival nevus. Four cases revealed discrepancies between the cytologic and histologic preparations. There was one false positive result, and one case was subconjunctival invasion of basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid. Impression and brush cytology are fast, cost-effective, reliable and noninvasive diagnostic tools for ocular surface squamous neoplasms. However, the brush technique has several advantages over impression cytology.

A Clinicocytopathologic Study of Adenoma Malignum of the Uterine Cervix

Objectives.To investigate the nature and the clinical course of adenoma malignum (the so-called minimal deviation adenocarcinoma) of the uterine cervix by conducting a retrospective study of 6 cases consecutively treated in a single institute.Methods.The pathologic classification of adenoma malignum was performed according to the WHO classification (1994).Results.These tumors accounted for only 1.32% (6/453) of invasive cervical adenocarcinomas. All the cases showed either a watery discharge or atypical genital bleeding, or both, at the time of diagnosis. The preoperative cytologic diagnosis of adenoma malignum was made in 83.3% (5/6) of cases. The preoperative punch biopsy, on the other hand, failed to confirm the diagnosis of adenoma malignum in all cases, although the presence of the disease was suspected in 2 cases (33%). The 5-year survival rate and 5-year disease-free survival rate were 100 and 83.3%, respectively.Conclusions.This series demonstrates that cytologic examination is a potent screening method to detect this rare disease. When the presence of this disease is suspected by the cytologic examination, a deep biopsy is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. An ordinary cervical biopsy is usually insufficient to detect deeply positioned tumor glands. The prognosis of the disease may be better than that for ordinary cervical adenocarcinoma.

Wire-directed localization biopsy of the breast: an audit of results and analysis of factors influencing therapeutic value in the treatment of breast cancer

Fine-wire localization biopsy is an accurate technique for diagnosis of mammographically-detected breast abnormalities, and may also be therapeutic in the management of impalpable malignant lesions. A number of factors were therefore examined regarding their influence upon therapeutic success in a consecutive series of 129 localization biopsies. Factors included type of radiological abnormality, method and accuracy of wire localization and pre-operative cytology. Primary malignancy was detected at initial localization in 64 cases (malignant:benign ratio, 1.11:1); 26 (41%) achieving adequate local tumour excision margins without further surgery, and 38 undergoing further surgery to clear margins (mastectomy in 23, further wide excision in 15). Therapeutic success was related to the accuracy of pre-operative needle localization (needle hook within 1 cm of target lesion in 26/26 (100%) therapeutic biopsies, compared to 29/38 (76%) non-therapeutic biopsies (P<0.01, Fisher's exact test)); and to pre-operative cytology (suspicious/malignant cytology in 15/24 therapeutic, compared with only 9/29 non-therapeutic biopsies (P=0.013, chi-squared)). Localization biopsy has a high diagnostic success rate and a therapeutic value dependent upon accurate pre-operative cytological diagnosis, supplemented by precise needle localization of the target lesion.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of extra-adrenal paragangliomas.

We studied nine histologically proved cases of extra-adrenal paragangliomas. Of these, eight cases were correctly diagnosed preoperatively by FNA cytology. Salient cytological features included clusters and discretely scattered cells, with occasional acinar configuration. The cells showed moderate to abundant slightly basophilic cytoplasm with ill-defined margins and round to oval nuclei with mild to marked nuclear pleomorphism. Fine reddish intracytoplasmic granules were also noted (six cases). Cytological features along with clinical data are quite diagnostic of paragangliomas. A correct preoperative cytological diagnosis helps to prevent undue surgical complications.

細胞診でのみ術前診断しえた子宮壁内に特異な拡がりを示した腺癌の１例

細胞診でのみ術前診断しえた子宮壁内に特異な拡がりを示した腺癌の１例