•FNA cytology can obtain a precise insight of the salivary gland lumps.•The MSRSGC is a 6-tiered classification which estimates the risk of malignancy (ROM).•The revised MSRSGC supplements FNA ...cytology with some crucial clinical consideration.
Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a basic step in the diagnosis of salivary gland tumors that have a wide variety of histological types. The recent Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytopathology (MSRSGC) can correlate the risk of malignancy with precise cytological features. A revised version was recently proposed to improve the surgical relevance and facilitate uniform management.
A multicenter study retrospectively used the original and revised MSRSGC criteria to classify a series of patients who received surgery after FNAC.
We enrolled 503 patients from three tertiary centers. The risk of malignancy for the MSRSGC resulted 19.5% in cat. I, 14.3% in cat. II, 17.6% in cat. III, 3.6% in cat. IVa, 24.6% in cat. IVb, 66.7% in cat. V, and 96.8% in cat. VI. The results from the revised MSRSGC were consistent with the original values.
The MSRSGC is a promising classification system. In our opinion, the revised version of the MSRSGC supplements FNAC with some crucial clinical information and can better identify the appropriate treatment in each category.
The study evaluates clinical presentation and outcome of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) on a large series of patients homogeneously managed.
A cohort of 1503 DTC followed according to a ...standardized protocol entered the study. Main outcome measures were clinical presentation at the diagnosis, survival, morbidity and prognostic risk factors.
Median age at diagnosis was 46 years. Papillary cancer and low pathological tumor–node–metastasis stages represented >80% of cases. Cancer specific survival at 5, 10 and 15 years was 98.6%, 94.7% and 87.4%; 10-year disease-free and progression-free survivals were 96.8% and 17.1%, respectively. Cancer-specific mortality rate was 2.5% 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7% to 3.4%, recurrence rate was 0.6 % while morbidity rate was 12.6% (95% CI 11% to 14%). Response to radioiodine treatment is the strongest predictor of a good outcome in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 211, P < 0.0001). Other independent predictor variables are sex, age, histology and distant metastases for survival and metastases for morbidity.
A rigorous initial therapeutic approach leads to a better survival and a very low morbidity. Patients who do not respond to radioiodine treatment have a worse prognosis.
Objective
Cervical lymph node fine needle aspirates (FNAs) may represent the only specimens available for an initial characterisation of patients with lymphadenopathy. Morphology and human ...papillomavirus (HPV) DNA presence were evaluated in FNAs collected from patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) or cancer of unknown primary (CUP). FNA HPV results were compared with those of the respective formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) primary cancer.
Methods
Liquid‐based cytology was performed on FNAs collected in PreservCyt. HPV‐DNA was analysed by the INNO‐LiPA HPV genotyping Extra II on both cytological and FFPE samples. The CINtec® Histology Kit was used to assess p16 expression in cancer tissues.
Results
Forty‐seven FNAs were collected from OPSCC and 16 from CUP patients. Cancer cells were found in 35/47 cases (74.5%), while 11 (23.4%) showed only necrosis and one (2.1%) was negative for malignancy. HPV‐DNA was detected in 30/47 FNAs (63.8%), mostly harbouring HPV16 (90.0%). An excellent agreement was observed between the FNA and corresponding FFPE HPV status (raw agreement: 97.5%; Cohen κ: 0.94). The HPV test result on the necrotic FNAs completely matched that of the respective primary cancer. FNA HPV testing correctly identified 26/27 HPV‐driven OPSCCs (96.3%). HPV was detected in nine of 16 FNAs (56.2%) from CUP patients.
Conclusions
HPV status of metastatic cervical lymph node FNAs reflects that of the corresponding primary OPSCCs even when cell integrity in the FNA is not preserved and only necrotic debris are present. In patients with initial CUP, HPV‐positivity on the FNA may guide the diagnostic workup and therapeutic management, since it suggests an oropharyngeal origin.
Cervical lymph node FNAs from patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma were evaluated both for morphology and presence of HPV. HPV test results on FNAs and corresponding cancer tissues showed an excellent agreement. A complete agreement was found even when FNAs only contained necrotic debris and were not diagnostic. In patients with head and neck occult primary, HPV test on cervical lymph node FNAs may help gain information on the primary tumor site.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided FNB was not demonstrated to be better than EUS fine-needle aspiration (FNA) to obtain adequate samples for diagnosis of pancreatic tumors. We report our experience ...using a 22-gauge needle aspiration to obtain both cytologic and histologic samples.
In a total of 232 patients (51% men), 22-gauge needles (Cook Medical) were used to obtain a cytological sample (between 2008 and 2016, Cohort A) and a cytologic and a histologic sample (between 2016 and 2019, Cohort B) to evaluate the usability of this needle to collect material for cytologic and histologic examination. MOSE was used.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 76/113 (68%) patients in Cohort A and in 88/119 (74%) in Cohort B. Non-diagnostic sampling occurred in 30/113 (26%) patients in Cohort A and in 25/119 (21%) in Cohort B. The median number of passages was three in both cohorts. Lesions were in the head/uncinated process 57% vs. 51% and body/tail 43% vs. 49% in Cohorts A and B, respectively; the mean tumor size was 34.5 mm (SD 10.7) in Cohort A and 35.4 mm (SD 14.7) in Cohort B.
FNA needle (22-gauge) with adequate passes, MOSE determination and adequate processing of specimens, provided FNA and FNB specimen collection.
The standardization of the HER2 score and recent changes in therapeutic modalities points to the need for a reevaluation of the role of HER2 in recently diagnosed breast carcinoma.
A multicenter, ...retrospective study of 1794 primary breast carcinomas diagnosed in Italy in 2000/2001 and scored in HER2 four categories according to immunohistochemistry was conducted.
Ductal histotype, vascular invasion, grade, MIB1 positivity, estrogen and progesterone receptor expression differed significantly in HER2 3+ tumors compared with the other categories. HER2 2+ tumors almost showed values intermediate between those of the negative and the 3+ subgroups. The characteristics of HER2 1+ tumors were found to be in between those of HER2 0 and 2+ tumors. With a median follow-up of 54 months, HER2 3+ status was associated with higher relapse rates in node-positive and node-negative subgroups, while HER2 2+ only in node positive. Analysis of relapses according to type of therapy provided evidence of responsiveness of HER2-positive tumors to chemotherapy, especially taxanes.
The present prognostic significance of HER2 is correlated to receptor expression level and points to the need to consider HER2 2+ and HER2 3+ tumors as distinct diseases with different outcomes and specific features.
Epidemiological and experimental studies have indicated a possible role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the etiopathogenesis of oral premalignant lesions and tumors. The aim of this study was to ...establish the incidence of HPV infection and the typing of genotypes in some patients with nonmalignant oral cavity pathology and healthy subjects. We selected 80 subjects affected by the following pathologies: oral leukoplakia (20), squamous cell papilloma (6), various forms of stomatitis (30), lichen planus (15), burning mouth syndrome (BMS, 9). Ten healthy subjects were used as control. The patients underwent a brushing directly on the lesion or on the lower gums and on the dorsal surface of the tongue and a new, sensitive method of in situ hybridization (ISH) with colorimetric signal amplification was used for HPV detecting. The samples were tested with a Mix probe, which identifies most of the HPV genotypes and, in positive cases, the specific probe for the 6-11, 31-33-51 and 16-18 genotypes, was used. Leukoplakia and papilloma were , therefore, associated with the HPV infection, differently from the other pathologies and healthy oral mucosa (chi-squared < 0.005). In conclusion, according to our findings, HPV is a specific risk factor for the development of oral premalignant lesions.
Few cases of malignant glucagonomas have been described in the literature. In this paper we present a case of a 77-year-old woman with necrolytic migratory erythema and high plasma glucagon and ...chromogranin A levels caused by a neuroendocrine tumour. An abdominal CT scan suggested a pancreatic lesion and two liver metastases. The patient underwent pancreatic debulking and liver metastasectomy. Histological and immunohistochemical investigations revealed a well differentiated neuroendocrine tumour with vascular invasion and scattered immunopositivity for somatostatin receptors. The patient was treated with octreotide (20 mg i.m. every 28 days) for three years without side effects. Three months after surgery symptoms of disease recurred accompanied by hyperglucagonaemia and newly diagnosed liver lesions. The patient was treated with octreotide (30 mg i.m. every 28 days) and interferon-alpha (6 MU s.cc 3 times per week) plus three cycles of hepatic chemoembolisation. Symptoms resolved after the first month of therapy, hormone levels decreased compared to untreated levels and metastatic growth slowed as observed by radiographic evidence. The patient is now asymptomatic with persistent hepatic disease and normal serum glucagon levels forty months after primary treatment. So far, only few immunohistochemical studies are reported on malignant glucagonoma and combined treatment schedules. We demonstrated, for the first time, a scattered immunopositivity for somatostatin receptors in a malignant glucagonoma. For this reason, the somatostatin analogs therapy was instituted. A combined antiproliferative medical treatment and the hepatic chemoembolization have been able to control tumor growth and disease symptoms for a long time after surgery.
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignant disease, but preoperative diagnosis remains a challenge. Fine-needle aspiration cytology has greatly improved the clinical management of thyroid ...nodules, but the preoperative characterisation of follicular lesions is very difficult. Many patients are thus referred to surgery more for diagnosis than for therapeutic necessity. We undertook an international multicentre study to assess the usefulness of immunohistocytochemical staining for two potential markers of malignant thyrocytes.
Expression of galectin-3 and CD44v6 was tested on 1009 thyroid lesions (tissue specimens and cytological cell-blocks) and 226 fresh cytological samples obtained preoperatively by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules (prospective analysis). The test used monoclonal antibodies specific for CD44v6 and galectin-3, the indirect avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase method, and 3-amino-9-ethyl-carbazole as substrate.
The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of this test method (for coexpression of the two markers) in the prospective analysis were 88%, 98%, 91%, and 97%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of galectin-3 immunodetection alone in discriminating benign from malignant thyroid lesions were more than 99% and 98% respectively, and the positive predictive value and diagnostic accuracy were 92% and 99%.
The integration of galectin-3 immunostaining with conventional cytomorphological and clinical diagnostic procedures represents a sensitive and reliable diagnostic approach for preoperative identification of thyroid carcinomas. This test method improves the diagnostic accuracy of conventional cytology and provides the molecular basis for a new nosological assignation of the not yet classified thyroid neoplasms of indeterminate malignant behaviour.