One stop neck lump clinic: a boon for quick diagnosis and early management

INTRODUCTION

One-stop neck lump clinics (OSNLC) are gaining popularity worldwide especially in the UK hospitals following NICE recommendation. The main aim of this speciality clinic is a quick diagnosis and early management while simultaneously improving patient experience.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse and compare the efficacy of OSNLC and general ENT/Head and neck clinic with specifics to a number of appointments required for formulating management plan and a number of 'one stop' visits.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study SETTING: Regional Head and Neck Cancer Center (Secondary care hospital) PARTICIPANTS: Patients referred by General practitioner with symptoms of a neck lump MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients seen in general ENT/Head and neck and OSNLC in 2 phases to understand the difference in a number of appointments, one-stop visits, the requirement of Ultrasound and efficiency of Fine needle aspiration.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Improved efficacy of OSNLC was noted as patients seen in the clinic required a lesser number of appointments, reached a faster diagnosis and management plan when compared to patients seen in general ENT clinic.

Do medullary thyroid carcinoma patients with high calcitonin require bilateral neck lymph node clearance? A case report

BACKGROUND

In clinical work, 85%-90% of malignant thyroid diseases are papillary thyroid cancer (PTC); thus, clinicians neglect other types of thyroid cancer, such as medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

CASE SUMMARY

We report a 53-year-old female patient with a preoperative calcitonin level of 345 pg/mL. There was no definitive diagnosis of MTC by preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology or intraoperative frozen pathology, but the presence of PTC and MTC was confirmed by postoperative paraffin pathology. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy and bilateral central lymph node dissection. Close follow-up at 1.5 years after surgery revealed no signs of recurrence or metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The issue in clinical work-up regarding types of thyroid cancer provides a novel and challenging idea for the surgical treatment of MTC. In the absence of central lymph node metastasis, it is worth addressing whether patients with high calcitonin can undergo total thyroidectomy and bilateral central lymph node dissection without bilateral lateral neck lymph node dissection.

Cytomorphological Patterns of Nerve Aspirates in Pure Neuritic Leprosy-A Single Centre Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Background

Pure neuritic leprosy (PNL) poses a diagnostic challenge because of absence of skin patches, inconclusive skin biopsies and nerve conduction studies. Nerve biopsy though the diagnostic gold standard, is invasive, requires expertise, and may not be feasible in all cases. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of accessible thickened nerves can be utilized as a minimally invasive diagnostic modality in PNL. This study was carried out to describe cytomorphological patterns of nerve aspirates in patients of PNL for diagnosis and classification of leprosy and study its advantage, if any, over skin biopsy.

Methods

Twenty-seven treatment naive clinically diagnosed patients of PNL were included in this cross-sectional study carried out from January 2017 to December 2018 at a tertiary care centre in Western India. FNAC was done from a clinically involved nerve and aspirates were evaluated for cytomorphological characteristics and the presence of Acid-Fast Lepra bacilli.

Results

Nerve aspirates were diagnostic in 10 (37%) patients while 17 (63%) aspirates showed non-specific or no inflammation. Of the diagnostic aspirates, six (22.2%) were classified as tuberculoid leprosy, three (11.1%) as lepromatous and one (3.7%) as borderline leprosy. Mycobacterium leprae were demonstrated among three (11.1%) of these aspirates. In comparison, only three (11.1%) skin biopsies were diagnostic of leprosy with features of indeterminate spectrum. Remaining 24 skin biopsies showed normal histology in 20 (74.1%) cases to perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in four (14.8%) cases.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that FNAC of clinically thickened nerves has a better diagnostic yield than skin biopsy in PNL and shows all spectrums of leprosy. It also offers the advantage of sampling major nerve trunks without the fear of residual neurological deficit. However, most of the smears were paucicellular and a negative aspirate does not rule out leprosy.

Cytological examination of the thyroid in children and adolescents after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident: the Fukushima Health Management Survey

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident occurred on March 11 2011, following the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Radioactive materials, including I-131, were released into the environment after the accident. Shortly after, the prefectural government initiated the Fukushima Health Management Survey for monitoring the long-term health conditions of the residents of Fukushima Prefecture. In the survey, thyroid ultrasonography was scheduled for all people aged 18 years or younger who were living in Fukushima Prefecture at the time of disaster. The total number of examinees was approximately 370,000 in the Preliminary Baseline Survey (PBLS), and 380,000 in the first Full-scale Survey (FSS). First, thyroid ultrasonography was performed as the Primary Examination. When a thyroid nodule that meets the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) guideline is detected, thyroid FNAC is performed. By the end of June 2017, the cytological specimens of 187 examinees had been interpreted as Malignant or Suspicious for Malignancy (SFM). In this article, the cytological results of whole categories are presented using the criteria of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. The total numbers of examinees with SFM or Malignant in PBLS and at the first FSS were 106 (62.0%) and 71 (38.0%), respectively. The data of the cytological results of SFM and Malignant were already reported. However, this is the first report of cytological data from categories other than SFM and Malignant. The results of the current study will contribute to future research into the thyroid conditions of children and adolescents.

Lymph node fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in paediatric patients: Why not? Diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in a series of heterogeneous paediatric lymphadenopathies

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) can be a precious tool for the evaluation of lymphadenopathies in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to analyse the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in a paediatric lymph node series. We report a series of 76 patients, aged up to 19 years, who underwent lymph node FNAC. In our series, 57 cases were diagnosed as non-neoplastic, including benign reactive hyperplasia and other inflammatory lesions, 18 cases were diagnosed as malignant and 1 case was diagnosed as suspicious for lymphoproliferative process, not otherwise specified. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 93 %, 100 %, 100 % and 98 %, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy resulted 98.6 %. FNAC is an accurate, minimally invasive method with minimal complications that allows evaluation of paediatric lymphadenopathies and a correct triage of reactive/inflammatory and neoplastic lymphadenopathies. The application of rapid on-site evaluation, the realization of a cell block and the application of ancillary diagnostic tests, including at least immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry, allows to achieve an excellent diagnostic performance.

Cytomorphological Evaluation of Synovial Lesions in a Tertiary Care Centre in North India: A Retrospective Study

Background:

Numerous pathological processes involve synovium and periarticular tissues that are characteristic and in some cases specific to a particular disease. Synovial fluid is a thick, stringy fluid found in the cavity of synovial joint. Examination of the synovium plays a key role in the diagnosis of many joint diseases.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to study the spectrum of synovial lesions on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and to compare the cytological diagnosis with histopathological findings.

Material and Methods:

This retrospective diagnostic analytical study was carried out in the Department of Pathology. Sixty-six patients with suspected synovial lesions referred from other departments who underwent FNAC during 1 year from January 2017 to December 2017 were included in the study. The slides along with records of the patients were retrieved and findings recorded. Histopathological evaluation was performed wherever possible and compared with cytological diagnosis.

Results:

Non-neoplastic lesions accounted for 80.3% cases followed by benign tumors (15.2%). Ganglion cyst was the commonest non-neoplastic lesion (60.6%, 40/66), while tenosynovial giant cell tumor was the commonest neoplasm (12.1%, 8/66) observed in our study. Solitary case of synovial sarcoma was also observed. Histopathological evaluation was performed in 14 cases and FNAC had overall diagnostic accuracy of 85.7% in diagnosis of these lesions.

Conclusions:

FNAC is a useful tool with high diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of synovial lesions.

Bethesda System Categories of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology Are Not Associated with Thyroid Nodule Location: A Single Institution Experience

INTRODUCTION

Thyroid isthmus is defined as the thin band connecting thyroid tissue between both lateral thyroid lobes. Recently, a possible association between thyroid nodules located in the isthmus and malignancy was proposed. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) categories between nodules from the isthmus and nodules from both thyroid lobes.

METHODS

All fine needle aspiration cytology procedures performed between January 2016 and December 2019 at the Pathology Institute of Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed. For each nodule, at least 2 conventional slides were produced (1 stained by Giemsa and the other by hematoxylin and eosin). All cases were reported according to the TBSRTC. Clinical information (gender, age, and localization) and ultrasound data (size of nodules) were collected from medical requisition forms. To assess the association between the frequency of TBSRTC categories and nodule location, univariate analysis was performed using the χ2 test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Nodules located in transition between the isthmus and a right or left lobe were included in the isthmus group.

RESULTS

Considering the p value between the TBSRTC categories and thyroid nodule location, statistic association was not observed: nondiagnostic or unsatisfactory (p = 0.1442), atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (p = 0.3296), follicular neoplasm or suspicious for a follicular neoplasm (p = 0.0817), suspicious for malignancy (p = 0.8464), and malignant (p = 0.1082).

CONCLUSION

In the studied population, nodules located in the isthmus were not related to any Bethesda System category.

[Nodular goiter]

The indications for surgery of benign goiter should be balanced and professional as the prevalence of benign nodular goiter in Germany is high and not all goiters must be surgically treated. Thyroid nodules are detected in up to 76% of healthy people using modern high-resolution ultrasound (US) and only a few of these nodules are malignant or symptomatic. Even today a thorough medical history, detailed examination of the neck region, a qualified US of the thyroid gland, a 99m-technetium scintigraphy and fine needle aspiration help to select patients who will benefit from thyroid surgery. In the last 10 years several thyroid imaging reporting and data systems (TI-RADS) classifications have been introduced. The TI-RADS classification is a standardized assessment of thyroid nodules and risk stratification system in thyroid US which helps to select those nodules with a high risk of cancer. Asymptomatic euthyroid nodular goiter without any suspicion of malignancy and scintigraphically cold thyroid nodules without any other evidence of malignancy are not indications for thyroid surgery. The decision to operate should be made on an interdisciplinary basis in conformity with the relevant guidelines and exhaustion of diagnostic tools.

Utility of Image Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Intra-Thoracic Lesions with Emphasis on Lung Cancer Detection

Background and Aims

Fine Needle aspiration cytology has emerged as an essential pre-biopsy investigation to rule out or confirm malignancy in superficial as well as deep seated lesions. Radiological assistance has proved to be a blessing for obtaining adequate samples. With unwavering leading position of lung cancer in terms of incidence and mortality, it has become necessary to study the trends of our population and assess the usefulness of techniques aiding in early diagnosis. The objective is to obtain prevalence of lung cancer and utility of various methods in obtaining cytological material for assessment in intrathoracic lesions.

Material and Methods

We conducted an observational analytic study at a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 3.5 years including a total of 307 patients with suspected lung malignancy. Samples were collected using image guided techniques including Fibre-optic bronchoscopy (FOB), Ultra-sonography (USG) and Computed tomography (CT). The smears were processed as per standard institutional protocol and were evaluated by a senior pathologist.

Results

Squamous cell carcinoma was the most frequent type of Primary lung malignancy, followed by adenocarcinoma. The malignancies were more common in males and in age group of 61 to 70 years.

Conclusion

Respiratory cytology remains the initial mode of investigation in intra-thoracic malignancies. The high sensitivity, low-cost and rapidity of the results works its advantages for both the patient and the clinician. High cellular yield obtained with the use of trans-bronchial needle aspiration and bronchial brushing rationalizes their use as a screening test to establish both malignant as well as non-malignant diagnoses. Further improvement in utilization of the available modalities and addition of ancillary testing can reduce the need of invasive procedures.

Comparison between Sonographic Features and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology with Histopathology in the Diagnosis of Solitary Thyroid Nodule

BACKGROUND

High resolution ultrasonography (USG) is the first-line investigation in evaluation of euthyroid nodules. Thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TIRADS) is an USG-based risk stratification system for classifying thyroid nodules. Subjects with high-risk category of TIRADS undergo fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and FNAC findings are reported according to Bethesda classification. Bethesda categories are used for determining risk of malignancy. Data regarding sonographic classification of thyroid nodule and its cytological association with respect to final histopathological diagnosis remains scarcely available in India.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

The study evaluated euthyroid nodules for risk of malignancy and compared sonographic features and FNAC (Bethesda classification) findings with histopathology of excised samples.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a single-center observational study on 137 consecutive subjects of solitary euthyroid nodule. All subjects underwent USG according to TIRADS and FNAC where applicable. Surgical biopsy report was used as a gold standard.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive and negative predictive value of FNAC were 80%, 90%, 85%, 86%, and 86.6% and TIRADS were 80%, 47.2% 61%, 51.3%, and 77.3%, respectively. FNAC classification was equally sensitive and more specific than TIRADS. Among individual USG parameters, micro-calcification was most sensitive (80%) and specific (86%). Irregular margin and taller-than-wider shape had a specificity of 89% and 92%, respectively. 3 patients (14.28%) with benign cytology and suspicious USG features (specifically TIRADS 4 & 5) undergoing surgery had malignancy in final HPE.

CONCLUSIONS

USG and FNAC are equally sensitive in diagnosing malignant thyroid nodule but FNA is more specific (90%). It's a minimally invasive method which can be used to distinguish malignant from benign lesions with a high degree of accuracy (85%). In patient having high risk feature on USG, a benign cytology needs to be repeat FNAC and they should undergo surgical biopsy for confirmation.

[Nodular goiter]

The indications for surgery of benign goiter should be balanced and professional as the prevalence of benign nodular goiter in Germany is high and not all goiters must be surgically treated. Thyroid nodules are detected in up to 76% of healthy people using modern high-resolution ultrasound (US) and only a few of these nodules are malignant or symptomatic. Even today a thorough medical history, detailed examination of the neck region, a qualified US of the thyroid gland, a 99m-technetium scintigraphy and fine needle aspiration help to select patients who will benefit from thyroid surgery. In the last 10 years several thyroid imaging reporting and data systems (TI-RADS) classifications have been introduced. The TI-RADS classification is a standardized assessment of thyroid nodules and risk stratification system in thyroid US which helps to select those nodules with a high risk of cancer. Asymptomatic euthyroid nodular goiter without any suspicion of malignancy and scintigraphically cold thyroid nodules without any other evidence of malignancy are not indications for thyroid surgery. The decision to operate should be made on an interdisciplinary basis in conformity with the relevant guidelines and exhaustion of diagnostic tools.

Ectopic Cervical Thyroid Tissue Affected by Fibrosing Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Mimicking Multifocal Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma-A Hard Lesson Learnt from an Unusual Case

We describe a case of ectopic cervical thyroid tissue which was involved by fibrosing Hashimoto's thyroiditis and which mimicked metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma both on fine needle aspiration cytology and biopsy. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy which revealed fibrosing Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but no carcinoma. The entire thyroidectomy specimen was submitted for histopathological assessment. Even in the resected thyroidectomy specimen, there were cytological changes that were strongly reminiscent of papillary thyroid carcinoma. However, interpreted in the correct clinico-pathological context, these cytological alterations were deemed to be reactive secondary to the fibro-inflammatory process.

Phaeohyphomycosis: Cytomorphologic Evaluation in Eleven Cases

OBJECTIVE

Phaeohyphomycosis caused by phaeoid fungi is a type of mycosis emerging worldwide which causes a wide variety of clinical manifestations.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of 11 cases diagnosed with fungal inflammation on cytology over a period of 6 years (2013-2018) was done along with culture/histopathologic confirmation.

RESULTS

Of the total of 11 cases, 9 cases presented with subcutaneous swellings and 1 case each with brain and lung lesions. The age range was 30-83 years (mean: 53.6); 8 patients were male and 3 were female. Cytologic smears showed fungal profiles with septate tortuous hyphae, as well as swollen and narrow, yeast-like swellings with an irregular breadth of the hyphae in all cases. The fungal profiles were visualized on a Masson-Fontana stain. The background showed inflammatory cells, giant cells, and necrosis in variable proportions. Five cases were diagnosed as phaeohyphomycosis on cytology, whereas 3 cases were misdiagnosed as aspergillus and 2 as candida. In 1 case, typing of the fungus was not done. Histopathology was available in 5 cases, and in all these a diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis was reached. Ten of the 11 cases had confirmation on fungal culture.

CONCLUSIONS

Phaeoid fungi are rarely seen in routine cytologic practice. Careful evaluation of cytologic smears and an awareness of the characteristic morphologic features of phaeohyphomycosis are helpful in arriving at a correct diagnosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology provides a rapid diagnosis, enabling prompt therapy.

Modified Ultrafast Papanicolaou Stain in Ultrasound Guided FNAC of Intra-abdominal Lesions

Background & Objective:

Modified Ultra-fast Papanicolaou (MUFP) stain has been developed from Papanicolaou stain (PAP) with the goal to improve staining quality, minimize staining time for obtaining immediate cytological diagnosis and to check specimen adequacy during Ultrasound guided Fine needle Aspiration Cytology (US guided FNAC). The aim of this research was to study the cytomorphological features of intra-abdominal lesions with help of US guided FNAC and to assess the diagnostic utility of Modified Ultrafast Papanicolaou stain in cytological diagnosis.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study enrolled consecutive 100 subjects in N.K.P Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Nagpur, which is a tertiary teaching hospital in India, from July 2015 to June 2017 who underwent US guided FNAC for Intra-abdominal lesions. Fine needle aspiration was done under ultrasound guidance and the smears were divided into two groups. Wet smears were fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol for conventional PAP staining and air dried for MUFP. After staining, results were evaluated on basis of the cytological features. Scores were given according to four parameters namely background of smears, staining pattern, cell morphology and nuclear staining. Quality index was calculated from the ratio of score achieved to the possible maximum score.

Results:

The most common organs involved were ovaries (46 %) followed by liver (11%) and most common lesions were malignant (68 %). The cytological characteristic showed significant difference in all four parameters (P<0.05) when MUFP stain smears were compared with PAP stain smears. There was also statistically significant difference when cumulative score and Quality Index were compared (P<0.001) between the two stains.

Conclusion:

The US guided Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is simple, safe, rapid and inexpensive technique useful in cytological diagnosis. MUFP stain is fast, reliable and has better diagnostic utility for cytological diagnosis when compared to PAP stain.

Reducing the Number of Unnecessary Percutaneous Biopsies: The Role of Second Opinion by Expert Breast Center Radiologists

BACKGROUND/AIM

The research objectives of this study were the estimation of the number of misdiagnosed breast lesions by non-expert-center-breast-radiologists (NEBR) and the investigation of the discordant rate (DR) calculated between initial and second opinion. Moreover, this study evaluated the impact of second opinion and the factors associated with DR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 399 patients were sent to our Tertiary Breast Cancer (BC) Center to perform fine needle aspiration/core needle biopsy (FNAC/CNB) after external examination. Lesions were reclassified according to Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). External examinations were classified as breast-expert, not-breast-expert and physicians as expert-center-breast-radiologists (EBR), NEBR, and non-radiologists (NR). Personal/family history of breast cancer (BC), breast-density and presence of prior imaging were collected.

RESULTS

DR was 74.3%. After second opinion, FNAC/CNB was proposed in 25.7% of cases and 2 additional cancers were detected. About 59.5% of unnecessary FNAC/CNB were avoided. Dense breast, no prior imaging examination and BC family-history were associated with higher DR (p-value<0.001); personal BC-history was associated in NEBR evaluations (p-value=0.0383).

CONCLUSION

Second opinion review of outside examinations at expert BC Center may decrease unneeded biopsy, reducing health-care costs.

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma: a case report and review of literature

Background

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CA-ex-PA) is extremely unusual in minor salivary glands of oral cavity. CAex-PA is a carcinomatous change as a primary or as a recurrence of pleomorphic adenoma.

Objective

Due to resemblance of clinical symptoms of Ca ex PA and benign pleomorphic adenoma, it is mandatory for surgeons to keep high degree of clinical alertness, considering the peculiarity of this tumor.

Case Report

54-year-old male presented with swelling on left side in the pre-auricular region from the middle of zygomatic arch to mastoid process and from tragus of the ear up to angle of mandible. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed a mixture of benign and malignant components. Total left parotidectomy with left radical neck dissection followed by reconstruction with cervicodeltopectoral flap was performed. Combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy were given to patient. Histologic examination and pre-operative fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed the diagnosis of Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CA-ex-PA). Two-year follow-up of patient showed no recurrence of the lesion.

Conclusion

Due to the similarity in the clinical symptoms of CA-ex-PA and benign pleomorphic adenoma, it is vital that clinicians maintain a high degree of clinical vigilance, considering the oddity of this malignancy.

A Study of Clinicopathological Profile of Salivary Gland Swellings

Salivary gland diseases usually present as a swelling of the affected gland. These lesions are commonly encountered in day to day practice. A salivary gland swelling can present in a variety of locations, depending on the salivary gland affected. The purpose of the study is to know the incidence of salivary gland swellings and the usefulness of FNAC in evaluating these swellings. The present study is a time bound prospective study of fifty consecutive cases of salivary gland swellings admitted in our hospital during the period November 2014-August 2016. Most of the patients underwent pre-operative work up with FNAC and patients indicated for surgery underwent surgery and HPE. Salivary gland swelling occurred more commonly in 3rd decade of life and equal number of cases were seen in both genders. Most of the patients presented with salivary gland swelling (98%). 21 (42%) were non neoplastic, 29 (58%) were neoplastic swellings, 18 (36%) were benign of which pleomorphic adenoma was the most common and 11 (22%) were malignant of which adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common. Parotid gland was the most common gland involved. Fine needle aspiration cytology was highly sensitive for benign tumours and highly specific for malignant tumours. FNAC should be first choice of investigation in evaluating the salivary gland pathologies. Early diagnosis and subsequent appropriate management carries good prognosis.

Variants of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: An Algorithmic Cytomorphology-Based Approach to Cytology Specimens

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer accounts for 1% of cancer cases in developed countries, in which papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type. There are multiple variants of PTC described to date, some of them with aggressive behavior and poor clinical outcome. These variants are well described and accepted in recent guidelines of many international societies, and the prognostic and management implications are well laid out. Due to their established clinical importance and to guide appropriate surgical management, it is now imperative in clinical practice, including cytopathology, to differentiate aggressive variants from nonaggressive ones. This review aims to describe the variants of PTC and to provide a practical algorithmic approach to facilitate the cytological diagnosis of these variants.

SUMMARY

Subtyping PTC variants on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is challenging even for the most experienced cytopathologist. To facilitate a correct subtyping on FNAC, we propose a stepwise approach that is mainly designed for conventional smear methodology. This approach requires first to stratify the lesions into oncocytic and nononcocytic features before analyzing further details in cell morphology and pattern. Key Messages: (1) Subtyping in PTC is possible on cytopathology. (2) The main aim of the cytopathologist is to differentiate aggressive from nonaggressive variants. (3) The subtyping of PTC can help in the surgical management of the patients.

Parotid Gland Tumours: Our Experience

Salivary gland tumor comprises of approximately 3 to 10% of neoplasms of the head and neck region. Parotid gland is the most commonly involved salivary gland with an incidence of 62% followed by submandibular gland and other minor salivary gland tumors. However clinical course of benign and malignant tumors resemble each other in clinical findings, we require histopatholocal or cytological diagnosis for planning of management. To analyze parotid tumors retrospectively with following objectives. (1) Demographic distribution of parotid tumors. (2) To evaluate cytological and histopathological findings of parotid tumors. (3) Correlation of cytological and histopathological findings of parotid tumors. It was a retrospective observational study involving 31 patients who presented with parotid region swelling. Pre operative FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) and post operative histopathology were correlated. Surgical management depended on nature of disease. Correlation of FNAC and Histopathology: among 27 cases pre operative FNAC and post operative histopathology was same and in only 3 cases reports differed. One FNAC was inconclusive. In present study, Sensitivity of FNAC is 81.81%, Specificity is 94.73% and accuracy is 90%. FNAC is usually the first investigative modality, as it is a minimally invasive, cheap, OPD procedure that can differentiate benign from malignant tumors. Knowing preoperative pathological nature of disease can help in planning of surgical process.

Correlation of Primary Tumour Size and Central Compartment Lymph Nodes Metastasis in Well Differentiated Thyroid Malignancies in a Tertiary Care Centre

Central compartment lymph nodes are the first to be involved in thyroid carcinoma and associated with higher chances of recurrence. (1) Recurrence and revision surgery can be associated with a high risk of vocal cord paralysis and hypocalcemia. (2) However, the need for central compartment lymph nodes dissection routinely in all cases of thyroid malignancies is controversial considering the risk to recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroids. (3) The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of central compartment lymph nodes metastasis in well differentiated thyroid malignancy and their correlation with size of the primary tumour along with incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after central compartment lymph node dissection. Observational study 30 patients diagnosed as well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma after fine needle aspiration cytology and planned for total thyroidectomy and central compartment lymph node dissection in the Department of ENT at a tertiary care hospital in Mysuru were studied. After surgery, histopathological examination (HPE) of thyroid and lymph node specimen was done. Postoperatively, all patients were evaluated for hypocalcemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. The incidence of central compartment lymph node metastasis after HPE was 66.6%. 80% cases with tumor size ≤ 1 cm and 64% cases having tumor size > 1 cm showed central compartment lymph node involvement. Overall Incidence of transient Hypocalcaemia was 40%. No case of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was observed. In well-differentiated thyroid malignancies we found a high incidence of central compartment lymph node involvement which was even higher with primary tumour of smaller size (≤ 1 cm). We did not find any incidence of permanent hypocalcemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. So based on our study we emphasize on elective central compartment lymph node clearance to avoid recurrence.

Comparison of surgeon-performed ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology with histopathological diagnosis of thyroid nodules

Objective:

To assess the Solitary thyroid nodules by surgeon- performed ultrasound-guided FNAC and evaluate with the histopathological findings.

Methods:

This study includes 100 Consecutive patients of a solitary thyroid nodule which were presented to the Outpatients Department of Surgery during the period of two years from September 2016 to August 2018. Exclusion criteria were patients with extra-thyroid swelling, diffuse goiter and multinodular goiter. All patients with a solitary thyroid nodule underwent Surgeon –performed ultrasound-guided FNAC in the department of Radiology. After thyroid surgery, thyroid specimens were sent for histopathology and evaluate with FNAC findings.

Results:

The study included hundred patients with solitary thyroid nodule, 75(75%) female and 25 (25%) male with a ratio of F 3:1M. The age of the patients ranged from 15-75 years with a mean age of 35 years. The result of 100 cases of Surgeon –performed Ultrasound –guide FNAC of a solitary thyroid nodule were inconclusive in 10 cases (10%), Non-neoplastic in 60 cases (60%) and Neoplastic lesions in 30 cases (30%). After evaluation of findings from FNAC and histopathology, four cases with benign FNAC (adenomatous/colloid Goiter) turnout as neoplastic (papillary carcinoma) on histopathology and six cases with neoplastic FNAC (papillary carcinoma), just two cases turnout as benign (nodular colloid goiter with cystic degeneration) on histopathology. In present study Surgeon – performed Us FNAC has found to be 87.5% sensitive, 95.3% specific and 92.0% diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusion:

Surgeon – performed Ultrasound-guided FNAC is a safe, simple and accurate technique in the diagnosis of solitary thyroid nodule.

Diagnosing atypia of undetermined significance in thyroid fine needle aspiration samples using nuclear scoring

BACKGROUND

Atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) is an indeterminate category in the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology. Cytological features described as atypia are not always observed in every case, and it is difficult to determine how the small population of cells with enlarged nuclei, a few grooves, and rare elongated nuclei should be classified. Therefore, there is inter-intra observer variability considering these cell types, even though the cytological criteria are well defined. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a nuclear scoring system to help in the differential diagnosis of AUS.

METHODS

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples that showed AUS and had surgical follow-up were included in this study. The aspirate was scored for the presence of intanuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, nuclear grooves, overlapping, enlargement, and elongation individually. The total nuclear score for each case was calculated. Statistical analysis of the association between each nuclear feature and the presence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in the surgical specimens was performed. Cut-off points from the total score of these nuclear features were also calculated.

RESULTS

Nuclear grooves and overlapping were more common in malignant cases (p < 0.001 and p = 0.048, respectively). A cut-off point of ≥5.5 for the total score was sensitive and specific for defining malignancy.

CONCLUSION

The risk of PTC was higher in nodules with more prominent nuclear overlapping or nuclear groove in their FNA samples. In order to achieve a more confident AUS diagnosis, our scoring system can be helpful for thyroid FNA samples.

Fine needle aspiration as a diagnostic tool in cysticercosis: a case series

BACKGROUND

Cysticercosis is a zoonotic disease. It is caused by the larval form of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium. This disease is a public health problem in a country like India, but its incidence is underestimated. With the advent of fine needle aspiration cytology with rapid on-site evaluation, early detection of this disease is possible, especially when the lesion is in anatomically approachable superficial locations.

CASE REPORT

We had four cases of cysticercosis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology with on-site evaluation using toluidine blue stain, followed by Giemsa and Papanicolaou stain. Our cases included three Hindu male patients of age 30 years, 23 years, 17 years and an 26 year old Hindu female.

CONCLUSION

Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of cysticercosis can be easily made provided the reporting cytologist is aware of the morphological criteria. Rapid on-site evaluation can further help in taking additional material and caution during staining process.