The role of ThinPrep cytology in the evaluation of estrogen and progesterone receptor content of breast tumors

INTRODUCTION

The objective of the current study was to analyze the potential value of immunocytochemical analysis on ThinPrep (TP)-processed smears, from fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies, of breast tumors for the determination of ER and PR content as compared with the immunohistochemical analysis performed on paraffin-embedded breast tumor specimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Percutaneous FNA biopsy of focal breast lesions in 119 female adult patients during a 31-month period was performed. Subsequently, these patients underwent surgical resection of the tumors. ER and PR status of the tumors was determined by immunocytochemical analysis on TP-processed smears and by immunohistochemical studies in paraffin-embedded sections.

RESULTS

With the use of TP technique adequate material was observed in all cases. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and overall accuracy (OA) of the TP technique for the ER were 98.95%, 100%, 100%, 95.84% and 99.15% respectively. In addition, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and OA of the TP technique for the PR were 100%, 87.5%, 95.60%, 100% and 96.64%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

ER and PR status can be evaluated in FNA material from breast carcinomas by using the TP technique. Sample collection and storage is simple and permits the assortment of the FNA sample for both morphologic diagnosis and ancillary studies. The accuracy of TP technique in the detection of ER and PR content is comparable to those of the histological evaluation, and could be of paramount importance for the preoperative planning of treatment.

DNA ploidy as a prognostic factor in muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Radical cystectomy represents the treatment of choice for muscle-infiltrative bladder carcinoma; however, about 50% of patients relapse and die from the disease. In the present study, the prognostic significance of the DNA ploidy in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (TCCB) is analyzed. The study was carried out on 66 patients with TCCB who underwent radical cystectomy. DNA ploidy was determined by flow cytometry (FCM) on paraffin-embedded specimens, and the results were analyzed and correlated with the tumor malignancy grade and stage and the clinical course. Forty of the 66 tumors studied (63%) were aneuploid. Aneuploid status was correlated with higher tumor T stage (P < 0.001) and grade (P < 0.001). Median follow up was 68 months (range: 12-105). Median survival was significantly longer in patients with diploid tumors (> 60 vs 45 months, P < 0.001). All patients with diploid tumors were alive and free of bladder cancer during follow-up, in contrast to only 30% of patients with aneuploid tumors. DNA ploidy was an independent prognostic factor, as shown by multivariate analysis (P = 0.006). All patients with pT > or = 3b and diploid tumors were alive at the time of analysis as opposed to none with aneuploid tumors. The results of this study suggest that DNA ploidy can provide prognostic information on patients with muscle invasive carcinoma of the bladder and might represent a means of selection for postoperative management.

The role of liquid-based cytology in the investigation of thyroid lesions

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the role of liquid-based cytology by ThinPrep technique in the detection of thyroid lesions.

METHODS

In all, 252 specimens from 157 patients for pre-operative evaluation of thyroid nodules, prepared by the ThinPrep, were examined. In all cases thyroidectomy followed the initial cytological evaluation. All cytological diagnoses were correlated to the histological ones.

RESULTS

According to our findings, a sensitivity of 87.80%, a specificity of 99.50%, a positive predictive value of 97.30%, a negative predictive value of 97.56% and an overall accuracy of 97.52% were observed in fine needle aspiration cytology in correlation to the histological diagnosis after thyroidectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

ThinPrep technique is a valid method for the pre-operative cytological diagnosis of thyroid nodules, offering the possibility of ancillary techniques, such as immunocytochemical and molecular methods and can, therefore, be potentially complementary to histological evaluation for further investigation of follicular lesions.

Deoxyribonucleic acid flow cytometry in the assessment of spermatogenesis

PURPOSE

We compared deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) flow cytometric analysis of testicular tissue to quantitative assessment of spermatogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 35 infertile men with azoospermia or oligospermia. All patients underwent incisional testicular biopsies. DNA flow cytometric analysis was performed on each specimen to evaluate the ability of the method to quantify alterations in spermatogenesis. The results were compared to quantitative histological examination. At least 100 spermatic tubules were examined on each specimen and the number of spermatids per tubule was counted. All histological specimens were examined by the same pathologist.

RESULTS

Of the 35 specimens analyzed with DNA flow cytometry 5 were normal, while the percentage of haploid cells (spermatids and spermatozoa) was decreased (hypospermatogenesis) in 14, complete maturation arrest was noted in 2 and almost complete absence of haploid cells was found in 14. Comparing the findings on histological examination with histograms, excellent correlation was noted in cases of the Sertoli-cell-only syndrome and complete maturation arrest, while 3 of 14 histograms with hypospermatogenesis demonstrated normal spermatogenesis on histological examination. Additionally 1 of 5 histograms with norma, spermatogenesis demonstrated hypospermatogenesis on histological examination.

CONCLUSIONS

DNA flow cytometry of the testicular tissue seems to be an objective and quantified method that can be used to investigate spermatogenesis in infertile men. It is also less time-consuming than any histological examination, permits management decisions within 1.5 hours after biopsy and may replace testicular histopathological study. Flow cytometric diagnoses correlated well with histopathological findings.

Deoxyribonucleic acid measurements in transitional cell carcinomas: comparison of flow and image cytometry techniques

PURPOSE

We compared the results of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ploidy determinations performed by flow cytometry and image cytometry in transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 81 cases of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder DNA indexes were measured by flow cytometry of bladder washings and tumor tissue samples, and by image cytometry of imprints from tumor tissue samples.

RESULTS

There was good correlation between bladder washings and tissue samples analyzed by flow cytometry in 68 cases but aneuploidy was missed with bladder washings in 13 (16%). There was also good correlation between flow and image cytometry in 75 cases (92.59%) regarding the detection of aneuploidy. There was agreement between detection of aneuploidy and DNA index in 45 cases (55.5%), while both methods detected an aneuploid population in 30 (37%) but there was disagreement regarding DNA index. Aneuploid populations were missed by flow cytometry in 6 cases (7.4%). Furthermore, in 10 cases peridiploid peaks were found on the image cytometry histograms, which were not visible on flow cytometry. However, it was not possible to assess accurately if these were true peridiploid populations.

CONCLUSIONS

There is good overall correlation between DNA content measured by flow and image cytometry but image cytometry has the advantage of visual discrimination, permitting preferential selection and analysis of tumor cells. However, certain problems remain with image cytometry, particularly in the case of peridiploid peaks, which cannot be classified accurately as showing true peridiploid or right shifted diploid populations.

DNA flow-cytometric, histological and hormonal analysis of sertoli cell only syndrome (SECOS)

Sertoli cell only syndrome (SECOS) was identified on histology in 21 cases (16,28%) among 129 testicular biopsies performed in our department for azoospermia over the last 5 years. In these patients history, clinical features, hormonal levels, and histological findings were analyzed. In addition DNA flow-cytometric analysis was performed and showed an almost complete absence of haploid cells. All patients presented with elevated serum FSH levels suggesting a Sertoli cell damage or reduced production of inhibin due to the absence of sermatogenic cells. An good correlation was found between histological findings and DNA histograms. In conclusion SECOS is a syndrome of unknown aetiology presenting in men with azoospermia. DNA flow-cytometric analysis is a reliable, rapid and easy method in the diagnosis of SECOS, and can replace histological examination.

The role of ThinPrep cytology in the investigation of SLN status in patients with cutaneous melanoma

INTRODUCTION

The sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in melanoma assesses reliably the status of the regional lymph node basins, provides valuable prognostic information, facilitates early therapeutic lymphadenectomy and identifies patients who are candidates for different adjuvant treatments. The current study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of cytological specimens being placed in PreservCyt as a practical collection methodology for performing evaluation of the SLN status in patients with melanomas.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 2004 to December 2006, 70 patients with histologically confirmed cutaneous melanoma underwent intraoperative FNA biopsy of the SLN. After identification of the SLN(s), FNA biopsy of the SLN was performed with a 0.6 mm (23 gauge) diameter needle. All the SLNs specimens were examined (using light microscopy 40 x and 200 x) by the same pathologist and cytopathologist, neither of had any knowledge of the medical history of the patient. The histological result of the excised SLN was considered as the final diagnosis.

RESULTS

The unsatisfactory rate for TP cytology was 2.17%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall accuracy (OA) for the TP technique were 92.31%, 100%, 100%, 97.06%, and 97.83%, respectively. Using TP cytology, there was greater intensity and distribution of the staining in comparison with immunohistochemistry.

DISCUSSION

The accuracy of TP technique in the evaluation of the SLN status is comparable to those of the histological evaluation, and could be of paramount importance for the preoperative planning of treatment.

Evaluation of cytological morphologic criteria and AgNOR expression in male breast lesions

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) breast smears from 81 male patients have been examined in our laboratory between 1988 and 1994. The cytological criteria for diagnosing male breast lesions and the expression of nuclear organizer regions were evaluated. Of the 81 cases examined cytologically, 50 cases were proven cytologically and histologically to be inactive gynaecomastia, two cases showed florid gynaecomastia and there were 10 adenocarcinomas; in the 17 cases in which no cytological evidence of gynaecomastia or malignancy was found, the histological diagnosis was gynaecomastia in 13 and there was one case of mastopathy; in two cases suspicious of malignancy on cytology the histological examination proved to be florid gynaecomastia in one case and the other showed an adenocarcinoma. The absolute specificity of FNA in this study was 74.28%, the complete specificity 98.5%, the absolute sensitivity 90.9% and the complete sensitivity 100%. The overall accuracy was 97.5%, the positive predictive value 91.66% and the negative predictive value 98.5%. In all cases of male breast carcinoma, AgNOR mean value was > or = 3; thus, it appears that AgNOR mean value 3 could be used as a cut-off value between benign and malignant male breast lesions. Our experience suggests that FNA is an acceptable procedure for the investigation of male breast lesions.

Outpatient PPS will create hospitals' greatest challenge. Part I

Medicare's Outpatient Perspective Payment System is scheduled for implementation on July 1, 2000, and most providers will experience a reduction in revenue as a result. Ted Matson and Jim Georgoulakis of Ambulatory Care Advisory Group, Inc. provide an overview of this new reimbursement system and what it will mean for hospitals.