An Update on the Risk of Lymph Node Metastasis for the Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with the New Diagnostic Paradigm.

Previous data has shown that the risk of nodal metastases is significantly greater for classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) as compared to the follicular variant (FVPTC). Given a recent change in diagnostic paradigm and definition of the noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) we intended to investigate if there remains a significant difference in nodal involvement between classical PTC and FVPTC. A 6-year retrospective review of all cases with FVPTC in the diagnostic line from the University of Utah/ARUP Laboratories was conducted. Two pathologists reviewed the remaining cases using the recently described histologic criteria of NIFTP to determine the total number the FVPTCs fitting the new classification paradigm. Histologic and clinical follow-up was tracked for all patients to determine the rate of nodal disease for all groups. 127 cases were identified using the above listed criteria. Forty-seven cases (37%) were classified as NIFTPs. None of the 47 patients had nodal disease either at the time of surgery or on follow-up. Twenty-eight cases met the current criteria for FVPTC (21%); of these 7/28 (25%) had evidence of nodal disease. By comparison, 17/45 (38%) of patients with mixed classical and FVPTC had nodal disease. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in the risk of nodal metastasis between the pure FVPTC and mixed classical/FVPTC groups (p = 0.43). Our data indicates that implementing new definition for FVPTC will narrow the gap in the risk of nodal metastases between the classical PTC and FVPTC histologic subtypes.

Elective Neck Dissection for Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Skull Base Invasion.

Objectives Skull base invasion from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) via perineural spread affects survival and the rate of regional metastasis. Our objective is to investigate the factors associated with elective neck dissection (END) in this population and the survival difference with END compared with observation for patients with a cN0 neck. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Academic. Subjects and Methods Patients were treated surgically for head and neck cSCC with skull base invasion via perineural spread with a cN0 neck from 2004 to 2014. Clinicopathologic data were collected and analyzed. Primary outcomes were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Fifty-nine patients met inclusion criteria: 28 underwent an END and 31 underwent neck observation. Free tissue transfer reconstruction was significantly associated with END ( P < .001). Patients treated with an END had significantly improved 5-year DFS (57% and 32%, P = .042) and OS (60% and 37%, P = .036) compared with those who were observed and a significantly reduced rate of regional recurrence (9% and 37%, P = .024). The rate of occult nodal metastasis identified with END was 36% and is approximately equal to the regional failure rate of the neck observation group (37%). Conclusion END was more commonly used in cases requiring free tissue transfer. The use of END for head and neck cSCCs that have invaded the skull base is not routinely performed but was found to be associated with a survival advantage and reduced regional recurrence rate.

Teaching Laboratory Management Principles and Practices Through Mentorship and Graduated Responsibility: The Assistant Medical Directorship.

With the changing landscape of medicine in general, and pathology in particular, a greater emphasis is being placed on laboratory management as a means of controlling spiraling medical costs and improving health-care efficiency. To meet this challenge, pathology residency programs have begun to incorporate formal laboratory management training into their curricula, using institutional curricula and/or online laboratory management courses offered by professional organizations. At the University of Utah, and its affiliated national reference laboratory, ARUP Laboratories, Inc, interested residents are able to supplement the departmental lecture-based and online laboratory management curriculum by participating in assistant medical directorship programs in one of several pathology subspecialty disciplines. The goals of many of the assistant medical directorship positions include the development of laboratory management skills and competencies. A survey of current and recent assistant medical directorship participants revealed that the assistant medical directorship program serves as an excellent means of improving laboratory management skills, as well as improving performance as a fellow and practicing pathologist.

Analytical performance evaluation of the i-STAT Total ß-human chorionic gonadotropin immunoassay.

BACKGROUND: The ability to perform quantitative hCG testing in whole blood at the point-of-care is desirable. The purpose of this study was to perform an analytical validation of the Abbott i-STAT Total ß-hCG test. METHODS: Whole blood, plasma, and serum samples were prepared by the addition of hCG and were used to evaluate precision, linearity, analytical sensitivity, accuracy, the high-dose hook effect, and dilution recovery. RESULTS: Imprecision was highest with whole blood (CV = 16.0% and 6.7% at 10 and 1184 IU/l, respectively) and lowest in serum (CV = 8.1% and 4.3% at 11 and 1305 IU/l, respectively). The limits-of-quantitation were 8 and <5 IU/l for whole blood and both plasma and serum, respectively. The assay was linear between 5 and 2000 IU/l in all sample types (R(2) ≥ 0.998). i-STAT results agreed most closely with the Architect Total ß-hCG assay and with greater differences observed with Beckman DxI Total ßhCG and Roche Cobas e601 hCG+ß assays (mean differences across all sample types were 9.3% and 12.3%, respectively). A high-dose hook effect was observed at concentrations > 400,000 IU/l. Accuracy was achieved in samples diluted with serum but not saline. CONCLUSIONS: The i-STAT Total ß-hCG test demonstrates acceptable performance for quantifying hCG in whole blood, plasma and serum.