Combination of Biochemical and Cytological Findings for Better Diagnosis in Pleural Effusions.

Serous pleural effusions result from increased permeability and changed hydrostatic or colloid osmotic pressure. Laboratory biochemical findings provide conclusions about the effusion compositions. Together with the anamnesis and clinical assessment, they enable the evaluation of the effusion nature. The present study retrospectively analyzed combined biochemical and morphological findings in 2307 effusions of patients from two clinical centers: LungenClinic Grosshansdorf in Germany and Duzce University in Turkey. The effusion cytology results of 1771 and 536 patients from the respective centers were combined with clinical/radiological/biochemical findings and counter compared with the final diagnoses. Cytology verified 738 malignant tumors (643 and 95, respectively). Most effusions were benign (n = 1569; 77%) and 367 of them were paramalignant (293 and 74, respectively) and 594 were inflammatory (465 and 129, respectively). There was a distinctly lower number of malignant tumors in transudates than exudates (87 vs. 725; p < 0.0001). Squamous cell carcinoma was more frequent in paramalignant pleura effusions (122 cases out of the 367 effusions) than pleural carcinomatosis (32 cases out of the 780 malignant tumors; p < 0.0001). The cell formula was a suitable marker for malignant mesothelioma, predominantly mesothelial, or neutrophilic characterized by elevated LDH (>500 U/L) in the early stage of empyema or its late manifestation. In conclusion, most effusions are benign. Cytologists, assisted by clinical and biochemical data and microscopic findings, can make significant differential diagnostic contributions beyond the sole detection of malignancy.

Recommendations for immunocytochemistry in lung cancer typing: An update on a resource-efficient approach with large-scale comparative Bayesian analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The majority of lung cancer cases are of advanced stage and diagnosis is usually made using minimally invasive small biopsies and cytological specimens. The WHO 2015 classification recommends limiting immunocytochemistry (ICC) to lung cancer typing and molecular testing drives for personalised therapies. An algorithm using Bayes' theorem could be useful for defining antibody profiles. This study aims to assess the impact of different antibody profiles for cytological samples on the accuracy of lung cancer typing with a large-scale Bayesian analysis. METHODS: A retrospective examination of 3419 consecutive smears and/or cytospins diagnosed over 2011-2016 found 1960 primary lung cancer tumours: 972 adenocarcinomas (ADC), 256 squamous carcinomas (SQC), 268 neuroendocrine tumours (NET), and 464 non-small cell cancer-not otherwise specified (NSCC-NOS). The a priori and a posteriori probabilities, before and after ICC using antibodies singly or in combination, were calculated for different lung cancer types. RESULTS: TTF-1 or CK7 alone improved the a posteriori probabilities of correct cytological typing for ADC to 86.5% and 95.8%, respectively. For SQC, using p40 (∆Np63) or CK5/6 together with CK5/14 led to comparable results (78.3% and 90.3%). With synaptophysin or CD56 alone, improvements in a posteriori probabilities to 87.5 and 90.3% for the correct recognition of NET could be achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Based on morphological and clinical data, the use of two antibodies appears sufficient for reliable detection of the different lung cancer types. This applies to diagnoses that were finalised following ICC both on a clinical or cytological basis and on a histological basis.

Assessment of diagnostic value of preoperative elastography in thyroid nodules having indeterminate cytology results

Background/aim: The management of nodules with indeterminate cytology [atypia of undetermined significance (AUS), follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS), follicular neoplasm (FN), suspicious for a follicular neoplasm (SFN), and suspicious for malignancy (SM)] results is controversial. To assess the role of the elastography technique in the diagnosis of malignancy in the subtypes of indeterminate thyroid nodules. Materials and methods: We included 132 patients with indeterminate cytology who underwent thyroid surgery. Sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve, and optimal cut-off points were calculated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for elastography score (ES) and strain index (SI). Results: Malignancy was observed in 27/95 (28.4%) of the AUS-FLUS cytology and 12/24 (50%) of FN, SFN cytology. All of the 13 patients (100 %) with SM are found to be malignant on histology. In the FLUS group, nodules with ES greater or equal to 3, the presence of malignancy was higher 17/41 (41.5%) when compared with nodules with ES smaller than 39/46 (19.6 %) (p = 0.023). In the SFN group, 2 of 2 nodules with an ES score of 4 and 1 of 1 nodule with an ES score of 5 were malignant. In the FLUS group, 4 of 10 nodules with an ES score of 4 and 2 of 2 nodules with an ES score of 5 were malignant. Conclusion: Thyroid elastography may reduce unnecessary surgery for both patients with AUS/FLUS and selected SFN cytology. Elastography appears to be helpful in follicular variants and other types of papillary thyroid cancer, however, not in follicular thyroid cancer.

KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA mutation frequency of radical prostatectomy samples and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The molecular basis of prostate cancer is highly heterogeneous. Our study aimed to perform the mutation analysis of KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, and immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation of EGFR, HER2, p16, and PTEN to demonstrate new areas for targeted therapies. METHODS: A total of 24 prostatectomy samples diagnosed with adenocarcinoma were analyzed by microarray hybridization. Also, these samples were IHC stained for EGFR, HER2, P16, and PTEN. The cases were divided into two groups based on low and high Gleason scores. All findings were compared with the clinicopathological parameters of the patients. RESULTS: While KRAS mutation was in 3/24 (12.5%) of our cases, BRAF and PIK3CA mutations were not detected. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of KRAS mutation frequency. HER2 was immunohistochemically negative in all samples. There was no correlation between EGFR, P16 immunopositivity, and clinicopathological features. CONCLUSION: KRAS mutation frequency is similar to those in Asian populations. BRAF and PIK3CA mutation frequencies have been reported in the literature in the range of 0-15% and 0-10.4%, respectively, consistent with our study findings. HER2 immunoexpression is a controversial issue in the literature. EGFR and p16 expressions may not correlate with the stage.

Cytomorphological findings in diagnosis of Warthin tumor

Background/aim: To define the cytomorphologic findings leading to difficulties in diagnosis of Warthin tumors (WTs). Materials and methods: Forty-eight histopathologically diagnosed WT patients who had fine needle aspiration cytology preoperatively were reevaluated for defining the presence or absence of lymphocytes, oncocytic cell layer, oncocytic cell papillae, granular debris background, mucoid background, macrophages, polymorphonuclear cells, mast cells, squamous-like cells, atypical vacuolated cytoplasmic cells, and giant cells. Results: Forty-seven tumors were in the parotid gland and one in the submandibular gland. There were 37 (77%) male and 11 (23%) female patients. Cytopathologically in 36 patients the diagnosis was benign neoplasm (WT); in 6, other benign entities; and in 6, suspicious for malignancy. The main characteristic cytomorphologic features of WTs were as follows: 92% lymphoid cells, 83% oncocytic cell layers, and 67% granular debris background. These percentages were 67%, 17%, and 17% in the benign cytology group and 67%, 50%, and 17% in the suspicious for malignancy group, respectively. Conclusion: Absence or lack of main features of WTs with or without presence of squamous-like cells, vacuolated cytoplasmic cells, and inflammatory reaction may cause diagnostic dilemma. The presence of the mast cells accompanied by epithelial tissue was striking for WT diagnosis.

Prevalence of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Types and Their Association with Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and High- and Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in Turkish Women.

Background: This study aimed to investigate human papillomavirus (HPV) type prevalence in our region and the relationship between uterine cervical HPV types and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)/intraepithelial lesions. Methods: HPV test results were obtained from patient file archives of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic. Pathology report results were obtained from the digital records of the Pathology Laboratory and the patient file archives of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic in 2018. Results: The most frequently detected was HPV16 (29.2%), followed by HPV51 (13.1%), HPV56 (11%), HPV31 (9.2%), HPV52 (8.4%), and HPV68 (8.2%). HPV16 was positive in 50% of patients diagnosed with SCC, 54.9% of patients with HSIL, 27% of patients with LSIL, and 25% of cases diagnosed as benign (P<0.001). HPV18 was positive in 25% of patients diagnosed with SCC, 11% of patients with HSIL, 4.7% of patients with LSIL, and 5.2% of cases diagnosed as benign (P=0.019). Conclusion: The most frequent hrHPV genotype was HPV16, followed by HPV51, HPV 56, and HPV 31. There is an increase in the frequency of HPV51 and HPV56. HPV51, not included in HPV vaccines and is the second most frequent, should be included in these vaccines. In addition, although the frequency of HPV18 has decreased, HSIL and SCC generation is still high together with HPV16.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Pathway and Infiltrating Urothelial Carcinoma.

Receptor tyrosine kinase pathway is frequently searched for cancer causing mutations in tumors. Emerging targeted therapies are gleam of hope for them. Infiltrating urothelial carcinoma can have many morphological aspects according to their differentiation/variants. To evaluate KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations and HER2, EGFR, and p16 expression, we divided urothelial carcinomas into two groups: differentiated/variants (n = 12) and conventional (n = 12). We compared results with clinical, demographic, histopathologic features and survival rates. No statistically significant results could be obtained in the comparison of histopathologic properties/survival rates with mutation analysis and EGFR, HER2, and p16 status. Differentiated/variants urothelial carcinoma showed higher EGFR expression (P < 0.001). Glandular differentiation was the most frequent type, followed by squamous and sarcomatoid differentiation. We observed the most common mutation at KRAS with a propensity for urothelial carcinoma with glandular differentiation. More than one mutation/high protein expression was seen in some tumors. Targeted therapies for KRAS mutation can be effective at urothelial carcinoma with glandular differentiation. Heterologous expression of relevant proteins and genes can be a cause for targeted treatment obstacle. The determination of the molecular characters of tumors is a guide in creating targeted treatment algorithms and in choosing the patient.

Rapid Remote Online Evaluation in Endoscopic Diagnostics: An Analysis of Biopsy-Proven Respiratory Cytopathology.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study assesses the use of rapid remote online cytological evaluation for diagnosing endoscopical achieved biopsies. It focuses on its effectiveness in identifying benign and malignant conditions using digital image processing. METHODS: The study was conducted between April 2021 and September 2022 and involved analyses of 314 Rapid Remote Online Cytological Evaluations in total (154 imprint cytologies, 143 fine needle aspirations and 17 brush cytologies) performed on 239 patients at the LungenClinic Grosshansdorf. During on-site evaluation via telecytology, the time requirement was recorded and the findings were compared with the cyto-/histological and final diagnoses. RESULTS: By means of rapid remote online evaluation, findings of 86 cytological benign, 190 malignant and 38 unclear diagnoses were recorded (Ø assessment time, 100 s; range, 11-370 s). In 27 of the 37 specimens with unclear diagnoses, the final findings were malignant tumours and only 6 were benign changes. The diagnosis of another 4 of these 37 findings remained unclear. Excluding these 37 specimens, rapid remote online evaluation achieved a sensitivity of 90.5% with a specificity of 98.5% and a correct classification rate of 92.4% with regard to the final diagnosis of all cases. As expected, an increase in the sensitivity rate for the cytological detection of malignant tumours (76.1% vs. 92.5%) was found especially in fine-needle aspirations. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid remote online analysis allows the fast quantitative and qualitative evaluation of clinically obtained cytological specimens. With a correct classification rate of more than 93%, sampling deficiencies can be corrected promptly and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches can be derived.

BRAF mutation, TERT promoter mutation, and HER2 amplification in sporadic or neurofibromatosis-related neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: do these molecules have a signature in malignant transformation?

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors may occur sporadically or related to neurofibromatosis (NF). Unless the mechanisms of tumorigenesis in NF related malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are better understood, it remained unclear in sporadic cases. We aimed to investigate the genetic route for malignancy in both individuals with NF-1 and sporadic ones to open a way for targeted therapies in the future. We investigated the role of HER2 with Dual ISH DNA Probe Cocktail test, BRAF mutation (exon 15) and TERT promoter mutation frequency with Sanger sequencing method in respectively 25 sporadic neurofibromas, 25 NF-1 related neurofibromas and 25 MPNST cases from two institutes. Categorical data were analyzed and summarized as frequency and percentage. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS v.22 statistical package, and the statistical significance level was considered as 0.05. We identified TERT promoter mutation only in one sporadic MPNST (4%) and no BRAF mutation in any case. HER2 amplification is found in 10/25 (40%) MPNST cases. No mutations or gene amplification detected in neurofibromas (p < 0.001). MPNSTs are sarcomas with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. TERT promoter mutations and HER2 amplification may play a putative role in therapeutic purposes.

[Diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology in salivary gland masses]. / Tükürük bezi kitlelerinde ince igne aspirasyon sitolojisinin tanisal degeri.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in salivary gland masses retrospectively. We compared FNAC and postoperative histopathologic results of patients who had undergone FNAC and had been operated on because of salivary gland masses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy six patients (40 females, 36 males; mean age 50.4 years; range 20 to 80 years) having salivary gland masses who underwent FNAC and surgical treatment between January 2001 and June 2008 were included in the study. Fine needle aspiration cytology and histopathologic results were compared retrospectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy rate of the FNAC in salivary gland masses were evaluated in the light of the results. RESULTS: The most common benign and malign FNAC results were pleomorphic adenoma (22 patients; 29.7%) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (4 patients; 5.4%), respectively. Fine needle aspiration cytology results of two patients were non-diagnostic and these patients were excluded. According to the FNAC and histopathologic results of 74 patients, sensitivity was found to be 80.9%, specificity 94.3%, positive predictive value 85% and negative predictive value 92.5% and accuracy rate of FNAC 90.5%. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a reliable method that has high sensitivity to distinguish between benign and malign salivary gland lesions. In case of suspicious FNAC reports, reliability and diagnostic value of the method is decreased.

A welcoming guide to social media for cytopathologists: Tips, tricks, and the best practices of social cytopathology.

This guide provides an overview of social media (SoMe) use with the recent updates for the "cytopathologists and the ones interested in". Our aim was to introduce the basic terms and rules, the potential benefits and risks, and some tips and tricks for using SoMe. The two most popular SoMe platforms, Facebook and Twitter, were the focus of this article. Thus far, many pathologists have already proved how efficiently the SoMe services could be utilized; the same applies specifically to the community of cytopathology. In our opinion, the more CPs are involved in SoMe, the more connected, productive, and stronger the community will become.

A comparison of the vascular density of VEGF expression with microvascular density determined with CD34 and CD31 staining and conventional prognostic markers in renal cell carcinoma.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the vascular density of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression with microvascular density determined by CD34 and CD31 with conventional prognostic parameters. METHODS: The study involved 50 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases. VEGF, CD34, and CD31 were stained by immunohistochemistry, and then preparations were evaluated by two pathologists under light microscopy. The whole tumor area was scrutinized in all the sections. In the evaluation of VEGF, due to the lack of homogenous staining within the tumor, two parameters, distribution and intensity of expression, were evaluated semiquantitively. In the evaluation of microvascular density with CD34 and CD31 staining, three hot areas with the highest density were determined. In x200 magnification of these areas, on a single plane, the quantity of vascular structures with lumens was determined. RESULTS: Intensity of VEGF Expression was higher in papillary type carcinoma of kidney parenchyma (P = 0.014) and it was significantly correlated with tumor stage (P = 0.013), survival time (P = 0.01), and tumor size (P = 0.035). Distribution of VEGF expression was also higher in papillary RCC (P = 0.055) and it was significantly correlated with tumor stage (P = 0.043) and tumor size (P = 0.039). Vascular density determined with CD34 staining was higher in conventional RCC (P < 0.05); in addition, it was significantly correlated with distribution and intensity of VEGF expression (P < 0.05) and tumor stage (P < 0.05). Vascular density determined with CD31 staining was not significantly correlated with tumor type, tumor stage, nuclear grade, and survival time. CONCLUSIONS: Intensity and distribution of VEGF were higher in papillary RCC. Both parameters were significantly correlated with tumor size, stage, and vascular density determined with CD34 staining. Intensity of VEGF was also significantly correlated with capsule invasion. Vascular density determined with CD34 staining, however, was higher in conventional RCC, and it was correlated with tumor size and stage.

What does the Data of 354,725 Patients from Turkey Tell Us About Cervical Smear Epithelial Cell Abnormalities? - The Epithelial Cell Abnormality Rate is Increasing - Quality Control Studies and Corrective Activity are Musts.

OBJECTIVE: There is no other screening program close to the success rate of PAP test. Cervical cytology constitutes a large workload so that quality control in cervical cytology is important for the quality assurance of pathology laboratories. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, we collected the cervical cytology results from all over Turkey and discussed the parameters influencing the quality of the PAP test. The study was conducted with Turkish gynaecopathology working group and 38 centers (totally 45 hospitals) agreed to contribute from 24 different cities. The study was designed to cover the cervical cytology results during 2013. The results were evaluated from the data based on an online questionnaire. RESULTS: The total number of Epithelial Cell Abnormality was 18,020 and the global Epithelial Cell Abnormality rate was 5.08% in the total 354,725 smears and ranging between 0.3% to 16.64% among centers. The Atypical squamous cells /Squamous intraepithelial lesion ratios changed within the range of 0.21-13.94 with an average of 2.61. When the centers were asked whether they performed quality assurance studies, only 14 out of 28 centers, which shared the information, had such a control study and some quality parameters were better in these centers. CONCLUSION: There is an increase in the global Epithelial Cell Abnormality rate and there are great differences among centers. Quality control studies including the Atypical squamous cells/Squamous intraepithelial lesion ratio are important. Corrective and preventive action according to quality control parameters is a must. A cervical cytology subspecialist in every center can be utopic but a dedicated pathologist in the center is certainly needed.

The value of cord blood interleukin-6 levels for predicting chorioamnionitis, funisitis and neonatal infection in term premature rupture of membranes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine whether the interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in umbilical cord blood can be used for the prediction of histologic chorioamnionitis, funisitis, fetal membrane cultures and neonatal infection. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study was conducted on 30 controls (control group) and on 40 women with term premature rupture of the membranes (PROM group). The interleukin-6 concentration of cord blood was measured. Fetal membranes and newborn blood were cultured. Placentas were examined for histologic chorioamnionitis and funisitis. Receiver operator curve analysis was used to obtain a cut-off value of interleukin-6 concentration for predicting histological and clinical infection. RESULTS: The mean interleukin-6 level in cord blood was significantly higher in the PROM group (p=0.01). Histological chorioamnionitis and positive placental cultures were significantly higher in the PROM group (p=0.006 and 0.02, respectively). The PROM group had seven (17.5%) cases of funisitis and positive newborn blood cultures while neither was observed in the control group. A cord blood interleukin-6 level >29 pg/ml was found to have 84% sensitivity and 72.5% specificity for predicting positive placental cultures and 74.1% sensitivity and 76.7% specificity for identifying cases of histologic chorioamnionitis. For predicting funisitis and positive newborn cord blood cultures a cord blood interleukin-6 level >39 pg/ml has 100% sensitivity and 81% specificity. CONCLUSION: Cord blood interleukin-6 level can be a tool for the evaluation of the extent of maternal-fetal infection and guides proper planning of the treatment.

Tall cell variant of papillary carcinoma arising from a thyroglossal cyst: report of a case with diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology.

BACKGROUND: Papillary carcinoma arising from a thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) is the most frequent malignancy arising from this embryologic remnant of the thyroglossal duct. The preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of such neoplasms has rarely been cited. Approximately 170 TDC cases have been reported in the literature worldwide, diagnosed solely on histopathology. CASE: A 63-year-old woman presented with an anterior midline neck mass of years' duration. A hypodense cyst was located at the level of the hyoid bone. FNAC of the midline neck mass showed bloody, mucoid material and numerous atypical, elongated cells. The aspirated material was reported as "papillary carcinoma possibly arising from the thyroglossal duct," and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic investigation on resection material. CONCLUSION: Tall cell variant is a rare variant of papillary carcinoma and has a poor prognosis. The differential diagnosis includes Hürthle cell lesions, oncocytic papillary thyroid carcinoma and Warthin-like papillary carcinoma.

A hystopathological study of thyroarytenoid muscle invasion in early (T1) glottic carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Surgical specimens belonging to 16 patients who underwent partial laryngectomy for T1 glottic cancer were subjected to detailed histopathologic examination; 11 of the patients were staged as T1a while 5 were staged as T1b. RESULTS: It was detected that in 11 patients the tumor was confined to the mucosal or submucosal connective layer, and in 5 (31.2%) cases, the tumor invaded the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle. In cases involving the one-third anterior part of the vocal cords and the anterior commissure, a 50% (4/8) TA muscle invasion was detected. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our finding TA muscle invasion at the rate of 31.2% in our 16 case series clinically staged as T1 revealed that deep invasion did not always impair the vocal cord mobility. Observing TA muscle invasion at the rate of 50% in cases involving the one-third anterior part of the vocal cord and the anterior commissure suggested that TA muscle invasion in the anterior part did not significantly impair mobility.

Expression of p53 protein and DNA flow cytometry in gastric adenocarcinoma: implications in patients treated with adjuvant etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: We evaluated the prognostic value of p53 protein, DNA content and S-phase fraction in patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach or the gastroesophageal junction treated with adjuvant etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-five consecutive patients with stage II or III gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma treated with at least two cycles of adjuvant etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin after curative gastric resection were included. The expression of p53 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry and DNA content by flow cytometry. The presence of p53 expression and DNA content was compared with clinicopathological features. RESULTS: Median age was 54 years (range, 31-71). P53 expression was detected in 42.9% (15 of 35) of gastric cancer tissues of the patients. Aneuploidy was observed in 31.4% of patients, and S-phase fraction was more than 10% in 22.9%. P53 immunoreactivity (33.3% vs 47.8%) was more common in advanced disease. There was no association among p53 immunoreactivity, DNA content and S-phase fraction. We also found no significant relationship between p53 immunoreactivity, DNA content, S-phase fraction or other clinicopathological parameters. In univariate analysis, the involvement of lymph nodes was a significant predictor of a poor outcome (P = 0.001). Also, p53-positive patients had a poor survival close to the level of significance (P = 0.051). Likewise, p53 immunoreactivity (P = 0.0071), in addition to lymph node involvement (P = 0.0016), were the independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This trial supports the results of previous reports that p53 immunoreactivity is a prognostic factor for patients with adenocarcinoma of stomach or gastroesophageal junction treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Oropharyngeal chordoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Due to its rarity, chordoma may be difficult to differentiate from other neoplasms with a similiar myxoid background. We describe a case of chordoma involving the oropharynx inferiorly that was diagnosed by transoral fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology (FNAC) and confirmed by histologic studies. This appears to be 1 of the few reported applications of FNA in the diagnosis of chordoma of the oropharynx in the English-language literature. CASE: A 50-year-old male presented with nocturnal dyspnea and rare hemoptysis for 6 months. A hypodense mass was located in the left posterior side of the oropharynx. FNAC of the mass showed classic physaliferous cells with a bubbly appearance and myxoid fibrillary background. The aspirate was reported as "myxoid tumor suggestive of chordoma," as confirmed by histopathologic investigation of the excisional biopsy. CONCLUSION: The cytologic features of chordoma are quite characteristic, especially on May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG)-stained slides. The cytoplasmic vacuoles of the physaliferous cells and the mucoid matrix of the tumor become conspicuous on MGG staining. When Papanicolaou staining is used as the only staining procedure, the cytoplasmic vacuoles of the physaliferous cells and mucoid matrix of chordomas may be overlooked. The differential diagnosis of myxoid tumors is of utmost importance for therapy and prognosis.

BRAF(V600E) Mutation, RET/PTC1 and PAX8-PPAR Gamma Rearrangements in Follicular Epithelium Derived Thyroid Lesions - Institutional Experience and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancers are the most frequently occurring endocrine malignancy worldwide. In Turkey, thyroid cancers are ranked 2(nd) on the incidence list in women, with a rate of 16.2%, but they are not included among the top 10 cancer types in men. AIMS: To identify the contribution of the BRAF(V600E) mutation, and the RET/PTC1 and PAX8-PPARγ rearrangements in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of follicular epithelial-derived thyroid lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical and molecular genetic study. METHODS: A total of 86 thyroid cases diagnosed between 2001 and 2012 at the Department of Pathology were included in the retrospective study group. Samples best representing the lesion and comprising capsules were chosen in the selection of paraffin blocks pertaining to the cases. The BRAF(V600E) mutation, and the RET/PTC1 and PAX8-PPARγ rearrangements were investigated in all cases. RESULTS: The BRAF(V600E) mutation was observed in 12 out of 37 papillary carcinoma cases (32.4%), in 1 out of 15 follicular carcinoma cases (6.6%), and in 1 out of 7 undifferentiated carcinoma cases (14.3%). No mutation was detected in benign lesions. The RET/PTC1 rearrangement was detected in 2 out of 7 undifferentiated carcinoma cases (28.6%), and in 1 out of 15 follicular carcinoma cases (6.6%). No gene rearrangement was detected in benign lesions. The PAX8-PPARγ rearrangement was detected in 5 out of 15 follicular thyroid carcinoma cases (33.3%) and in 1 out of 15 follicular adenoma cases (6.6%). CONCLUSION: The BRAF(V600E) mutation and RET/PTC1 rearrangement were effective in distinguishing the follicular epithelium-derived benign and malignant lesions of the thyroid in the resection materials. The BRAF(V600E) mutation was rather specific to papillary carcinoma in the thyroid, and in cases where the BRAF(V600E) mutation was detected, multi-centricity, lymph node metastasis and capsular invasion findings were observed more frequently compared to cases in which no mutation was observed. The PAX8-PPARγ rearrangement was observed to be more effective in the differentiation of adenomas and carcinomas in follicular neoplasms of the thyroid, whereas the RET/PTC1 analysis contributed to the differential diagnosis of papillary carcinoma histogenesis at a frequency of 29% in undifferentiated thyroid carcinomas.