Exploring the relationship between binge eating and differentiation of self: the mediating role of emotional distress and work stress.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a prevalent eating disorder outlined in the DSM-5. Emotional distress (including stress, anxiety, and depression) stands out as a critical risk factor for developing eating disorders, and specifically BED. Recent studies have identified differentiation of self- a family pattern involving the ability to balance emotions and cognitions, as well as intimacy and autonomy-as a factor that exacerbates emotional distress. This relationship highlights the importance of addressing both emotional distress and family dynamics in understanding BED. While associations have been found between work-related factors and family dynamics with emotional distress, there has been limited investigation into the specific risk factors that are uniquely linked to BED. It was hypothesized that differentiation of self would relate to BED symptoms through the mediation of emotional distress and work stress. A systematic sampling method was applied to select a total of 275 participants for this study, with 60% women and 40% men (aged 20-45, M = 32.71, SD = 7.50). The findings suggest that low differentiation of self may increase vulnerability to BED symptoms by increasing susceptibility to emotional distress, including stress in the workplace. In addition, the analyses indicated that women reported higher levels of BED symptoms, while men reported higher levels of differentiation of self. The study sheds light on the contribution of unregulated family and emotional patterns to BED, providing valuable insights for organizations seeking to promote healthier work environments.

The role of mothers' involvement in their daughters' self-esteem and dieting behaviors.

This study presents an initial effort to develop disordered eating pathology (DEP) prevention program with an emphasis on maternal involvement. Disordered eating pathology representing a range of behaviors and attitudes, from negative body image to full-blown eating disorder. It appears mainly in adolescent females and related to psychological and familial factors, including maternal modeling of thinness. A sample of 118 Israeli girls (11-12) was divided into three groups: participants in the program in parallel with their mothers, participants without their mothers, and control. Participants completed self-report questionnaires. Groups were tested three times: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up. For those girls who participated in parallel with their mothers, higher self-esteem was associated with fewer pathological diet behaviors. Findings deepen understanding of the risk factors involved in the development of DEP. The main study contribution is the important role mothers play in preventing DEP among their daughters.

Digital Examination of LYmph node CYtopathology Using the Sydney system (DELYCYUS): An international, multi-institutional study.

BACKGROUND: After a series of standardized reporting systems in cytopathology, the Sydney system was recently introduced to address the need for reproducibility and standardization in lymph node cytopathology. Since then, the risk of malignancy for the categories of the Sydney system has been explored by several studies, but no studies have yet examined the interobserver reproducibility of the Sydney system. METHODS: The authors assessed interobserver reproducibility of the Sydney system on 85 lymph node fine-needle aspiration cytology cases reviewed by 15 cytopathologists from 12 institutions in eight different countries, resulting in 1275 diagnoses. In total, 186 slides stained with Diff-Quik, Papanicolaou, and immunocytochemistry were scanned. A subset of the cases included clinical data and results from ultrasound examinations, flow cytometry immunophenotyping, and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. The study participants assessed the cases digitally using whole-slide images. RESULTS: Overall, the authors observed an almost perfect agreement of cytopathologists with the ground truth (median weighted Cohen κ = 0.887; interquartile range, κ = 0.210) and moderate overall interobserver concordance (Fleiss κ = 0.476). There was substantial agreement for the inadequate and malignant categories (κ = 0.794 and κ = 0.729, respectively), moderate agreement for the benign category (κ = 0.490), and very slight agreement for the suspicious (κ = 0.104) and atypical (κ = 0.075) categories. CONCLUSIONS: The Sydney system for reporting lymph node cytopathology shows adequate interobserver concordance. Digital microscopy is an adequate means to assess lymph node cytopathology specimens.

A Classifier for Improving Early Lung Cancer Diagnosis Incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Liquid Biopsy.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and in China. Screening for lung cancer by low dose computed tomography (LDCT) can reduce mortality but has resulted in a dramatic rise in the incidence of indeterminate pulmonary nodules, which presents a major diagnostic challenge for clinicians regarding their underlying pathology and can lead to overdiagnosis. To address the significant gap in evaluating pulmonary nodules, we conducted a prospective study to develop a prediction model for individuals at intermediate to high risk of developing lung cancer. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were applied to the training cohort (n = 560) to develop an early lung cancer prediction model. The results indicated that a model integrating clinical characteristics (age and smoking history), radiological characteristics of pulmonary nodules (nodule diameter, nodule count, upper lobe location, malignant sign at the nodule edge, subsolid status), artificial intelligence analysis of LDCT data, and liquid biopsy achieved the best diagnostic performance in the training cohort (sensitivity 89.53%, specificity 81.31%, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.880). In the independent validation cohort (n = 168), this model had an AUC of 0.895, which was greater than that of the Mayo Clinic Model (AUC = 0.772) and Veterans' Affairs Model (AUC = 0.740). These results were significantly better for predicting the presence of cancer than radiological features and artificial intelligence risk scores alone. Applying this classifier prospectively may lead to improved early lung cancer diagnosis and early treatment for patients with malignant nodules while sparing patients with benign entities from unnecessary and potentially harmful surgery. Clinical Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR1900026233, URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=43370.

Cessation of Care for Frail Older Adults: Physical, Psychological and Economic Outcomes for Family Carers.

Global population aging and increased longevity are making family care a nearly universal experience. Caregiving is a dynamic process that varies over time and in intensity but often takes a physical and emotional toll on carers and may inflict financial costs by attenuating their labor market participation. The study explores the implications of the 'cessation of care' of frail elders by adult (middle-aged and older) kin by comparing two ethnic groups in Israel with respect to their health and their psychological and economic life. Using secondary data analyses based on SHARE-Israel data for persons aged 50+, it is found that subjective health assessment and financial capability are significantly higher among those who stop providing care than among those who continue to do so, while carers report a downturn in life satisfaction after they stop giving care. Those who continue are younger than the others, and their labor force participation rate is higher. Significant implications of cessation of care for all three areas studied-psychological, health, and economic-are found as well: the subjective rating of health and financial capability improve whereas life satisfaction decreases. Furthermore, a cessation of care moderates the relation between individuals' age and their self-rated health, which is better among those who continue to provide care. These results emphasize and deepen our understanding of the cessation-of-care phase as a key component of the process of care for frail older adults by family members.

Exclusion from Social Relations in Later Life: Micro- and Macro-Level Patterns and Correlations in a European Perspective.

Older adults face particular risks of exclusion from social relationships (ESR) and are especially vulnerable to its consequences. However, research so far has been limited to specific dimensions, countries, and time points. In this paper, we examine the prevalence and micro- and macro-level predictors of ESR among older adults (60+) using two waves of data obtained four years apart across 14 European countries in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We consider four ESR indicators (household composition, social networks, social opportunities, and loneliness) and link them to micro-level (age, gender, socioeconomic factors, health, and family responsibilities) and national macro-level factors (social expenditures, unmet health needs, individualism, social trust, and institutional trust). Findings reveal a northwest to southeast gradient, with the lowest rates of ESR in the stronger welfare states of Northwest Europe. The high rates of ESR in the southeast are especially pronounced among women. Predictably, higher age and fewer personal resources (socioeconomic factors and health) increase the risk of all ESR dimensions for both genders. Macro-level factors show significant associations with ESR beyond the effect of micro-level factors, suggesting that national policies and cultural and structural characteristics may play a role in fostering sociability and connectivity and, thus, reduce the risk of ESR in later life.

The presence of tumour-infiltrating neutrophils is an independent adverse prognostic feature in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Tumour-promoting inflammation is an emerging hallmark of cancer that is increasingly recognised as a therapeutic target. As a constituent measure of inflammation, tumour-infiltrating neutrophils (TINs) have been associated with inferior prognosis in several cancers. We analysed clinically annotated cohorts of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) to assess the presence of neutrophils within the tumour microenvironment as a function of outcome. We centrally reviewed ccRCC surgical resection and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens, including primary and metastatic sites, from three centres. TINs were scored based on the presence of neutrophils in resection and FNA specimens by two pathologists. TIN count was correlated with tumour characteristics including stage, WHO/ISUP grade, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In parallel, we performed CIBERSORT analysis of the tumour microenvironment in a cohort of 516 ccRCCs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We included 102 ccRCC cases comprising 65 resection specimens (37 primary and 28 metastatic resection specimens) and 37 FNAs from primary lesions. High TINs were significantly associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.009) independent of tumour grade and stage. In ccRCCs sampled via FNA, all cases with high TINs had distant metastasis, whereas they were seen in only 19% of cases with low TINs (p = 0.0003). IHC analysis showed loss of E-cadherin in viable tumour cells in areas with high TINs, and neutrophil activation was associated with elastase and citrullinated histone H3 expression (cit-H3). In the TCGA cohort, neutrophilic markers were also associated with worse survival (p < 0.0001). TINs are an independent predictor of worse prognosis in ccRCC, which have the potential to be assessed at the time of first biopsy or FNA. Neutrophils act directly on tumour tissue by releasing elastase, a factor that contributes to the breakdown of cell-cell adhesion and to facilitate tumour dissemination.

Detection of circulating genetically abnormal cells using 4-color fluorescence in situ hybridization for the early detection of lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Available biomarkers lack sensitivity for an early lung cancer. Circulating genetically abnormal cells (CACs) occur early in tumorigenesis. To determine the diagnostic value of CACs in blood detected by 4-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for lung cancer. METHODS: This was a prospective study of patients with pulmonary nodules ≤ 30 mm detected between 10/2019 and 01/2020 at four tertiary hospitals in China. All patients underwent a pathological examination of lung nodules found by imaging and were grouped as malignant and benign. CACs were detected by 4-color FISH. Patients were divided into the training and validation cohorts. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to analyze the diagnosis value of CACs. RESULTS: A total of 205 participants were enrolled. Using a cut-off value of ≥ 3, blood CACs achieved areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.887, 0.823, and 0.823 for lung cancer in the training and validation cohorts, and all patients, respectively. CACs had high diagnostic values across all tumor sizes and imaging lesion types. CACs were decreased after surgery (median, 4 vs. 1, P < 0.001) in the validation set. The CAC status between blood and tissues was highly consistent (kappa = 0.909, P < 0.001). The AUC of CAC (0.823) was higher than that of CEA (0.478), SCC (0.516), NSE (0.506), ProGRP (0.519), and CYFRA21-1 (0.535) (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CACs might have a high value for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. These findings might need to be validated in future studies. Evidence suggested homology in genetic aberrations between the CACs and the tumor cells.

Distinguishing Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Subtypes in Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsies by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma subtypes of non-small cell lung cancers is critical to patient care. Preoperative minimally-invasive biopsy techniques, such as fine needle aspiration (FNA), are increasingly used for lung cancer diagnosis and subtyping. Yet, histologic distinction of lung cancer subtypes in FNA material can be challenging. Here, we evaluated the usefulness of desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) to diagnose and differentiate lung cancer subtypes in tissues and FNA samples. METHODS: DESI-MSI was used to analyze 22 normal, 26 adenocarcinoma, and 25 squamous cell carcinoma lung tissues. Mass spectra obtained from the tissue sections were used to generate and validate statistical classifiers for lung cancer diagnosis and subtyping. Classifiers were then tested on DESI-MSI data collected from 16 clinical FNA samples prospectively collected from 8 patients undergoing interventional radiology guided FNA. RESULTS: Various metabolites and lipid species were detected in the mass spectra obtained from lung tissues. The classifiers generated from tissue sections yielded 100% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, and 100% specificity for lung cancer diagnosis, and 73.5% accuracy for lung cancer subtyping for the training set of tissues, per-patient. On the validation set of tissues, 100% accuracy for lung cancer diagnosis and 94.1% accuracy for lung cancer subtyping were achieved. When tested on the FNA samples, 100% diagnostic accuracy and 87.5% accuracy on subtyping were achieved per-slide. CONCLUSIONS: DESI-MSI can be useful as an ancillary technique to conventional cytopathology for diagnosis and subtyping of non-small cell lung cancers.

A Proposal for the Performance, Classification, and Reporting of Lymph Node Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytopathology: The Sydney System.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of lymph nodes (LN) by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is routinely used in many institutions but it is not uniformly accepted mainly because of the lack of guidelines and a cytopathological diagnostic classification. A committee of cytopathologists has developed a system of performance, classification, and reporting for LN-FNAC. METHODS: The committee members prepared a document that has circulated among them five times; the final text has been approved by all the participants. It is based on a review of the international literature and on the expertise of the members. The system integrates clinical and imaging data with cytopathological features and ancillary techniques. The project has received the endorsement and patronage of the International Academy of Cytology and the European Federation of the Cytology Societies. RESULTS: Clinical, imaging, and serological data of lymphadenopathies, indications for LN-FNAC, technical procedures, and ancillary techniques are evaluated with specific recommendations. The reporting system includes two diagnostic levels. The first should provide basic diagnostic information and includes five categories: inadequate/insufficient, benign, atypical lymphoid cells of undetermined/uncertain significance, suspicious, and malignant. For each category, specific recommendations are provided. The second diagnostic level, when achievable, should produce the identification of specific benign or malignant entities and additional information by utilizing ancillary testing. CONCLUSION: The authors believe that the introduction of this system for performing and reporting LN-FNAC may improve the quality of the procedure, the report, and the communication between cytopathologists and the clinicians. This system may lead to a greater acceptance and utilization of LN-FNAC and to a better interdisciplinary understanding of the results of this procedure.

Identification of circulating tumor cells using 4-color fluorescence in situ hybridization: Validation of a noninvasive aid for ruling out lung cancer in patients with low-dose computed tomography-detected lung nodules.

BACKGROUND: Approximately one third of needle biopsies that are performed to rule out malignancy of indeterminate pulmonary nodules detected radiologically during lung cancer screening are negative, thus exposing cancer-free patients to risks of pneumothorax, bleeding, and infection. A noninvasive confirmatory tool (eg, liquid biopsy) is urgently needed in the lung cancer diagnosis setting to stratify patients who should receive biopsy versus those who should be monitored. METHODS: A novel antigen-independent, 4-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based method was developed to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with abnormalities in gene copy numbers in mononuclear cell-enriched peripheral blood samples from patients with (n = 107) and without (n = 100) lung cancer. RESULTS: Identification of CTCs using FISH probes at 10q22.3/CEP10 and 3p22.1/3q29 detected lung cancer cases with 94.2% accuracy, 89% sensitivity, and 100% specificity compared with biopsy. CONCLUSION: The high accuracy of this liquid biopsy method suggests that it may be used as a noninvasive decision tool to reduce the frequency of unnecessary needle biopsy in patients with benign pulmonary lesions.

MiR-21, EGFR and PTEN in non-small cell lung cancer: an in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry study.

AIMS: To analyse microRNA (miR)-21 distribution and expression at the cellular level in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MiR-21 is an oncogenic microRNA overexpressed in NSCLC. In previous studies, overexpression of miR-21 was evaluated from the tumour bulk by quantitative reverse transcription PCR with results expressed on average across the entire cell population. METHODS: We used in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry to assess the correlation between miR-21 levels and the expression of markers that may be possible targets (epidermal growth factor reaction) or may be involved in its upregulation (phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), p53). The Pearson's χ2 tests was used to assess correlation with clinicopathological data and with miR-21 expression both in tumour and tumour stroma. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic staining and expression of Mir-21 were detected in the tumours and in associated stromal cells. Expression was highest in the stroma immediately surrounding the tumour cells and decreased as the distance from the tumour increased. No expression of miR-21 was found in normal lung parenchyma and a significant association was found between tumour localised miR-21 and PTEN. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of miR-21 in both cell tumour and stromal compartments of NSCLC and the relationship with PTEN confirms miR-21 as a microenvironment signalling molecule, possibly inducing epithelial mesenchymal transition and invasion by targeting PTEN in the stromal compartment possibly through exosomal transport. In situ immunohistochemical studies such as ours may help shed light on the complex interactions between miRNAs and its role in NSCLC biology.

Cytologic features, immunocytochemical findings, and DNA ploidy in four rare cases of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma involving effusions.

BACKGROUND: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) involving serous effusion is extremely rare, and the diagnosis can be challenging. DNA ploidy quantitation of EHE in effusion fluids has not been previously described in the English-language literature. METHODS: Specimens of cytological diagnosed with EHE in effusion fluids between 2002 and 2009 were retrieved from the pathology files at MD Anderson Cancer Center. A total of four cases of EHE involving or arising from effusion fluids were found, and we reviewed cytospin, smears, cell block sections, and immunostained slides. DNA image analysis for ploidy and proliferation evaluation was performed on a destained, papanicolaou-stained slide from each case. RESULTS: The tumor cells were epithelioid with prominent cytoplasmic vacuolization and intracytoplasmic inclusions, which could resemble reactive mesothelial cells, mesothelioma, or adenocarcinoma. The tumor cells were positive for endothelial markers. DNA image analysis in three of the four cases revealed predominantly diploid and tetraploid subpopulations, with few aneuploid cells and fairly low proliferation indices, and these patients had fairly prolonged survival. CONCLUSIONS: DNA image analysis is useful for differentiating EHE from reactive mesothelial cells and high-grade carcinoma. For accurate diagnosis of EHE in effusion fluids, cytologic features should be considered together with clinical history and ancillary studies.

Novel fluorescence in situ hybridization-based definition of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) failure for use in enhancing recruitment into clinical trials of intravesical therapies.

OBJECTIVES: To present a molecular definition of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) failure that incorporates fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing to predict BCG failure before it becomes clinically evident, which can be used to enhance trial designs for patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used data from 143 patients who were followed prospectively for 2 years during intravesical BCG therapy, during which time FISH assays were collected and correlated to clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 95 patients with no evidence of tumour at 3-month cystoscopy, 23 developed tumour recurrence and 17 developed disease progression by 2 years. Patients with a positive FISH test at both 6 weeks and 3 months were more likely to develop tumour recurrence (17/37 patients [46%] and 16/28 patients [57%], respectively) than patients with a negative FISH test (6/58 patients [10%] and 3/39 patients [8%], respectively; both P < 0.001). Using hazard ratios for recurrence with positive 6-week and 3-month FISH results, we constructed clinical trial scenarios whereby patients with a negative 3-month cystoscopy and positive FISH result could be considered to have 'molecular BCG failure' and could be enrolled in prospective, randomized clinical trials comparing BCG therapy (control) with an experimental intravesical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with positive early FISH and negative 3-month cystoscopy results can be considered to have molecular BCG failure based on their high rates of recurrence and progression. This definition is intended for use in designing clinical trials, thus potentially allowing continued use of BCG as an ethical comparator arm.

Generational Solidarity in Europe and Israel.

This study explored various dimensions of generational relationships between older parents and their adult children using the second wave of SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), comparing it to Dykstra's and Fokkema's (2011) analyses of the first wave. Results were further compared to the OASIS study (Old Age and Autonomy: The Role of Service Systems and Intergenerational Solidarity). The intergenerational solidarity model served as the main conceptual framework. Analyses yielded four family relationship types present in all countries, albeit with different frequencies. Around half of the respondents in the 11 countries were identified with close ties and flow of support. Four conclusions were drawn: (1) importance of personal resources; (2) cultural differences and meanings for families; (3) highlighting within-country difference; and (4) strength of intergenerational solidarity. The importance of understanding generational relationships in the current era with higher longevity and changing family structures is emphasized and explicated.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: a study of 14 cytopathology cases.

INTRODUCTION: The cytopathologic diagnosis of the rare vascular tumor epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) in patients who have no previous history of EHE or who have a complicated and/or misleading disease history is challenging. Furthermore, few studies have described the cytopathology of EHE. Herein, we identify 14 cases of EHE from 10 patients, some of whom had a history of epithelial tumor, and provide a detailed report of the cytomorphology of EHE, discuss the tumor's differential diagnoses, and describe ancillary examinations that may be helpful in diagnosing EHE cytologically, especially in patients with a complex disease history. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrieved the slides of 14 cases of EHE archived between 2002 and 2009 in our institution's cytology section. Conventional direct smears and cell block sections were prepared from most fine-needle aspiration samples and from all effusion samples. Cell block sections were subjected to immunostaining for vascular, mesothelial, and epithelial markers. RESULTS: EHE shared many morphologic features with other, more common tumors such as adenocarcinoma and mesothelioma. The defining cytologic feature of EHE was an intracellular lumen containing entrapped intact and degenerating erythrocytes, which was not present in every case. EHE cells were positive for the vascular markers CD34, CD31, factor VIII, and friend leukemia integration 1 transcription factor (FLI-1) and negative for epithelial and mesothelial markers. Clinicians provided information important to the diagnosis of EHE. CONCLUSIONS: Carefully examining the smear and cell block sections for morphologic features indicative of EHE (eg, prominent cytoplasmic vacuolization, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, and intracellular lumen containing entrapped intact and degenerating erythrocytes), confirming these findings with immunocytochemical staining, and communicating with clinicians are all important to correctly diagnosing EHE.

Leptomeningeal disease and breast cancer: the importance of tumor subtype.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common tumors to involve the leptomeninges. We aimed to characterize clinical features and outcomes of patients with LMD based on BC subtypes. We retrospectively reviewed records of 233 patients diagnosed with LMD from BC between 1997 and 2012. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and significant differences in survival were determined by Cox proportional hazards or log-rank tests. Of 190 patients with BC subtype available, 67 (35 %) had hormone receptor positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative BC, 56 (29 %) had HER2+BC, and 67 (35 %) had triple-negative BC (TNBC). Median age at LMD diagnosis was 50 years. Median overall survival (OS) from LMD diagnosis was 4.4 months for HER2+BC (95 % CI 2.8, 6.9), 3.7 months (95 % CI 2.4, 6.0) for HR+/HER2-BC, and 2.2 months (95 % CI 1.5, 3.0) for TNBC (p = 0.0002). Older age was associated with worse outcome (p < 0.0001). Patients with HER2+BC and LMD were more likely to receive systemic therapy (ST) (p = 0.001). Use of intrathecal therapy (IT) (52 %) was similar (p = 0.35). Both IT (p < 0.0001) and ST (p < 0.0001) administration were associated with improved OS. After adjusting for age, IT, extracranial disease, and ST, patients with HER2+BC had better OS compared with HR+/HER2-BC (HR 1.72; 95 %CI 1.07-2.76) and TNBC (HR 3.30; 95 %CI 1.98-5.52). LMD carries a dismal prognosis. Modest survival differences by tumor subtype were seen. Patients with HER2+BC had the best outcome. There is an urgent need to develop effective treatment strategies.

Cervista HPV assays for fine-needle aspiration specimens are a valid option for human papillomavirus testing in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the validity of Cervista human papillomavirus (HPV) assays in head and neck fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens from patients with head and neck squamous carcinomas and to verify that the Cervista assay in FNA specimens is a valid option for determining HPV status in patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas. METHODS: The authors retrospectively retrieved 64 head and neck FNA specimens from patients who had head and neck squamous carcinoma. The specimens were tested for HPV types 16 and 18 (HPV16/18) and for high-risk (HR) HPV DNA using the Cervista HPV16/18 and HPV HR assays, respectively. The results from those assays were compared with the results from polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based HPV assays in the same tissues and with the results from HPV in situ hybridization assays/p16 immunostaining in the corresponding primary tumors. RESULTS: In total, 64 FNA specimens were analyzed. The Cervista HPV16/18 and/or HPV HR assays were positive in 48 of 64 specimens (75%), and there was a predominance of HPV16 (42 of 48 specimens; 88%). In the 49 specimens that had PCR-based test results, overall agreement with Cervista assay results was 96% (47 of 49 specimens; κ = 0.883). In the 49 specimens that had PCR-based HPV16/18 genotyping results, overall agreement with the Cervista HPV16/18 results was 94% (46 of 49 specimens; κ = 0.847). In the 36 primary carcinoma specimens that had valid HPV in situ hybridization/p16 immunostaining results, overall agreement with the Cervista assay results was 92% (33 of 36 specimens; κ = 0.679). CONCLUSIONS: Cervista HPV16/18 and Cervista HPV HR testing of head and neck FNA specimens is a valid option for determining HPV16/18 status in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma.