Comparison of breast carcinoma prognostic/predictive biomarkers on cell blocks obtained by various methods: Cellient, formalin and thrombin.

OBJECTIVE: To compare results of immunohistochemical (IHC) assays for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) performed on thrombin, formalin and Cellient cell blocks to those performed on tissue. STUDY DESIGN: Formalin, thrombin and Cellient cell blocks were prepared from cytologic samples obtained from resection specimens of 31 patients with invasive breast carcinoma. ER, PR, HER2 and MIB-1 (Ki-67) IHC stains were performed on all three types of cell blocks and compared to the same stains performed on the patient's paraffin-embedded biopsy or resection. Cell and tissue blocks with equivocal staining for HER2 were submitted for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: Adequate Cellient blocks were obtained for all 31 cases. Comparison of results of ER IHC assays on all three types of cell blocks showed 100% correlation with tissue. Both Cellient and thrombin blocks showed 100% correlation with tissue for HER2 IHC and FISH results. The only statistically significant difference between cell block methods was found in PR staining, where false-negative results occurred with Cellient and thrombin blocks. CONCLUSION: Breast biomarker IHC assays performed on Cellient blocks are reliable and correlate with tissue block results, particularly for ER and HER2, the most clinically important markers.

Minimal or no residual prostatic adenocarcinoma on radical prostatectomy: a 5-year experience with "vanishing carcinoma phenomenon".

CONTEXT: "Vanishing carcinoma phenomenon" (VC) has been defined as the finding of minute or no cancer on radical prostatectomy specimens after a positive biopsy. OBJECTIVE: To discuss our experience with VC and to recommend guidelines for its detection. DESIGN: One thousand seven hundred forty-one radical prostatectomy specimens (2004-2009) processed by whole-mount section procedure yielded 21 (1.2%) cases with VC and 6 (0.34%) cases with minimal carcinoma (≤ 2 mm) in the radical prostatectomy specimen. To find the eluding carcinoma in VC cases or more carcinoma in minimal carcinoma cases, the following was done: 3 levels of all the paraffin blocks were obtained; if negative, the paraffin blocks were melted, the tissue was flipped, and 3 levels were prepared. The tumor bank frozen tissue was also processed for routine examination. RESULTS: Three deeper levels in the radical prostatectomy specimen of 21 VC cases failed to show malignancy; however, the flipping and recutting of the tissue yielded a focus of carcinoma (1-5 mm) in 16 of 21 cases and in 3 of 16 cases in the saved frozen tissue. In 1 of the 6 cases with minimal carcinoma, subsequent recuts of the flipped tissue displayed carcinoma (2 foci of tumor, <1 mm each). CONCLUSIONS: In VC we recommend: embed and process any remaining prostatic tissue including any saved fresh-frozen tissue; obtain 3 levels of each paraffin block; if results are negative, melt and flip the tissue and obtain 3 more levels. Following the above guidelines, a hidden carcinoma may be detected in the majority of the cases of VC.

S100P and XIAP expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: potential novel biomarkers as a diagnostic adjunct to fine needle aspiration cytology.

OBJECTIVE: The usefulness of 2 novel biomarkers in pancreatic surgical and cytological specimens that could reliably differentiate non-neoplastic pancreatic duct and benign gut epithelium from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) was evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 14 pancreatic resection specimens (RSs), 23 endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirations (EUS-FNAs) of PDA and 8 benign pancreatic EUS-FNAs were selected. Twelve of 14 RSs had corresponding EUS-FNAs with cell blocks (CBs). Non-neoplastic pancreatic tissue, including chronic pancreatitis, was evaluated in all RSs. Immunohistochemical stains for S100P and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) were performed on tissue and CB sections. Staining intensity (0 no staining; 1+ weak; 2+ moderate; 3+ strong) and proportion of positive cells (less than 10% negative; 1+ 10-25%; 2+ 26-75%; 3+ greater than 75%) were assessed. Positive staining was defined as ≥10% cells with at least 1+ intensity. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of S100P and XIAP immunoreactivity for a diagnosis of PDA in RSs were both 100%. In contrast, the sensitivity and specificity in EUS-FNA CBs of S100P were 78.2 and 87.5% and of XIAP 82.6 and 50.0%, respectively. The combined sensitivity of S100P and XIAP was 100% in 12 RSs and 83.3% in the corresponding EUS-FNA CBs. CONCLUSION: Two novel biomarkers have very high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of PDA in RSs. S100P has slightly lower sensitivity and higher specificity of PDA than XIAP in EUS-FNA specimens. We recommend using both biomarkers as cytological diagnostic adjuncts, especially in difficult cases of well-differentiated PDA versus reactive ductal epithelium.

Cytologic findings in allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplant patients with pulmonary symptoms: a 9-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cytologic findings in patients who underwent bone marrow transplant (BMT) and correlate with the clinical, radiologic and histologic findings. STUDY DESIGN: Cytologic findings of the BMT patients with pulmonary symptoms from 1998 to 2007 were reviewed for the presence of malignancies, infectious organisms, inflammation and reactive changes, including treatment-related cellular atypia. Corresponding clinical history, radiologic findings and histologic follow-up when available were also reviewed. RESULTS: In 313 patients who underwent BMT, 89 (71 allogeneic, 18 autologous) had pulmonary symptoms. Of these, 47 specimens from 28 patients had abnormal cytologic findings. Reactive bronchial epithelial cells were found in 4 specimens and reactive squamous cells in 1 specimen. Four patients had markedly atypical cells in 4 specimens-atypical epithelial and mesothelial cells in 3 and 1 specimens, respectively. No malignancy was seen in any specimens examined. Acute inflammation was present in 6 specimens. Candida was the most common microorganism found (21 specimens). The cytologic findings were felt to correlate with clinical and radiologic findings and histologic follow-up. CONCLUSION: Clinical and radiologic correlation and awareness of the range of cellular atypia are important for preventing potential diagnostic pitfalls and establishing an accurate cytologic diagnosis in BMT patients.

Cytomorphologic features of myxopapillary ependymoma: a review of 13 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the cytologic features of myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) on intraoperative smears, to analyze cytomorphologic parameters that may help in reaching the diagnosis and to discuss differential diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: Touch imprint smears of 13 MPE cases were reviewed and graded semiquantitatively for 14 cytomorphologic parameters; cellularity, myxoid background, isolated/dispersed tumor cells, "hyaline globules (HGs)," fibrillary cytoplasmic processes, papillary structures, perivascular pseudorosettes, epithelioid tumor cells (ETCs), intracytoplasmic mucin, intranuclear inclusions, nuclear grooves, mitosis, cytologic atypia and hemosiderin-laden macrophages. RESULTS: Cytologic examination revealed variably cellular specimens composed of isolated and loosely aggregated tumor cells with round to oval or occasionally spindle-shaped nuclei; evenly distributed, finely granular chromatin; and fibrillary processes admixed with occasional ETCs. Most of the cases showed prominent fibrillary processes and occasional ETCs with at least a focal myxoid background. HGs and hemosiderin-laden macrophages were often seen. Papillary structure, a histologic hallmark of MPE, was rarely observed. CONCLUSION: Dual glial and epithelioid properties of tumor cells, well-known features of "regular" ependymomas, and a distinctive myxoid background with HGs strongly support a diagnosis of MPE and are of great help in excluding other mimics (e.g., other variants of ependymoma, metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma, metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma and chordoma).

Cytomorphologic manifestations of Alzheimer's disease using brain squash smears: an autopsy study with histology-cytology correlation.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The cardinal histopathologic features include senile plaques (SPs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and in addition, granulovacuolar degeneration (GVD) and Hirano bodies (HBs) are frequently observed in the hippocampus. We studied hippocampal cytological features of AD, compared with controls. Hippocampal squash smears were prepared from 26 autopsy brains and stained with three different solutions, including Papanicolaou stain (Pap-s). The smears were evaluated for the aforementioned four structures and gliosis, and their frequency was compared between AD (n = 15) and control (n = 11) groups. Hippocampal smears of all AD cases revealed NFTs and gliosis. NFTs were light gray with thick flame-like structures on Pap-s. GVD was identified in the majority of AD cases and was most easily observed on Pap-s. SPs were difficult to identify and were seen only in AD cases. HBs were rarely identified as long light eosinophilic hyaline structures on Pap-s. Cytological findings of hippocampi reflect the characteristic histological features of AD with the exception of HBs, which are difficult to identify on smears. NFTs and gliosis, and SPs seem to be sensitive and specific cytologic markers in hippocampal smears for AD, respectively.

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis of the sinonasal tract.

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is an uncommon inflammatory fibrosing lesion of the upper respiratory tract and orbit that occurs mainly in young to middle-aged women. The etiology of EAF is unknown. To our knowledge, approximately 28 cases have been previously reported in the English literature. We report here 3 additional cases of EAF of the sinonasal tract; 2 in women aged 19 and 31 years, and 1 in a man aged 49 years. The 19-year-old woman is the youngest patient with EAF ever described. The patients presented with a nasal cavity mass, face pain, or nasal obstructive symptoms of long duration.