RESUMEN
Introduction: Whole-body autopsies may be crucial to understand coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathophysiology. We aimed to analyze pathological findings in a large series of full-body autopsies, with a special focus on superinfections. Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study that included 70 COVID-19 autopsies performed between April 2020 and February 2021. Epidemiological, clinical and pathological information was collected using a standardized case report form. Results: Median (IQR) age was 70 (range 63.75-74.25) years and 76% of cases were males. Most patients (90%,) had at least one comorbidity prior to COVID-19 diagnosis, with vascular risk factors being the most frequent. Infectious complications were developed by 65.71% of the patients during their follow-up. Mechanical ventilation was required in most patients (75.71%) and was mainly invasive. In multivariate analyses, length of hospital stay and invasive mechanical ventilation were significantly associated with infections (p = 0.036 and p = 0.013, respectively). Necropsy findings revealed diffuse alveolar damage in the lungs, left ventricular hypertrophy in the heart, liver steatosis and pre-infection arteriosclerosis in the heart and kidneys. Conclusion: Our study confirms the main necropsy histopathological findings attributed to COVID-19 in a large patient series, while underlining the importance of both comorbid conditions and superinfections in the pathology.
RESUMEN
Introducción: la biopsia selectiva de ganglio centinela (GC) es la técnica estándar para la estadificación axilar en el cáncer de mama. No hay consenso en el empleo del método OSNA (One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification) para el análisis del GC en las pacientes que recibieron el tratamiento neoadyuvante (TNA). En este trabajo analizamos los resultados obtenidos con OSNA en estas pacientes para justificar su implantación en nuestro centro. Material y métodos: se seleccionaron 42 casos del grupo de 163 pacientes con CM tratadas con TNA en nuestro centro, a las que se realizó OSNA del GC, obteniéndose una media de 2,1 ganglios por paciente. Se analizó además la expresión de citoqueratina 19 (CK19), grado tumoral, fenotipo molecular y el grado de respuesta al TNA de estas pacientes. Se estudiaron los GC mediante técnica OSNA y los no centinelas por el método tradicional. Resultados: el grado tumoral fue 2-3 en el 97,6% de los casos, el fenotipo luminal A (17%), luminal B (38%), triple-negativo (26,1%) y HER2 (19%). La respuesta al TNA fue completa en el 59,5% de las pacientes y la expresión de CK19 no se vio modificada. Los ganglios estudiados fueron positivos en 9 pacientes (21,4%) en las que posteriormente se realizó una linfadenectomía y un único caso presentó ganglio no centinela afecto (2,3%). Conclusiones: el método OSNA para el estudio del GC tras el TNA es muy superior al método tradicional, ya que permite la detección intraoperatoria de grupo celular aislado y micrometástasis no detectables con los métodos tradicionales, evitando segundas intervenciones y falsos negativos al analizarse completo el GC, y demuestra que no se altera la expresión de CK19 con el TNA. (AU)
Background: Selective sentinel node (SN) biopsy is the standard technique for axillary staging in breast cancer (BC). There is no consensus on the use of OSNA (One-Step Acid Nucleic Amplification) method for SN in patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment (NAT). We have studied the results obtained in our centre to justify the advantages of its implementation. Material and methods: 42 cases were selected from the group of 163 patients with BC treated with NAT, who underwent OSNA of the SN, obtaining a mean of 2.1 nodes per patient. We also analyzed cytokeratin 19 (CK19) expression, tumour grade, molecular phenotype and the degree of response to NAT in these patients. The SN were studied using the OSNA technique and non-sentinel nodes using the traditional method. Results: Tumour grade was 2-3 in 97.6% of cases, phenotype luminal A (17%), luminal B (38%), triple-negative (26.1%) and HER2 (19%). The response to NAT was complete in 59.5% of patients and CK19 expression was unchanged. The nodes studied were positive in 9 patients (21.4%) in whom lymphadenectomy was performed and only one case had a non-sentinel node involvement (2.3%). Conclusions: The OSNA method for the study of SN after NAT is far superior to the traditional method as it: It allows intraoperative detection of isolated cell group and micrometastases not detectable with traditional methods, avoiding second interventions. It avoids false negatives when the whole SN is analyzed. It shows that CK19 expression is not altered by NAT. (AU)
