Cancer Cytopathology

The management of patients with pancreatic cysts is a challenge. An international multidisciplinary group of physicians has updated the 2006 “Sendai” guidelines for the management of patients with mucinous cysts. Cyst fluid analysis with cytological, biochemical, and molecular analysis is a valuable component of preoperative evaluation.

Although aspiration is a core feature in fine-needle aspiration biopsy, it vanishes with the needle-only technique, particularly when ultrasound-guided biopsies are used. Putting the aspiration back into fine-needle aspiration is very helpful in certain situations.

Patients whose Papanicolaou tests were classified as low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL-H) were found to have infection rates for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) that were similar to those for patients with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). The rate for HR-HPV was higher than in those cases classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance; atypical squamous cells, cannot rule out high-grade lesion (ASC-H); low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL); or LSIL/ASC-H combined. Recognizing LSIL-H as an independent diagnostic category may help in the early identification of the higher risk subgroup of patients who may require a management algorithm comparable to that for those with HSIL.

To validate the use of the postcytology residual sample in the primary vial, the authors present the results of cross-contamination studies, as well as a comparison of the cobas HPV (human papillomavirus) Test results from the prealiquot in the secondary vial with results obtained in the postcytology primary vial on samples that had been processed on either the Hologic ThinPrep 2000 System (T2000) or the Hologic ThinPrep 3000 System (T3000). The authors demonstrate that the use of the primary postcytology residual of samples collected in PreservCyt vials and run on the T2000 and T3000 processors provided reliable test results that were comparable to results from the precytology secondary vial and were without any evidence of contamination.

The split-signal immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IGH) fluorescence in situ hybridization-chromogenic in situ hybridization (FISH-CISH) DNA probe is effective in the detection of any translocation involving the IGH locus. It can be used on different cytological samples from different B-cell lymphoproliferative processes, although it is not useful for classifying the specific entities.

Although triple-negative breast cancers embrace a heterogeneous group of tumors, in this study, they exhibit some common cytologic features that can help to distinguish them from other high-grade breast carcinomas in daily practice.

Cytopathologic evaluation of the specimen and in situ margins after hepatectomy offers a new, quick, and feasible technique for assessing margin status, with potential benefit to the patient for achieving an R0 resection. Documentation of a negative in situ margin by cytopathology can avoid the need for further resection or chemotherapy/radiotherapy when local recurrence is a primary concern.