Value of direct immunohistochemical staining in assisting intraoperative frozen diagnosis of bronchiolar adenoma / 中华病理学杂志

Objective: To explore the feasibility and application value of intraoperative direct immunohistochemical (IHC) staining in improving the diagnosis accuracy in difficult cases of bronchiolar adenoma (BA). Methods: Nineteen cases with single or multiple pulmonary ground-glass nodules or solid nodules indicated by imaging in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January to July 2021 and with difficulty in differential diagnosis at frozen HE sections were selected. In the experimental group, direct IHC staining of cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6) and p63 was performed on frozen sections to assist the differentiation of BA from in situ/micro-invasive adenocarcinoma/adenocarcinoma/invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma. In the control group, two pathologists performed routine frozen HE section diagnosis on these 19 cases. The diagnostic results of paraffin sections were used as the gold standard. The sensitivity and specificity of BA diagnosis, consistency with paraffin diagnosis and time used for frozen diagnosis were compared between the experimental group and the control group. Results: The basal cells of BA were highlighted by CK5/6 and p63 staining. There were no basal cells in the in situ/microinvasive adenocarcinoma/adenocarcinoma/invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma. In the experimental group, the sensitivity and specificity with aid of direct IHC staining for BA were 100% and 86.7%, respectively, and the Kappa value of frozen and paraffin diagnosis was 0.732, and these were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The average time consumption in the experimental group (32.4 min) was only 7 min longer than that in the control group (25.4 min). Conclusions: Direct IHC staining can improve the accuracy of BA diagnosis intraoperatively and reduce the risk of misdiagnosis, but require significantly longer time. Thus frozen direct IHC staining should be restricted to cases with difficulty in differentiating benign from malignant diseases, especially when the surgical modalities differ based on the frozen diagnosis.

Criterios para la selección del tipo de tratamiento quirúrgicoen cáncer de tiroides / Criteria for the selection of surgical treatment in the thyroidcancer

Objetivo: evaluar los procedimientos disponibles para el manejo quirúrgico del cáncer de tiroides y los criterios para su selección. Pacientes y métodos: se evaluaron dieciocho pacientes con cáncer de tiroides a quienes se les realizaron procedimientos quirúrgicos como parte de su enfoque diagnostico y terapéutico. Resultados: el 83,3% de la serie se distribuyó por encima de los 45 años. No hubo etapa tumoral T1. Doce pacientes se catalogaron como de riesgo intermedio. Los estudios imagenológicos y la punción con aguja fina se usaron como método de diagnóstico preoperatorio. La tiroidectomía total en un solo tiempo, fue la cirugía más común y el reporte histológico definitivo más frecuente fue el de carcinoma papilar. El tamaño tumoral igual o mayor de 4cms, los cortes congelados y los hallazgos intraoperatorios como la presencia de adenopatías e infiltración a estructuras anatómicas adyacentes permitieron correlacionar el resultado de la punción con aguja fina y definir la conducta quirúrgica en dos tercios de la casuística. La disección cervical estuvo indicada en las adenopatías clínicamente evidentes. Conclusiones: La presencia de neoplasias iguales o mayores de 4cms, metástasis cervicales, infiltración a estructuras anatómicas adyacentes y los cortes congelados determinaron el tipo de intervención. La tiroidectomía total con o sin linfadenectomía fue el procedimiento más frecuente, otras intervenciones de rescate y paliativas representan parte de las opciones quirúrgicas de acuerdo a la etapa tumoral o la situación clínica preoperatoria. La crisis sanitaria que sufre el país ha determinado algunas dificultades en el proceso terapéutico de estos pacientes(AU)

Objective: to evaluate the procedure for the surgical management of the thyroid cancer and the criteria for the selection Patients and method: eighteen patients with cancer of thyroid programmed to surgical procedures. Results: the 83, 3% of the series was 45 years or more. No exist T1. Twelve patients were intermediate risk. Radiologic studies and the fine needle aspiration were the methods of evaluation preoperative. Total thyroidectomy was the most common surgery and the histology more frequent was papilar carcinoma. The neoplasies of 4cms or more, the frozen section and the findings in the operating room were be used to adapt the surgical plan in the 66,6% of the serie. Neck dissection was indicated in the clinics lymph nodes. Conclusions: the surgical extension depends of the tumoral size, the presence of cervical metastasis, the infiltration of adjacent structures and frozen sections. The thyroidectomy total with or without lymphadenectomy were the procedures more frequent, other intervention of salvage and palliative intention represents surgical options. The sanitary crisis determinates some problems in the therapeutic process(AU)

Intraoperative frozen section performance for thyroid cancer diagnosis

ABSTRACT Objective: A primary medical relevance of thyroid nodules consists of excluding thyroid cancer, present in approximately 5% of all thyroid nodules. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has a paramount role in distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid nodules due to its availability and diagnostic performance. Nevertheless, intraoperative frozen section (iFS) is still advocated as a valuable tool for surgery planning, especially for indeterminate nodules. Subjects and methods: To compare the FNAB and iFS performances in thyroid cancer diagnosis among nodules in Bethesda Categories (BC) I to VI. The performance of FNAB and iFS tests were calculated using final histopathology results as the gold standard. Results: In total, 316 patients were included in the analysis. Both FNAB and iFS data were available for 272 patients (86.1%). The overall malignancy rate was 30.4%% (n = 96). The FNAB sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for benign (BC II) and malignant (BC V and VI) were 89.5%, 97.1%, and 94.1%, respectively. For all nodules evaluated, the iFS sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 80.9%, 100%, and 94.9%, respectively. For indeterminate nodules and follicular lesions (BC III and IV), the iFS sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 25%, 100%, and 88.7%, respectively. For BC I nodules, iFS had 95.2% of accuracy. Conclusion: Our results do not support routine iFS for indeterminate nodules or follicular neoplasms (BC III and IV) due to its low sensitivity. In these categories, iFS is not sufficiently accurate to guide the intraoperative management of thyroidectomies. iFS for BC I nodules could be an option and should be specifically investigated

Maternal weight variation in different intrauterine environments: an important role of hypertension / Variação de peso materno em diferentes ambientes intrauterinos: um papel importante da hipertensão

Abstract Objective Different intrauterine environments may influence the maternal prepregnancy body weight (BW) variation up to 6 months postpartum. The objective of the present study was to verify the association of sociodemographic, obstetric, nutritional, and behavioral factors with weight variation in women divided into four groups: hypertensive (HM), diabetic (DM), smokers (SM), and control mothers (CM). Methods It was a convenience sample of 124 postpartum women recruited from 3 public hospitals in the city of Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between 2011 and 2016.Multiple linear regressions and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were conducted to identify the factors associated with maternal weight variation. For all GEE, the maternal weight measurements were adjusted for maternal height, parity, educational level, and the type of delivery, and 3 weight measurements (prepregnancy, preceding delivery, and 15 days postpartum) were fixed. Results A hierarchical model closely associated the maternal diagnosis of hypertension and a prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) classified as overweight with maternal weight gain measured up to the 6th month postpartum (the difference between the maternal weight at 6months postpartum and the prepregnancy weight). These results showed that the BW of the HM group and of overweight women increased ~ 5.2 kg 6 months postpartum, compared with the other groups. Additionally, women classified as overweight had a greater BW variation of 3.150 kg. Conclusion This evidence supports the need for specific nutritional guidelines for gestational hypertensive disorders, as well as great public attention for overweight women in the fertile age.

Resumo Objetivo Diferentes ambientes intrauterinos podem influenciar a variação de peso corporal pré-gestacional materno até 6 meses pós-parto. O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a associação de fatores sociodemográficos, obstétricos, nutricionais e comportamentais com a variação de peso em mulheres divididas em quatro grupos: hipertensas (HM), diabéticas (DM), tabagistas (SM) e controles (CM). Métodos Amostra de conveniência de 124 puérperas recrutadas em 3 hospitais públicos da cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, entre 2011 e 2016. Regressões lineares múltiplas e modelos de equações de estimativas generalizadas (GEE) foram realizados para identificar os fatores associados à variação do peso materno. Para todas as GEE, as medidas de peso materno foram ajustadas para a estatura materna, paridade, escolaridade e tipo de parto, e três medidas de peso (prégravidez, anterior ao parto e 15 dias pós-parto) foram fixadas. Resultados Um modelo hierárquico associou o diagnóstico materno de hipertensão e o índice de massa corporal (IMC) pré-gestacional de sobrepeso com ganho de peso materno medido até o 6° mês pós-parto (diferença entre o peso materno aos 6 meses pós-parto e o peso pré-gestacional). Estes resultados mostraram que o grupo HM e mulheres comsobrepeso aumentaram o peso corporal em ~ 5,2 kg 6 meses pós-parto, em comparação com os demais grupos. Além disso, as mulheres classificadas com sobrepeso tiveram uma variação maior de peso corporal, de 3,150 kg. Conclusão Evidenciou-se a necessidade de diretrizes nutricionais específicas para distúrbios hipertensivos gestacionais, bem como de maior atenção dos serviços de saúde públicos para mulheres com excesso de peso em idade fértil.

Pregnancy of unknown location: the value of frozen section analysis and its relation to Beta-hCG levels and endometrial thickness

Abstract Objective Frozen section examination is a rapid method for identifying products of conception in endometrial curetting, yet its accuracy is inconclusive. The purposes of this study is to determine the accuracy of frozen section analysis of endometrial curetting in pregnancies of unknown location, and to verify the relation of β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) level and endometrial thickness to the assessed accuracy. Methods We reviewed data from January 2009 to December 2014 of diagnostic curettages from women with suspected ectopic pregnancies sent for frozen section examination at a medical center. A frozen section diagnosis was considered accurate if it concurred with the final pathologic diagnosis. Results Of 106 frozen section studies, the diagnosis was accurate in 94 (88.7%). Of 79 specimens interpreted as negative on frozen sections (no products of conception noted), 9 (11.4%) were positive on final pathologic review. Three of the 27 (11.1%) specimens interpreted as positive by a frozen section failed to demonstrate products of conception on a final pathologic section. The sensitivity of frozen sections in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was 72.7%, specificity 95.9%, positive predictive value 88.9%, negative predictive value 88.6%, and accuracy 88.6%. A statically significant correlation was found between β-hCG level and high accuracy of the frozen section technique (p< 0.001). No correlation was found between endometrial thickness and the accuracy of the frozen section technique. Conclusion The accuracy of frozen section examination was high and was found to correlate with β-hCG level, but not with endometrial thickness.

Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma Originated from Adenomyosis / 이화의대지

A 66-year-old postmenopausal woman received routine gynecologic check-up. Transvaginal ultrasonography and abdominal and pelvic computed tomography showed about 5-cm cystic mass in uterus with solid component and the patient had thin endometrium and the serum level of CA 125 was normal. We performed a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and found tumor which had brownish cystic fluid and about 2 cm sized and colored in light yellowish, polypoid protruding solid mass, located within the myometrial wall. Histopathological examination of frozen section revealed malignancy. The tumor was confined within the myometrium and its histologic type was clear cell adenocarcinoma. Finally we identified that the myometrial mass was clear cell adenocarcinoma originated from adenomyosis pathologically. The malignant transformation of adenomyosis is very rare. When we find a cystic change with solid component in adenomyosis patients, clear cell adenocarcinoma should be suspected as a differential diagnosis and magnetic resonance imaging should be considered for further evaluation.

Intraoperative Frozen Cytology of Central Nervous System Neoplasms: An Ancillary Tool for Frozen Diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Pathologic diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms is made by comparing light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and molecular cytogenetic findings with clinicoradiologic observations. Intraoperative frozen cytology smears can improve the diagnostic accuracy for CNS neoplasms. Here, we evaluate the diagnostic value of cytology in frozen diagnoses of CNS neoplasms. METHODS: Cases were selected from patients undergoing both frozen cytology and frozen sections. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-four cases were included in this retrospective single-center review study covering a span of 10 years. Five discrepant cases (1.1%) were found after excluding 53 deferred cases (31 cases of tentative diagnosis, 22 cases of inadequate frozen sampling). A total of 346 cases of complete concordance and 50 cases of partial concordance were classified as not discordant cases in the present study. Diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative frozen diagnosis was 87.2%, and the accuracy was 98.8% after excluding deferred cases. Discrepancies between frozen and permanent diagnoses (n = 5, 1.1%) were found in cases of nonrepresentative sampling (n = 2) and misinterpretation (n = 3). High concordance was observed more frequently in meningeal tumors (97/98, 99%), metastatic brain tumors (51/52, 98.1%), pituitary adenomas (86/89, 96.6%), schwannomas (45/47, 95.8%), high-grade astrocytic tumors (47/58, 81%), low grade astrocytic tumors (10/13, 76.9%), non-neoplastic lesions (23/36, 63.9%), in decreasing frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Using intraoperative cytology and frozen sections of CNS tumors is a highly accurate diagnostic ancillary method, providing subtyping of CNS neoplasms, especially in frequently encountered entities.

Intraoperative consultation for ovarian tumors / 영남의대학술지

The primary function of intraoperative frozen consultation is to provide an as accurate and prompt diagnosis as possible during surgery and to guide the surgeon in further management. However, the evaluation of frozen section (FS) is sometimes difficult because of suboptimal tissue quality and frozen artifacts compared with routinely processed tissue section. The pathologist responsible for the FS diagnosis requires experience and good judgment. Ovarian tumors are a heterogeneous group of tumors including primary surface epithelial tumors, germ cell tumors and sex cord-stromal tumors, secondary tumors, and other groups of tumors of uncertain histogenesis or nonspecific stroma. Intraoperative FS is a very important and reliable tool that guides the surgical management of ovarian tumors. In this review, the diagnostic key points for the pathologist and the implication of the FS diagnosis on the operator’s decisions are discussed.

Accuracy of frozen section diagnosis and factors associated with final pathological diagnosis upgrade of mucinous ovarian tumors / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of frozen section diagnosis and factors associated with final pathological diagnosis upgrade in patients with mucinous ovarian tumors. METHODS: This study included 1,032 patients with mucinous ovarian tumors who underwent frozen section diagnosis during surgery. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of frozen section diagnosis was calculated. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with diagnosis upgrade in the final pathology report. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of frozen section diagnosis were 99.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]=98%–99.6%) and 82.2% (95% CI=77.9%–85.7%), respectively, for benign mucinous tumors; 74.6% (95% CI=69.1%–79.4%) and 96.7% (95% CI=95.2%–97.8%), respectively, for mucinous borderline ovarian tumors; and 72.5% (95% CI=62.9%–80.3%) and 98.8% (95% CI=97.9%–99.3%), respectively, for invasive mucinous carcinomas. The multivariate analysis revealed that mixed tumor histology (odds ratio [OR]=2.8; 95% CI=1.3–6.3; p=0.012), tumor size >12 cm (OR=2.5; 95% CI=1.5–4.3; p=0.001), multilocular tumor (OR=2.9; 95% CI=1.4–6.0; p=0.006), and presence of a solid component in the tumor (OR=3.1; 95% CI=1.8–5.1; p12 cm, multilocular tumor, and presence of a solid component in the tumor were independent risk factors for final pathological diagnosis upgrade based on frozen section diagnosis.

Is the frozen section examination for sentinel lymph node necessary in early breast cancer patients?

PURPOSE: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) is widely performed for axillary staging in patients with breast cancer. Based on the results of frozen section examination (FSE), surgeons can decide to continue further axillary dissections. This study aimed to verify the accuracy of FSE for SLNs. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 4,219 patients who underwent SLNB for primary invasive breast cancer between 2007 and 2016 at the Severance Hospital. We evaluated factors associated with the false-negative results of FSE for SLNs using the Generalized Estimating Equations model. RESULTS: A total of 1,397 SLNs from 908 patients were confirmed to be metastatic. Seventy-one patients (1.7%) had confirmed pathologic N2 or N3 stage. Among metastatic SLNs, micrometastasis was found in 234 (16.8%). The overall accuracy of SLNB was 98.5%. The sensitivity and false-negative rate of FSE were 86.4% and 13.6%, respectively. Several clinicopathological factors, including the size of SLN metastases, suspicious preoperative axillary lymph nodes, and luminal B subtype, were associated with a higher rate of false-negative results. CONCLUSION: Most patients were not indicated for axillary lymph node dissection. Some patients may show transition in their permanent pathology due to the size of the metastatic node. However, the false-negative results of FSE for SLNs based on the size of the metastatic node did not change our practice. Therefore, intraoperative FSE for SLN should not be routinely performed for all breast cancer patients.

Intraoperative Specimen Mammography for Margin Assessment in Breast-Conserving Surgery / 한국유방암학회지

Frozen section in the management of ovarian and uterine tumors: the past 5 years in a tertiary centre / Exame de congelação no tratamento de tumores uterinos e do ovário: experiência de 5 anos em um centro terciário

Abstract Objective Intraoperative frozen section (IFS) is a valuable resource, and its use in gynecological pathology has not been sufficiently emphasized. The main goal of the present study is to evaluate the reliability and agreement rates between IFS and the final paraffin section (PS) and determine how reliable IFS is. Methods A retrospective study of all IFSs performed on uterine tumors and suspicious adnexal masses between January 2012 and December 2016 (excluding metastases) at the department of obstetrics and gynecology of the Centro Hospitalar Tondela Viseu. Frozen versus permanent section diagnosis were compared regarding the histologic type of the tumor, and the depth of myometrial invasion. Results A total of 286 cases were eligible for the present study, including 102 (35.7%) IFSs of uterine tumors, and 184 (64.3%) IFSs of ovarian tumors. The overall rate of deferred cases was 5.2% (15/286). The accuracy of the diagnosis in cases of endometrial carcinoma was 96.25% (77/80). Among the ovarian tumors, misdiagnoses occurred in 2 cases (1.1%), corresponding to a borderline tumor (serous type) and a clear cell intracystic adenocarcinoma. Conclusion The IFS analysis plays an important role in selected situations and is associated to a high sensitivity and specificity in cases of ovarian and endometrial tumors. Its high accuracy is almost universally associated with the possibility of obtaining an optimal surgical treatment at the time of the first surgical approach.

Resumo Objetivo O diagnóstico intraoperatório por congelação é umrecurso importante cujo uso empatologia ginecológica não tem sido suficientemente enfatizado. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as taxas de concordância entre o diagnóstico intraoperatório por congelação e o estudo anatomopatológico definitivo e determinar o quanto o diagnóstico intraoperatório por congelação é um método confiável. Métodos Um estudo retrospectivo de todos os diagnósticos intraoperatórios por congelação realizados em tumores uterinos e massas anexiais suspeitas entre janeiro e 2012 e dezembro de 2016 (excluindo metástases) no serviço de ginecologia e obstetrícia do Centro Hospitalar Tondela Viseu. Comparação do diagnóstico intraoperatório por congelação com o resultado do estudo definitivo em relação ao tipo histológico do tumor e profundidade de invasão miometrial. Resultados Um total de 286 casos foram elegíveis para o estudo, incluindo 102 (35.7%) tumores uterinos e 184 (64.3%) tumores ovarianos. A taxa global de casos deferidos foi de 5.2% (15/286). Entre os tumores uterinos, a acuidade de diagnóstico nos casos de carcinoma endometrial foi de 96.25% (77/80). Entre os tumores ovarianos, não se verificou concordância em 2 casos (1.1%), correspondendo a um tumor borderline do tipo seroso e a um adenocarcinoma de células claras intracístico. Conclusão O diagnóstico intraoperatório por congelação apresenta-se com um importante papel em situações selecionadas, sendo acompanhado de elevada taxa de sensibilidade e especificidade para tumores endometriais e ovarianos. A sua elevada acuidade diagnóstica encontra-se associada à possibilidade de obter um tratamento cirúrgico adequado na primeira abordagem cirúrgica

The accuracy of frozen section of uterine lesions in the practice of gynecologic surgery. A retrospective assessment study in a government tertiary training hospital / Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Objective@#This study aimed to determine the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of frozen section (FS) in the diagnosis of uterine neoplasm in a tertiary government training hospital.@*Methodology@#This is a retrospective validation study from 2004-2015 involving cases of uterine lesions from gynecologic surgeries. All histopathologic results of frozen and paraffin sections were retrieved and reviewed. Chi square test with 2x2 Fischer Exact test adjustment was used to check for associations. Accuracy indices of FS tool were estimated such as sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, negative and positive predictive values, and overall accuracy. A p-value of < 0.05 alpha is considered significant.@*Results@#A total of 143 uterine specimens were submitted for frozen section analysis. The utilization rate of FS is 1% per year. The FS results were correlated with the final histopathologic diagnosis with 96% agreement rate. Utilizing a median number of 3 sections per specimen provides an overall accuracy rate of 97%. The accuracy rate of FS is equal between combined benign-premalignant and malignant cases at 96%. The accuracy rate is not statistically affected by the procedure by which the specimen was taken, as well as the source and gross morphology of the specimen. Moreover, a minimum of 11 sections per specimen is needed to obtain an accuracy rate of 99-100%. The accuracy rate particularly for endometrial lesions is between 94 and 100%.@*Conclusion@#Accuracy rates of frozen section on uterine lesions are high regardless of the sampling procedure and source of the specimen. Increasing the number of sections during FS parallels that of the final histopathologic diagnosis. FS for uterine lesions is a vital and cost-effective intraoperative decision tool to maximize care of patients.

Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Eyelid

PURPOSE: To report a case of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the eyelid. CASE SUMMARY: A 70-year-old male presented with a 5-month history of a right upper eyelid mass. The mass appeared as 1.2 × 1.2 cm on the right upper eyelid. A mass excision was performed under frozen section control. The tumor was completely excised with a safety margin clearance and an upper eyelid reconstruction was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a tumor composed of small atypical cells which showed a high nuclear/cytoplasm ratio, nuclear molding, and increased mitotic activity. Immunohistochemical examination revealed positive reactivity for Ki-67, synaptophysin, CD56, and negative reactivity for chromogranin, cytokeratin 20, and thyroid transcription factor-1. CONCLUSIONS: Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the eyelid is extremely rare, but the tumor has high malignancy and readily metastasizes. Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a rapidly growing eyelid mass.

Angiomyolipoma of the Liver without a Fat Component, Mimicking a Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한소화기학회지

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor in the liver, which is composed of blood vessels, smooth muscle, and adipose cells. The proportion of each component varies, making a diagnosis difficult. This paper reports a case of AML in the liver without adipose tissue, mimicking a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which was diagnosed by a surgical tissue biopsy. A 65-year-old woman was admitted for an evaluation of a hepatic mass that had been detected by ultrasonography. The serologic markers of viral hepatitis B and C were negative. The liver function tests and alpha fetoprotein level were within the normal limits. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 1.9 cm sized mass in segment 6 of the liver with early arterial enhancement and washout on the delayed phase accompanied by a rim-like enhancement, which is similar to the imaging findings of HCC. A frozen section examination during surgery indicated a hepatocellular neoplasm and suggested the possibility of HCC. On the other hand, the final pathologic diagnosis was epithelioid myoid type of AML with no adipose tissue component. The tumor cells were positive for human melanocyte B-45 and negative for cytokeratin and hepatocyte paraffin 1. This paper reports a very rare case of AML without adipose tissue in the liver mimicking HCC that was diagnosed by a surgical tissue biopsy.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor is a clinically useful predictor for aggressive basal cell carcinoma / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

OBJECTIVES: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumors are locally invasive but rarely metastatic. However, aggressive metastatic variants are being increasingly reported in elderly people. Here we investigated the clinical utility of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a predictive biomarker for aggressive BCC variants. METHODS: Thirty-five pathologically confirmed cases of BCC that underwent surgical removal in the Plastic Surgery Department between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012 were studied. VEGF expression was analyzed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue by immunohistochemical staining. Positive staining was defined as more than 10% of the tumor cells showing immunoreactivity. The associations of VEGF expression with various clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The face was the most prevalent site (28/35), with 15 cases from the nose, 6 cases from the eyelid, and 5 cases from the cheek. The patients were aged between 41 and 86 years, with a mean age of 69.26 ± 173.903 years. The mean BCC size was 1.34 ± 3.853 cm, with a range of 0.3 cm to 12.0 cm. The mean tumor invasion depth from the basement epidermal membrane was 0.17 ± 0.035 cm, with a range of 0.03 cm to 1.10 cm. A mean of 5.66 ± 20.938 intraoperative frozen section slides were examined. VEGF was not expressed in 14 of the 35 patients (40.0%), whereas 42.9% of the patients had low expression and 17.1% of the patients had high expression. VEGF expression was significantly associated with age (P = 0.022), size (P = 0.030), site (P = 0.013), tumor invasion depth (P = 0.019), and number of intraoperatively frozen sections (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that VEGF expression as assessed by immunohistochemistry can predict aggressive or poor prognosis in BCC.

The Practice Patterns and Perceptions of Korean Surgeons Regarding Margin Status after Breast-Conserving Surgery / 한국유방암학회지

Two consecutive surveys for breast surgeons in Korea were conducted to comprehend the practice patterns and perceptions on margin status after breast-conserving surgery. The surveys were conducted online in 2014 (initial) and 2016 (follow-up). A total of 126 and 88 responses were obtained in the initial and follow-up survey, respectively. More than 80% of the respondents replied to routinely apply frozen section biopsy for intraoperative margin assessment in both surveys. Re-excision recommendations of the margin for invasive cancer significantly changed from a close margin to a positive margin over time (p=0.033). Most of the respondents (73.8%) defined a negative margin as “no ink on tumor” in invasive cancer, whereas more diverse responses were observed in ductal carcinoma in situ cases. The influence of guideline establishment for negative margins has been identified. A high uptake rate of intraoperative frozen section biopsy was noted and routine use needs reconsideration.

Concordant Surgical Treatment: Non-melanocytic Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. Of the 4 million skin lesions excised annually worldwide, approximately 2 million are considered cancerous. In this study, we aimed to describe a regional experience with skin cancers treated by a single senior surgeon and to provide a treatment algorithm. METHODS: The medical records of 176 patients with head and neck non-melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) who were treated by a single surgeon at our institution between January 2010 and May 2016 were retrospectively reviewed, and their data (age, sex, pathological type, tumor location/size, treatment modality) were analyzed. Patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) who were classified as a high-risk group for nodal metastasis underwent sentinel node mapping according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. RESULTS: Among the patients with NMSC who were treated during this period, basal cell carcinoma (BCC; n=102, 57.9%) was the most common pathological type, followed by cSCC (n=66, 37.5%). Most lesions were treated by complete excision, with tumor-free surgical margins determined via frozen section pathology. Thirty-one patients with high-metastasis-risk cSCC underwent sentinel node mapping, and 17 (54.8%) exhibited radiologically positive sentinel nodes. Although these nodes were pathologically negative for metastasis, 2 patients (6.5%) later developed lymph node metastases. CONCLUSION: In our experience, BCC treatment should comprise wide excision with tumor-free surgical margins and proper reconstruction. In contrast, patients with cSCC should undergo lymphoscintigraphy, as nodal metastases are a possibility. Proper diagnosis and treatment could reduce the undesirably high morbidity and mortality rates.

The Intraoperative Immunohistochemical Staining of CD56 and CK19 Improves Surgical Decision for Thyroid Follicular Lesions

BACKGROUND: When differential diagnosis is difficult in thyroid follicular lesions with overlapping histological features, the immunohistochemical staining can help confirm the diagnosis. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of rapid immunohistochemical stains of CD56 and cytokeratin 19 on frozen sections of thyroid follicular lesion and explore the possible gains and limitations of the practice. METHODS: Eighty-six nodules of 79 patients whose intraoperative frozen sections were selected as the control group, and 53 nodules of 48 patients whose intraoperative frozen sections were subject to rapid immunohistochemistry were selected as the study group. RESULTS: Five nodules (6%) in the control group were diagnosed as follicular neoplasm and six nodules (7%) were deferred. In the study group, six nodules (11%) were follicular neoplasm and none were deferred. Three nodules (4%) in the control group showed diagnostic discrepancy between the frozen and permanent diagnoses, but none in the study group. The average turnaround time for the frozen diagnosis of the control group was 24 minutes, whereas it was 54 minutes for the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative rapid immunohistochemical stains significantly decreased the diagnostic discrepancy in this study. Considering the adverse effects of indefinite frozen diagnosis or discrepancy with permanent diagnoses, the intraoperative rapid immunohistochemical stain can help to accurately diagnose and hence provide guidance to surgical treatment.

Risk Factors of Microscopic Invasion in Early Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of microscopic invasion to determine the adequate resection margin in early gastric cancer (EGC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed that included patients who underwent gastrectomy for clinical early gastric cancer (cEGC) at Seoul National University Hospital between January 2007 and December 2010. After subtracting the microscopic resection margin from the gross resection margin for each proximal or distal resection margin, microscopic invasion was represented by the larger value. Microscopic invasion and its risk factors were analyzed according to the clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: In total, 861 patients were enrolled in the study. Microscopic invasion of cEGC was 6.0±12.8 mm, and the proportion of patients with microscopic invasion ≥0 mm was 78.4%. In the risk group, tumor location, pT stage, and differentiation did not significantly discriminate the presence of microscopic invasion. The microscopic invasion of EGC-IIb was 13.9±16.8 mm, which was significantly greater than that of EGC-I. No linear correlation was observed between the overall tumor size and microscopic invasion (R=0.030). The independent risk factors for microscopic invasion ≥20 mm were EGC-IIb vs. EGC-I/IIa/IIc/III (odds ratio [OR], 3.103; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.533–6.282; P=0.002) and male vs. female sex (OR, 1.655; 95% CI, 1.012–2.705; P=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Male sex and EGC-IIb were independent risk factors for microscopic invasion ≥20 mm. Examination of intraoperative frozen sections is highly recommended to avoid resection margin involvement, especially in cases of EGC-IIb.