Suspicious cytologic diagnostic category in endoscopic ultrasound-guided FNA of the pancreas: Follow-up and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to assess how the suspicious category is followed up in a large endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) service, its outcomes, and the predictors that are likely to be associated with the subsequent diagnosis of a neoplastic process. METHODS: For pancreatic EUS-FNA samples with the suspicious category diagnosis, the authors reviewed the electronic medical record for the method of follow-up and the risks associated with pancreatic malignancy. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors that were likely to be associated with the diagnosis of a neoplastic lesion after a cytologic diagnosis of "suspicious." RESULTS: Of a total of 3832 EUS-FNA cases, 116 were diagnosed with suspicious cytology. A total of 90 of 98 neoplasms (92%) were identified, including 72 carcinomas (73%). Similar rates of neoplasia were detected after repeat FNA (34 of 37 neoplasms [92%]) and subsequent biopsy/surgical resection (44 of 46 neoplasms [96%]), but significantly fewer neoplasms were detected among patients with clinical follow-up (18 of 23 neoplasms [78%]). On multivariate analysis of the potential predictive variables listed above, the presence of a mass was found to be significantly associated with a higher rate of diagnosis of a neoplasm, whereas weight loss was significantly associated with a diagnosis of carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic category of "suspicious" is associated with a high risk of benign and malignant neoplasms, regardless of the method of follow-up. The presence of a mass and weight loss are significant predictors of a subsequent diagnosis of a neoplasm after suspicious cytology. In patients with suspicious cytology and these findings, surgery is recommended for resectable masses and repeat FNA for unresectable masses.

Poor cell block adequacy rate for molecular testing improved with the addition of Diff-Quik-stained smears: Need for better cell block processing.

BACKGROUND: In the era of personalized medicine, requests for molecular testing of specimens obtained with minimally invasive procedures such as fine-needle aspiration have been increasing. Although cell blocks (CBs) are the recommended specimens for molecular testing, their performance has not been well analyzed. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency and types of samples deemed unsatisfactory for molecular testing (quantity not sufficient [QNS]). METHODS: One year after the implementation of careful monitoring of QNS cases, cases submitted for lung cancer molecular testing were analyzed for the QNS rate. When the cases were rejected for the inadequacy of CBs of cytology specimens, air-dried, Diff-Quik (DQ)-stained smears were reviewed and used if they were adequate. The QNS rates were compared across 4 specimen categories: large resection, small biopsy, CB alone, and CB with DQ smears. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-six cases were studied, and 45 (25.6%) were unsatisfactory. Only 1 of 73 large resection specimens was rejected because of decalcification. The QNS rate for small biopsy specimens was 35.9% (28 of 78), whereas 64% (16 of 25) of cytology cases ordered on CBs were rejected. In combination with DQ smears, the QNS rate of cytology specimens was 32% (8 of 25), which was a significant improvement over CBs only (P = .024) and was not significantly different from the QNS rate for small biopsies (P = .671). CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of DQ-stained smears for molecular testing improves the adequacy of cytologic samples and provides a minimally invasive alternative to surgical biopsy when molecular analysis of tumor material is necessary.

Atypical cytologic diagnostic category in EUS-FNA of the pancreas: follow-up, outcomes, and predictive models.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess how atypical diagnostic category (ADC) is followed up, its outcomes, and the predictors that are associated with subsequent diagnosis of neoplasm/malignancy. METHODS: We reviewed pancreatic endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) with ADC and compared the rate of detection of neoplasms after a repeat FNA, a biopsy/resection, or a clinical follow-up following ADC. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the diagnosis of a neoplastic or a malignant lesion following ADC. Predictive probability for each case was calculated on the basis of the significant predictors, and whether it improved diagnostic performance was assessed. RESULTS: Of 3832 cases that received pancreatic EUS-FNAs, 187 (4.9%) were ADC. A total of 93 neoplasms (55%), including 61 carcinomas (36%), were detected after an atypical cytologic diagnosis. Similar rates of detecting neoplasms were observed after repeat FNA or biopsy/resection but higher than after clinical follow-up. The presence of a mass, history of alcohol use, and absence of a history of pancreatitis were significant predictors of a higher rate of diagnosis of neoplasm. Weight loss and bile flow obstruction were more likely to be associated with higher rates of carcinoma. Predictive probability demonstrated a wide range of risk and changed the ambiguous diagnosis to informative in 30% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: ADC of pancreas is associated with a high risk of benign and malignant neoplasms regardless of the method of follow-up. The presences of a mass, alcohol use, and absence of a history of pancreatitis are significant predictors of a diagnosis of neoplasm, whereas weight loss and bile duct obstruction are significant predictors of ductal carcinoma following an ADC.

The frequency and cancer risk associated with the atypical cytologic diagnostic category in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration specimens of solid pancreatic lesions: a meta-analysis and argument for a Bethesda System for Reporting Cytopathology of the Pancreas.

BACKGROUND: The atypical cytologic diagnostic category is ambiguous and presents a management problem for pathologists and clinicians. This meta-analysis reviewed the frequency and cancer risk associated with atypical diagnoses in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) specimens of solid pancreatic lesions. METHODS: PubMed and Scopus were searched using the keywords "EUS-FNA" and "pancreas." Articles were screened focusing on studies of solid lesions. Studies with information regarding the frequency and outcomes of atypical diagnoses were included; the "suspicious" category was excluded from the analysis. The frequency of atypical diagnoses and the associated risk were calculated using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. The authors assessed whether the following factors explained the heterogeneity of the studies: rapid on-site interpretation; type of reference standard; the study type, size, and site; and the frequency of inadequate, atypical, and positive categories. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies with complete data regarding atypical diagnoses were identified, 12 of which had complete data available regarding outcomes. The frequency of the atypical category ranged from 1% to 14% (mean, 5.3%; 95% confidence interval, 4.1%-6.9%). The risk of malignancy associated with an atypical diagnosis ranged from 25% to 100% (mean, 58%; 95% confidence interval, 47%-69%). There was significant heterogeneity noted among the studies (I-squared, 62%; P = .0004). The frequency of the atypical category and its associated risk were found to be correlated only with the frequency of the specimens being positive for malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of atypical diagnoses of the pancreas is similar to that of the thyroid but the risk of malignancy is higher. Significant heterogeneity exists among the studies reporting atypical diagnoses. There is a need for standardization of the reporting and management of atypical diagnoses in EUS-FNA specimens from the pancreas.

Histologic analysis of a covered stent implanted for pseudoaneurysm in a coronary artery.

Covered stents are the standard of care when coronary perforations complicate percutaneous coronary interventions and have also been utilized in the treatment of coronary aneurysms. We present the clinical and histologic features of a patient who developed a coronary perforation and pseudoaneurysm 4 years following deployment of intracoronary stents. Although the covered stent successfully sealed the perforation, subsequent thrombosis led to a fatal acute myocardial infarction.