Impact of routine cell block preparation on results of head and neck fine needle aspirates.

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of head and neck masses is a common technique for providing cytology specimens to guide patient management. Cell blocks made from these specimens can be beneficial. Policy at our institution was changed from production of cell blocks only when requested by the pathologist to routine production for all non-parotid gland head and neck FNAs. The program was evaluated in terms of its impact on diagnosis and specimen turnaround time (TAT). METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out using electronic records at our institution. The Intervention group consisted of FNAs obtained in the 15-month period following implementation of routine cell block preparation (n = 391). The Control group consisted of the same specimens obtained in the 15 months prior to implementation (n = 403). The groups were compared with regards to diagnostic distribution into five categories-Unsatisfactory, Negative/Benign, Abnormal, Suggestive of Malignancy, and Malignant. Cytological-histological correlation and TAT were also compared. Chi square and t tests with P < 0.05 threshold were used. RESULTS: There was no difference in diagnostic distribution between the two groups (P = 0.59) and TAT was unchanged (P = 0.74). Cytological-histological correlation was borderline improved in the Intervention group, with fewer false negatives (33.0% Intervention, 44.3% Control, P = 0.050). The cost of the program was estimated at CAD$53.60/cell block, or CAD$16,771/year. CONCLUSION: Implementation of routine cell blocks for head and neck FNAs did not result in a difference in diagnostic distribution or improve case turnaround time despite incurring substantial cost. Correlation with final histology, however, was borderline improved, with fewer false negatives. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:880-887. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Impact of the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guideline recommendations for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing of invasive breast carcinoma: a focus on tumours assessed as 'equivocal' for HER2 gene amplification by fluorescence in-situ hybridization.

AIMS: The updated 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing guidelines include changes to HER2 in-situ hybridization (ISH) interpretation criteria. We conducted a retrospective review of a consecutive cohort of primary breast carcinomas to assess the impact of updated guidelines on HER2 classification and laboratory resource utilization, and to characterize the pathobiology of HER2 equivocal tumours. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 904 dual-probe HER2/chromosome enumeration probe (CEP17) FISH tests on invasive breast carcinomas were studied. Eighty-five (9.4%) cases had a classification change with the updated guidelines; 66 (7.3%) went from HER2-negative to -equivocal, 15 cases (1.7%) were reclassified as HER2-positive and four cases from HER2-equivocal to -negative. A subset of primary breast cancers, reported initially as HER2-negative but -equivocal by 2013 guidelines, was identified. Traditional pathological factors of this subset were compared to HER2-negative and -positive control cases. The three HER2 groups demonstrated statistically significant differences with respect to prognostic factors, including tumour size, grade and nodal involvement. CONCLUSIONS: The updated HER2 testing guidelines will result in the reclassification of approximately 9.4% of primary breast cancers with uncertainty regarding the clinical impact of this reclassification in the majority of cases. Resource utilization will increase as a result of the recommendation for retesting.

Comparison of clinical-pathologic characteristics and outcomes of true interval and screen-detected invasive breast cancer among participants of a Canadian breast screening program: a nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Previous analyses of interval breast cancers have been limited because of a lack of control for screening interval length and patient age, failure to restrict the interval group to 'true' intervals, and incomplete descriptions of pathology, adjuvant therapies and clinical outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A nested case-control study within the population-based Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program was performed. All true interval cases between 1991 and 2004 were identified, matched 1:2 to screen-detected cases (age, screening interval, time period), and compared in terms of pathologic characteristics and adjuvant therapies via logistic regression. Disease-free and overall survival was estimated, controlling for pathology and adjuvant chemotherapy receipt. RESULTS: A total of 241 true interval invasive cases were matched to 481 screen-detected cases. Interval cases were more likely to be > 1 cm (odds ratio [OR] = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.10-2.83), grade 3 (OR = 2.71; 95% CI, 1.49-4.92), and have lymphovascular invasion (OR = 3.06; 95% CI, 1.85-5.07). Interval cases received more adjuvant chemotherapy (OR = 4.37; 95% CI, 3.03-6.30) and radiation (OR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.02-2.00). The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of disease-free and overall survival rates for true intervals and screens were 0.830 (95% CI, 0.770-0.875) versus 0.926 (95% CI, 0.898-0.947) and 0.860 (95% CI, 0.804-0.901) versus 0.937 (95% CI, 0.910-0.956), respectively. CONCLUSION: True interval breast cancers have more adverse prognostic factors compared with screen-detected cases and, despite receiving more adjuvant chemotherapy, are associated with significantly poorer survival outcomes.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of mammary fibroadenoma: a comparison of ThinPrep® and cytospin preparations.

Mammary fibroadenoma (FA) is a lesion frequently sampled and diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Accurate cytologic diagnosis of this common benign lesion is important as this can lead to non-surgical, conservative management when breast imaging and clinical examination are concordant. In most instances, a confident diagnosis of FA is possible because of a characteristic cytologic appearance that includes hypercellularity, large epithelial cell groups, staghorn epithelial configurations, stromal fragments, and numerous background stripped nuclei. Nevertheless, FAs can be diagnostically challenging because of shared cytomorphologic features with other benign lesions and low-grade carcinoma. As such, FA is a well-recognized source of false results on FNA cytology. Furthermore, there are reports that newer thin layer cytopreparatory techniques, including the ThinPrep® (TP) system (Hologic Corp., Bedford, MA), alter the appearance of FA on FNA compared to conventional preparations and may compromise accurate cytologic diagnosis.

Flat epithelial atypia on breast needle core biopsy: a retrospective study with clinical-pathological correlation.

There are limited data to guide clinical management when flat epithelial atypia (FEA) is identified in breast needle core biopsies (NCBs). Our objectives were to determine the frequency of malignancy in subsequent breast excisions following NCB diagnosis of FEA, and to characterize the pathological and clinical features of associated tumors. Two hundred and fifty-six breast NCBs from a retrospective search (January 1999-July 2007) were blindly reviewed for FEA/other columnar cell lesions (CCLs). NCBs with co-existing carcinoma were excluded. The study included 211 NCBs: 116 (55%) with CCLs without atypia; 40 (19%) with CCLs with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), 15 (7%) with FEA and 40 (19%) with FEA and ADH; 94 cases had follow-up excisions. Ductal carcinoma in situ and/or invasive carcinoma were present in: 4/26 (15%) excisions with CCLs on NCB, 11/30 (37%) with CCLs + ADH, 1/7 (14%) with FEA alone, and 9/31 (29%) with FEA + ADH. (a) FEA was more frequently seen with ADH, than without ADH in NCBs, (b) FEA and CCLs were more frequently associated with malignancy when with ADH, and (c) tumors excised following NCB diagnosis of FEA+/-ADH had favorable prognostic factors. A conservative excision is warranted following a NCB diagnosis of FEA and ADH, and may be warranted for FEA alone.

Application of the probabilistic approach to reporting breast fine needle aspiration in males.

OBJECTIVE: To apply the probabilistic approach to a series offine needle aspiration (FNA) samples of male breast lesions and determine the accuracy and reproducibility of this method of reporting in men. STUDY DESIGN: All male breast surgical specimens with a preoperative breast FNA at our institution from 1994 to 2005 were identified. The FNAs were blindly reviewed by 2 groups of observers and classified in 1 of 5 categories using published reporting guidelines: positive, suspicious, atypical, proliferative without atypia and unremarkable. The histologic and cytologic diagnoses were correlated. The interobserver variation was determined. RESULTS: A total of 138 FNAs were performed for 123 male patients. Histologic correlation was available for 23 satisfactory FNAs. A total of 11 of 11 carcinomas (100%) were classified as positive, suspicious or atypical. Of 12 benign masses, 11 (91.6%) were classified as proliferative without atypia or unremarkable. One case of gynecomastia was classified as atypical by 1 observer but deemed not atypical with consensus review. The kappa statistic for benign and atypical/suspicious/malignant categories was 0.90. CONCLUSION: Based on this series, the probabilistic approach can be applied to the reporting of FNAs of male breast lesions. Gynecomastia may result in an atypical cytologic diagnosis.

Ductal carcinoma in situ in core biopsies containing invasive breast cancer: correlation with extensive intraductal component and lumpectomy margins.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of invasive breast cancer is most commonly made on image-guided core biopsy (CB). The presence of extensive intraductal component (EIC), as identified on subsequent lumpectomy, is associated with an increased risk of positive margins and need for further surgery. CBs demonstrating invasive breast cancer may also contain ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), although the significance of this finding is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the implications of DCIS found in the original CB, specifically related to the risk of EIC and/or positive lumpectomy margins. METHODS: All patients at a single academic institution who underwent initial breast conserving surgery for invasive breast cancer diagnosed on image-guided CB between 05/00 and 04/02 were included in the study. A systematic, blinded review of all CB and lumpectomy specimens was performed using standardized criteria for DCIS, EIC, and margins. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients were included in the study, with a mean of 5 (median 5) CB/patient. Of these, 43 (45%) patients had DCIS identified in their CB; in 34 (79%) of these patients, the DCIS was mixed with the invasive cancer. No differences in tumor size or lumpectomy volume were identified between patients with or without DCIS on CB. However, patients with DCIS were noted to be significantly younger. Overall, EIC was identified in 13 (14%) patients; the risk of EIC was significantly higher in patients with DCIS identified in CB than in those with invasive carcinoma alone (30% vs. 0%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Expectedly, the incidence of positive margins on lumpectomy was higher in patients with EIC (38% vs. 16%; P = 0.05). A trend, although not statistically significant, towards positive margins was also noted in patients with DCIS on CB compared to those with invasive carcinoma alone (24% vs. 15%, P = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: The identification of DCIS in conjunction with invasive cancer on CB appears important; the absence of DCIS in a CB sample excludes the possibility of eventually identifying EIC. Knowledge of DCIS in CBs with invasive carcinoma may be helpful for surgeons in planning gross resection margins at lumpectomy.