Cell block alone as an ideal preparatory method for hemorrhagic thyroid nodule aspirates procured without onsite cytologists.

OBJECTIVE: To study diagnostic efficacy of direct smears (DS) vs. cell block (CB) alone in hemorrhagic thyroid fine needle aspirations (FNAs) performed without a cytotechnologist or cytopathologist. STUDY DESIGN: Ultrasound-guided thyroid FNAs from an offsite location were retrospectively searched during a 53-month period. Aspirates in the initial 13 months were submitted as air-dried DSs. Subsequent specimens were submitted as CBs. Each case was classified into 1 of 4 categories: (1) nondiagnostic, (2) nonneoplastic, (3) follicular lesions and (4) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). RESULTS: There were 77 aspirates: DS = 20 (26%) and CB = 57 (74%). Two cases had both DSs and CBs. Diagnoses of DS: nondiagnostic = 12 (60%); nonneoplastic = 7 (35%); follicular lesion = 1 (5%). Diagnoses of CB cases: nondiagnostic = 4 (7.0%); nonneoplastic = 43 (75.4%); follicular lesion, including 1 Hürthle cell neoplasm = 7 (12.3%), PTC = 3 (5.3%). Repeat FNAs on 4 nondiagnostic cases (3 DSs, 1 CB) utilizing the CB-only technique were diagnostic and included nodular goiter, follicular neoplasm, PTC, and reactive lymph node. CONCLUSION: Without onsite assessment, CB alone is superior to DSs for hemorrhagic thyroid FNAs. It shows increased diagnostic efficacy and slide reduction and obviates repeat FNAs.

A sandwich-embedding method for oriented sectioning.

High-quality sections are indispensable for many scientific studies. Most published methods are often time-consuming or require special devices. We present an easy, quick and low-cost method for oriented embedding of thin structures using glycol methacrylate resin and self-constructed, reusable embedding tools made of overhead transparencies. This technique allows for more flexibility in orientation than other methods, enabling precise transverse, longitudinal and even oblique sectioning.

Cell block preparation of a Burkitt's lymphoma cell line as a positive control for in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of the use of a cell block preparation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected Burkitt's lymphoma cell line (EB-3) as a positive control for in situ hybridization (ISH) for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER). STUDY DESIGN: EB-3 cells were processed into cell block and cytocentrifuge preparations. ISH for EBER was performed, and the results were compared with a commercially available EBV positive control slide (cytocentrifuge). RESULTS: The cost of preparing the cell block and cytocentrifuge sample was only a fraction of the price of commercial control slides. ISH for EBER was strongly stained in all preparations with similar intensity of staining but with a much higher number of positive cells in the cell block. Although the cellular details in the cell block were considerably inferior to those on the cytocentrifuge and commercial control slide, with distortion of nuclei and smudging of chromatin, the interpretation of the ISH results was unaffected. The cell block was stable at room temperature when examined after one year. CONCLUSION: The cell block preparation of an EBV-infected Burkitt's lymphoma cell line serves as a reliable, stable and a relatively inexpensive control, with good preservation of cellular details of cellular RNA for ISH study for EBER in the detection of latent infection with EBV.