Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: diagnostic challenges,histopathologic features and ancillary testing

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive thyroid malignancy with high mortality rate. This malignancy arises in thyroid follicular cells either denovo or with an associated differentiated thyroid carcinoma component. Clinically, it usually presents as a rapidly enlarging mass, pain and locally compressive symptoms. Histopathologic variability and heterogeneity often pose diagnostic challenges, especially in scant and paucicellular specimens. This article describes the clinical, histopathologic and molecular features of ATC and also addresses the associated diagnostic limitations and challenges.     

A case report of pseudoaneurysm after a core needle biopsy of breast cancer

Breast pseudoaneurysms after a core needle biopsy are a rare complication with a low incidence. However, it is important to be aware of the possibility of complications that require treatment.     

Can EGFR mutation status be reliably determined in pre‐operative needle biopsies from adenocarcinomas of the lung?

The identification of EGFR mutations in non‐small‐cell lung cancer is important for selecting patients, who may benefit from treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The analysis is usually performed on cytological aspirates and/or histological needle biopsies, representing a small fraction of the tumour volume. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of this molecular test. We retrospectively included 201 patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung. EGFR mutation status (exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R point mutation) was evaluated on both pre‐operative biopsies (131 histological and 70 cytological) and on the surgical specimens, using PCR. Samples with low tumour cell fraction were assigned to laser micro‐dissection (LMD). We found nine (4.5%) patients with EGFR mutation in the lung tumour resections, but failed to identify mutation in one of the corresponding pre‐operative, cytological specimens. Several (18.4%) analyses of the pre‐operative biopsies were inconclusive, especially in case of biopsies undergoing LMD and regarding exon 21 analysis. Discrepancy of mutation status in one patient may reflect intra‐tumoural heterogeneity or technical issues. Moreover, several inconclusive results in the diagnostic biopsies reveal that attention must be paid on the suitability of pre‐operative biopsies for EGFR mutation analysis.     

EBUS-TBNA超声内镜对纵隔肿大淋巴结良恶性的鉴别诊断价值

目的:分析超声内镜引导下经支气管针吸活检(endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration，EBUS-TBNA)术中肿大纵隔淋巴结的超声图像特点，探讨EBUS-TBNA超声内镜对纵隔淋巴结良恶性的鉴别诊断价值，以期提高EBUS-TBNA对纵隔淋巴结恶性病变的活检率。方法:回顾性分析2014年10月至2018年11月行EBUS-TBNA患者的超声内镜图像。我们使用以下EBUS超声内镜特征来预测淋巴结的良恶:回声，长轴长度，短轴长度，纵横比，形态，边界，淋巴门有无，淋巴结内血流信号分级。将超声检查结果与最终病理结果或临床随访结果进行比较。采用SPSS 20.0软件进行统计学分析，采用logistic回归分析评价肿大淋巴结EBUS-TBNA超声内镜下的特征与良恶性的相关性，以 P<0.05 为标准判定差异有统计学意义。结果:对130例纵隔淋巴结肿大患者的227个淋巴结进行回顾性分析，67.4%的肿大淋巴结被证实为恶性转移。Logistic回归分析显示回声、长轴及短轴的长度、正常淋巴门结构的消失是诊断恶性淋巴结的独立预测因素。结论:纵隔恶性淋巴结具有一定的超声特征，可以通过这些超声特征提高EBUS-TBNA对纵隔恶性淋巴结的检出率。     

User experiences with second-generation 32-gauge × 4 mm vs. thinner comparator pen needles: prospective randomized trial

Abstract

Objective

Two similarly designed studies compared user experiences with a second-generation extra-thin-wall, 5-bevel 32?G?×?4?mm pen needle (PN) with redesigned hub versus four thinner commercially available PNs.     

Tanzania IR Initiative: Training the First Generation of Interventional Radiologists

Despite a population of nearly 60 million, there is currently not a single interventional radiologist in Tanzania. Based on an Interventional Radiology (IR) Readiness Assessment, the key obstacles to establishing IR in Tanzania are the lack of training opportunities and limited availability of disposable equipment. An IR training program was designed and initiated, which relies on US-based volunteer teams of IR physicians, nurses, and technologists to locally train radiology residents, nurses, and technologists. Preliminary results support this strategy for addressing the lack of training opportunities and provide a model for introducing IR to other resource-limited settings.     

风池穴不同刺法对椎动脉型颈椎病的临床疗效评价

目的:探究风池穴不同刺法对椎动脉型颈椎病的临床疗效。方法:选择2018年4月—2019年1月北京中医药大学东直门医院针灸科门诊就诊的84例椎动脉型颈椎病患者作为研究对象,分为观察组43例、对照组41例。观察组采用短刺法针刺风池穴治疗,对照组采用平补平泻法针刺风池穴治疗,1个疗程后比较两组患者的ESCV、颈椎病症状分级量化表评分以及TCD相关指标,TCD指标观察基底动脉和双侧椎动脉的平均血流速度(Vm)、收缩期血流速度峰值(Vs)、血管搏动指数(PI)和血管阻力指数(RI)的变化。结果:治疗前后两组ESCV、颈椎病症状分级量化表评分比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),且椎动脉、基底动脉的Vs、Vm较治疗前明显减慢,且观察组治疗效果优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:针刺风池穴治疗椎动脉型颈椎病临床效果显著,且短刺法优于平补平泻法。     

三伏贴联合伏针闪罐治疗支气管哮喘的临床观察

目的采用三伏贴联合伏针闪罐治疗支气管哮喘,观察该治疗方法对支气管哮喘患者的临床疗效。方法选择秦皇岛市中医医院针灸科2016年9月至2019年9月三伏期间收治的符合诊断及纳入标准的120例支气管哮喘患者,按照随机数字表法随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组60例,治疗组采用三伏贴联合伏针闪罐疗法,对照组单用三伏贴疗法。三伏期间初伏、中伏和末伏各贴敷1次,共贴敷9次,3年为1个疗程。1个疗程后,采用χ^2检验比较2组总有效率。结果治疗组治愈27例,好转31例,无效2例,治愈率45. 0%(27/60),总有效率96. 6%(58/60);对照组治愈14例,好转37例,无效9例,治愈率23. 3%(14/60),总有效率85. 5%(51/60)。治疗组治愈率和总有效率均高于对照组,且差异有统计学意义(χ^2=6. 261、4. 904,P均<0. 05)。结论三伏贴联合伏针闪罐治疗支气管哮喘疗效优于单纯三伏贴治疗,充分发挥中医特色优势,值得在临床上推广应用。