Whole-slide imaging: widening the scope of cytopathology

Whole slide imaging (WSI) is broadening the scope of cytopathology. Whole slide images are being used for telecytology, quality assurance activities (e.g. proficiency testing) and teaching (e.g. digital teaching sets and online virtual atlases). Progress in WSI technology that permits high resolution scanning, z-stacking, and hybrid robotic devices has encouraged the use of this imaging modality for cytology practice, education and research. However, widespread adoption in cytology still depends on overcoming barriers unrelated to cytology and challenges directly related to digitizing cytopathology slides. The aim of this article is to review WSI technology, applications and limitations specific to cytopathology.     

Whole-slide imaging in cytopathology: state of the art and future directions

Whole slide imaging (WSI) has been increasingly adopted for digital evaluation of surgical pathology specimens. Unlike histological slides, cytological preparations frequently display a heterogeneous distribution of cells throughout slides in different focal planes sometimes admixed with obscuring material, therefore requiring multiple scanning planes which significantly lengthens image acquisition and evaluation times. Although examination of digital images can be more advantageous than conventional glass slides, the challenges of focusing, scanning and screening cytological specimens and the associated increase in scan times and data storage needs have limited the routine application of WSI in cytopathology practice. Emerging digital systems designed to overcome image acquisition obstacles coupled with artificial intelligence algorithms augmenting screening of digital cytology slides offer innovative solutions to address these limitations. The aim of this review is to critically address the potential benefits and pitfalls of employing WSI in cytopathology practice and to introduce promising state-of-the-art solutions on the horizon.     

MR imaging evaluation of postmenopausal adnexal masses: correlation with final pathologic diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: Adoption of transvaginal ultrasound in usual clinical settings allowed us to find asymptomatic adnexal masses more frequently in postmenopausal women. These masses were traditionally considered as the indication of surgical excision to determine histological diagnosis. Recently, if the appearance of that is simple cyst, conservative management may be acceptable because ultrasound benign diagnosis is proved to be reasonably reliable. We investigate here the reliability of benign diagnosis by MR imaging with gadolinium enhancement for both of simple and complex postmenopausal adnexal cystic masses. METHOD: We retrospectively examined the data of 121 postmenopausal patients who underwent surgery during a 3-years-period (from January, 2000 to December 2002) for adnexal mass under diagnosis of benign adnexal cysts based on MR imaging. RESULTS: Pathological examination identified two cases of malignancy among 121 cases diagnosed as benign by MR imaging. Among the cysts that revealed a simple pattern by MR imaging, 64/66 cases (97.0%) were benign histology and among the cysts that showed a complex pattern by MR imaging, 55/55 cases (100%) were benign histology. Among the cysts with diameter less than or equal to 10cm, 48/49 simple cysts and 32/32 complex cysts were benign histology. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of benign adnexal mass in postmenopausal women by MR imaging was reliable. Conservative observation for postmenopausal patients of asymptomatic and small cysts under benign diagnosis based on MR imaging with gadolinium enhancement will be feasible even if the cysts appearances are complex, with careful follow-up program.     

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: pathologic features and differential diagnosis

The worldwide epidemic of obesity has raised the awareness of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) from that of a curiosity to one of a potentially progressive liver disease with risk for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This overview is focused on the histopathology of the spectrum of fatty liver disease, and discusses the role of liver biopsy, differential diagnoses, and new techniques in development. When pertinent, pathophysiology of this metabolic liver disease and recent treatment considerations have been mentioned as well.     

Toluene optic neurotoxicity: magnetic resonance imaging and pathologic features

Toluene, a colorless liquid found in glues, paints, and industrial products, is lipid soluble and rapidly absorbed by the lipid-rich central nervous system. Prolonged exposure through occupation or purposeful inhalation may lead to neurologic abnormalities. Two men presented with multifocal central nervous system defects and bilateral optic neuropathy of unclear etiology. After numerous diagnostic tests, including brain magnetic resonance imaging, lumbar puncture, hematologic studies, and in one patient a brain biopsy, chronic inhalation of toluene was found to be the cause. Timely diagnosis is important because patients may experience improvement in neurologic and ocular manifestations with cessation of exposure, whereas continued inhalant abuse or exposure can result in permanent loss of neurologic function.     

淋巴瘤诊断病理学进展

淋巴瘤病理诊断要求回答两个基本问题：是不是淋巴瘤?是哪一种淋巴瘤?也就是淋巴瘤的诊断问题和淋巴瘤的分类问题。这两个基本问题是淋巴瘤病理学发展的原动力,激发了淋巴瘤诊断病理学的发展和进步。20世纪80年代以前对淋巴瘤的认识主要在组织形态学的水平。80年代中期以后随着多项新技术的出现,作为临床前沿的淋巴瘤研究接纳了各种新技术,从蛋白水平和分子水平进行了广泛的研究,取得了长足的进步,走在其他疾病研究的前列。     

Lung transplantation: the pathologic diagnosis of pulmonary complications.

The reliability of bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsies for the diagnosis of acute graft rejection has recently been questioned. We present our experience with 59 transbronchial and bronchial biopsies and two open-lung biopsies from 12 patients that underwent lung transplantation. The diagnosis of acute rejection was established in 14 biopsies based on the absence of infection and presence of one or more of the following features: perivascular lymphoid infiltrates, usually associated with endothelial swelling; bronchial "acute on chronic" inflammation; and/or angiitis. Problems and potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of acute graft rejection in lung transplant patients are discussed. The biopsies were also sensitive for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus pneumonitis and fungal infections but were not helpful for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonias. Indeed, one patient died with Legionella sp. pneumonia diagnosed only on open-lung biopsy after two negative transbronchial biopsies. The significance of other histologic changes, such as nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis, diffuse alveolar damage, acute alveolitis, goblet cell hyperplasia of the bronchial mucosa, and pulmonary infarction, is discussed.     

Neonatal hemochromatosis: Genetic counseling based on retrospective pathologic diagnosis

We report a case of neonatal hemochromatosis in which the genetic counseling was initiated by, and based on, retrospective pathologic diagnosis. Perinatal or neonatal hemochromatosis is beginning to be recognized as a distinct clinical entity and one of the most common causes of perinatal cirrhosis. The exact mechanism of liver damage and the relationship to adult type hemochromatosis have not been fully clarified. The pattern of fibrosis in the liver plus the abundant iron deposition in the liver and other organs separate this entity pathologically from other causes of neonatal liver failure. We report on a case of neonatal hemochromatosis that was diagnosed on retrospective autopsy review of an infant with supposed hereditary tyrosinemia, when the family presented for genetic counseling. This case emphasizes to the genetic counselor and pathologist the need to consider the diagnosis prenatally, after birth, or at death, as failure to do so would result in the inability to identify families at genetic risk for neonatal hemochromatosis or in mislabeling a family with another inborn error.     

重视非肿瘤性疾病的病理诊断

在疑难病例的病理诊断中肿瘤性疾病占有重要位置,因而受到了病理学界的高度重视.有关肿瘤病理诊断的知识不断更新,肿瘤病理辅助诊断手段的运用范围不断扩大……     

Discrepancy in pathologic diagnosis of placental lesions

CONTEXT: Placentas are routinely examined by surgical pathologists, but peer review of placental diagnosis is rarely performed. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of discrepant placental diagnosis between general surgical pathologists and a pediatric pathologist. DESIGN: One hundred fourteen placentas from infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and 170 placentas from infants appropriate for gestational age (AGA) were reviewed for 10 lesion types using standardized criteria. The review diagnosis was compared with original reports. RESULTS: The review identified 333 lesions, 168 in the IUGR group and 165 in AGA group. Discrepant diagnosis occurred in 137 lesions (41.1%). There was no significant difference in the frequency of discrepant diagnosis between the IUGR (44.7%) and AGA groups (37.6%) (P >.05). Most discrepancies (92.7%) were due to underdiagnosis (identified on review but not mentioned in original diagnosis), but a few (7.3%) were due to misdiagnosis (mentioned in original report but disagreed on review). The common underdiagnoses with their corresponding rates were as follows: hemorrhagic endovasculitis (84.6%), fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (75%), massive perivillous fibrin deposition (68.4%), maternal floor infarction (66.7%), retroplacental hemorrhage (60.6%), intervillous thrombus (57.1%), decidual angiopathy (33.3%), placental infarction (25.4%), acute chorioamnionitis (22.7%), and chronic villitis (21.7%). Misdiagnosis was found in 10 cases: 5 cases of infarction (review diagnosis was perivillous fibrin deposits in 4, intervillous thrombus in 1), 3 cases of acute chorioamnionitis, and 2 cases of decidual angiopathy. Among the 8 general surgical pathologists involved, the frequency of discrepant diagnosis ranged from 31.5% to 58.6% (P >.05). The intraobserver discrepancy rate for the reviewer was 4.8%, significantly lower than the discrepancy rate for the 8 general surgical pathologists. CONCLUSION: It is common for general surgical pathologists not to recognize placental lesions, which may have clinical significance. Awareness of this deficiency, standardization of diagnostic criteria, and increased knowledge in placental pathology may improve the quality of diagnosis in this area.     

应关注乳腺癌病理诊断中的新问题

随着乳腺癌临床诊治技术的迅速发展,乳腺临床专科医师已经开始呼吁,改进病理诊断的模式,建立乳腺专科病理诊断机制[1].目前国内乳腺癌的病理诊断和临床要求相比,明显处于滞后状态,亟待改进和规范.在新形势下,病理工作者应当密切关注下述乳腺癌病理诊断中的问题.     

Controversies and uncertainties concerning the pathologic features and pathologic diagnosis of asbestosis.

Asbestos is a fibrous silicate mineral that has been known for decades to cause pulmonary scarring, referred to as asbestosis. The simplest definition of asbestosis is the presence of pulmonary fibrosis as a result of accumulation of airborne asbestos in the lungs. Not infrequently, the terms "asbestos" and "asbestosis" are used incorrectly (interchangeably) by medical personnel, and sometimes pleural fibrosis caused by asbestos is incorrectly referred to as asbestosis. The earliest lesion of asbestosis, as defined by the CAP-NIOSH Committee is peribronchiolar fibrosis, although controversy exists as to how specific this lesion is with respect to causation by asbestos, and whether this lesion progresses to grade 4 asbestosis. In addition, some authorities in the field suggest that the term "asbestosis" be used only for diffuse interstitial fibrosis. The mechanism by which asbestos causes interstitial fibrosis remains poorly understood, and in recent years, pathologic changes such as organizing pneumonitis-bronchiolitis obliterans, and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis, have been described in persons occupationally exposed to asbestos, suggesting that the pulmonary lesions caused by asbestos represent a wider spectrum than had previously been appreciated. By defining areas of uncertainty, medical science will eventually clarify areas of disagreement concerning asbestosis which will eventually lead to a better understanding of this disease.     

Neonatal hemochromatosis: genetic counseling based on retrospective pathologic diagnosis.

We report a case of neonatal hemochromatosis in which the genetic counseling was initiated by, and based on, retrospective pathologic diagnosis. Perinatal or neonatal hemochromatosis is beginning to be recognized as a distinct clinical entity and one of the most common causes of perinatal cirrhosis. The exact mechanism of liver damage and the relationship to adult type hemochromatosis have not been fully clarified. The pattern of fibrosis in the liver plus the abundant iron deposition in the liver and other organs separate this entity pathologically from other causes of neonatal liver failure. We report on a case of neonatal hemochromatosis that was diagnosed on retrospective autopsy review of an infant with supposed hereditary tyrosinemia, when the family presented for genetic counseling. This case emphasizes to the genetic counselor and pathologist the need to consider the diagnosis prenatally, after birth, or at death, as failure to do so would result in the inability to identify families at genetic risk for neonatal hemochromatosis or in mislabeling a family with another inborn error.