Comparative effectiveness study between negative pressure wound therapy and conventional wound dressing on perforator flap at the Chinese tertiary referral teaching hospital

Background

Perforator flap techniques with conventional wound dressing have being extensively used in the management of soft-tissue defects. However; the flap's survival rate is not always guaranteed and the wound healing time always long. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness use of a freshly transplanted perforator flap in conjunction with Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) for better clinical outcomes.

Choroidal plasmacytoma in a patient with multiple myeloma. Diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

BACKGROUND: To report a case of a secondary plasmacytoma of the choroid. METHODS: Interventional case report with cytopathologic correlation. RESULTS: A 61-year-old male with a breast nodule and a 2-year history of multiple myeloma developed blurred vision and was found to have three confluent, ill-defined areas of choroidal thickening in the left eye. Cytopathology and immunohistochemistry of a transocular fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the largest lesion revealed atypical plasma cells diagnostic of plasmacytoma. Following external beam radiotherapy the choroidal tumors resolved completely. CONCLUSION: Secondary plasmacytoma, despite its rarity, should be included in the differential diagnosis of amelanotic choroidal tumors, particularly in patients with multiple myeloma. Radiotherapy is an effective treatment.     

Tumor cell-specific BRCA1 and RASSF1A hypermethylation in serum, plasma, and peritoneal fluid from ovarian cancer patients

Because existing surgical and management methods can consistently cure only early-stage ovarian cancer, novel strategies for early detection are required. Silencing of tumor suppressor genes such as p16INK4a, VHL, and hMLH1 have established promoter hypermethylation as a common mechanism for tumor suppressor inactivation in human cancer and as a promising target for molecular detection in bodily fluids. Using sensitive methylation-specific PCR, we screened matched tumor, preoperative serum or plasma, and peritoneal fluid (washes or ascites) DNA obtained from 50 patients with ovarian or primary peritoneal tumors for hypermethylation status of the normally unmethylated BRCA1 and RAS association domain family protein 1A tumor suppressor genes. Hypermethylation of one or both genes was found in 34 tumor DNA (68%). Additional examination of one or more of the adenomatous polyposis coli, p14ARF, p16INK4a, or death associated protein-kinase tumor suppressor genes revealed hypermethylation in each of the remaining 16 tumor DNA, which extended diagnostic coverage to 100%. Hypermethylation was observed in all histologic cell types, grades, and stages of ovarian tumor examined. An identical pattern of gene hypermethylation was found in the matched serum DNA from 41 of 50 patients (82% sensitivity), including 13 of 17 cases of stage I disease. Hypermethylation was detected in 28 of 30 peritoneal fluid DNA from stage IC-IV patients, including 3 cases with negative or atypical cytology. In contrast, no hypermethylation was observed in nonneoplastic tissue, peritoneal fluid, or serum from 40 control women (100% specificity). We conclude that promoter hypermethylation is a common and relatively early event in ovarian tumorigenesis that can be detected in the serum DNA from patients with ovary-confined (stage IA or B) tumors and in cytologically negative peritoneal fluid. Analysis of tumor-specific hypermethylation in serum DNA may enhance early detection of ovarian cancer.     

Extramedullary plasmacytoma confined to the choroid

PURPOSE: To report a case of an extramedullary plasmacytoma confined to the choroid. METHODS: Interventional case report with cytopathologic correlation. RESULTS: A 76-year-old asymptomatic woman presented with 2 globular orange and amelanotic choroidal lesions in the right eye. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of one of the choroidal lesions followed by immunocytochemical studies revealed monoclonal plasma cells, diagnostic of plasmacytoma. Systemic evaluation was negative, except for increased serum gamma globulin with immunoglobulin kappa spike on electrophoresis. The patient was managed by ocular external beam radiotherapy. At 9 years follow-up, she was free of local disease and never developed multiple myeloma. CONCLUSION: Extramedullary plasmacytoma confined to the choroid is rare. It may present simulating other common amelanotic choroidal lesions. Fine needle aspiration biopsy and proper systemic evaluation are critical in establishing the diagnosis.     

Cytology of granulosa cell tumor of the ovary

Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary may create a diagnostic challenge in cytologic preparations. Our experience with needle aspiration material, ascitic fluid, and peritoneal washings indicates that in fluids, despite some similarity between the tumor cells and reactive mesothelial cells, a correct diagnosis can be achieved by careful examination. The paucity of the cytoplasm and an intense indentation of nuclear membrane are the most helpful features in distinguishing the granulosa cells from mesothelial cells. The literature is reviewed, and the controversies regarding needle aspiration of ovarian neoplasms are discussed.     

Aspiration cytology of papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas

The authors present a case of papillary and cystic neoplasm of the pancreas (PCN) in which fine-needle aspiration was performed intraoperatively. Only a few reports of fine-needle aspiration of this rare tumor have been published. The features most helpful in reaching a diagnosis of PCN were a monotonous population of tumor cells, round to oval bland-appearing nuclei, scanty to moderate ill-defined cytoplasm, and the presence of numerous capillaries. Despite the lack of branching papillary clusters described in previous reports, it was possible to suggest the correct diagnosis by identifying these other characteristic features. In addition, estrogen and progesterone receptor levels were measured and found to be negligible. A review of the literature with emphasis on cytologic features also is presented.     

Utility of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen in hepatic fine-needle aspirates

To assess the usefulness of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vs. metastatic adenocarcinoma (MA), we studied 25 cases of fine-needle aspirates (FNA) of hepatic lesions. The material consisted of 9 primary HCCs, 8 MAs, and 8 benign hepatic aspirates. For immunostaining, the avidin-biotin complex technique was performed on paraffin sections of cell blocks, using a standardized automatic immunostainer. Specific bile canalicular immunostaining with polyclonal CEA (pCEA) antibody was present in five of eight (5/8) benign hepatic aspirates and eight of nine (8/9) HCCs. Diffuse cytoplasmic immunostaining with pCEA antibody was present in four of eight (4/8) MAs. None of the aspirates showed any positive immunostaining with monoclonal CEA (mCEA) antibody. We conclude that: (1) pCEA antibody is useful in the evaluation of hepatic FNAs. Diffuse cytoplasmic staining is seen in MAs, whereas canalicular immunostaining pattern is an indication of benign or malignant hepatocytes. (2) Paraffin-embedded cell blocks made from hepatic aspirate material are suitable for immunostaining with polyclonal CEA antibody. (3) mCEA antibody has no value in the diagnosis of HCC. Diagn Cytopathol 1994; 11:358–362. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effects of restraint stress on inoculated tumor growth and immune response in rats

Rats were given injections s.c. of mammary adenocarcinoma cells which developed into undifferentiated carcinomas within a few days. The animals were either left alone or were stressed by restraint for 3 h a day for 11 days and then left for 12 days undisturbed to recover. During this schedule, some animals were sacrificed immediately after the 11-day stress period, whereas others were allowed the 12-day recovery period; unstressed animals were sacrificed as controls on these 2 days. Tumor burden was significantly increased during stress and markedly decreased after the recovery period as compared to unstressed rats. Higher mitotic activity was seen in the tumors of rats which recovered from stress. The immune system responded differently to stress in healthy and tumor-bearing animals. In the tumor-bearing animals, leukocytes were decreased by stress and increased after the recovery period. Lymphocytes were increased, and neutrophiles and large granular lymphocytes were decreased after the recovery period. Total T-cells and suppressor T-cells were decreased during stress and increased during recovery. The percentage of T-cell populations was unaffected by stress, but the percentage of suppressor T-cells increased during recovery. Natural killer cell activity was unaffected by stress but increased after the recovery period. These results indicate that (a) stress and recovery from stress differentially affect tumor development and growth, (b) stress and recovery from stress cause different effects on the immune system in healthy or tumor-bearing animals, (c) stress and recovery from stress stimulate or inhibit different parts of the immune system, and (d) a decreased lymphocyte count and total and suppressor T-cell numbers correlated best with enhanced tumor growth, whereas increased numbers of neutrophils, large granular lymphocytes, total and suppressor T-cells, natural killer cell activity, and a decreased percentage of T-suppressor cells correlated best with depressed tumor growth.     

Utilization of ancillary studies in the cytologic diagnosis of respiratory lesions: The papanicolaou society of cytopathology consensus recommendations for respiratory cytology

The Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology has developed a set of guidelines for respiratory cytology including indications for sputum examination, bronchial washings and brushings, CT‐guided FNA and endobronchial ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EBUS‐FNA), as well as recommendations for classification and criteria, ancillary testing and post‐cytologic diagnosis management and follow‐up. All recommendation documents are based on the expertise of committee members, an extensive literature review, and feedback from presentations at national and international conferences. The guideline documents selectively present the results of these discussions. The present document summarizes recommendations for ancillary testing of cytologic samples. Ancillary testing including microbiologic, immunocytochemical, flow cytometric, and molecular testing, including next‐generation sequencing are discussed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:1000–1009. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Nipple aspirate cytology and pathologic parameters predict residual cancer and nodal involvement after excisional breast biopsy.

We previously demonstrated that abnormal nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) cytology predicted residual breast cancer (RC) and tumour size after excisional biopsy (EB), although normal NAF cytology did not exclude RC. Tumour size correlates with the risk of lymph node (LN) metastases. LN metastases provide prognostic information allowing medical and radiation oncologists to determine the need for adjuvant therapy. We hypothesized that pathologic factors known after EB, combined with NAF cytology, would predict with a high degree of accuracy the presence of RC and LN spread. NAF cytology and pathologic parameters: tumour distance from biopsy margins, multifocal and multicentric disease, sub-type of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive cancer (IC), grade of DCIS or IC, tumour and specimen size, tumour and biopsy cavity location, presence or absence of extensive DCIS, and biopsy scar distance from the nipple were evaluated bivariately and then by logistic regression (LR) for their association with RC and involved LN (> or = 1 (+) LN, useful to determine chemotherapy need, and > or = 4 (+) LN, useful to determine radiation need to the chest and axilla). Data were analysed using NAF cytology alone, pathologic parameters alone, and NAF cytology and pathologic parameters combined. The combined LR model was superior in predicting residual cancer (94%) to LR models using NAF cytology (36%) or pathologic parameters (75%) alone. When only subjects with normal NAF cytology were evaluated by LR, the model was 92% sensitive in predicting RC. Tumour size and NAF cytology predicted which patients had > or = 1 (+) LN, whereas tumour and specimen size predicted which patients had > or = 4 (+) LN. We propose an algorithm which, if confirmed in a larger study, may allow clinicians to be more selective in their recommendations of re-excision breast biopsy or mastectomy.