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ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Conclusion This study aims to provide a literature review of FNAC‐diagnosed plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) cases and present a case of PBL in an HIV patient diagnosed by FNAC.A literature review was conducted across eight databases to compile information on FNAC‐diagnosed PBL cases without restricting the site of involvement.The literature review included 23 PBL, with 13 (56.5%) affecting head and neck region. The mean age of patients was 49 years, with a male‐to‐female ratio of 1.9:1, and 13 (56.5%) patients were HIV positive. Ten (43.5%) of 23 patients tested positive for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Twenty‐one FNAC procedures and two cytological smears were performed. Plasmacytoid/plasmablastic morphology was described in seven cases (30.4%). Large cells were observed in 17 cases (73.9%). Pleomorphism was noted in 10 cases (43.5%). A cytological diagnosis of malignancy was achieved in 91.3% of cases. In 20 cases assessed for concordance, complete agreement was found in 8 cases (34.8%), while discordance was noted in 12 cases (65.2%). We also report a case of PBL diagnosed via FNAC in a 55‐year‐old male patient who presented with a painful, hard, nonmobile mass in the left submandibular region, approximately 10 cm in size, with 1 month of evolution. FNAC was performed, and cytologic smears, along with cell block (CB) preparations, were made. After staining with Diff‐Quik, HE and Papanicolaou stain, numerous cells exhibiting plasmacytic morphology were observed. Immunohistochemical analysis showed negativity for LCA, CD3, CD20, Pax5, CD79a, ALK and HHV‐8, and positivity for CD138, MUM1 and Ki‐67 (100%). EBV positivity was also confirmed, leading to a diagnosis of PBL.This study highlights the efficacy of FNAC in diagnosing PBL. The immunophenotypic profile and morphological features observed through FNAC, combined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridisation, were crucial for an accurate diagnosis. The literature review underscores the value of FNAC as a diagnostic tool for PBL, demonstrating a high rate of cytological diagnosis and significant cytohistological concordance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid‐based cytology (LBC) has changed the landscape of gynaecological cytology. A growing demand exists for LBC in diagnostic cytology, particularly for ancillary testing, such as immunocytochemistry and molecular testing. Ancillary testing solely based on conventional preparation (CP) methods remains challenging. Recently, the increased demand for specialist testing and minimally invasive techniques, such as endoscopic ultrasonography fine‐needle aspiration, to obtain cellular samples has led to an increasing demand for ancillary testing on cytology LBC supernatant, slides and cell block (CB). This facilitates the diagnosis and prognosis in cytology samples enabling personalized treatment. An understanding of the history and future prospects of LBC is crucial for its application in routine diagnostics by cytopathologists and cytotechnologists. In this review, we initiated an internet search using the keyword 'liquid‐based cytology', and we conducted a literature review to discuss the usefulness of combined diagnosis of LBC and CP, immunocytochemistry and molecular testing and assessed the quality of nucleic acids in diagnostic LBC. High‐quality and cell‐rich diagnostic LBC surpassed the CP method alone in terms of reliability and versatility of ancillary testing in cytological diagnosis. Conclusively, diagnostic LBC lends itself to various new technologies and is expected to continue evolving with innovations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of non-hematopoietic cells in effusions is a diagnostic challenge in cytology. Biopsies from mesothelium or primary lesions are infrequently performed in clinical settings and immunochemistry on smears or immunohistochemistry on cell blocks are the most common ancillary test to refine the cytological diagnosis. Cavitary effusions are an ideal matrix for flow cytometry and the availability of a cytometric panel to describe non-hematopoietic cells would represent a useful tool. Here we present the results of the flow cytometric and immunohistochemical determination of cytokeratin (CK), vimentin (VIM) and desmin (DES) in 36 canine effusions. The concordance between the two methods was perfect for CK (100%), substantial for VIM (77.8%), and almost perfect for DES (97.2%). The panel was interpreted to define the epithelial (CK+VIM-DES-), mesothelial (CK+VIM+DES+), or mesenchymal (CK-VIM+DES-) origin of the cells. Unexpected profiles were considered doubtful and observed patterns were individually discussed. The concordance of the panel interpretation between two methods was 75%. The evaluation of discordant and doubtful cases suggests a lower sensitivity of flow cytometry in detecting VIM expression and revealed a high frequency of VIM+ epithelial cells, variable expression of VIM in mesothelial cells, and an important role of DES in excluding an epithelial origin when positive. Multicentric studies based on histopathological diagnoses are necessary to confirm these findings and evaluate the diagnostic utility of the panel to refine cytological diagnosis. Our results show that flow cytometry can be a timesaving alternative to IHC on cell blocks in clinical settings to detect CK, VIM and DES expression. The interpretation of the panel is similar in most cases; however, occasional discordant results, particularly for VIM, may occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytology cell blocks (CBs) are not routinely made for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens. The goal of this study was to identify when CSF CB preparation improves diagnostic performance. Materials and Methods: Under institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of CSF cytology cases was conducted at a tertiary university‐based hospital and an affiliated county hospital. Patient history, CSF volume, final diagnosis, use of stains, and whether the CB was contributory was determined from the cytopathology report. CSF nucleated cell count data was obtained from the medical record. Results: A total of 69 CSF specimens with CBs from January 2006 to March 2023 were identified from 61 patients. The median CSF volume was 8 mL (interquartile range, 4–13 mL; range, 1–800 mL), with immunohistochemical stains performed on 29 (42%) cases. Per cytology report, CB was contributory in 23 cases (33%), not contributory in 34 cases (49%), and not discussed in 12 cases (17%). The median volume was 8 mL for cases in which CB was contributory, not contributory, or not discussed. There was no difference in average nucleated cell counts between cases in which CB was contributory versus not contributory (73.9 vs. 40.0, p =.175). Conclusions: CBs for CSF samples were contributory in a subset (33%) of cases. The authors were unable to identify any specific pre‐analytic factors, including specimen volume and average nucleated cell counts, for cases in which CB was contributory. Further evaluation is needed to identify if there are scenarios in which CSF CBs should be routinely prepared. Cytology cell blocks (CBs) are not routinely made for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens. In a retrospective review of CSF cytology cases at a tertiary university‐based hospital and an affiliated county hospital, CBs for CSF samples were contributory in a subset (33%) of cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A palpable breast lump is a common diagnostic problem for clinicians and surgeons. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has many advantages such as less cost, less sample processing time, less pain, less chance of hematoma, and less discomfort. FNAC with cell block preparation further increased both sensitivity and specificity by nearly 100%. With the cell block preparation, we can also use newer tests like estrogen receptor–progesterone receptor–human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Aims: The aim of this study was to derive conclusions about the correlation, including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (NPVs), and the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC, with or without cell blocks, compared to the final histopathology in cases of palpable breast masses. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted after getting approval from the Human Ethics Research Committee from January 2018 to December 2019, which included 65 patients. Patients diagnosed clinically for breast lumps who underwent diagnostic FNAC with cell block, followed by a histopathological examination at our hospital, were included in the study. Results: FNAC without cell block sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), NPV, efficiency rate, and diagnostic accuracy are 91.3%, 100%, 100%, 90.1%, 86.2%, and 96.5%, respectively. FNAC with cell block sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, efficiency rate, and diagnostic accuracy are all 100%. All of our results beat the standard estimate. Conclusions: Fine-needle aspiration cytology is a patient-friendly, easy, reliable, repeatable, and simple diagnostic test. Whenever it is combined with cell block preparation, improves the accuracy of FNAC diagnosis which is more accurate and comparable to golden-standard biopsy with histopathology examination.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) are a frequent class of driver mutations, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy provides considerable clinical benefits. Using the most effective and also easiest method for EGFR analysis is cost-effective and time-saving. In this study, we aimed to determine which method could be more effective by comparing the incidences of EGFR mutations in cytological and histological samples which were obtained by different methods also, whether there was a difference in the incidences of EGFR mutations between the primary foci, mediastinal lymph nodes, and distant metastatic foci. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 420 cases of cytological materials, small biopsies, and surgical samples reported as NSCLC underwent EGFR analysis in our department between 2016 and 2022. We collected the data and interpreted the results from two different perspectives. Results: We identified 36 EGFR mutations in 362 biopsies (9.94%) and 17 in 58 cytology samples (29.31%). There is a significant difference between the two methods (P = 0.01*). We observed 38 EGFR mutations in 320 primary foci (11.87%), 7 EGFR mutations in 36 mediastinal or subcarinal lymph nodes (19.44%), and 8 EGFR mutations in 64 distant metastatic foci (12.50%). A significant difference was also observed in pleural samples (P = 0.005*). Conclusion: We observed more successful results with cell blocks obtained from liquid-based cytological specimens than with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues obtained from resection or otherwise in our clinical routine. Our study results highlight the benefits of cytological specimens in molecular treatments and current therapy modalities.

Accurate diagnosis of cells as reactive or malignant mesothelial cells in body fluids is a common problem. The limited sensitivity of cytodiagnosis in effusions primarily results from unclear morphological details of cells, cell overcrowding or overlapping, cell loss, and changes caused by diverse laboratory processing techniques. Numerous studies have observed that despite meticulous preparation, cytological assessments of fluid through smears often leave substantial unexplored residue, potentially harboring valuable diagnostic information. The unexplored residue can be easily and pragmatically assessed using the cell block method, where it is embedded in paraffin and examined alongside routine smears. Cell blocks prove especially beneficial when conventional cytological smear methods fall short in providing accurate diagnoses, as seen in cases such as reactive mesothelial cells, or when findings are ambiguous, as in occasional well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The present study reviews the usefulness and benefits of cell block method in cyto-diagnosis of body fluids and highlight the importance of ancillary techniques such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) in improving the sensitivity of diagnosis. It was observed that isolated use of conventional smear misses the diagnosis when there is cell overcrowding, low cellularity, and deranged morphology. Hence, with the application of a simple cell block technique with or without ancillary techniques such as IHC, we can provide a quality report for better patient outcome even at the level of primary health care.

Introduction : Cytological diagnosis of sarcomas requires detailed cytomorphological assessment and integration of immunocytochemistry and/or molecular testing. The role of exfoliative cytology, as compared to aspiration cytology, is less understood. This case series describes well-differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcomas in effusions, with cytomorphological features, ancillary test results and clinical outcomes detailed. Methods : A computerized search of the department pathology archives was performed for sarcomatous effusions with histological diagnosis or clinical history of well-differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Clinical progress, cytology slides, immunocytochemistry and molecular test results were reviewed. Results : Six patients were identified. In 5 patients with clinical follow up, 4 (80%) were deceased within 5 months of malignant effusion. One patient was alive with 12 years disease-free survival after radical resection with adjuvant radiotherapy. Three patients showed dedifferentiation on histology, and high-grade (dedifferentiated) tumor cells were present in effusion cytology of 2 patients. Two showed well-differentiated components only on biopsy, but high-grade (dedifferentiated) tumor cells were identified in cytology. The high-grade tumor cells displayed marked nuclear irregularity, enlargement, size variation, with macronucleoli and multinucleation. Well-differentiated lipomatous components were demonstrated in 4 patients (66.7%), comprising of multivacuolated lipoblasts and atypical lipocytes. CDK4 and MDM2 immunoreactivity in all 3 cases with cell blocks, and CDK4 and MDM2 amplification in one were successfully demonstrated. Conclusion : Lipomatous and dedifferentiated components can be sampled and cytomorphologically identified on effusion fluids of liposarcomas, with sufficient cellularity for immunocytochemistry and molecular testing. Although generally associated with poor prognosis, long disease-free survival with sarcomatous effusion is possible with radical surgery and adjuvant treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of non-hematopoietic cells in effusions is a diagnostic challenge in cytology. Biopsies from mesothelium or primary lesions are infrequently performed in clinical settings and immunochemistry on smears or immunohistochemistry on cell blocks are the most common ancillary test to refine the cytological diagnosis. Cavitary effusions are an ideal matrix for flow cytometry and the availability of a cytometric panel to describe non-hematopoietic cells would represent a useful tool. Here we present the results of the flow cytometric and immunohistochemical determination of cytokeratin (CK), vimentin (VIM) and desmin (DES) in 36 canine effusions. The concordance between the two methods was perfect for CK (100%), substantial for VIM (77.8%), and almost perfect for DES (97.2%). The panel was interpreted to define the epithelial (CK+VIM-DES-), mesothelial (CK+VIM+DES+), or mesenchymal (CK-VIM+DES-) origin of the cells. Unexpected profiles were considered doubtful and observed patterns were individually discussed. The concordance of the panel interpretation between two methods was 75%. The evaluation of discordant and doubtful cases suggests a lower sensitivity of flow cytometry in detecting VIM expression and revealed a high frequency of VIM+ epithelial cells, variable expression of VIM in mesothelial cells, and an important role of DES in excluding an epithelial origin when positive. Multicentric studies based on histopathological diagnoses are necessary to confirm these findings and evaluate the diagnostic utility of the panel to refine cytological diagnosis. Our results show that flow cytometry can be a timesaving alternative to IHC on cell blocks in clinical settings to detect CK, VIM and DES expression. The interpretation of the panel is similar in most cases; however, occasional discordant results, particularly for VIM, may occur.

Background: Cytological study of pleural fluid helps establishing the underlying cause of pleural effusion. It is considered the most important tool in diagnosing malignancy in effusions. However, accurate identification of cellular morphology can be a problem in conventional cytology. Cell block preparation from pleural effusion aids in this diagnosis due to the preservation of tissue architecture, and multiple sections can be obtained for further studies. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare the diagnostic results of conventional cytology and cell block studies of suspected malignant pleural effusions and find out the diagnostic agreement or concordance between the two methods. Materials and Methods: A record-based study was conducted at the Department of Pathology on conventional cytology and cell block study reports of 150 suspected malignant pleural effusion cases over 35 months. The diagnoses were expressed in five categories – non-diagnostic, negative for malignancy, atypia of undetermined significance, suspicious for malignancy, and malignant. χ2 test was used to identify the percentage of malignancy reported. Agreement of both methods was assessed through Kappa statistics. Results: About 4.67% of cases were reported as malignant by conventional cytology, whereas cell block study diagnosed malignancy in 19.33% of cases. Relative diagnostic agreement between the two methods was 0.73 and concordance by Cohen’s Kappa was 0.34, which signifies fair concordance. Conclusion: Cell block study, though having a fair concordance, is much superior to conventional cytology smears in detecting malignant cells and diagnosing a pleural effusion as malignant.

Accurate grading of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) relies on the assessment of Ki-67 immunohistochemistry (IHC). While digital imaging analysis (DIA) has been employed for Ki-67 IHC assessment in surgical specimens, its applicability to cytologic specimens remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate an automated DIA for assessing Ki-67 IHC on PanNET cell blocks. The study included 61 consecutive PanNETs and 5 pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas. Ki-67 IHC slides from cell blocks were digitally scanned into whole slide images using Philips IntelliSite Scanners and analyzed in batches using the Visiopharm Ki-67 App in a digital workflow. Ki-67 scores obtained through DIA were compared to pathologists' manual scores. The Pearson correlation coefficient of the percentage of Ki-67-stained nuclei between DIA reads and the originally reported reads was 0.9681. Concordance between DIA Ki-67 grades and pathologists' Ki-67 grades was observed in 92.4% (61/66) of cases with the calculated Cohen's Kappa coefficient of 0.862 (almost perfect agreement). Discordance between DIA and pathologists' consensus reads occurred in 5 PanNET cases which were upgraded from G1 to G2 by DIA due to contaminated Ki-67-stained inflammatory cells. DIA demonstrated excellent concordance with pathologists' assessments, with only minor grading discrepancies. However, the essential role of pathologists in confirming results is emphasized to enhance overall accuracy. • Digital imaging analysis (DIA) of cytology cell block Ki-67 immunohistochemistry (IHC) from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors • Automated digital workflow to analyze Ki-67 IHC whole slide images • Excellent concordance between DIA and pathologists' consensus scoring of Ki-67 IHC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytological study of pleural fluid helps establishing the underlying cause of pleural effusion. It is considered the most important tool in diagnosing malignancy in effusions. However, accurate identification of cellular morphology can be a problem in conventional cytology. Cell block preparation from pleural effusion aids in this diagnosis due to the preservation of tissue architecture, and multiple sections can be obtained for further studies. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare the diagnostic results of conventional cytology and cell block studies of suspected malignant pleural effusions and find out the diagnostic agreement or concordance between the two methods. Materials and Methods: A recordbased study was conducted at the Department of Pathology on conventional cytology and cell block study reports of 150 suspected malignant pleural effusion cases over 35 months. The diagnoses were expressed in five categories -- non-diagnostic, negative for malignancy, atypia of undetermined significance, suspicious for malignancy, and malignant. Χ2 test was used to identify the percentage of malignancy reported. Agreement of both methods was assessed through Kappa statistics. Results: About 4.67% of cases were reported as malignant by conventional cytology, whereas cell block study diagnosed malignancy in 19.33% of cases. Relative diagnostic agreement between the two methods was 0.73 and concordance by Cohen's Kappa was 0.34, which signifies fair concordance. Conclusion: Cell block study, though having a fair concordance, is much superior to conventional cytology smears in detecting malignant cells and diagnosing a pleural effusion as malignant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agarose-based cell block (CB) technique can be modified to be combined with the frozen section technique for the preparation of a high-quality frozen-embedded CB (F-CB) from an effusion or fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology sample. This combined technique can be effectively used for the immunocharacterization of the hematolymphoid cells on F-CB. To demonstrate the applicability of performing diagnostic ICC on F-CB, we have analyzed the immunophenotype of the hematolymphoid cells in a series of eight cases of effusions and eight cases of FNA cytology specimens by using CB-ICC on sections cut from frozen-embedded CBs. The SurePathTM residue or cytologic material scraped off from the FNA cytology smear that was diagnostic for or suspicious of hematolymphoid malignancy was pelleted and pre-embedded in agarose. Half of the agarose-embedded pellet was frozen-embedded in OCT compound for the preparation of F-CB, while the other half was processed for the preparation of paraffin-embedded CB. Sections cut from the F-CB and P-CB were used for CB-ICC. Panels of ICC on the F-CBs could enable the immunocytochemical differential diagnosis of large cell hematologic malignancies that encompass anaplastic large cell lymphoma and other forms of large-cell hematolymphoid malignancies such as large B-cell lymphomas, anaplastic plasma cell myeloma, myeloid sarcoma, and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. It also appeared that the small B-cell lymphomas in the effusions or FNAs could be differentially diagnosed with the aid of CB-ICC on the F-CB. A modified agarose-based CB technique can be combined with the frozen-embedded CB method for the preparation of F-CB that can be directly used for the immunocytochemical differential diagnosis of hematolymphoid cytology samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity. To deal with this magnitude of cancers and their diagnostic and prognostics, a multitude of prognostic biomarkers for various cancers have been explored over the decades, with detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood being one of them. This study was undertaken to explore the routine procedure of cell block in the cytopathology lab to isolate and detect CTCs. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 112 peripheral blood samples sent for routine blood investigations of various cancer patients were utilized for the preparation of cell block. The sections from the cell block were stained routinely and evaluated for the presence of CTCs. The statistical analysis was done using Mac Statplus software version 8.0. Results: The malignancies were tabulated as per the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3). The maximum number of cases were from C 50 (breast) - 41/112 (36.6%), followed by C15–C26 (Digestive organs) - 19/112 (16.9%), and C00–C14 (lip, oral cavity, and pharynx) - 18/112 (16.07%) cases. CTC was detected in six (5.35%) out of 112 cases, out of which three were from the breast and one each from category C6.9 (mouth), C32.0 (glottis), and C53.8 (cervix uteri). Conclusion: Among various advanced and molecular techniques available for the detection of CTCs, the cell block technique proves to be one of the effective methods, especially in resource-limited settings as these can further be utilized for additional diagnostic techniques similar to the ones employed for routine paraffin blocks.

Objective: Thoracocentesis is a less invasive and expensive procedure than pleural biopsy, enabling sample collection for cytological evaluation. Cell blocks prepared from these samples provide histopathological diagnoses; further, immunohistochemistry (IHC) can be performed for subtyping malignancies, guiding the clinician in choosing the appropriate treatment modality for the patient. We aimed to determine the various histological subtypes of malignancies using cell block IHC and compare the cell block and conventional cytology methods for diagnosing malignant pleural effusion. Material and Methods: All pleural fluid samples from the clinically suspicious cases of malignancy collected at the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College Kottayam, India, during 18 months, except duplicate and inadequate samples, were included in this prospective observational study. IHC was performed on cell blocks that were positive for malignancy. Results: This study analyzed 630 samples, of which 121 cell blocks demonstrated the presence of malignancy. Overall, 80%, 13%, and 7% of cases were negative, suspicious, and positive for malignancy based on conventional cytology, and 81%, 0%, and 19% were negative, suspicious, and positive for malignancy based on cell blocks, respectively. Among all malignancies, adenocarcinomas from the lung (56%) were the most common, followed by adenocarcinomas from the breast (6%), squamous cell carcinomas (5%), and adenocarcinomas from the ovary (3%). Cell blocks helped detect more malignancies (19%) than conventional cytology (7%), despite a moderate agreement between both methods. Conclusion: Adenocarcinomas were the most common cause of malignant pleural effusions, and the most frequent site of origin was the lungs. Cell blocks helped diagnose more malignancies than conventional cytology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate diagnosis of pancreatic lesions by endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) or fine‐needle biopsy can be challenging. Although surrogate immunohistochemical markers for genetic alterations associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have been identified, they have modest sensitivity. Biallelic loss of CDKN2A occurs in up to 46% of PDACs, and methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been identified as a reliable surrogate marker for this alteration. The current study evaluates the utility of MTAP IHC for the diagnosis of PDAC. Methods: In total, 136 cases of EUS‐FNA cell block or core biopsy targeting solid pancreatic masses were identified. MTAP IHC was performed and evaluated for complete loss of expression in neoplastic cells. These results were correlated with available clinical next‐generation sequencing that was performed on a subset of cases. Results: Complete loss of MTAP expression was identified in 23 of 80 (29%) PDACs. A subset of cases classified as suspicious (4 of 21) and atypical (4 of 22) showed MTAP loss. All morphologically indeterminate cases with MTAP loss were confirmed as PDAC on resection/additional sampling. No benign samples (n = 13) showed loss of MTAP. In samples that had available clinical next‐generation sequencing data (n = 13), copy number loss of CDKN2A was detected in all cases that had loss of MTAP expression (n = 4). Conclusions: Loss of MTAP was identified in approximately 30% of PDAC small biopsy specimens. As loss of MTAP expression is not expected in nonneoplastic cells, and these findings suggest that MTAP IHC can support a diagnosis of PDAC in small biopsy samples. MTAP immunohistochemistry is a useful marker for the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in fine‐needle aspirates and small biopsy specimens of solid pancreatic masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity. To deal with this magnitude of cancers and their diagnostic and prognostics, a multitude of prognostic biomarkers for various cancers have been explored over the decades, with detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood being one of them. This study was undertaken to explore the routine procedure of cell block in the cytopathology lab to isolate and detect CTCs. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 112 peripheral blood samples sent for routine blood investigations of various cancer patients were utilized for the preparation of cell block. The sections from the cell block were stained routinely and evaluated for the presence of CTCs. The statistical analysis was done using Mac Statplus software version 8.0. Results: The malignancies were tabulated as per the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3). The maximum number of cases were from C 50 (breast) - 41/112 (36.6%), followed by C15–C26 (Digestive organs) - 19/112 (16.9%), and C00–C14 (lip, oral cavity, and pharynx) - 18/112 (16.07%) cases. CTC was detected in six (5.35%) out of 112 cases, out of which three were from the breast and one each from category C6.9 (mouth), C32.0 (glottis), and C53.8 (cervix uteri). Conclusion: Among various advanced and molecular techniques available for the detection of CTCs, the cell block technique proves to be one of the effective methods, especially in resource-limited settings as these can further be utilized for additional diagnostic techniques similar to the ones employed for routine paraffin blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background/Aims The sensitivities of endoscopic trans‐papillary pathologic diagnosis of biliary tract cancer (BTC) are unsatisfactory. Recently, the diagnostic utility of the endoscopic scraper device, Trefle for biliary stricture has been reported. The Trefle can be guided to the target biliary stricture over the guidewire and is as easy to use as the conventional brush catheter (CBC). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Trefle‐assisted tissue acquisition combined cell block method and CBC cytology for biliary strictures due to BTCs. Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with biliary strictures in whom CBC cytology or Trefle‐assisted tissue acquisition under endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed for suspected BTCs from January 2015 to June 2022 at our institution. Results 173 patients (CBC group; n = 55, Trefle group; n = 118) were enrolled in this study. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CBC cytology for BTC were 68.3%/100%/76.4%. On the other hand, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of Trefle‐assisted tissue acquisition for BTC were 93.7%/95.7%/94.1%, showing superior sensitivity (p < 0.001) and accuracy (p = 0.002) compared to that of CBC. Conclusions Compared to CBC cytology, Trefle‐assisted tissue acquisition has superior diagnostic performance while maintaining procedural simplicity and is considered useful for diagnosing malignant biliary stricture.

Thyroid gland, despite being a highly vascular organ, is an extremely unusual site for metastasis from primary carcinoma like breast. We, hereby, report a case of metastatic lesion in the thyroid with breast carcinoma as a primary, in a 55-year-old postmenopausal female. The metastatic focus had masqueraded as nodular goitre, thereby, creating diagnostic difficulty. The case was suspected on Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) and confirmed by immunocytochemistry on cell block with progesterone and Her2neu positivity. Also, we have attempted to review the literature reporting similar occurrences. Although breast cancer is less frequent to metastasize to thyroid, it is advised to always exclude metastasis from breast carcinoma especially if new thyroid lesions occur in patients with this malignancy. Such cases create diagnostic dilemma on cytology due to morphologic similarities between primary and metastatic thyroid lesions. Cell block is a crucial technique where ancillary techniques like immunocytochemistry can be applied and help in early and timely diagnosis, hence, rendering better prognostic outcome.

Background: Endometrial aspiration (EA) is an economic, painless technique on an outpatient basis. Present study aimed at cytological evaluation of EA for (a) cellular yield and morphology and (b) utility of cell block (CB) and cytocentrifuge (CC) techniques. Materials and Methods: EA samples were divided into two aliquots. Colorless samples were processed (1000 rpm × 6 min) for conventional smear (CS) and CC, both stained by Papanicolaou. Hemorrhagic samples were processed for CS and CB (paraffin embedding, hematoxylin–eosin stain). Results: Endometrial aspirates from January 2021 to January 2022 were included. Indications comprised abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB; 87), prolapse (eight), and infertility (two). Among 77 hemorrhagic aspirates, the yield was 85.7% by CS and 90.9% by CB. Among 20 colorless aspirates, the yield was 55% by CS and 65% by CC. The yield was 85.7%, 84.4%, and 83.3% with endometrial thickness 1–5, 6–10, and 11–15 mm, respectively. The yield was 83.9%, 50%, and 0% in AUB, prolapse, and infertility, respectively. CS morphology showed the categories of benign (93.5%) and atypia (6.5%). All cases with benign morphology correlated with CB and CC. CB offered architectural evaluation, while CC had a shorter turnaround time. Conclusion: Focusing on menorrhagia cases in secretory phase, nondilution of EA samples, and simultaneous endometrial biopsy can enhance cytology evaluation. In an era where "less should convey more," EA shows potential as a screening technique vis-à -vis invasive "dilatation–curettage" technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of cell block (CB) preparation is underused in urine cytology (UC) and varies among hospitals. In addition to confirming a diagnosis, CBs can be useful in cases of metastatic disease, diagnoses requiring immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and for ancillary studies. The role of this study is to examine the performance of CBs for UC at three affiliated teaching hospitals. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of UC cases with a CB was conducted at a county hospital, Veterans Affairs hospital, and tertiary university‐based hospital. For each specimen, patient demographics, specimen type, volume, original diagnosis, and IHC stains were recorded. Each case was reviewed for diagnosis based on ThinPrep alone, diagnosis based on ThinPrep and CB, utility of CB for diagnosis, and CB cellularity. Results: A total of 250 UC specimens with CB from 186 patients was identified. Bladder washes were the most common (72.1%). IHC stains were performed on 17.2% of cases. On blinded review, CB preparation was deemed useful in 61.2% of cases, with the highest rate for suspicious for high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (SHGUC) cases (87.0%). The diagnosis based on ThinPrep review changed with incorporation of CB in 13.2% of cases, with the highest rate for SHGUC cases (43.5%). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that use of CB in UC confirms the final diagnosis in more than one‐half of cases and changes the diagnosis in a subset of cases. Use of CB was most helpful in the SHGUC category. Further evaluation of the types of cases in which CB are prepared is warranted. This study demonstrates that use of cell block (CB) preparation aids in definitive diagnosis for cases diagnosed as suspicious for high‐grade urothelial carcinoma on review of cytology preparation alone. CB preparation is recommended if a papillary lesion/mass is observed on cystoscopy, when cytology preparation is equivocal, if concerned for a nonurothelial or metastatic malignancy, or for upper tract lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare cancer accounting for approximately 5% of thyroid malignancies. Historically, incisional biopsy has been the gold standard for definitive diagnosis of PTL, however, the use of cell block as an adjunct to fine needle aspiration (FNA) provides a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis and classification. Methods Three patients presented with a symptomatic enlarging thyroid mass. Patient 1 underwent incisional biopsy under general anesthesia, Patient 2 underwent core needle biopsy to avoid high risk intubation, and Patient 3 underwent fine needle aspiration alone with the use of cell block. Results All patients were diagnosed with a fully classified non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Conclusions FNA for diagnosis of some subtypes of PTL is feasible and preferred in cases that are particularly high risk for general anesthesia. This minimally invasive technique is safe and cost effective as it avoids expenses associated with operative intervention.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of endobronchial (EBUS) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in cytomorphological verification of a malignant process using the transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) of the lymph nodes and mediastinal organs.Materials and methods: In 2017–2019 we analyzed the cytological samples (standard and cell block) of 172 patients (115 males and 57 females) with an average age of 61 years (25–82 years) in the clinical diagnostic laboratory of Scientific Research Institute – Ochapovsky Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1 (Krasnodar, Russian Federation). Of them 111 were used for immunocytochemical analysis. The majority of the studies (77) were performed in patients with lung cancer in order to identify the stage of the disease. We used combined bronchoscopy under general anesthesia in the operating room with high-frequency ventilation and a rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE).Results: We found the lymph node and mediastinal invasion in 140 (81%) patients who underwent EBUS-EUS TBNA. The non-diagnostic results were obtained in 32 (19%) patients. The combination of EUS and EBUS with TBNA showed the highest effectiveness in the mentioned clinical cases. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the cytologic analysis during EBUS and EUS with TBNA and no ROSE were 89%, 100%, and 90%, respectively. ROSE reduced the rate of non-diagnostic results and increased the sensitivity (96%), specificity (100%), and accuracy (97%) of the cytologic evaluation.Conclusions: According to the obtained results, we recommend using EBUS-EUS TBNA modalities for morphological verification of the mediastinal lymph nodes as a routine invasive diagnosis component of the preoperative evaluation in patients with lung cancer.

Human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is the most common HPV-associated head and neck carcinoma. It is biologically unique and has a better prognosis than HPV-independent squamous cell carcinoma. The most common histomorphology of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is nonkeratinizing basaloid form of squamous cell carcinoma. Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas clinically often present as a neck mass and cytological sample obtained by fine needle aspiration is a crucial part of diagnostic work-up and it can be the only diagnostic material available. Several cytological samples including direct smears, cytospins, cell blocks and liquid-based material can be used for p16 immunohistochemistry, high-risk (hr) HPV DNA in situ hybridization (ISH), E6/E7 hrHPV RNA ISH, and hrHPV polymerase chain reaction. Quality control issues must be considered in all detection methodologies applied in cytological material. The selection of method depends on material type, turnaround time, standardization, sensitivity, and specificity. p16 immunohistochemistry should be applied and interpreted in conjunction with squamous cell morphology and caution should arise in cases with unusual morphology. p16 positivity alone is not recommended as a diagnostic indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The fourth most common cause of death from malignancies, pancreatic cancer is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality. [1] This low survival rate is due to late presentation, vague indications and symptoms, and insufficient diagnostic and treatment options. The effectiveness of treatment approaches can be significantly increased by correctly diagnosing benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas. Objectives: To study diagnostic efficacy of EUSFNA with importance of cytopathology and correlating with histopathology and biochemical markers. Material & Methods: Study Design: Retrospective Hospital based observational study. Study area: Department of Pathology (Histopathology laboratory), NIMS, Hyderabad. Study Period: January 2019 - December 2022. (3 years) Study population: Sample size: study consisted a total of 172 cases. Sampling method: Simple random method. Study tools and Data collection procedure: Clinical information, results from lab tests, and reports from cytopathology and imaging studies were all retrieved for each patient. To determine the location, size, and features of the pancreatic lesions, imaging reports from sonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasonography (USG) were analyzed. The location, size, and features of the pancreatic lesions were evaluated using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Atrained pathologist and a technician from the on-site pathology team assisted with the EUS instruction for each FNA. Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 53.7 ± 13.33 years. Most (52.9%) of the subjectswereintheagegroupof41-60years, followed by 30.8% were in 61-80 years group. Only2.3% were in < 20yearsagegroup. Our study also had results with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 58.2%, 82.3%, 85%, and 53.5%, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that EUS-FNA had good sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV in the detection of solid and cystic pancreatic cancer. If necessary, a composite of the EUS-FNA cytology, cell block preparation, and immunohistochemistry results can be used to make the final diagnosis. This information may then be used to guide both surgeons' and oncologists' treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid gland, despite being a highly vascular organ, is an extremely unusual site for metastasis from primary carcinoma like breast. We, hereby, report a case of metastatic lesion in the thyroid with breast carcinoma as a primary, in a 55-year-old postmenopausal female. The metastatic focus had masqueraded as nodular goitre, thereby, creating diagnostic difficulty. The case was suspected on Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) and confirmed by immunocytochemistry on cell block with progesterone and Her2neu positivity. Also, we have attempted to review the literature reporting similar occurrences. Although breast cancer is less frequent to metastasize to thyroid, it is advised to always exclude metastasis from breast carcinoma especially if new thyroid lesions occur in patients with this malignancy. Such cases create diagnostic dilemma on cytology due to morphologic similarities between primary and metastatic thyroid lesions. Cell block is a crucial technique where ancillary techniques like immunocytochemistry can be applied and help in early and timely diagnosis, hence, rendering better prognostic outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Carcinosarcomas (CSs) are rare gynecological neoplasms seen in elderly females. These are composed of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components, which appear as adenocarcinoma and high-grade sarcoma. Effusions are encountered uncommonly in CS. Material and Methods: The study focuses on the cytomorphology of 10 cases of metastatic CS in effusions. In 6 years, there were 10 (0.45%) cases of metastatic CS in effusion samples out of 2240 malignant effusion samples. The samples were processed by SurePath™ and centrifuge technique. Both May--Grünwald--Giemsa and Papanicolaou stained smears were evaluated for cytomorphological features, and the findings were correlated with subsequent histopathology. Results: The cells were predominantly arranged in ball-like clusters and discretely. The cells had abundant vacuolated cytoplasm and enlarged pleomorphic nuclei. Occasional cases showed scattered spindle cells. The cases were diagnosed as metastatic adenocarcinoma (7/10) and positive for malignant cells (3/10). None of the cases was diagnosed as CS. The primary of these cases was in the uterus (7/10) and ovary (3/10). Conclusion: The cytological evaluation of such effusion samples rarely demonstrates the classical biphasic pattern of these tumors. Mostly, the carcinomatous component is evident, and the sarcomatous element is inapparent and readily missed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zolbetuximab (IMAB362) is under investigation for treating advanced gastrointestinal tumors because it targets Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2). CLDN18.2 is a promising molecule along with the presence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in gastric cancer. This study evaluated cell block (CB) preparations of serous cavity effusions for the feasibility for CLDN18.2 protein expression and compared the results with those of biopsy or resection specimens. The association of CLDN18.2 expression in effusion samples and the clinicopathological features were also investigated. Methods: Cytological effusion specimens and matched surgical pathology biopsy or resection specimens of 43 gastric and gastroesophageal junctional cancer cases were stained for CLDN18.2 expression and quantified using immunohistochemistry based on the manufacturer's instructions. Results: Positive staining was detected in 34 (79.1%) tissue and 27 (62.8%) effusion CB samples in this study. When "positivity" was defined as moderate‐to‐strong staining in ≥40% viable tumor cells, CLDN18.2 expression was observed in 24 (55.8%) tissue and 22 (51.2%) effusion CB samples. A cutoff of 40% for CLDN18.2 positivity was used to demonstrate high concordance (83.7%) between cytology CB and tissue specimens. The results showed that CLDN18.2 expression in effusion specimens correlated with tumor size (p =.021) but not with sex, age at diagnosis, primary tumor location, staging, Lauren phenotype, cytomorphologic features, or Epstein‐Barr virus infection. Cytological effusions with or without CLDN18.2 expression did not significantly affect overall survival. Conclusions: This study's results show that serous body cavity effusions may be suitable for CLDN18.2 biomarker testing; however, discordant cases should be interpreted cautiously. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using cell blocks prepared from a serous cavity effusion sample along with biopsy and resection specimens from relevant surgical pathology to confirm Claudin18.2 expression by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated that there was high concordance (83.7%) of Claudin18.2 immunoperoxidase results between cytology effusion cell block and tissue specimens when a cutoff of 40% was used for Claudin18.2 positivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Targeted sequencing of cytologic samples has significantly increased in recent years. With increasing numbers of clinical trials for variant specific therapeutics, validating a comprehensive assay for cytologic samples has become clinically important. Aim For this study, a retrospective review of cytologic cell blocks from fine needle aspirations and fluid specimens was performed. Methods Two hundred twenty six total cases of solid tumor malignancies were identified, of which 120 cases and 20 lymph node negative controls were sequenced for the Oncomine Comprehensive Assay. Cytology and surgical specimen correlation was performed in a subset of cases. Statistical analysis to determine variant concordance was performed. Results Within the 117 cases sequenced, a total of 347 pathogenic variants were detected. Of the 117 cases, 32 cases (27.4%) would qualify for FDA approved targeted therapy according to the current guidelines, and an additional 23 cases (19.7%) would qualify for clinical trial based on pathogenic variants detected. Discussion With over 27% of cases in our cohort qualifying for some form of targeted therapy, our study shows the importance of providing comprehensive molecular diagnostic options. Despite only half of the cytology cases in the review period having enough material to be sequenced, overall approximately 27% of patients in this cohort would have benefitted from this service.

Background: Endometrial aspiration (EA) is an economic, painless technique on an outpatient basis. Present study aimed at cytological evaluation of EA for (a) cellular yield and morphology and (b) utility of cell block (CB) and cytocentrifuge (CC) techniques. Materials and Methods: EA samples were divided into two aliquots. Colorless samples were processed (1000 rpm × 6 min) for conventional smear (CS) and CC, both stained by Papanicolaou. Hemorrhagic samples were processed for CS and CB (paraffin embedding, hematoxylin–eosin stain). Results: Endometrial aspirates from January 2021 to January 2022 were included. Indications comprised abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB; 87), prolapse (eight), and infertility (two). Among 77 hemorrhagic aspirates, the yield was 85.7% by CS and 90.9% by CB. Among 20 colorless aspirates, the yield was 55% by CS and 65% by CC. The yield was 85.7%, 84.4%, and 83.3% with endometrial thickness 1–5, 6–10, and 11–15 mm, respectively. The yield was 83.9%, 50%, and 0% in AUB, prolapse, and infertility, respectively. CS morphology showed the categories of benign (93.5%) and atypia (6.5%). All cases with benign morphology correlated with CB and CC. CB offered architectural evaluation, while CC had a shorter turnaround time. Conclusion: Focusing on menorrhagia cases in secretory phase, nondilution of EA samples, and simultaneous endometrial biopsy can enhance cytology evaluation. In an era where “less should convey more,” EA shows potential as a screening technique vis-à -vis invasive “dilatation–curettage” technique.

Background: Fluid cytology plays an important role in delineating benign from malignant effusions, tumor staging, and also in diagnosing recurrences. Various methods are used in cytology for the preparation of smears. As the accurate diagnosis of the fluids aids in clinical decisions, the method of preparation of cytology smears, it is very important. Cytospin preparation of smears is one of the methods which provide higher cellular yield with better preservation of cellular morphology and is less time consuming. On the other hand, cell block method gives superior architectural details and provides options for immunocytochemistry. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic utility of cytospin in comparison to cell block method in peritoneal and pleural fluid cytology. The study is done to determine the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy of cytospin preparations with cell block method which is considered as the gold standard. Materials and Methods: This was a diagnostic test evaluation study done at the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Kottayam. The sample size was 240 which included all pleural and peritoneal fluids received in our cytology laboratory during the study period. Cytospin prepared smears of peritoneal and pleural fluids were compared with the tissue sections prepared by cell block method, to evaluate the diagnostic utility of cytospin. Tissue sections prepared from the cell blocks of effusions were considered as the gold standard for comparison. Results: A diagnostic test evaluation of cytospin preparation was done with cell block preparations. The sensitivity of cytopsin preparations in pleural and peritoneal fluid cytology is 94%. The specificity of cytopsin preparations in pleural and peritoneal fluid cytology is 100%. The positive predictive value of cytopsin preparations in pleural and peritoneal fluid cytology is 100% and the negative predictive value of cytopsin preparations in pleural and peritoneal fluid cytology is 96.8%. Hence, accuracy of the test is 97.9%. Conclusion: There is only minimal statistical difference between the results obtained by the cytospin and cell block methods. Cytospin method is less time consuming along with the advantage of higher cellular yield. Hence, the incorporation of cytospin along with the cell block technique is beneficial for augmenting the results of effusion cytology.

Abstract Background Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer‐related death worldwide, and 85% of all lung tumors are non‐small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). More than 60% of all lung tumors are diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to poor prognosis. Given the growing demand for NSCLC profiling for selection of the most appropriate therapy, the acquisition of adequate tumor samples has become increasingly crucial, mostly in advanced NSCLC patients due to old age and/or comorbidities. Being a mini‐invasive sampling technique, endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) represents a valuable alternative to traditional transthoracic or surgical sampling in these patients, and perfoming cell block (CB) could be crucial to maximize the potential biological information. The aim of this study is to describe a monoinstitutional interprofessional experience in handling EBUS‐TBNA and CB in 464 patients. METHODS We retrospectively collected all the consecutive CBs obtained from EBUS TBNA performed between 2014 and 2021 on the lung lesions or mediastinal lymph nodes. All the CBs were handled in a standardized method. RESULTS A total of 95.5% (448/464 samples) of adequacy for site and 92.6% (430/464) of adequacy for diagnosis were observed. Moreover, in the adenocarcinoma histotype, ALK, ROS1 and tumor proportion score (TPS) PD‐L1 assessment by IHC was possible in 96% (140/146) of cases, and molecular profile was obtained in 93.8% (137/146) of cases. In the squamous cell carcinoma histotype, TPS PD‐L1 assessment was possible in 81% (13/16) of cases. All four CB results obtained from carcinoma NOS were adequate for ALK, ROS1 and PD‐L1 assessment and molecular profiling. All 39 metastatic samples from extra‐pulmonary primary were adequate for immunohistochemical characterization and molecular profiling. Finally, reporting of the tumor sample adequacy to the clinicians took a median time of about 30 h (range: 24–80 h). Conclusion Careful cytological smear management together with the handling and standardization of CB obtained from EBUS‐TBNA could represent an effective method to increase the adequacy of the tumor specimen for both diagnosis and molecular profile.

Background: Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare cancer accounting for approximately 5% of thyroid malignancies. Historically, incisional biopsy has been the gold standard for definitive diagnosis of PTL, however, the use of cell block as an adjunct to fine needle aspiration (FNA) provides a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis and classification. Methods: Three patients presented with a symptomatic enlarging thyroid mass. Patient 1 underwent incisional biopsy under general anesthesia, Patient 2 underwent core needle biopsy to avoid high risk intubation, and Patient 3 underwent fine needle aspiration alone with the use of cell block. Results: All patients were diagnosed with a fully classified non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Conclusions: FNA for diagnosis of some subtypes of PTL is feasible and preferred in cases that are particularly high risk for general anesthesia. This minimally invasive technique is safe and cost effective as it avoids expenses associated with operative intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Melanoma is an aggressive malignant tumor with high metastatic potential. FNAC provides a quick and effective tool to diagnose primary and metastatic melanoma cases. Aims and Objectives: To document the epidemiological features of malignant melanoma cases attending in a tertiary care centre in India, with special reference to different cytomorphological parameters. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective hospital based study done in the Department of Pathology. 39 cases of malignant melanoma diagnosed on cytology during a period of 3 years were retrieved, reviewed and studied. Results: Out of the 39 cases,21 were males(1.16 male:female ratio).The mean age was 53 years. Metastatic cases were more common than primary melanoma cases. Most common site for metastasis was liver followed by inguinal lymph node. Epitheloid was the most common pattern. Conclusion: Characterstic melanin pigment although common , is not always present. Thus, cytopathologists must know the various cytomorphological spectrum of features of melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell blocks are cytologic preparations that are processed as paraffin embedded blocks in a manner comparable to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue in surgical pathology. In addition to serving as an adjunct to other cytologic preparations for morphologic diagnosis, cell blocks play an increasingly important role as they yield tissue sections that can be utilized for ancillary testing such as immunohistochemical stains and molecular studies. While essentially universally viewed as playing a pivotal role in cytopathology practice, there are various factors that limit their use in practice and contribute to dissatisfaction with cell block quality. Cell block preparation, as opposed to tissue processing in surgical pathology, is more variable with many different protocols in use today. This review explores the most commonly used cell block preparation techniques currently in use with review of the unique advantages and limitations each method presents. The goal of this work is to serve as a resource that can aid in making more informed decisions about which cell block protocol may work best for individual laboratories. • Cell blocks play a pivotal role in the practice of cytopathology today. • The following review explores the most common cell block preparation methods including preparation methods with modifications with advantages and limitations of each method [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 12-year-old boy presented with abdominal distention for 1 year. On examination, he had massive hepatomegaly. Facial swelling in the maxillary region, palpable left cervical lymph nodes, and a nasal twang to his voice were detected. Imaging showed multiple hypodense liver lesions, necrotic mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes, multiple lytic–sclerotic skeletal lesions, and lesions in the nasopharynx and maxilla. Fine needle aspirate (FNA) from the cervical lymph node yielded blood. FNA from the liver showed singly dispersed and cohesive clusters of tumor cells, with interspersed neutrophils and tingible body macrophages. Cells had scant to moderate fragile cytoplasm, enlarged vesicular nuclei, and prominent nucleoli. Immunohistochemistry on cell block revealed positivity for cytokeratin and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-Latent Membrane Protein-1 (LMP1). A diagnosis of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma was made, and was confirmed on a subsequent biopsy from the femur.

A 12-year-old boy presented with abdominal distention for 1 year. On examination, he had massive hepatomegaly. Facial swelling in the maxillary region, palpable left cervical lymph nodes, and a nasal twang to his voice were detected. Imaging showed multiple hypodense liver lesions, necrotic mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes, multiple lytic–sclerotic skeletal lesions, and lesions in the nasopharynx and maxilla. Fine needle aspirate (FNA) from the cervical lymph node yielded blood. FNA from the liver showed singly dispersed and cohesive clusters of tumor cells, with interspersed neutrophils and tingible body macrophages. Cells had scant to moderate fragile cytoplasm, enlarged vesicular nuclei, and prominent nucleoli. Immunohistochemistry on cell block revealed positivity for cytokeratin and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-Latent Membrane Protein-1 (LMP1). A diagnosis of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma was made, and was confirmed on a subsequent biopsy from the femur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Targeted sequencing of cytologic samples has significantly increased in recent years. With increasing numbers of clinical trials for variant specific therapeutics, validating a comprehensive assay for cytologic samples has become clinically important. Aim: For this study, a retrospective review of cytologic cell blocks from fine needle aspirations and fluid specimens was performed. Methods: Two hundred twenty six total cases of solid tumor malignancies were identified, of which 120 cases and 20 lymph node negative controls were sequenced for the Oncomine Comprehensive Assay. Cytology and surgical specimen correlation was performed in a subset of cases. Statistical analysis to determine variant concordance was performed. Results: Within the 117 cases sequenced, a total of 347 pathogenic variants were detected. Of the 117 cases, 32 cases (27.4%) would qualify for FDA approved targeted therapy according to the current guidelines, and an additional 23 cases (19.7%) would qualify for clinical trial based on pathogenic variants detected. Discussion: With over 27% of cases in our cohort qualifying for some form of targeted therapy, our study shows the importance of providing comprehensive molecular diagnostic options. Despite only half of the cytology cases in the review period having enough material to be sequenced, overall approximately 27% of patients in this cohort would have benefitted from this service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: White Sponge Nevus (WSN) is a rare benign disorder associated with mutations in genes coding for cytokeratin 4 (KRT4) and 13 (KRT13) characterized by dyskeratotic hyperplasia of mucous membranes. This study was aimed at examining different approaches (cytology, pathology and genetic analysis) to WSN diagnosis. Methods: A series of four patients with asymptomatic white diffuse oral lesions were evaluated and, before performing an incisional biopsy for pathology, an oral brush Thin Prep was collected for exfoliative liquid-based cytology (LBC). DNA for genetic analysis was also obtained from patients and both their parents, using buccal swabs. Results: Pathology and cytology showed similar results, leading to the same diagnosis of hyperkeratotic epithelium with acanthosis and spongiosis, without atypia, demonstrating the efficiency of LBC for the differential diagnosis. Sequencing analysis revealed at least 6 rare variants in the KRT4 and KRT13 genes in each patient, contributed in part by both unaffected parents. Conclusions: Thin Prep for oral exfoliative cytology and genetic analysis are sufficient for an accurate diagnosis of WSN. The combination of cytological and genetic analyses could substitute the histologic exam, providing a non-invasive alternative for incisional biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]