Metastatic Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcoma to Thyroid Gland: A Case Report

A 54-year-old man presented with a pathologic hip fracture secondary to a right femur tumor. A reaming biopsy showed the diagnosis of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma (DDC). In addition, the patient had a thyroid mass. Fine needle aspirate from the thyroid mass revealed numerous large fragments of cohesive spindle cells with moderate nuclear atypia and brisk mitosis, identical to the femur tumor. Immunohistochemical staining on cell blocks of thyroid aspirate showed positivity for mesenchymal markers and negativity for epithelial and thyroid markers. The metastasis of DDC to the thyroid gland is a very rare incident and has previously been described once in the literature. In this report, we describe the clinical and pathologic findings of this case.

A Rare Case of Primary Malignant Mesenchymoma Arising from Submandibular Salivary Gland

Malignant mesenchymoma is a rare tumor in which there are two or more distinct mesenchymal components. These are generally considered as high-grade neoplasms and are usually associated with a poor prognosis. Here, we report a case of malignant mesenchymoma containing undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and areas with rhabdoid differentiation in a 54-year-old male. The primary tumor measured 5.5 × 4 × 3 cm and weighed 135 g arising from the left submandibular salivary gland. Fine-needle aspiration cytology showed the presence of pleomorphic spindle cell clusters with atypia and myxoid stroma. An impression of malignant salivary gland neoplasm was given. Diagnosis of malignant mesenchymoma was made on histopathological examination supported by immunohistochemistry showing strong positivity with p53, Ki-67, and focal positivity for smooth muscle actin, S-100, desmin, and negativity for cytokeratins. The exact histogenesis of malignant mesenchymoma and the optimal management strategy to decide the prognosis remains uncertain as it is a rare tumor.

[Correlation between the Bethesda system for thyroid nodules and post-thyroidectomy histopathological diagnosis]

BACKGROUND

Thyroid nodules are a common clinical condition. Thyroid nodules may be identified with ultrasonography in roughly 50% of the population. The risk of malignancy varies between 4 and 15% of the nodules. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) with a cytopathology report using the Bethesda system is the most utilized methods to diagnose thyroid carcinoma.

MATERIAL AND MEHOTDS

A retrospective, descriptive study was performed to investigate the correlation between the cytopathology of the FNA biopsies, and the final histopathology after thyroidectomy.

RESULTS

A total of 128 nodules in 128 patients were studied; 24 males and 104 females. In the Bethesda category I, a 67% malignancy rate was reported, Bethesda II 14%, Bethesda III 28% for follicular lesions and 15% for atypia, Bethesda IV 36%, Bethesda V 79% and Bethesda VI 100%.

CONCLUSION

The Bethesda system has been widely adopted internationally and has become an unassailable tool for the pathologist and clinicians for the evaluation and management of thyroid nodules. Since its implementation in the ABC Medical Center, the Bethesda system has granted the institution with favorable and reproducible results.

2019 Practice guidelines for thyroid core needle biopsy: a report of the Clinical Practice Guidelines Development Committee of the Korean Thyroid Association

Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) has been increasingly used for the pre-operative diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Since the Korean Society of the Thyroid Radiology published the ‘Consensus Statement and Recommendations for Thyroid CNB’ in 2017 and the Korean Endocrine Pathology Thyroid CNB Study Group published ‘Pathology Reporting of Thyroid Core Needle Biopsy’ in 2015, advances have occurred rapidly not only in the management guidelines for thyroid nodules but also in the diagnostic terminology and classification schemes. The Clinical Practice Guidelines Development Committee of the Korean Thyroid Association (KTA) reviewed publications on thyroid CNB from 1995 to September 2019 and updated the recommendations and statements for the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules using CNB. Recommendations for the resolution of clinical controversies regarding the use of CNB were based on expert opinion. These practical guidelines include recommendations and statements regarding indications for CNB, patient preparation, CNB technique, biopsy-related complications, biopsy specimen preparation and processing, and pathology interpretation and reporting of thyroid CNB.

Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenoma Presented as a Gigantic Tumor: Treatment and Diagnostic Challenges

Parotid gland surgery can be challenging due to intricate relationship between the gland and facial nerve. Besides complete removal of the lesion, the main focus of surgery is centered on the facial nerve. Surgery can be technically demanding especially when the tumor is large or involves the deep lobe. We report a patient with a 30-year history of gigantic parotid mass, which initial fine-needle aspiration cytology reported as pleomorphic adenoma. The tumor, weighing 1.3 kg, was successfully resected with facial nerve preservation. Histopathological examination of the excised mass confirmed as carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CaExPA) of adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified type. We describe the specific surgical and reconstruction techniques for successful removal of large parotid tumors with facial nerve preservation. To our knowledge, this is the heaviest CaExPA of the parotid gland in South-East Asian region.

Brachial Plexus Schwannoma - Case Report and Literature Review

SUMMARY – Schwannoma as an extracranial nerve sheath tumor rarely affects brachial plexus. Due to the fact that brachial plexus schwannomas are a rare entity and due to the brachial plexus anatomic complexity, schwannomas in this region present a challenge for surgeons. We present a case of a 49-year-old female patient with a slow growing painless mass in the right supraclavicular region that was diagnosed as schwannoma and operated at our department. The case is described to remind that in case of supraclavicular tumors, differential diagnosis should take brachial plexus tumors, i.e. schwannomas, in consideration. Extra caution is also required on fine needle aspiration procedures or biopsies of schwannomas due to the possible iatrogenic injury of the nerve and adjacent structures. On operative treatment of schwannoma, complete tumor resection should be achieved while preserving the nerve.

Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology of Abdominal Wall Endometriosis: A Meaningful Adjunct to Diagnosis

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple, non-invasive diagnostic modality which can be performed with ease on any superficially palpable lesion. Surgical scar endometriosis is a rare entity which presents as an abdominal lump in women of reproductive age. It is often a diagnostic pitfall for clinicians due to its nonspecific symptoms. It displays characteristic morphology, which needs to be identified and recognized by a cytopathologist for accurate diagnosis. FNAC can be used as a key diagnostic tool in cases of abdominal wall mass for appropriate patient management, thereby avoiding unnecessary diagnostic procedures. Here, we report the case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with an abdominal lump where FNAC played a vital role in the patient's management.

[Fine-needle Aspiration of Thyroid Nodules: Is it Worth Repeating?]

INTRODUCTION

The fine-needle aspiration has a significant role in assessing the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules. There is uncertainty regarding the value of repeat fine-needle aspiration in benign nodules. This study aims to evaluate the concordance of results in consecutive fine-needle aspiration and to study the relevance of repetition in benign results.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study of the 4800 thyroid nodules fine-needle aspiration held in Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto between January 1, 2014 and May 2, 2016. Of the initial sample, we selected the repeated fine-needle aspiration on the same nodule.

RESULTS

The first fine-needle aspiration result of the 309 nodules underwent revaluation was non-diagnostic in 103 (33.3%), benign in 120 (38.8%) and atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance in 86 (27.8%). The agreement between the first and second fine-needle aspiration was significantly higher in cases with an initial benign result (benign: 85.8%, non-diagnostic: 27.2% and atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance: 17.4%, p < 0.005). The fine-needle aspiration repeating motifs in initially benign nodules (n = 78) were repetition suggestion in 58, nodule growth in 17 and suspicious ultrasonographic features in 3.

DISCUSSION

The fine-needle aspiration repetition in nodules with initial non-diagnostic and atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance result changed the initial diagnosis in a significant proportion of patients, modifying their therapeutic approach. The high concordance of results in initially benign nodules makes fine-needle aspiration repetition not cost-effective in most cases.

CONCLUSION

The fine-needle aspiration should be repeated when the initial cytology result is non-diagnostic or atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance.

Intranodal Palisaded Myofibroblastoma: Radiological and Cytological Overview

Background

Intranodal palisaded myofibroblastoma is a benign and very rare mesenchymal neoplasm of the lymph nodes originating from differentiated smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts.

Case Report

We report a case of intranodal palisaded myofibroblastoma in an 84-year-old woman with Parkinson’s disease that presented as a left inguinal mass. The diagnosis was made using ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy and consequent cytopathological examination that included immunohistochemical analysis. Herein, we discuss the presentation of a rare intranodal palisaded myofibroblastoma with emphasis on its ultrasonographic and cytopathologic features.

Conclusions

Intranodal palisaded myofibroblastoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inguinal lymphadenopathy and the diagnosis is possible with cytopathologic exam and immunohistochemical analysis using ultrasound-guided FNA biopsy, guiding the clinician to nodal excision rather than aggressive measures.

Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Diagnosis and Staging of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the digestive cancers with the poorest prognosis, so an early and correct diagnosis is of utmost importance. With the development of new therapeutic options an accurate staging is essential. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has a major role in all stages of the management of these patients. EUS has a high accuracy in the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the possibility to perform fine-needle aspiration/biopsy (FNA/FNB) increases the diagnostic yield of EUS. There is still no consensus on the several technical aspects of FNA, namely on the rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE), the diameter and type of needle, the number of passes and the use of stylet and suction. Contrast-enhanced EUS (CE-EUS) and EUS elastography (EUS-E) have been used in recent years as an adjunct to EUS-FNA. Given the higher sensitivity of these techniques a negative cytology by EUS-FNA should not exclude malignancy when CE-EUS and/or EUS-E are suggestive of pancreatic neoplasia. EUS remains one of the main methods in the staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, namely to further evaluate patients with non-metastatic disease that appears resectable on initial imaging. EUS is crucial for an accurate preoperative evaluation of pancreatic cancer which is essential to choose the correct management strategy. The possibility to obtain samples from suspicious lesions or lymph nodes, by means of EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration as well as the use of contrast-enhanced and elastography, makes EUS an ideal modality for the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic cancer.

A Case of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis in an Immunocompetent Male Patient Diagnosed by a Percutaneous Supraclavicular Lymph Node Biopsy

Cryptococcal pneumonia usually occurs in immunocompromised patients with malignancy, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, organ transplantations, immunosuppressive chemotherapies, catheter insertion, or dialysis. It can be diagnosed by gaining tissues in lung parenchyma or detecting antigen in blood or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Here we report an immunocompetent 32-year-old male patient with diabetes mellitus diagnosed with cryptococcal pneumonia after a ultrasound-guided percutaneous supraclavicular lymph node core needle biopsy. We treated him with fluconazole at 400 mg/day for 9 months according to the guideline. This is the first case that cryptococcal pneumonia was diagnosed from a percutaneous lymph node biopsy in South Korea.

The effects of bronchoscope diameter on the diagnostic yield of transbronchial lung biopsy of peripheral pulmonary nodules

Background

Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is a valuable diagnostic tool for peripheral pulmonary lesions. The diagnostic yield of TBLB reportedly ranges from 41%-60%. Many studies demonstrated the various factors that influence the yield of TBLB, including size, location, and distance from the carina or pleura. However, no study has evaluated the effects of the bronchoscope diameter. We evaluated whether the bronchoscope diameter affected the diagnostic yield of TBLB.

Methods

We reviewed records from 178 patients who underwent TBLB using bronchoscopes of two different diameters (5.7 mm, thick outer diameter, Olympus BF-200; 4.9 mm, thin, BF-260). The fluoroscopic guidance rates, yield of TBLB and flexible bronchoscopy (FB) were compared between the two groups. Additionally, we compared the results of the procedures with respect to diagnosis, distance from the pleura, and size of the lesion.

Results

The results of fluoroscopic guidance, TBLB, and FB yield using thin diameter bronchoscope were significantly better than those obtained with a thick diameter bronchoscope (p=0.021, p=0.036, and p=0.010, respectively). Particularly, when the distance from the pleura was ≤ 10 mm, success rates for fluoroscopic guidance and FB with thin bronchoscope were higher (p=0.013 and p=0.033, respectively), as compared to with thick bronchoscope.

Conclusion

A thinner diameter bronchoscope increased the yield of bronchoscopy, and bronchial washing in conjunction with TBLB was useful in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary nodules.

Fine needle aspiration: an atraumatic method to diagnose head and neck masses

Background

Patients presenting with a mass require tissue biopsy for histological diagnosis and treatment. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is offered as an atraumatic, well tolerated, and inexpensive method for obtaining a biopsy from these lesions.

Objectives

In this study we evaluated the accuracy of FNA as an atraumatic method among patients with nonthyroidal masses for diagnosis of neoplastic masses compared to open surgery.

Patients and Methods

In a cross-sectional study, 65 patients with a head and neck masses (nonthyroidal) referred to us from 2004 to 2009. Those who had both FNA and open biopsy (the gold standard) were assessed for specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values of FNA in diagnoses.

Results

Sixty-five cases with both definite diagnoses of open biopsy and FNA were assessed. The mean (± standard deviation) age of patients was 39.96 ± 19.69 years (range 10 to 82 years). Twenty-five (40.8%) subjects were categorized as malignant neoplasms, 16 (19.4%) as benign neoplasms, and 24 (39.8%) as non-neoplastic lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and also negative predictive values of FNA in the diagnosis of neoplastic masses were 95%, 85%, 92.68%, and 91.66% respectively, and the diagnostic accuracy was 92.3%.

Conclusions

It seems that FNA is a useful atraumatic diagnostic technique with a high diagnostic accuracy which can provide a highly sensitive diagnosis with low false positive diagnoses in patients with nonthyroidal masses.

Bronchogenic cyst rupture and pneumonia after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: a case report

We report a 54-year-old woman who presented with a well-defined, homogeneous, and non-enhancing mass in the retrobronchial region of the bronchus intermedius. The patient underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for histological confirmation. Serous fluid was aspirated by EBUS-TBNA. Cytological examination identified an acellular smear with negative microbiological cultures. The patient was finally diagnosed with bronchogenic cysts by chest computed tomography (CT) and EBUS-TBNA findings. However, 1 week after EBUS-TBNA, the patient developed bronchogenic cyst rupture and pneumonia. Empirical antibiotics were administered, and pneumonia from the bronchogenic cyst rupture had resolved on follow-up chest CT. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pneumonia from bronchogenic cyst rupture after EBUS-TBNA.

Cytologic comparison between malignant and regenerative nodules in the background of cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma has been increased as the sixth most common cancer in the world. Improvement in imaging techniques has decreased the need for tissue confirmation in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Meanwhile, false negative and positive cases are present. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy can be helpful to identify well-differentiated HCCs with low risk of vascular invasion and better prognosis following transplantation.

OBJECTIVES

We conducted this study to find useful criteria for cytological differential diagnosis between nodules of well differentiated hepatocellular in the background of cirrhosis and pure cirrhotic regenerative nodules in cytology smears.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

140 fine needle aspirations (FNA) of fresh cirrhotic hepatectomy specimens were studied (100 pure regenerative nodules and 40 HCC nodules). All slides were reviewed by two expert pathologists. The most useful criteria were selected and evaluated in 560 cytology smears stained by Pap and Wright methods.

RESULTS

None of the smears from cirrhotic patients showed mitosis, transgressing endothelium, eccentric nuclei, and scant cytoplasm, but thick nuclear membrane, spindle cells and abundant, thick and monotonous cytoplasm were found in many cases with cirrhosis. Large nucleoli (2 %), multiple nucleoli (6 %), increased N/C ratio (4 %), and broad cores (2 %) were found very rarely in the smears of regenerative nodules, but they were present in 50 %, 72.5 %, 87 %, and 77.5 % of HCC nodules, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination of cytologic criteria can be helpful for differential diagnosis between HCC and regenerative nodules.

Malignancy rate in sonographically suspicious thyroid nodules of less than a centimeter in size does not decrease with decreasing size

We evaluated the malignancy and nondiagnostic rates using fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) results in thyroid nodules smaller than 1 cm according to the subdivided size. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all subjects underwent FNAC from 2003 to 2009 in our hospital, and 2,756 patients of subcentimeter thyroid nodules with one or more suspicious sonographic features and 7,105 with nodule sized 1 cm or more were included. The malignancy rate was higher in those subcentimeter nodules with suspicious sonographic findings than the nodule sized 1cm or more (19.7% vs 7.8%, P < 0.001). We grouped the nodules based on size with mm interval and observed that the malignancy rate did not decrease but the nondiagnostic results increased its size decrement. When we divided the subjects arbitrarily into a 5 mm or smaller and a 6-9 mm sized group, nondiagnostic cytology findings were reported more frequently in the smaller group (24.3% vs 18.1%, P = 0.001), while the rate of "malignant" was similar (18.3% vs 15.5%, P = 0.123) and the rate of "suspicious for malignancy" was higher (6.8% vs 2.9%, P < 0.001). Therefore when we decide to perform FNAC or not in subcentimeter-sized nodules, we should consider sonographic findings and other clinical risk factors but not the nodular size itself.