The value of cytologic diagnostics in fast intraoperative diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pulmonary and mediastinal tumors

Extemporary (EXT) analysis is unavoidable in establishing the tumor diagnosis, operability and the extent of the operation. Alternative approach is cytologic analysis which, because of its simple methodology, provides results even faster. In this paper, the results of cytologic imprints (CI) and EXT finding were compared with definite histopathologic diagnosis (HDP) to determine the value of both methods. A total of 109 samples obtained during 55 thoracotomies were analyzed. Eighty eight specimens were analyzed simultaneously by CI Method and in frozen sections. Twenty one sample was analyzed only by cytologic methods and the results of standard CI were compared with definite HDP. After being processed for EXT diagnosis, intraoperative specimens were imprinted on glass slides, air-dried and stained by May-Grünwald-Giemsa Method. In cytologic analysis there were no false negative results, but there were 7 false positives. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 93.6%, sensitivity and negative predictive value was 100%, specificity was 91.1% and positive predictive value was 81.8%. Diagnostic accuracy of frozen sections was 98.8% also without false negatives and with one false positive finding with sensitivity and negative predictive value of 100%, specificity of 98.4% and positive predictive value of 95%. These results corresponded to the results of other studies and confirmed the efficacy of CI method, which could be used either simultaneously with EXT diagnosis as a complementary or as an alternative method in the hospitals where EXT analysis is not used. However, imprint cytology demands an experienced cytologist and could be used only in hospitals with well organized cytologic service

Fluoroscence bronhoscopy

Background. Fluorescence bronchoscopy is one of the methods of the early detection of lung cancer that involves the large airways. The method is based on the detection of the altered autofluorescence of malignantly transformed tissue, and confirmed by biopsy and histopathologic examination. Method. Fluorescence bronchoscopy was performed in 18 patients, mean age of 51.2 years (male n=12, female n=6) due to the suspected lung cancer. Fluorescence bronchoscopy was performed using the Xillix LIFE-Lung System Vancouver, Canada. After conventional white-light bronchoscopy, the tracheobronchial tree was illuminated by blue light (442 nm) using helium-cadmium laser, and the results of autofluorescence were classified into three classes. Normal mucosa was of green fluorescence (Class I) abnormal mucosa was red or dark brown fluorescence (Class II and II), which was the indication for performing biopsy. Results. Normal endoscopy findings were established in 15 patients by conventional bronchoscopy. In the same group, by fluorescence bronchoscopy, Class I of fluorescence (normal finding) was found in 9 patients, while Class II changes occured in 6 patients. Histopathologic analysis of bronchial mucosa with Class II changes was performed detecting planocellular carcinoma in situ in one patient. Tumor-like changes were detected in 3 patients by conventional bronchoscopy and were determined as Class III changes by fluorescence bronchoscopy. By the biopsy of these chages carcinoma was documented in 2 patients while in one patient metaplasia of epithelium and granulation tissue around aspirated foreign body was detected. Conclusion. Fluorescence bronchoscopy is one of the methods for detecting metaplasia, carcinoma in situ and cancerous changes of bronchial epithelium in the large airways. However, the high rate of falsely positive findings represents a limitation of this method

Cytologic picture of ameloblastoma

Ameloblastoma is a rare tumor of the jaw arising from odontogenic epithelium. There are sparse reports in the literature concerning cytologic features of this tumor. This paper presents two cases of ameloblastoma diagnosed by imprint cytology and confirmed histopathologically. The imprints were hypercellular, with single cells and the groups of basaloid and polygonal squamous cells with huge vacuoles in cytoplasm. Stellate and fusiform cells were found in the background of the preparation. These morphologic parameters were sufficient for the cytologic diagnosis of ameloblastoma

The value of brush cytology and biopsy for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer

Background/Aim. Although it is well-known the high sensitivity of brush cytology for the diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma, this kind of diagnostics is not routinely used, and for the past years it has even been declining. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of brush cytology for the diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma, by comparison the results of brush cytology and biopsy, and then the results of both diagnostic methods with the final patohistological diagnosis of colorectal resection. Methods. This retrospective study included 173 patients with brush cytology of colorectal region during colonoscopy. In 166 patients concomitant biopsy specimens were obtained, and in 116 of them resection of the intestine as well. A total of the 106 patients underwent to all three diagnostic procedures. Results. Out of 166 patients who went through both brush cytology and biopsy, the congruent diagnosis was made in 129 (77.7%) patients: in 109 (65.7%) adenocarcinoma was diagnosed, which was confirmed after the resection of the intestine in 75 of the patients, and in 14 (8.4%) benign lesion, so there was no need for resection of the intestine. In 6 (3.6%) of the patients, both cytology and biopsy were negative, but the resected specimen was malignant. In 10 of the patients with malignant cytology in whom biopsy was not done, resection of the intestine confirmed malignancy. The sensitivity of detecting malignancy by brush cytology and biopsy were 87.9% and 78.3%, respectively (but this difference was not statistically significant, p = 0.083). Both methods had specificity and positive predictive values 100%. Negative predictive values for cytology and biopsy were 50% and 37.8%, respectively. The accuracy of cytology and biopsy was 89.2% and 80.8%, respectively. The combination of the results of brush cytology and biopsy increased the sensitivity of preoperative diagnostics to 94.8% which was significantly higher than sensitivity of biopsy (p < 0.001), but not than sensitivity of cytology (p = 0.102). Conclusion. Brush cytology could be a routine method, along with biopsy, in the diagnosis of colorectal malignancy. Both methods have comparable both sensitivity and accuracy, and its combination increases sensitivity of preoperative diagnostics of colorectal adenocarcinoma, which gives opportunity to better estimation of further diagnostic and therapeutic approach

Diagnosis of multiple myeloma on based the material obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lungs

The patient presented in this paper was admitted to the hospital for the evaluation of radiologically revealed shadow in both lungs. In the course of diagnostic procedures, fine needle aspiration biopsy of the intrathoracic mass was performed. Cytologic analysis of the smear was performed because of clinical suspicion of plasma cell proliferative disease that was confirmed by bone marrow aspiration. Thus, the cytologic finding of intrathoracic lesion preceded the diagnosis of multiple myeloma

Autologous stem cell transplantation in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease

Background/Aim. High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantacion (ASCT) has shown to produce long-term disease-free survival in patients with chemotherapysensitive Hodgkin disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy of ASCT in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease. Methods. Between May 1997 and September 2008, 34 patients with Hodgkin's disease in median age of 25 (range 16-60) years, underwent ASCT. Autologous SCT were performed as consolidation therapy in one poor-risk patients with complete response (CR) and in 10 patients in partial remission (PR) after induction chemotherapy (32.5%), for chemosensitive relapse (CSR 1 and CSR 2) in 47% patients and in 20.5% patients with chemoresistant disease (CRD). All except one patient were in stage III/IV, extranodal site of disease had 24 patients and bulky disease had l0 patients. All the patients received a uniform preparatory regimen (BEAM). Results. An overall response was achieved in 30 of 32 evaluated patients, with 62.5% in CR and 31.25% in PR. After applying radiotherapy, two patients with PR after ASCT reached CR. Median follow-up was 15.5 months (range 3-133 months). The probability of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) at a 3-year period for all patients was 51.9 % and 48.9%, respectively. For 22 patients in CR after ASCT, a 3-year DFS was 66.5%. Estimates of 2.5-year survival were 14.3%, 61.9% and 100% for CRD, CSR and for patients with CR/PR, respectively (p &lt; 0.01). However, when patients undergoing consolidation were analyzed separately from those in CSR, no significant difference in OS and PFS was observed according to the disease status at ASCT. In univariate analysis for OS, PFS i DFS, extranodal site of disease and disease bulk had no predictive value. Twelve patients died. The main cause of death was Hodgkin's disease. Transplant-related mortality was 3.1%. One patient with CRD developed secondary acute myeloid leukemia and died 28 months after the transplantation. Conclusion. Autologous SCT is efficient as consolidation therapy in high-risk patients and in chemosensitive relapse, but it has no benefit in patients with chemoresistant disease

Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents: What have we learned and what have we done?

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Cutaneous side effects caused by treatment for inflammatory bowel disease

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Expression of p63 as predictive and prognostic factor in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Background/Aim. Serbia belongs to the group of countries with a high lung cancer incidence and mortality rate. p63 gene plays an important role in development of lung cancer and immunohistochemical expression of p63 is considered to be a reliable marker for squamous histology. The results of some in vitro studies show a significant association of p63 expression and cisplatin chemoresistance. The aim of this study was to estimate the significance of p63 expression as predictive and prognostic factor in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods. Expression of p63 in 85 NSCLC (stages III, and IV) was investigated by the use of immunohistochemistry. Four weeks after the completion of 2 cycles of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy all the patients were evaluated based on the treatment response. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank tests were used for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) calcultations. Results. The expression of p63 was present in 49.4% of the patients out of whom 38.8% were with positive expression (p63+) and 10.6% of the patients were with weak expression (p63+-). Positive expression of p63 was seen in 93.9% of squamous cell carcinomas (SQCC), 5% of adenocarcinomas (AC), and in no patient with not otherwise specified (NOS) NSCLC. Weak expression of p63 was found in 12.5% of AC, 25% of NOS and only in 3% of SQCC. Analysis of the impact of the presence of p63 expression on the initial response to chemotherapy showed no statistical significance. The patients with weak p63 expression had a significantly shorter OS than the patients with no p63 expression (p = 0.049), and the tendency of shorter OS than the patients with p63 expression (p = 0.068). Conclusion. This study shows that p63 expression has no predictive significance for tumor response to initial chemotherapy regimen gemcitabine/ cisplatin or paclitaxel/cisplatin observed in advanced NSCLC. Weak expression of p63 have a negative prognostic effect in stage III and IV NSCLC

The Efficacy of Amifostine against Multiple-Dose Doxorubicin-Induced Toxicity in Rats

Amifostine is well known cytoprotector which is efficient when administered before a wide range of antineoplastic agents. The aim of our study was to investigate amifostine effects on doxorubicin-induced toxic changes in rats. Amifostine (75 mg/kg ip) was given 30 min before each dose of doxorubicin (cumulatively 20 mg/kg ip, for 28 days). The animals&rsquo; whole-body, liver, and kidney weight, serum biochemical examination, as well as microscopic examination of bone marrow, peripheral blood, liver, and kidney, were done on day 56 of the study. Hepatic and renal alterations were carefully quantified by semiquantitative grading scales&mdash;hepatic and renal damage score, respectively. In amifostine-pretreated rats, the number of peripheral blood leukocytes was significantly higher in comparison to doxorubicin-only treated group, preferentially protecting neutrophils. In the same group of rats, hepatic and renal alterations associated with polymorphonuclear cell infiltrates were significantly less severe than those observed in animals receiving only doxorubicin. Our results showed that amifostine successfully protected rats against multiple-dose doxorubicin-induced toxicity by complex, and still not fully elucidated mechanisms of action