INTRODUCTION: Hydatidiform mole (HM) is an abnormal gestation characterized by significant hydropic enlargement, trophoblastic proliferation and atypia involving part or all of the chorionic villi. The diagnosis and classification of hydatidiform moles is subject to great inter-observer variability due to significant morphologic overlaps. This study aims to evaluate the utility of p57KIP2 immunohistochemistry and ploidy by Her-2 FISH in refining the diagnosis of molar tissues.

METHOD: 113 and 78 molar cases were retrieved from the archives of the Histopathology Section of the Philippine General Hospital and Pathology Department of Seoul National University Hospital, respectively. TMA sections were submitted for immunohistochemical analysis for p57KIP2. Ploidy was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization using Her-2 probe. An interrater reliability analysis was done using the Kappa statistics with 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS: All 68 (100%) cases diagnosed as CH were negative for p57KIP2 staining and are diploid. Among the 54 cases of PH, only 1 (2%) is positive for p57KIP2 and is diploid. The interrater reliability between p57KIP2 and Her-2 FISH ploidy results is 0.66 (p <.0.001), 95% CI (0.02, 1.00) which is considered "fair to good." The kappa value between review diagnosis and p57KIP2 is 0.024 while the kappa between review diagnosis and Her-2 FISH ploidy is 0.050 both signifying poor agreement beyond chance.

CONCLUSION: Morphologic assessment alone may not be sufficient in problematic cases. p57KIP2 in conjunction with by Her-2 FISH are good adjuncts in the diagnosis and classification of hydatidiform mole.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Chorionic Villi ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Diploidy ; Reproducibility Of Results ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Trophoblasts ; Ploidies ; Molar

A 51-year old woman underwent mastoidectomy with labyrinthectomy on the right for a polypoid external auditory canal mass accompanied by tinnitus and ear discharge. She was reported to have undergone mastoidectomy on the same site seven years prior to the present consult. The material from this prior surgery was not made available to us.

The submitted specimen from this surgery consisted of several dark brown irregular tissue fragments with an aggregate diameter of 4.2 centimeters. Histologic sections show tumor cells arranged in "ball-like" clusters, that are surrounded by a network of sinusoidal channels. The cells are round to oval, with round, uniform nuclei that have finely granular chromatin, and moderate amounts of eosinophilic to amphophilic cytoplasm. (Figure 1)  Mitoses, nuclear pleomorphism and hyperchromasia are not observed. Immunohistochemical studies show diffuse cytoplasmic positivity for synaptophysin and chromogranin. (Figure 2)  The S100 stain highlights a peripheral layer of cells taking up the stain around the cell clusters. (Figure 3)  Based on these features, we diagnosed the case as a paraganglioma, likely a recurrence.

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine neoplasms that arise from paraganglia found in various anatomic locations.1 In the middle ear, they arise from paraganglia found in the adventitia of the jugular bulb - hence, the old synonym "glomus jugulare" and "glomus tympanicum." Other sites where they can develop include paraganglia of the carotid artery bifurcation ("chemodectoma"), the larynx, and the vagal trunk ("glomus vagale"). The World Health Organization has simplified the nomenclature of these tumors by calling all of them simply "paraganglioma" and specifying the site involved.1 In our case, it is likely a middle ear paraganglioma, borne out by the history, clinical picture, and the morphology. Head and neck paragangliomas occur in adults, from the 5th - 6th decade, more commonly in females, and present mostly with mass-related symptoms.2,3

The morphology of paragangliomas in all head and neck locations is similar. Hematoxylin-eosin sections show cells arranged in organoid groups ("cell-ball", "Zellballen") surrounded by a vascular network. There are two cell types encountered: the chief cells, which comprise the bulk of the cell nests and have abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, and the sustentacular cells, which are spindly and located at the periphery of the nests. Neuroendocrine immunohistochemical stains (e.g. synaptophysin, chromogranin, CD56) highlight the chief cells, while S100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) highlight the sustentacular cells. Cytokeratin is typically non-reactive and distinguishes this tumor from neuroendocrine tumors (i.e. carcinoid, neuroendocrine carcinoma), and middle ear adenoma.1,3 There are no consistent histologic features that can discriminate between benign and malignant cases, nor are there criteria that can predict aggressive behavior and metastasis.1,2,3

Head and neck paragangliomas are slow-growing tumors, and surgery is the most common treatment option. Radiotherapy is an option, especially for vagal paragangliomas where severe vagal nerve deficits occur in surgically treated cases.1 Recurrence after surgery is reported to be less than 10% for carotid, and up to 17% in laryngeal cases.1 Metastasis on the other hand occur in 4 - 6 % of carotid, 2% of middle ear and laryngeal, and 16% of vagal tumors.3 The World Health Organization nomenclature states that "all paragangliomas have some potential for metastasis (albeit variable)."1 Thus, long-term follow-up may be prudent for all cases.

 

 

Human ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Synaptophysin

Objectives: To determine the overall diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy-guided sampling methods in detecting lung cancer at the University of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital. The diagnostic yield, equivalent to sensitivity, is defined as the number of bronchoscopic sampling or biopsy procedures with a diagnosis of malignancy divided by the total number of confirmed malignant cases. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective sensitivity study involving bronchoscopy procedures from January 2014 to December 2018. Surgical Pathology and Cytology Reports of eligible cases were accessed through the institutional Laboratory Information System. Sensitive patient information was omitted, and each case was assigned a unique code. The overall diagnostic yield/sensitivity of bronchoscopy and the diagnostic yield/sensitivity of each technique were calculated. Results: A total of 100 patients satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Primary lung malignancies are more common in males and the elderly. The most common primary lung cancer is adenocarcinoma (33%). Bronchoscopy, regardless of whether single or multiple techniques were used, has a diagnostic yield of 86% (CI: 77.6-92.1%). Of the individual techniques, those that obtain solid tissues (endobronchial and transbronchial biopsies; 88.2% [CI: 78.1-94.8%] and 80.0% [CI: 28.4-99.5%], respectively) have higher yields compared to techniques that obtain cytologic samples (bronchial washing and brushing; 54.2% [43.7-64.4%] and 70.1% [58.6-80%], respectively). Conclusion Bronchoscopy, as a diagnostic procedure for pulmonary malignancies, has relatively high sensitivity and may be used for lesions located centrally and can be inspected visually. A multidisciplinary approach to patient selection for bronchoscopy helps improve the utility of the various bronchoscopic techniques.
Lung Neoplasms ; Bronchoscopy ; Cytodiagnosis ; Pathology, Surgical