Until now, biopsy methods for subepithelial tumors (SETs) have focused on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy; however, these methods have several limitations. We devised a simple method for pathologic diagnosis of SETs. SETs are occasionally diagnosed during endoscopy, and lesions are generally small and asymptomatic. It can be challenging to decide on a management plan for large asymptomatic SETs. EUS imaging provides information regarding the size, layer, and echo pattern of the lesions. Patient management plans have traditionally been determined based on EUS images, whereby the endoscopist chooses to either monitor or remove the tumor. However, EUS alone cannot diagnose and evaluate upper gastrointestinal SETs with high accuracy. As sufficient tissue samples are required for the accurate diagnosis of SETs, EUS-guided biopsy techniques such as EUS fine-needle aspiration and trucut biopsy are currently used. However, these methods have a relatively low diagnostic accuracy and do not always provide information upon immunohistochemical staining. Endoscopists can easily detect a submucosal mass after creating an iatrogenic mucosal ulcer, after which tissue sampling is performed by using endoscopic biopsy. Furthermore, pathologic results can differentiate between benign and premalignant lesions. Here, we introduce a simple method for the pathologic diagnosis of SETs.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Diagnosis* ; Endoscopy* ; Humans ; Methods ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography

In general, soft tissue and bone tumors are diagnosed clinically by physical findings, laboratory data, and X-ray findings with only limited reliability, and a definite diagnosis must be supported by histopathological evidence. For this purpose, open biopsy routinely has been carried out, but there have been many disadvantages and sometimes followed by surgical complications. The present study was undertaken to compare the cytologic findings of soft tissue and bone lesions with the histological findings. The specimen were obtained by fine needle aspiration and Franklin-Silverman needle. For cytodiagnosis Stormby's cell block of aspirates were utilized. For histological diagnosis small tissue fragments obtained by the Franklin-Silvermans cutting needle were used. Then, the diagnostic accuracy of 3 different methods were compared, and the clinical applicability of those methods as adjunctive diagnostic procedures in the diagnosis of the soft tissue and bone tumors were assessed. The results obtained were as follows: l. In 15 out of the 20 cases (75%) in which clinically and roentgenologically the soft tissue and bone tumors were suspected, sufficient material was aspirated to enable detailed cytological diagnosis possible by fine needle aspiration. ln 13 out of the 15 cases, diagnosis could be made by cytologic findings, which was similar to histologic findings of tissue obtained by Franklin-Silverman needle. 2. In 6 out of the 20 cases, sufficient tissue fluid for cell block preparation were obtained from the tumor tissues. In 5 cases, cytologic findings of cell blocks were consistent with that ot the tissue obtained by Silverman needle. But in one case malignancy was susupected by cytodiagnostic method, and definite diagnosis could not be made. Finally the lesion was found to be malignant schwannoma through the histological study of tissue specimen obtained by Franklin-Silverman needle biopsy. 3. In 19 out of the 20 cases, diagnosis could be made by Franklin-Silverman needle biopsy. 4. Diagnostic accuracy of the lesions by clinical and roentgenological method was 75%, which overall diagnostic accuracy of 3 methods were 86.7% in aspiration cytology, 83.3% in cytodiagosis of cell block and 95% of histodiagnosis of tissue specimen obtained by Franklin-Silverman needle. Through this study it is found that cytodiagnostic method of aspirates and histodiagnosis of the small tissue specimen by Franklin-Silverman needle are very useful adjunctive methods in enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of the soft tissue and bone lesion prior to open biopsy trial.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cytodiagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Methods ; Needles ; Neurilemmoma

The utilization of CT-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of bone has been the subject of considerable interest, since the introduction of the CT scanning. The CT-guided needle biopsy of 11 consecutive patients with avariety of "Etiology Unknown Spinal Disorders" resulted in a 100% yield of positive tissue diagnosis without significant complicaitons. The main advantage of CT guidance is the continuous direct observation of the needletip position in relation to the target volume, the more precise sampling from smaller and deeper lesion is another advantage. We are confident that localization of pathology by CT is the most accurate method for perform ingbiopses, and thus replaces the conventional ways of approaches and this could be utilized on the other organbiopsy in the future.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Methods ; Pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; methods ; Humans ; Thyroid Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

The histologic analysis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is a common method to detect the mitotic activity and to subsequently determine the risk of GISTs for malignancy. The potential false negative error due to inadequate yield of specimens and actual determination of malignancy risk requires analysis of the whole tumor. We aimed to assess the role of contrast enhanced endoscopic ultrasound (CE-EUS) in the management of GISTs. Two authors individually did review of English literatures to identify nine peer-reviewed original articles using keywords- contrast endoscopic ultrasound, GIST and submucosal tumor. Studies were heterogeneous in their aims looking either at differentiating submucosal lesions from GISTs, estimating malignant potential of GISTs with histologic correlation or studying the role of angiogenesis in malignant risk stratification. CE-EUS had moderate to high efficacy in differentiating GISTs from alternative submucosal tumors. CE-EUS had a higher sensitivity than EUS-guided fine needle aspiration, contrast computed tomography and Doppler EUS for detection of neo-vascularity within the GISTs. However, the evidence of abnormal angiogenesis within GIST as a prognostic factor needs further validation. CE-EUS is a non-invasive modality, which can help differentiate GISTs and provide valuable assessment of their perfusion patterns to allow better prediction of their malignant potential but more experience is needed.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Diagnosis* ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Methods ; Perfusion ; Ultrasonography*

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a well accepted initial approach in the management of thyroid lesions. It has come a long way since its introduction for nearly a century ago. In the Philippines, FNA of the thyroid was first introduced 30 years ago and has been utilized until now as a mainstay in the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy. The procedure is performed by pathologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, and radiologists. Most pathologists report the cytodiagnosis using a combination of the aspiration biopsy cytology method that closely resembles the histopathologic diagnosis of thyroid disorders and the six-tier nomenclature of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. Local endocrinologists and surgeons follow the guidelines of the 2015 American Thyroid Association in the management of thyroid disorders. There is still a paucity of local research studies but available data deal with cytohistologic correlations, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates as well as usefulness of ultrasound-guided FNA. Cytohistologic correlations have a wide range of sensitivity from 30.7% to 73% and specificity from 83% to 100%. The low sensitivity can be attributed to poor tissue sampling since a majority of the thyroid FNA is done by palpation only. The reliability can be improved if FNA is guided by ultrasound as attested in both international and local studies. Overall, FNA of the thyroid has enabled the diagnosis of thyroid disorders with an accuracy of 72.8% to 87.2% and it correlates well with histopathology.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cytodiagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Methods ; Palpation ; Philippines* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surgeons ; Thyroid Gland* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: The BRAF V600E mutation is the most common genetic alteration identified in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Because of its costs effectiveness and sensitivity, direct Sanger sequencing has several limitations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of immunohistochemistry (IHC) as an alternative method to detect the BRAF V600E mutation in preoperative and postoperative tissue samples. METHODS: We evaluated 71 patients who underwent thyroid surgery with the result of direct sequencing of the BRAF V600E mutation. IHC staining of the BRAF V600E mutation was performed in 49 preoperative and 23 postoperative thyroid specimens. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (87.3%) had PTC, and of these, BRAF V600E was confirmed by direct sequencing in 57 patients (91.9%). In 23 postoperative tissue samples, the BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 16 samples (70%) by direct sequencing and 18 samples (78%) by IHC. In 24 fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples, BRAF V600E was detected in 18 samples (75%) by direct sequencing and 16 samples (67%) by IHC. In 25 core needle biopsy (CNB) samples, the BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 15 samples (60%) by direct sequencing and 16 samples (64%) by IHC. The sensitivity and specificity of IHC for detecting the BRAF V600E mutation were 77.8% and 66.7% in FNA samples and 99.3% and 80.0% in CNB samples. CONCLUSION: IHC could be an alternative method to direct Sanger sequencing for BRAF V600E mutation detection both in postoperative and preoperative samples. However, application of IHC to detect the BRAF V600E mutation in FNA samples is of limited value compared with direct sequencing.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry* ; Methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: Core needle biopsy (CNB) of the thyroid is an additional diagnostic method for non-diagnostic or indeterminate cytology samples. We sought to evaluate a new modified core biopsy technique and compare the concordance of its diagnosis with the final diagnosis of the surgically resected specimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 842 patients who had a thyroid CNB with or without a previous fine-needle aspiration from August 2002 to March 2015; 38% of patients ultimately underwent thyroidectomy. We divided the patients into two groups for comparison: conventional group (n = 329) and new modified technique group (n = 513) that enabled sampling of not only the lesion but also the margin and surrounding parenchyma. The diagnostic conclusiveness of CNB and concordant rate with thyroidectomy was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The overall diagnostic conclusiveness did not exhibit a significant increase (77% in the conventional technique group and 75% in the modified technique group, p = 0.408). In terms of the diagnostic concordance rate between CNB and thyroidectomy, no overall significant increase was observed (83% in the conventional technique group and 88% in the modified technique group, p = 0.194). However, only in follicular-patterned lesions (nodular hyperplasia, follicular neoplasm, and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma), a significant increase in the diagnostic concordance rate was observed (83% in the conventional group and 94% in the modified technique group, p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Modified CNB technique can be beneficial for the accurate diagnosis of follicular-patterned thyroid lesions.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Thyroidectomy

Gastrointestinal (GI) subepithelial tumors (SETs) are usually observed incidentally by endoscopy and have diverse prognoses, varying from benign to potentially malignant. When a GI SET is suspected, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is the most accurate diagnostic method to differentiate it from extraluminal compression. To determine the nature of GI SETs, EUS is also the most accurate diagnostic method, and reveals the precise sonographic nature of the lesion. There are some SETs with typical EUS findings of GI SETs, but most hypoechoic lesions are difficult to diagnose based on EUS images alone. EUS is also helpful to determine GI wall involvement in SETs and optimal treatment methods. For the diagnosis of GI SETs, obtaining a proper specimen is essential. EUS-guided cytology or biopsy methods such as fine-needle aspiration, Tru-Cut biopsy, and the newly introduced fine-needle biopsy (FNB) provide good results. To increase the diagnostic yield for GI SETs, cytology with immunocytochemical staining is used for cytological interpretation, resulting in good diagnostic yields. Recently, EUS-FNB using cheese slicer technology has been introduced, and has been reported to provide good diagnostic results for GI SETs.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cheese ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Methods ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To analyze which sonographic features of thyroid nodules with macrocalcifications were predictable of thyroid malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed sonographic findings of 854 macrocalcified thyroid nodules in patients who underwent fine needle aspiration biopsy between December 2009 and January 2011. There were 171 non-diagnostic aspirations, 34 nodules with category 3, 4, 5 based on Bethesda system, which were not confirmed by surgery, and these nodules were excluded from the analysis. Sonographic characteristics of the macrocalcifications including its thickness, interruption, and existence of soft tissue rim outside the macrocalcification were analyzed. Other sonographic characteristics of nodules such as shape, margin, composition, echo pattern, vascularity, and underlying parenchymal echogenicity were also evaluated. The correlation of sonographic features with cytopathologic results and the diagnostic performance of sonographic features for the prediction of malignancy were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 649 nodules, 179 (27.6%) nodules were malignant and 470 (72.4%) nodules were benign. Among the features of the macrocalcification, interruption, irregular thickness, or the presence of soft tissue outside calcification rim were associated with malignancy (p<0.001). A high sensitivity and negative predictive values for the prediction of malignancy was found in sonographic characteristics of irregular thickness (92.2% and 91.0%, respectively) and the presence of soft tissue (88.5% and 88.8%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Sonographic characteristics of macrocalcification such as interruption, irregular thickness and the presence of soft tissue rim were associated with malignancy in thyroid nodules with macrocalcifications.
Aspirations (Psychology) ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Humans ; Methods ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography*