Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearranged renal cell carcinoma (ALK-RCC) is an exceedingly rare malignancy, recently classified as a distinct molecular entity in the 5th edition of the WHO classification for urinary and male genital tumors. Due to its non-specific clinical symptoms and diverse histopathological patterns, accurate diagnosis is difficult. This paper reports a case of ALK-RCC with morphology and immunophenotype resembling papillary renal cell carcinoma. After second-generation sequencing, EML4-ALK gene fusion was found, and positive staining for ALK was confirmed by immunohistochemistry subsequently. Following informed consent from the patient, targeted therapy with crizotinib was initiated. During a 17-month follow-up period, no recurrence or metastasis was observed.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearranged renal cell carcinoma (ALK-RCC) is an exceedingly rare malignancy, recently classified as a distinct molecular entity in the 5th edition of the WHO classification for urinary and male genital tumors. Due to its non-specific clinical symptoms and diverse histopathological patterns, accurate diagnosis is difficult. This paper reports a case of ALK-RCC with morphology and immunophenotype resembling papillary renal cell carcinoma. After second-generation sequencing, EML4-ALK gene fusion was found, and positive staining for ALK was confirmed by immunohistochemistry subsequently. Following informed consent from the patient, targeted therapy with crizotinib was initiated. During a 17-month follow-up period, no recurrence or metastasis was observed.

In order to explore the role of pre-basic course teaching in the standardized training of residents in clinical pathology, we have independently designed and constructed a pre-basic course teaching system mainly focusing on anatomy and histoembryology, consisting of two levels of theoretical teaching (small lectures by students and systematic lectures by instructors) and two dimensions of practical training (sample collection teaching and case teaching). This teaching model centering on participatory lecturing, practice, summarization, assessment, and feedback has been demonstrated effective. The results showed that the theoretical and practical assessment scores of the experimental group [(458.80±17.60) and (415.40±19.30), respectively] were significantly higher than those of the control group [(444.50±20.90) and (398.80±23.70), respectively]. Among 28 students of grades 2019 to 2021 surveyed for teaching effectiveness, 96.43% were satisfied with the teaching model. The established teaching model provides new ideas for the reform of teaching methods in the standardized training of residents in clinical pathology.

Objective:To estimate the influence of metabolic parameters in 18F-FDG PET/CT and clinically relevant indicators on the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer. Methods:A total of 174 patients with cervical cancer (age (53.6±11.1) years) who underwent baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT examination in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from May 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively collected. Metabolic parameters (metabolic tumor volume of primary lesion (MTV p), total lesion glycolysis of primary lesion (TLG p), MTV sum of total lesions (MTV total) in the whole body, TLG sum of total lesions (TLG total)) and clinical parameters (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, tumor maximum diameter ( Dmax), et al) were collected. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier method were performed to evaluate the prognostic and predictive values of those parameters. Results:The follow-up time was 6-120 months, during which 52 patients (29.9%, 52/174) developed progression. The 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local control (LC) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates were 83.3%(145/174), 70.1%(122/174), 75.3%(131/174) and 82.8%(144/174), respectively. Cox regression showed that FIGO stage and MTV total were independent factors for predicting PFS, OS and LC (hazard ratio ( HR): 1.005-11.605, all P<0.05). FIGO stage and TLG total were independent factors for predicting DMFS ( HR: 1.002-12.258, all P<0.05). Conclusion:MTV total and FIGO stage are effective predictors of patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

【Objective】 To investigate the predictive value of high preoperative neutrophile-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for the prognosis of nonurothelial carcinoma of the bladder (NUBC) after radical cystectomy (RC). 【Methods】 Clinical and follow-up data of NUBC patients undergoing RC during Jan.2005 and Dec.2020 were collected. The optimal cut-off value of NLR was determined with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The survival curve was drawn with Kaplan-Meier method to compare the differences in cancer specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) between the high-NLR and low-NLR groups. The independent risk factors of CSS and OS were screened with Cox proportional hazard regression model. 【Results】 Of the 62 eligible cases,34 (54.8%) were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma,17 (27.4%) with squamous cell carcinoma, 6 (9.7%) with small cell carcinoma and 5 (8.1%) with sarcoma. Kaplan-Meier analysis results showed high NLR was associated with poor CSS (P=0.001) and OS (P<0.001). Cox regression results indicated that high NLR (HR=2.42, 95%CI: 1.12-5.23, P=0.025) and advanced pathologic tumor stage (HR=3.21, 95%CI:1.53-6.74,P=0.002) were independent risk factors of unfavorable CSS. Similarly, high NLR (HR=2.75, 95%CI: 1.35-5.56, P=0.005) and advanced pathologic tumor stage (HR=2.81, 95%CI:1.43-5.57, P=0.003) were independent risk factors of unfavorable OS. 【Conclusion】 As an independent risk factor of unfavorable CSS and OS in NUBC patients undergoing RC, high preoperative NLR is of great value in the prediction of long-term prognosis and may help to optimize individualized treatment.

Objective:To investigate the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in predicting perineural invasion (PNI) in patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer. Methods:From August 2012 to April 2020, 81 patients (51 males, 30 females, median age: 63 years) who received PET/CT examination and pathologically confirmed as rectal cancer in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were retrospectively analyzed. The 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters including SUV max, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and clinicopathological factors including gender, age, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9, maximum tumor diameter, degree of differentiation, T stage, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage were recorded. Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test were used to compare the differences of each parameter between PNI positive group and PNI negative group. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the independent predictor of positive PNI. ROC curve was used to analyze its predictive efficacy. Results:Of 81 patients, 32(39.51%) were PNI positive and 49(60.49%) were PNI negative. There were significant differences of T stage ( χ2=10.73, P=0.010), lymph node metastasis ( χ2=6.21, P=0.013), TNM stage ( χ2=7.61, P=0.022), MTV (14.6(10.4, 24.7)and 9.0(5.4, 14.5) cm 3; U=-3.48, P=0.001) and TLG (108.588(72.749, 182.707) and 65.365(35.593, 117.682) g; U=-2.79, P=0.005) between PNI positive group and PNI negative group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that MTV was the independent predictor of positive PNI in non-metastatic rectal cancer patients (odds ratio ( OR)=1.130, 95% CI: 1.025-1.245, P=0.014). The optimal threshold of MTV was 9.53 cm 3 and AUC was 0.73 with the sensitivity of 81.82%(27/33) and the specificity of 59.18%(29/49). Conclusion:18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameter MTV can predict PNI in non-metastatic rectal cancer with high sensitivity.

Pathological specimen sampling is not only the prerequisite of a good pathological diagnosis, but also the primary clinical skill that must be mastered by the standardized residency training trainees (resident trainees) in clinical pathology department. In view of the problems and difficulties encountered in the teaching of specimen sampling, through five years of exploration and attempt, this paper has gradually established a new model with five basic elements, including theory teaching, practice teaching, promoting teaching effect by examination, learning from senior students, and review teaching. The results of evaluation analysis and questionnaire survey show that the teaching mode can make the trainees master the methods of specimen sampling quickly and efficiently, learn and improve clinical skills in practice, and lay a solid foundation for the subsequent standardized training of histopathological diagnosis.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, special morphologic variants and potential diagnostic traps of classical follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS). Methods: A total of 25 cases of classical FDCS diagnosed in the First Hospital Affiliated to Army Medical University from 2006 to 2018 were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded mRNA (EBER). Meanwhile, the types and characteristics of the special variants of FDCS were summarized along with those reported in the literature. Results: The age of patients ranged from 23 to 77 years (mean 52 years), the male to female ratio was 1.5, and the maximum diameter of tumor was 1.5 to 20 cm (mean 7.4 cm). Twelve cases (48%) were misdiagnosed at the initial evaluation. Follow-up information was available for 17 patients, and the follow-up time was 5 to 96 months. The propotion of patients having recurrence, metastasis and mortality was 3/17, 5/17 and 2/17, respectively. Microscopically, besides the typical morphology, 10 cases of FDCS showed special histomorphologies and/or structures, including those mimicking lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, desmoplastic infiltrating carcinoma, classical Hodgkin′s lymphoma (CHL), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and hemangiopericytoma. These morphologic variants were potential diagnostic pitfalls and warranted attention. Immunohistochemistry showed that more than two markers of follicular dendritic cells (such as CD21, CD23, CD35, etc.) were expressed in cases showing typical morphology and the special variants. All 25 cases were all negative for EBER by in situ hybridization. Conclusions Classical FDCS is rare, besides the typical morphologic features, there are many special variants. In particular, these may be confused with lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma in the nasopharynx, CHL or ALCL in the mediastinum/lymph node. Awareness of these variants is essential for accurate diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of pleomorphic giant cell adenocarcinoma (PGCA) of the prostate, and to strengthen the understanding of this rare variant.Methods:From January 2009 to December 2019, 383 pathological samples of prostate adenocarcinoma with Gleason scores of 8-10 were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University. PGCA was screened by reviewing the histomorphology of hematoxylin and eosin stained sections. Then the expression of prostate specific markers and mismatch repair (MMR) proteins of PGCA were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and microsatellite instability (MSI) status was detected through polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-capillary electrophoresis. Meanwhile, the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of PGCA were summarized and analyzed along with those reported in the literature.Results:Three patients with PGCA of the prostate were 68, 63 and 71 years old respectively, and case 1 had a history of transurethral resection of the prostate and oral bicalutamide 3 months before surgery. All 3 patients underwent radical prostatectomy and received endocrine therapy, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, and died at 18, 23, and 10 months after surgery, respectively. Histologically, both the usual prostate adenocarcinoma with Gleason score of 9-10 and the pleomorphic giant cell component with anaplastic characteristics were observed in 3 tumors, and the latter accounted for 90%, 10%, and 20%, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining showed that both components expressed epithelial markers (CK, CK8/18) and prostate-specific markers (NKX3.1, PSA, P504S) to varying degrees, and the expression of MMR proteins (MSH2, MSH6, MLH1 and PMS2) were not defective. MSI was not detected in the usual prostate adenocarcinoma and pleomorphic giant cell components obtained by microdissection in 3 cases. Combined with 10 cases reported in the literature, there were totally 13 cases of PGCA for reviewing. The patients were 45-81 years old, the average age was 66 years old, and the median age was 66 years old. During the follow-up period of 3-36 months, 7 cases relapsed/metastasized, 6 cases died within 23 months after diagnosis, and 4 of which died within 1 year.Conclusions:PGCA is a newly recognized rare variant of prostate adenocarcinoma. At present, all cases are accompanied with high-grade usual prostate adenocarcinoma with Gleason score of 9-10, but it is different from the latter in pathological morphology and clinical manifestations, by presenting high invasiveness and poor prognosis. PGCA is not sensitive to conventional endocrine therapy, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Accurate diagnosis of PGCA is helpful to judge the prognosis of patients and guide the treatment.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic parameters of the inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (IPT-like FDCS) of liver and spleen. Methods: Ninteen cases of inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) and 5 cases of IPT-like FDCS of the liver and spleen were collected at the First Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University from 2006 to 2016. HE sections, immunohistochemical staining, and Epstein-Barr virus encoded nuclear RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization were reviewed along with a summary of the literature. Results: Among the previously diagnosed 19 cases of IPT of the liver and spleen, 2 cases were misdiagnosed (the ratio of 2/19). Among 7 new cases including 3 males and 4 females, 3 cases involved the liver and 4 cases involved the spleen. The age range was 37-64 years (mean 53 years). The maximum tumor diameter ranged from 3.0 to 11.0 cm (mean 6.5 cm). Surgical resections were performed in all patients with follow-up time ranging from 3 to 84 months.All patients were disease-free.7 new cases were all positive for EBER, and showed the expression of at least one of the FDC markers, including CD21, CD23, and CD35. The rest of 17 cases of IPT were all negative for EBER and essentially negative for FDC markers, but were all positive for SMA. Conclusions IPT-like FDCS of the liver and spleen is a rare low-grade malignant tumor morphologically mimicking inflammatory pseudotumor, and is easy to be misdiagnosis due to under-recognition. EBER in situ hybridization and FDC markers are indispensable for confirming the diagnosis.