Joan Cangiarella

Mammotome core biopsy for mammary microcalcification: Analysis of 160 biopsies from 142 women with surgical and radiologic followup

Although stereotaxic fine‐needle aspiration biopsy or core biopsy (14‐gauge) have proven to be accurate techniques for the evaluation of mammographically detected microcalcification, the development of the Mammotome Biopsy System (Biopsys Medical, Inc., Irvine, CA) has led many medical centers to use this vacuum‐assisted device for the sampling of microcalcification.

Glandular cell atypia on Papanicolaou smears: Interobserver variability in the diagnosis and prediction of the cell of origin

The 2001 Bethesda System recommended qualification of atypical glandular cells (AGC) to indicate the site of origin and separated endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) from “AGC favor neoplastic” as a specific diagnostic category. To the authors knowledge, the literature evaluating the reproducibility of Papanicolaou (Pap) smear diagnosis of glandular cell abnormalities with emphasis on the cell of origin is limited. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether a variety of benign to neoplastic glandular lesions can be reliably classified on Pap smear with regard to diagnosis and cell of origin.

Malignant melanoma metastatic to the breast: a report of seven cases diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology.

BACKGROUNDnMetastases to the breast from extramammary primary tumors are uncommon. Malignant melanoma is one of the most common neoplasms to secondarily involve the mammary parenchyma.nnnMETHODSnSeven cases of malignant melanoma metastatic to the breast diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy are presented.nnnRESULTSnThe cytologic findings of malignant melanoma metastatic to the breast usually are straightforward on aspiration cytology. However, knowledge of a prior history of melanoma is crucial to make an accurate diagnosis.nnnCONCLUSIONSnMalignant melanoma metastatic to the breast can be diagnosed reliably by fine-needle aspiration cytology, thus avoiding radical and unnecessary surgery.

Mammary lesions diagnosed as papillary by aspiration biopsy: 70 cases with follow-up

The authors reviewed smears from fine‐needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) diagnosed as “papillary lesions” and correlated the cytologic findings with the final diagnoses at excision. The objective of the current study was to determine the accuracy of FNAB diagnosis of a papillary lesion in distinguishing true papillary from nonpapillary proliferations and to evaluate cytologic criteria for the distinction of papillomas from true papillary malignancies and their cytologic look‐alikes.

Aspiration biopsy and the clinical management of patients with malignant melanoma and palpable regional lymph nodes

The presence of lymph node metastases in patients with malignant melanoma implies a significant decrease in survival. The authors investigated the efficacy of fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the diagnosis of metastatic malignant melanoma in 115 patients with melanoma and clinically suspicious regional lymph nodes.

The diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound‐guided needle biopsy in lung cancer and mediastinal adenopathy

Endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) has emerged as a new diagnostic tool that allows the bronchoscopist to see beyond the airway, including pulmonary and mediastinal lesion. The real time EBUS‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) has advanced the diagnostic yield in primary lung pathology and mediastinal lymph node staging of lung carcinoma. Sixty‐four patients (36 males, 28 females, ages ranging from 16 to 86 years) with peribronchial lung lesions and mediastinal and/or hilar lymph node lesions underwent EBUS‐TBNA. All patients had intraoperative cytological assessment by smears on aspiration samples or touch preparation on needle core biopsies.

Brainstem glioma after radiation therapy for acute myeloblastic leukemia in a child with Down syndrome. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms.

A 13‐year‐old boy with Down syndrome (DS) had a brain‐stem glioma confirmed at autopsy, 10 years after receiving prophylactic cranial irradiation for acute myeloblastic leukemia. There is no clear association of brain tumors with DS; despite a reported link between leukemia and glioma, a causal association with radiation therapy is more likely.

Challenging breast lesions: pitfalls and limitations of fine-needle aspiration and the role of core biopsy in specific lesions.

Core biopsy rapidly replaced fine needle aspiration (FNA) over the past decade in evaluation of diseases of the female breast in many centers in the USA. We continue to heavily utilize FNA for the initial evaluation of breast masses in our institution. In this article, we discuss the cytologic and core biopsy findings in challenging breast lesions such as papillary and mucinous proliferations, fibroepithelial neoplasms, and low grade cancers. We specifically focus on the pitfalls and limitations of both diagnostic modalities in these selected specific lesions. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2012

Stereotaxic aspiration biopsy in the evaluation of mammographically detected clustered microcalcification

Stereotaxic fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (SFNA) of mammographically detected nonpalpable lesions of the breast provides accurate diagnosis and may eliminate many unnecessary excisional biopsies of areas of microcalcification.