Raheela Ashfaq

Survivin expression is associated with features of biologically aggressive prostate carcinoma

Survivin counteracts cell death and controls mitotic progression. The objectives of the current study were to compare the expression patterns of survivin in normal prostate, primary prostate carcinoma, and lymph node tissues involved with prostate carcinoma and to determine whether the expression of survivin is associated with prostate carcinoma characteristics and progression.

ThinPrep Detection of Cervical and Endometrial Adenocarcinoma A Retrospective Cohort Study

The current study was performed to compare the accuracy of the ThinPrep™ Papanicoloau (Pap) test with that of the conventionally prepared Pap smear in detecting cervical and endometrial adenocarcinomas.

Telomerase activity and expression of its RNA component in cervical lesions

The authors investigated telomerase enzyme activity and expression of its RNA component (hTR) during the multistage pathogenesis of cervical carcinomas, and correlated activation with histopathologic findings and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Diagnostic utility of the HepPar1 antibody to differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma from metastatic carcinoma in fine-needle aspiration samples.

The cytopathologic distinction between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and metastatic carcinoma (MC) in the liver can be problematic, especially in patients with poorly differentiated HCC, in whom a trabecular pattern, bile production, and Mallory bodies may not be apparent on small fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) samples. HepPar1 (OCH1E5) is a monoclonal antibody specifically developed to react with hepatocytes. It rarely reacts with bile duct and nonparenchymal liver cells.

Distinction of phyllodes tumor from fibroadenoma: A reappraisal of an old problem

Using fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) smears, it is difficult to distinguish low grade phyllodes tumor (PT) from fibroadenoma (FA) due to overlapping cytologic features between the two lesions. The authors retrospectively studied 45 histologically proven fibroepithelial breast tumors of which 33 were FA and 12 were PT (1 malignant, 8 borderline, and 3 benign) to define cytologic features that can help in the accurate categorization of these lesions by using FNA samples.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the endometrium and endometrial carcinoma with transitional cell differentiation

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is rare in the female genital tract. Although it is most common in the ovary, small series of cases in the cervix have been reported, with isolated cases described in the fallopian tube, adnexa uteri, and endometrium.

Reproducibility of cytologic atypia in repeat nipple duct lavage

It is believed that atypical cells identified by nipple duct lavage (NDL) indicate an increased risk for breast carcinoma similar to atypical ductal hyperplasia diagnosed by tissue biopsy, but many basic performance characteristics of NDL currently are undefined.

Fine-needle aspiration findings in Castleman's disease

Castlemans disease of the hyaline vascular subtype is an uncommon lesion; experience with fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) of this tumor is limited to rare case reports. We describe the cytologic, flow cytometric, and immunohistochemical findings in two cases initially sampled by FNA. Two females, aged 40 and 26 yr, were found incidentally to have an oropharyngeal and a mediastinal mass, respectively. Neither complained of systemic symptoms, and both had a normal routine laboratory workup. FNA followed by surgical excision in both cases was consistent with Castlemans disease of the hyaline vascular type. In the appropriate clinical context, a mature small lymphoid population associated with larger atypical cells, which are consistent with follicular dendritic cells, can be suggestive of Castlemans disease. Confirmation of a polytypic B‐cell population by flow cytometry, supported by immunohistochemistry, is very helpful. However, definitive distinction from Hodgkins lymphoma on FNA is probably not possible. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:57–60.

Techniques for cytologic sampling of pancreatic and bile duct lesions

The Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology has developed a set of guidelines for pancreatobiliary cytology including indications for endoscopic ultrasound guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy, techniques of the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, terminology and nomenclature of pancreatobiliary disease, ancillary testing, and postbiopsy management. All documents are based on the expertise of the authors, a review of the literature, discussions of the draft document at several national and international meetings over an 18‐month period and synthesis of online comments of the draft document on the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology website [www.papsociety.org]. This document presents the results of these discussions regarding the use of ancillary testing in the cytological diagnosis of biliary and pancreatic lesions. This document summarizes the current state of the art for techniques in acquiring cytology specimens from the biliary tree as well as solid and cystic lesions of the pancreas. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:333–337.

Reflex human papillomavirus DNA testing on residual liquid-based (TPPT) cervical samples: focus on age-stratified clinical performance.

Liquid‐based ThinPrep technology has made reflex human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing possible. In the current study, the clinical performance of reflex HPV testing as an adjunct to routine ThinPrep testing (TPPT) and the impact of age on various test parameters in a predominantly high‐risk, minority population were evaluated retrospectively.