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Virchows Archiv : An International... Apr 2022Our understanding of the oncogenesis of high-grade serous cancer of the ovary and its precursor lesions, such as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), has... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Our understanding of the oncogenesis of high-grade serous cancer of the ovary and its precursor lesions, such as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), has significantly increased over the last decades. Adequate and reproducible diagnosis of these precursor lesions is important. Diagnosing STIC can have prognostic consequences and is an absolute requirement for safely offering alternative risk reducing strategies, such as risk reducing salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy. However, diagnosing STIC is a challenging task, possessing only moderate reproducibility. In this review and meta-analysis, we look at how pathologists come to a diagnosis of STIC. We performed a literature search identifying 39 studies on risk reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in women with a known BRCA1/2 PV, collectively reporting on 6833 patients. We found a pooled estimated proportion of STIC of 2.8% (95% CI, 2.0-3.7). We focused on reported grossing protocols, morphological criteria, level of pathologist training, and the use of immunohistochemistry. The most commonly mentioned morphological characteristics of STIC are (1) loss of cell polarity, (2) nuclear pleomorphism, (3) high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, (4) mitotic activity, (5) pseudostratification, and (6) prominent nucleoli. The difference in reported incidence of STIC between studies who totally embedded all specimens and those who did not was 3.2% (95% CI, 2.3-4.2) versus 1.7% (95% CI, 0.0-6.2) (p 0.24). We provide an overview of diagnostic features and present a framework for arriving at an adequate diagnosis, consisting of the use of the SEE-FIM grossing protocol, evaluation by a subspecialized gynecopathologist, rational use of immunohistochemical staining, and obtaining a second opinion from a colleague.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma in Situ; Carcinoma in Situ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Incidence; Ovarian Neoplasms; Reproducibility of Results; Salpingectomy
PubMed: 34850262
DOI: 10.1007/s00428-021-03244-w -
Digestive Surgery 2018The prognostic impact of circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement in resected esophageal cancer (EC) is controversial discussed. The College of American... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The prognostic impact of circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement in resected esophageal cancer (EC) is controversial discussed. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Royal College of Pathologists (RCP) provide 2 different definitions of CRM involvement. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical significance of CRM involvement on patients' survival following esophagectomy due to EC.
METHODS
PubMed, Science Direct, and Google scholar were searched for studies analyzing the clinical impact of CRM in EC.
SUMMARY
A total of 28 studies analyzed the prognostic effect of a positive CRM in EC. A wide range of CRM involvement (8.6-83.1%) was reported. Both available meta-analyses found a significant association between a positive CRM and patients' survival irrespective of RCP (OR 2.52 [95% CI 1.96-3.25; p < 0.001]) or CAP (OR 4.02 [95% CI 2.25-7.20; p < 0.001]) criteria. The influence of neoadjuvant therapy on the CRM remains unclear. Key Messages: CRM involvement is a useful parameter for EC patients' prognosis. The application of CAP criteria should be preferred since patients with a poor prognosis can be identified more sufficiently. Neoadjuvant therapy and en bloc transthoracic esophagectomy show favorable results for achievement of negative CRM.
Topics: Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagectomy; Humans; Margins of Excision; Prognosis; Survival Analysis
PubMed: 28697493
DOI: 10.1159/000478669 -
Cancers Aug 2023Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, with a high incidence rate, especially in tobacco smokers. Lung cancer accurate diagnosis is based on distinct... (Review)
Review
Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, with a high incidence rate, especially in tobacco smokers. Lung cancer accurate diagnosis is based on distinct histological patterns combined with molecular data for personalized treatment. Precise lung cancer classification from a single H&E slide can be challenging for a pathologist, requiring most of the time additional histochemical and special immunohistochemical stains for the final pathology report. According to WHO, small biopsy and cytology specimens are the available materials for about 70% of lung cancer patients with advanced-stage unresectable disease. Thus, the limited available diagnostic material necessitates its optimal management and processing for the completion of diagnosis and predictive testing according to the published guidelines. During the new era of Digital Pathology, Deep Learning offers the potential for lung cancer interpretation to assist pathologists' routine practice. Herein, we systematically review the current Artificial Intelligence-based approaches using histological and cytological images of lung cancer. Most of the published literature centered on the distinction between lung adenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, and small cell lung carcinoma, reflecting the realistic pathologist's routine. Furthermore, several studies developed algorithms for lung adenocarcinoma predominant architectural pattern determination, prognosis prediction, mutational status characterization, and PD-L1 expression status estimation.
PubMed: 37568797
DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153981 -
Surgical Endoscopy Apr 2022Evidence and practice recommendations on the use of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for rectal cancer are conflicting. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Evidence and practice recommendations on the use of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for rectal cancer are conflicting.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to summarize best evidence and develop a rapid guideline using transparent, trustworthy, and standardized methodology.
METHODS
We developed a rapid guideline in accordance with GRADE, G-I-N, and AGREE II standards. The steering group consisted of general surgeons, members of the EAES Research Committee/Guidelines Subcommittee with expertise and experience in guideline development, advanced medical statistics and evidence synthesis, biostatisticians, and a guideline methodologist. The guideline panel consisted of four general surgeons practicing colorectal surgery, a radiologist with expertise in rectal cancer, a radiation oncologist, a pathologist, and a patient representative. We conducted a systematic review and the results of evidence synthesis by means of meta-analyses were summarized in evidence tables. Recommendations were authored and published through an online authoring and publication platform (MAGICapp), with the guideline panel making use of an evidence-to-decision framework and a Delphi process to arrive at consensus.
RESULTS
This rapid guideline provides a weak recommendation for the use of TaTME over laparoscopic or robotic TME for low rectal cancer when expertise is available. Furthermore, it details evidence gaps to be addressed by future research and discusses policy considerations. The guideline, with recommendations, evidence summaries, and decision aids in user-friendly formats can also be accessed in MAGICapp: https://app.magicapp.org/#/guideline/4494 .
CONCLUSIONS
This rapid guideline provides evidence-informed trustworthy recommendations on the use of TaTME for rectal cancer.
Topics: GRADE Approach; Humans; Laparoscopy; Postoperative Complications; Proctectomy; Rectal Neoplasms; Rectum; Transanal Endoscopic Surgery
PubMed: 35212821
DOI: 10.1007/s00464-022-09090-4 -
Nutrients May 2018Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive compound worldwide. It is mostly found in coffee, tea, energizing drinks and in some drugs. However, it has become... (Review)
Review
Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive compound worldwide. It is mostly found in coffee, tea, energizing drinks and in some drugs. However, it has become really easy to obtain pure caffeine (powder or tablets) on the Internet markets. Mechanisms of action are dose-dependent. Serious toxicities such as seizure and cardiac arrhythmias, seen with caffeine plasma concentrations of 15 mg/L or higher, have caused poisoning or, rarely, death; otherwise concentrations of 3⁻6 mg/kg are considered safe. Caffeine concentrations of 80⁻100 mg/L are considered lethal. The aim of this systematic review, performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement for the identification and selection of studies, is to review fatal cases in which caffeine has been recognized as the only cause of death in order to identify potential categories at risk. A total of 92 cases have been identified. These events happened more frequently in infants, psychiatric patients, and athletes. Although caffeine intoxication is relatively uncommon, raising awareness about its lethal consequences could be useful for both clinicians and pathologists to identify possible unrecognized cases and prevent related severe health conditions and deaths.
Topics: Caffeine; Coffee; Humans; Poisoning; Tea
PubMed: 29757951
DOI: 10.3390/nu10050611 -
Gut Mar 2022Effective medical therapy and validated trial outcomes are lacking for small bowel Crohn's disease (CD) strictures. Histopathology of surgically resected specimens is...
OBJECTIVE
Effective medical therapy and validated trial outcomes are lacking for small bowel Crohn's disease (CD) strictures. Histopathology of surgically resected specimens is the gold standard for correlation with imaging techniques. However, no validated histopathological scoring systems are currently available for small bowel stricturing disease. We convened an expert panel to evaluate the appropriateness of histopathology scoring systems and items generated based on panel opinion.
DESIGN
Modified RAND/University of California Los Angeles methodology was used to determine the appropriateness of 313 candidate items related to assessment of CD small bowel strictures.
RESULTS
In this exercise, diagnosis of naïve and anastomotic strictures required increased bowel wall thickness, decreased luminal diameter or internal circumference, and fibrosis of the submucosa. Specific definitions for stricture features and technical sampling parameters were also identified. Histopathologically, a stricture was defined as increased thickness of all layers of the bowel wall, fibrosis of the submucosa and bowel wall, and muscularisation of the submucosa. Active mucosal inflammatory disease was defined as neutrophilic inflammation in the lamina propria and any crypt or intact surface epithelium, erosion, ulcer and fistula. Chronic mucosal inflammatory disease was defined as crypt architectural distortion and loss, pyloric gland metaplasia, Paneth cell hyperplasia, basal lymphoplasmacytosis, plasmacytosis and fibrosis, or prominent lymphoid aggregates at the mucosa/submucosa interface. None of the scoring systems used to assess CD strictures were considered appropriate for clinical trials.
CONCLUSION
Standardised assessment of gross pathology and histopathology of CD small bowel strictures will improve clinical trial efficiency and aid drug development.
Topics: Consensus; Constriction, Pathologic; Crohn Disease; Humans; Intestinal Obstruction; Intestine, Large; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33952604
DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324374 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022The likelihood of timely treatment for cervical cancer increases with timely detection of abnormal cervical cells. Automated methods of detecting abnormal cervical cells... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The likelihood of timely treatment for cervical cancer increases with timely detection of abnormal cervical cells. Automated methods of detecting abnormal cervical cells were established because manual identification requires skilled pathologists and is time consuming and prone to error. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for the prediction, screening, and diagnosis of cervical cancer and pre-cancerous lesions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Comprehensive searches were performed on three databases: Medline, Web of Science Core Collection (Indexes = SCI-EXPANDED, SSCI, A & HCI Timespan) and Scopus to find papers published until July 2022. Articles that applied any AI technique for the prediction, screening, and diagnosis of cervical cancer were included in the review. No time restriction was applied. Articles were searched, screened, incorporated, and analyzed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines.
RESULTS
The primary search yielded 2538 articles. After screening and evaluation of eligibility, 117 studies were incorporated in the review. AI techniques were found to play a significant role in screening systems for pre-cancerous and cancerous cervical lesions. The accuracy of the algorithms in predicting cervical cancer varied from 70% to 100%. AI techniques make a distinction between cancerous and normal Pap smears with 80-100% accuracy. AI is expected to serve as a practical tool for doctors in making accurate clinical diagnoses. The reported sensitivity and specificity of AI in colposcopy for the detection of CIN2+ were 71.9-98.22% and 51.8-96.2%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The present review highlights the acceptable performance of AI systems in the prediction, screening, or detection of cervical cancer and pre-cancerous lesions, especially when faced with a paucity of specialized centers or medical resources. In combination with human evaluation, AI could serve as a helpful tool in the interpretation of cervical smears or images.
PubMed: 36428831
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12112771 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2023The recovery of severely altered cadavers (i.e., extensively decomposed, mummified, charred or dismembered) can be a challenge for forensic pathologists due to the... (Review)
Review
The recovery of severely altered cadavers (i.e., extensively decomposed, mummified, charred or dismembered) can be a challenge for forensic pathologists due to the difficulties in identification, PMI estimation and manner and cause of death determination. In such cases, integrating routine approaches (autopsy, histology, toxicology) to more specific forensic branches can be fundamental to improving the investigative process. In this paper a systematic review using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases has been performed. The aim was to evaluate the forensic approaches implemented in the management of severely altered bodies due to decomposition, mummification, skeletonization, charring or dismemberment (to which we refer to as "complex"), and the role of each approach in the solution of a case. Then, the literature revision results were used to propose a schematic flowchart summarizing the post mortem activities that can be performed in forensic practice, adaptable in relation to each case.
PubMed: 36673120
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13020310 -
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology :... Sep 2017Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with impaired trophoblastic invasion and typical villous and vascular placental lesions. The primary aim of this study was to quantify... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with impaired trophoblastic invasion and typical villous and vascular placental lesions. The primary aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of placental histopathological lesions in pregnancies complicated by PE.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched electronically, and relevant articles reporting on placental histopathological lesions were assessed according to the following criteria: study design, number of pregnancies included, severity of PE and whether the pathologist was blinded to the clinical information. Prospective and retrospective case-control studies including ≥ 100 pregnancies were included in the systematic review. The incidence of each type of histological lesion according to the Perinatal Section of the Society for Pediatric Pathology classification in pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies was identified, and lesions were categorized into two main groups: villous lesions and vascular lesions. Random-effects meta-analysis of proportions was used for analysis. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the I statistic.
RESULTS
The search yielded 717 citations, and a total of eight studies (four blinded and four non-blinded) were included in the review. In unblinded studies, the pooled prevalence of villous lesions was 11.6% and 48.2% in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, respectively, giving a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 7.59. In blinded studies, the pooled prevalence of villous lesions was 18.5% and 42.0% in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, respectively, giving a pooled OR of 4.28. In unblinded studies, the pooled prevalence of vascular lesions was 8.1% and 37.3% in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, respectively, giving a pooled OR of 20.34. In blinded studies, the pooled prevalence of vascular lesions was 9.8% and 38.9%, in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, respectively, giving a pooled OR of 7.08.
CONCLUSIONS
In blinded studies, the incidence of both placental villous and vascular histopathological lesions is four- to seven-fold higher in pre-eclamptic than in normal pregnancies. Greater differences are reported in unblinded studies. Despite the higher probability (point prevalence) of finding abnormal placental pathology in pregnancies with PE, placental lesions are not specific to the diagnosis of PE. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Topics: Female; Humans; Placenta; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy
PubMed: 28436167
DOI: 10.1002/uog.17494 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2022The vitality demonstration refers to determining if an injury has been caused ante- or post-mortem, while wound age means to evaluate how long a subject has survived... (Review)
Review
The vitality demonstration refers to determining if an injury has been caused ante- or post-mortem, while wound age means to evaluate how long a subject has survived after the infliction of an injury. Histology alone is not enough to prove the vitality of a lesion. Recently, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology have been introduced in the field of lesions vitality and age demonstration. The study was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review (PRISMA) protocol. The search terms were "wound", "lesion", "vitality", "evaluation", "immunohistochemistry", "proteins", "electrolytes", "mRNAs", and "miRNAs" in the title, abstract, and keywords. This evaluation left 137 scientific papers. This review aimed to collect all the knowledge on vital wound demonstration and provide a temporal distribution of the methods currently available, in order to determine the age of lesions, thus helping forensic pathologists in finding a way through the tangled jungle of wound vitality evaluation.
Topics: Autopsy; Forensic Pathology; Immunohistochemistry
PubMed: 35805886
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136881