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Surgical Pathology Clinics Jun 2021PRAME (PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma) is a melanoma-associated antigen expressed in cutaneous and ocular melanomas and some other malignant neoplasms,... (Review)
Review
PRAME (PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma) is a melanoma-associated antigen expressed in cutaneous and ocular melanomas and some other malignant neoplasms, while its expression in normal tissue and benign tumors is limited. Detection of PRAME protein expression by immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 400 melanocytic tumors showed diffuse nuclear immunoreactivity for PRAME in most metastatic and primary melanomas. In contrast, most nevi were negative for PRAME or showed nondiffuse immunoreactivity. The difference in the extent of immunoreactivity for PRAME in unambiguous melanocytic tumors prompted the study of PRAME as an ancillary tool for evaluating melanocytic lesions in more challenging scenarios.
Topics: Antigens, Neoplasm; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Melanoma; Skin Neoplasms
PubMed: 34023098
DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2021.01.001 -
RoFo : Fortschritte Auf Dem Gebiete Der... Jun 2023The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS v2018) standardizes the interpretation and reporting of MDCT and MRI examinations in patients at risk for... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS v2018) standardizes the interpretation and reporting of MDCT and MRI examinations in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
For focal liver lesions (called "observations") it assigns categories (LR-1 to 5, LR-M, LR-TIV, LR-TR), which reflect the probability of benignity or malignancy (HCC or other non-HCC malignancies) of the respective observation. The categories assigned are based on major and ancillary image features, which have been developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR), revised several times (now v2018), and validated in many studies. The value of ancillary features to modify LI-RADS categories assigned to observations based on major features is shown.
RESULTS
This review summarizes the relevant CT and MRI features and presents a step-by-step approach for readers not familiar with LI-RADS on how to use the system. Relevant imaging features and the value of different modalities (contrast-enhanced CT, MRI with extracellular gadolinium chelates or liver-specific contrast agents) is explained.
CONCLUSION
The widespread adoption of LI-RADS for CT/MRI reporting in high-risk patients would help to reduce inter-reader variability. It could improve communication between radiologists, oncologists, hepatologists, pathologists, and liver surgeons, and lead to better patient management.
KEY POINTS
· LI-RADS has been developed and revised to address the need for improved diagnosis and standardized categorization of findings in chronic liver disease.. · CT/MRI LI-RADS consists of major criteria and ancillary features to classify observations.. · LI-RADS terminology helps to clarify the communication of liver observations between radiologists and referring physicians..
CITATION FORMAT
· Schima W, Kopf H, Eisenhuber E. LI-RADS made Easy. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 486 - 494.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Contrast Media; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 36724803
DOI: 10.1055/a-1990-5924 -
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Oct 2003When interpreting pulmonary function tests, one should first try to determine the pattern of abnormality: is it obstructive, restrictive, or normal? Pulmonary function... (Review)
Review
When interpreting pulmonary function tests, one should first try to determine the pattern of abnormality: is it obstructive, restrictive, or normal? Pulmonary function tests cannot by themselves distinguish among the potential causes of abnormalities, and must be interpreted in light of the patient's history, physical examination, and ancillary studies. Once a pattern is recognized, the diagnosis will often follow.
Topics: Aged; Algorithms; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Lung Diseases; Middle Aged; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; Respiratory Function Tests; Spirometry; Total Lung Capacity; Vital Capacity
PubMed: 14621232
DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.70.10.866 -
Mediastinum (Hong Kong, China) 2020Primary mediastinal fibroblastic sarcomas constitute a rare, heterogeneous group of neoplasms, mainly including solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) (benign and malignant), low... (Review)
Review
Primary mediastinal fibroblastic sarcomas constitute a rare, heterogeneous group of neoplasms, mainly including solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) (benign and malignant), low grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS), adult fibrosarcoma (FS), myxofibrosarcoma, sclerosing epithelioid FS, etc. Although morphologically diverse, they frequently have similar clinical and radiological features. Overlapping of histological features among these neoplasms can make it challenging for pathologists to come to an accurate diagnosis. In addition, other mesenchymal neoplasms and spindle cell neoplasms of the epithelial cell origin can occur in the mediastinum. Immunostaining and molecular testing are important ancillary studies to confirm or rule out primary mediastinal fibroblastic neoplasms. SFT and LGFMS occur more often than adult FS in the mediastinum and both have reliable immunostaining markers STAT6 and MUC4, respectively, and unique molecular changes. The incidence of adult FS has decreased dramatically due to recognition of morphologically and genetically distinctive subtypes of fibroblastic sarcoma and better understanding of mesenchymal and non-mesenchymal mimickers. Adult FS is extremely rare and a diagnosis of exclusion. Adult FS can be rendered only after careful histological examination and thorough ancillary studies have ruled out all its mimickers. This article is focused on reviewing clinicopathological features, immunostaining, molecular changes, prognosis and differential diagnosis of SFT, LGFMS, and adult FS. Correct diagnosis is crucial for oncologists to make appropriate clinical management plans.
PubMed: 35118294
DOI: 10.21037/med-20-44 -
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 2002The picture exchange communication system (PECS) is an augmentative communication system frequently used with children with autism (Bondy & Frost, 1994; Siegel, 2000;...
Using the picture exchange communication system (PECS) with children with autism: assessment of PECS acquisition, speech, social-communicative behavior, and problem behavior.
The picture exchange communication system (PECS) is an augmentative communication system frequently used with children with autism (Bondy & Frost, 1994; Siegel, 2000; Yamall, 2000). Despite its common clinical use, no well-controlled empirical investigations have been conducted to test the effectiveness of PECS. Using a multiple baseline design, the present study examined the acquisition of PECS with 3 children with autism. In addition, the study examined the effects of PECS training on the emergence of speech in play and academic settings. Ancillary measures of social-communicative behaviors and problem behaviors were recorded. Results indicated that all 3 children met the learning criterion for PECS and showed concomitant increases in verbal speech. Ancillary gains were associated with increases in social-communicative behaviors and decreases in problem behaviors. The results are discussed in terms of the provision of empirical support for PECS as well as the concomitant positive side effects of its use.
Topics: Autistic Disorder; Child; Child Behavior Disorders; Child, Preschool; Communication Aids for Disabled; Communication Disorders; Humans; Male; Photic Stimulation; Random Allocation; Speech; Verbal Learning
PubMed: 12365736
DOI: 10.1901/jaba.2002.35-213 -
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 2020Describe the protocol sample and instruments of the Cognitive Aging Ancillary Study in Mexico (Mex-Cog). The study performs an in-depth cognitive assessment in a...
OBJECTIVE
Describe the protocol sample and instruments of the Cognitive Aging Ancillary Study in Mexico (Mex-Cog). The study performs an in-depth cognitive assessment in a subsample of older adults of the ongoing Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). The Mex-Cog is part of the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) design to facilitate cross-national comparisons of the prevalence and trends of dementia in aging populations around the world, funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
METHODS
The study protocol consists of a cognitive assessment instrument for the target subject and an informant questionnaire. All cognitive measures were selected and adapted by a team of experts from different ongoing studies following criteria to warrant reliable and comparable cognitive instruments. The informant questionnaire is from the 10/66 Dementia Study in Mexico.
RESULTS
A total of 2,265 subjects aged 55-104 years participated, representing a 70% response rate. Validity analyses showed the adequacy of the content validity, proper quality-control procedures that sustained data integrity, high reliability, and internal structure.
CONCLUSIONS
The Mex-Cog study provides in-depth cognitive data that enhances the study of cognitive aging in two ways. First, linking to MHAS longitudinal data on cognition, health, genetics, biomarkers, economic resources, health care, family arrangements, and psychosocial factors expands the scope of information on cognitive impairment and dementia among Mexican adults. Second, harmonization with other similar studies around the globe promotes cross-national studies on cognition with comparable data. Mex-Cog data is publicly available at no cost to researchers.
PubMed: 32781379
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2020.104210 -
In Vivo (Athens, Greece) 2023In recent years, the demand for cytopathological accurate diagnoses has increased as expanding minimally invasive procedures obtain materials from patients with advanced... (Review)
Review
In recent years, the demand for cytopathological accurate diagnoses has increased as expanding minimally invasive procedures obtain materials from patients with advanced cancer for diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive purposes. However, inadequate knowledge of cytopathological technical procedures and ancillary techniques by clinicians remains the most common reason for the limited availability of cytopathology. The objectives of this review were to understand the technical procedures, ancillary techniques, and application and effectiveness of various types of tests in cytopathology. Each of the many ancillary technologies described in the literature has specific advantages and limitations and laboratories select one or more methods depending on their infrastructure and expertise to achieve the goal from initial screening of the disease to the final diagnosis of the cytopathology. This paper systematically reviews the development of cytopathology, summarizes the existing problems in cytopathology and the new progress of auxiliary examination, to provide a theoretical basis for the advanced development of cytopathological diagnostic technologies and to consolidate the minimally invasive and accurate diagnosis of cytopathologies for clinicians. Cytopathology offers many advantages over other clinical examinations, particularly for minimally invasive and accurate diagnosis.
Topics: Humans; Cytology; Neoplasms
PubMed: 36593030
DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13050 -
Journal of the American Society of... 2022Patient safety and quality improvement initiatives are integral parts of every cytopathology laboratory. The need to revisit our approaches to patient safety are... (Review)
Review
Patient safety and quality improvement initiatives are integral parts of every cytopathology laboratory. The need to revisit our approaches to patient safety are essential in light of the expanding test menu, ancillary studies, comprehensive diagnostic reports, and emergence of new technologies for augmenting cytologic diagnosis. Our interview with Drs. Yael Heher, Adam Seegmiller, and Paul VanderLaan explores recent developments that have shaped their perspectives in patient safety, test usage, and laboratory quality. The practical strategies presented provide tools for enhanced patient safety and improved outcomes in a new era of ancillary and molecular testing and standardized reporting in the cytopathology laboratory.
Topics: Humans; Laboratories; Patient Safety; Quality Improvement
PubMed: 34996748
DOI: 10.1016/j.jasc.2021.12.001 -
Gland Surgery Oct 2020Primary thyroid lymphomas (PTLs) are rare and most commonly present as rapidly enlarging thyroid mass causing obstructive symptoms. Due to worldwide differences in... (Review)
Review
Primary thyroid lymphomas (PTLs) are rare and most commonly present as rapidly enlarging thyroid mass causing obstructive symptoms. Due to worldwide differences in clinical practices related to thyroid malignancy, this review was conducted to compare the clinicopathological and diagnostic modalities related to PTL and their similarities and differences between the Asian and Western countries. Using the search engine PubMed, published data on thyroid lymphomas was collected and reviewed. A total of 18 Asian and 22 Western studies were included. Most of PTLs were B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). While mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma was the commonest (41.1%) among Asians, diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (71.9%) predominated in the Western population. Some rare subtypes of PTL were also identified. Majority of all patients in Asian as well as Western studies presented with early stage (stage I/II) disease. Interestingly, when compared with Asian patients, a larger proportion of patients from the West presented with higher stage (stage III/IV) disease (12.2% 3%). Ultrasonography (USG) and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in addition to histological examination usually by core needle biopsy and in some by open procedures were used for the diagnosis of PTL in both the cohorts. The various ancillary techniques used were immunocytochemistry (ICC), flowcytometry (FC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and molecular testing. The use of ancillary techniques for PTL diagnosis was more common in the West compared to Asia and markedly increased the sensitivity of cytology to diagnose PTL. Treatment and prognosis largely depend upon the subtype of PTL and stage at presentation. To conclude, from the available published literature, there is an apparent difference between Asian and Western cohorts in the histological type and stage of presentation of PTL, but the results may be affected by publication and selection bias. Also, advanced ancillary techniques are more commonly adopted in the West.
PubMed: 33224858
DOI: 10.21037/gs-20-432