Context.-The current study compares data from our hospital system before and after the 2008 implementation of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology (BSRTC).Objective.-To show the effects the BSRTC has had on the reporting rates and outcomes for thyroid lesions.Design.-A search for thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) was performed for 2002-2005 (before BSRTC) and -2011. Diagnostic outcomes were reviewed for cases with available follow-up.Results. -For 2002-For -2005, cytology reports for 3302 thyroid FNABs were reviewed, and 309 (9.4%) were classified as suspicious. For 2009-2011, cytology reports for 3432 thyroid FNABs were reviewed; 72 (2.1%) were classified as ''atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance'' (AUS/ FLUS), and 142 (4.1%) were classified as suspicious. Follow-up material was available for 31 AUS/FLUS cases (43.0%), and 6 of these cases (19%) were malignant. Follow-up material was available for 60 cases (42.3%) classified as suspicious, and 23 of these cases (38%) were malignant.Conclusions.-The AUS/FLUS rate of 2.1% at our institution is at the lower range of the ,7% recommended by the BSRTC, and our rate of 19% for risk of malignancy for AUS/FLUS is slightly above the BSRTC recommendation of 5% to 15%. Implementation of the BSRTC did not significantly affect our institution's reporting rates, most likely because an essentially similar classification system was employed before implementation of the BSRTC.

Objective: The importance of identifying papillary carcinoma or lymphoma amidst background Hashimoto’s/lymphocytic thyroiditis (H/LT) is well documented. However, avoidance of overdiagnosing neoplasms on thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with only H/LT has not been adequately addressed. Study Design: This study aimed to identify cytomorphologic features leading to overdiagnosing neoplasms within background H/LT. Nine thyroid FNAs classified as suspicious or positive for neoplasm with subsequent thyroidectomy specimens having only H/LT were identified. Cytologic features of these cases were compared to 8 control cases from the same time period and FNAs from both groups were reevaluated for features from the cytology literature. Results: Features leading to overdiagnosing papillary carcinoma were: powdery chromatin, occasional nuclear grooves or holes, and paucity of background lymphocytes. One feature differentiating H/LT from neoplasm noted in most cases was lymphocytes infiltrating follicular groups. In contrast, true papillary carcinomas displayed characteristic features in multiple cell clusters. These clusters were devoid of infiltrating lymphocytes or displayed only rare lymphocytes at their periphery. A microfollicular pattern with paucity of background lymphocytes was the major pitfall in overdiagnosing follicular neoplasm. Conclusions: Features suspicious for neoplasm are often seen in FNA of H/LT, leading to unnecessary surgery. Recognizing this pitfall and its differentiating features should avert overdiagnosis.

Blastomycosis is an uncommon disease caused by the dimorphic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. It can manifest as chronic pulmonary symptoms or disseminated disease. Only three previous cases of blastomycosis involving the thyroid have been reported, of which two were diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration. We present a case of disseminated blastomycosis initially diagnosed by thyroid fine-needle aspiration. Our case was a 47-year-old man with past medical history significant for diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and chronic pancreatitis who presented with a 2-week history of fever, chills, rigors, constipation, and 10 pound weight loss. Abdominal CT revealed chronic pancreatitis and a calcified mass in the pancreas. Chest CT revealed a single 1.5-2 cm thyroid mass and innumerably small 2-3 mm pulmonary nodule bilaterally. Fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid demonstrated 10-20 μm broad-based budding yeasts with thick-walled, refractile capsules amidst a background of granulomatous inflammation, and was diagnosed as a fungal infection consistent with blastomycosis. The patient was started on treatment with itraconazole based upon the FNA diagnosis. Concurrent lung biopsy demonstrated rare possible yeast forms on histology. A specimen from the lung was sent for culture, and was positive for B. dermatitidis, confirming the diagnosis. Disseminated blastomycosis rarely involves the thyroid. However, the thyroid is amenable to fine-needle aspiration. Fungal and mycobacterial cultures and special stains for fungal organisms should be requested on all thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsies with granulomatous inflammation.

No abstract

Context.—Seminal vesicle invasion by prostatic carcinoma is directly associated with tumor staging; verification is challenging when the tumor demonstrates cribriform or papillary growth patterns or there are back-to-back small-gland proliferations. P504S is overexpressed in prostatic carcinoma and high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia with cytoplasmic immunoreactivity. p63 has positive immunoreactivity in basal cell nuclei of benign prostatic glands. Many researchers use a combination of these antibodies and their different colors. Objective.—To evaluate the usefulness of a single-color P504S/p63 cocktail immunostain in verifying prostatic carcinoma within the seminal vesicle. Design.—Sections from 57 radical prostatectomy specimens of pathologic stage pT3b that contain seminal vesicle with prostatic carcinoma involvement were immunostained with primary antibodies against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and a cocktail of antibodies against P504S and p63. Results.—Prostatic carcinoma cells from all 57 cases were diffusely positive for P504S, PSA, and PAP with cytoplasmic staining and no p63 nuclear staining. Seminal vesicle epithelium from all 57 cases was negative for all 3 markers with distinct p63 nuclear staining of the basal cells. Benign prostatic tissue was positive for PSA and PAP, as well as for p63, but negative for P504S. Conclusions.—The P504S/p63 one-color cocktail is a practical and cost-effective stain to differentiate prostatic carcinoma that involves the seminal vesicle from seminal vesicle epithelium. It is superior to PSA or PAP when sections contain both seminal vesicle and benign glands because PSA and PAP cannot distinguish benign from malignant glands.

Reader-response theory is a linguistic school of thought where concern for the audience is foregrounded, specifically the processes in which meaning is made through one's experience with a literary work. This conceptual paper is attached to a work-in-progress study and calls for a review in how imagery is currently utilised in English as a Second Language (ESL) learning resources; questioning its success as a visual aid and as an agent of cultural transition. This paper will present the application of readerresponse as a model for improved audience integration in the graphic design of ESL learning resources. The development of an analytical approach when designing text/graphic adjuncts may be beneficial in supporting an ESL student's comprehension and motivation to learn.

No abstract

No abstract