These results indicate that molecular testing of thyroid nodules for a panel of mutations can be effectively performed in a clinical setting. It enhances the accuracy of FNA cytology and is of particular value for thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology.

The tumor microenvironment is known to have a profound effect on tumor progression in a highly context-specific manner. We have investigated whether peritoneal inflammation plays a causative role in ovarian tumor metastasis, a poorly understood process. Implantation of human ovarian tumor cells into the ovaries of severe combined immunodeficient mice resulted in peritoneal inflammation that corresponds temporally with tumor cell dissemination from the ovaries. Enhancement of the inflammatory response with thioglycolate accelerated the development of ascites and metastases. Suppression of inflammation with acetyl salicylic acid delayed ascites development and reduced tumor implant formation. A similar prometastatic effect for inflammation was observed when tumor cells were injected directly into the peritoneum of severe combined immunodeficient mice, and in a syngeneic immunocompetent mouse model. Inflammationmodulating treatments did not affect primary tumor development or in vitro tumor cell growth. Depletion of peritoneal macrophages, but not neutrophils or natural killer cells, reduced tumor progression, as assessed by ascites formation and peritoneal metastasis. We conclude that inflammation facilitates ovarian tumor metastasis by a mechanism largely mediated by macrophages, and which may involve stromal vascular endothelial growth factor production. The confirmation of these findings in immunocompetent mice suggests relevance to human disease. Identifying the mechanisms by which macrophages contribute to tumor metastasis may facilitate the development of new therapies specifically targeting immune cell products in the tumor microenvironment. [Cancer Res 2007;67(12):5708-16]

Seventeen cases of granular cell tumor (GCT) of the breast are reviewed. The demographics and clinical features are reviewed and the radiologic and pathologic features as well as the immunohistochemistry are discussed. To our knowledge, our series of 17 breast GCT cases represent the largest series published to date.

Prior publications recommend that obtaining adequate thyroid cytology specimens requires use of US-guided FNAB and on-site evaluation of cytology adequacy. This study demonstrates that a combination of experienced US guidance, both capillary and aspiration sampling, and three to four needle passes produce comparable results while conserving costs and resources.

The known association of lobular neoplasia with high-risk and malignant lesions at surgical biopsy requires careful consideration when lobular neoplasia is diagnosed as the most severe histologic entity at SVAB. The diagnosis of lobular neoplasia at 11-gauge SVAB is not reliable in view of the 19% upgrade rate at the time of surgical excisional biopsy in our study. No predictive mammographic features allowed distinction between the patients with lesions that were upgraded at the time of surgery from those whose lesions were not upgraded.

These results suggest that markers of tumor angiogenesis may predict survival in patients with peritoneal surface metastases from mucinous adenocarcinoma. These findings provoke the hypothesis that antiangiogenic therapies may be effective in patients with this devastating disease.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) Hybrid Capture II testing was introduced at our institution in mid-April, 2001. Relatively little data exists on the histologic follow-up of "high-risk HPV-positive ASCUS" patients without a previous abnormal Pap result. The results of the cytologic-histologic correlation of 50 patients over an 11-mo period are presented. Our results indicate that significant lesions may be discovered in patients of the "high-risk HPV-positive ASCUS" category who have no previous abnormal Pap history. Of the 50 patients presented in this study, histologic follow-up demonstrated evidence of squamous carcinoma in one patient (2%), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) in eight patients (16%), and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) in 19 patients (38%). The other 22 (44%) showed chronic cervicitis, reactive changes, or no pathologic changes. These findings suggest a more aggressive clinical approach may be warranted in the management of new onset ASCUS positive for high risk HPV.

No abstract