PAXgene Fixation for Pancreatic Cancer: Implications for Molecular and Surgical Pathology.

Genomic profiling of pancreatic cancer using small core biopsies has taken an increasingly prominent role in precision medicine. However, if not appropriately preserved, nucleic acids (NA) from pancreatic tissues are known to be susceptible to degradation due to high intrinsic levels of nucleases. PAXgene fixation (PreAnalytix, Switzerland) represents a novel formalin-free tissue preservation method.

Inaccurate and incomplete diagnoses of malignant polyps as a cause of pathologic tumor stage T0 colectomy.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review cases of pathologic tumor stage T0 (pT0) colectomy for colon cancer to determine whether any cases could be attributed to inaccurate (false-positive) or incomplete biopsy diagnoses. We conducted a search of our laboratory archives for all biopsy diagnoses of invasive colonic adenocarcinoma over a period of 11 years. Rectal carcinomas and those treated neoadjuvantly were excluded.

Loss of expression of DNA mismatch repair proteins is rare in pancreatic and small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

Context: Two recent studies have identified a high rate of microsatellite instability (MSI) in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). Microsatellite instability is rare in small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). It is unclear why there is discordance in the frequency of MSI in the 2 studies of pNETs and why this mechanism is comparatively rare in small intestinal tumors.

Immunohistochemical expression and prognostic value of ER, PR and HER2/neu in pancreatic and small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

Background And Aims: There has been limited study of estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) expression in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GINETs) despite emerging evidence of hormone receptor regulation of pancreatic islet cells. Beta cells express PR and progesterone has been implicated in the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes. There is conflicting information regarding HER2/neu protein overexpression in GINETs.

Histologic predictors of pouchitis in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis.

Inflammation of ileal reservoir mucosa ("pouchitis") is a common sequelae in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who have had a colectomy with ileal pouch anal-anastomosis (IPAA). Although several clinical, genetic, and laboratory parameters have been evaluated, reliable pathologic predictors for the development of pouchitis are lacking. The purpose of this case-control study was to determine whether there are any pathologic features in UC colectomy specimens that may help predict the subsequent development of pouchitis after an IPAA procedure.