DEK::AFF2 fusion nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (NKSCC) is an emerging entity in the sinonasal tract, temporal bone, and skull base. However, the clinical behavior of these tumors has not been well studied. Here, we report the largest cohort of DEK::AFF2 carcinomas to determine if morphology, mitotic rate, and/or Ki-67 IHC are associated with patient outcomes, including a comparison with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and independent patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The current standard-of-care pathology report relies only on lengthy written text descriptions without a visual representation of the resected cancer specimen. This study demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating virtual, three-dimensional (3D) visual pathology reports to improve communication of final pathology reporting.
Materials And Methods: Surgical specimens are 3D scanned and virtually mapped alongside the pathology team to replicate grossing.
Background: Positive margins are frequently observed in total laryngectomy (TL) specimens. Effective communication of margin sampling sites and final margin status between surgeons and pathologists is crucial. In this study, we evaluate the utility of multimedia visual pathology reports to facilitate interdisciplinary discussion of margin status in laryngeal cancer surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSurg Pathol Clin
December 2024
Aims: To estimate the cost-impact if faricimab were approved for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in New Zealand.
Methods: A retrospective, single-centre cost-analysis study. Data on intravitreal agent and injection intervals were obtained and statistically compared.
Our goal for medicine is to make zero mistakes, yet the reality is that mistakes are an unfortunate part of medical practice. And when it comes to surgical pathology, it is a special case where the diagnostic "bottom line" is provided starkly and directly for all to see in the final diagnosis of the pathology report. When this diagnosis is wrong, particularly when it has serious adverse consequences for the patient, the resulting physical, mental, and emotional effects on patient, provider, pathologist, and health care system can be extremely serious.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSialadenoma papilliferum (SP) is a rare salivary gland tumor mostly reported in the oral cavity. Here we describe a bronchial SP in the left upper lobe bronchus of a 10-year-old boy. At bronchoscopy, a well-circumscribed polypoid lesion protruding into the bronchial lumen was identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: DEK::AFF2 fusion-associated squamous cell carcinoma (DEK::AFF2 SCC), also reported in the literature as low-grade papillary sinonasal (Schneiderian) carcinoma (LGPSC), is a rare, primarily bland-appearing, but locally aggressive neoplasm. Morphologically, these tumors can closely resemble sinonasal papilloma (SP), especially on small or limited biopsy, often leading to misdiagnosis. DEK::AFF2 SCC is devoid of the underlying mutually exclusive EGFR or KRAS driver mutations of SP, suggesting it may represent a distinct unique entity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Mesenchymal neoplasms composed of vascular, smooth muscle, and adipocytic components are uncommon in the nasal cavity. While angioleiomyoma (AL) is a smooth muscle tumor in the Head & Neck WHO classification, it is considered of pericytic origin in the Skin as well as Soft Tissue and Bone classifications. For nasal AL with an adipocytic component, the terms AL with adipocytic differentiation and angiomyolipoma (AML) have been applied, among others.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Multidisciplinary tumor boards (TB) are the standard for discussing complex head and neck cancer cases. During TB, imaging and microscopic pathology is reviewed, but there is typically no visualization of the resected cancer.
Methods: A pilot study was conducted to investigate the utility of visual pathology reports at weekly TB for 10 consecutive weeks.
Due to the anatomic complexity of the head and neck and variable proximity between laboratory and operating room (OR), effective communication during frozen section analysis (FSA) between surgeons and pathologists is challenging. This proof-of-concept study investigates an augmented reality (AR) protocol that allows pathologists to virtually join the OR from the laboratory. Head and neck cancer specimens were scanned ex vivo using a 3-dimensional scanner and uploaded into an AR platform.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVancomycin and daptomycin are frequently used in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). We analyze health care utilization and cost to the health care system for vancomycin vs daptomycin in the outpatient setting and find that vancomycin results in significantly higher health care utilization and similar cost per course compared with daptomycin in OPAT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To report the indications and outcomes of emergency keratoplasty over a 21-year period in Greenlane Clinical Centre, the major tertiary eye referral center in Auckland, New Zealand (Aotearoa).
Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of all emergency keratoplasties performed in Greenlane Clinical Centre from January 2000 to September 2021 was conducted. Demographic, preoperative, intraoperative, and 1-year postoperative data were collected.
Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol
August 2024
Introduction: Ibrexafungerp is a new triterpenoid antifungal agent with activity against a variety of fungal species, including spp. and echinocandin-resistant spp.
Areas Covered: This evaluation will summarize currently available clinical evidence on the use of ibrexafungerp in the treatment/prevention of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and detail the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters, and ongoing/latest research involving ibrexafungerp.
SMAD4 is a tumor suppressor mutated or silenced in multiple cancers, including oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Human clinical samples and cell lines, mouse models and organoid culture were used to investigate the role that SMAD4 plays in progression from benign disease to invasive OSCC. Human OSCC lost detectable SMAD4 protein within tumor epithelium in 24% of cases, and this loss correlated with worse progression-free survival independent of other major clinical and pathological features.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Beta-lactam antibiotics are first-line agents for most patients receiving antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgical procedures. Despite evidence showing low cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins, patients with beta-lactam allergies commonly receive vancomycin as an alternative to avoid allergic reaction.
Methods: Adult patients receiving vancomycin for surgical prophylaxis with a reported beta-lactam allergy at our institution between August 2017 to July 2018 were retrospectively evaluated for potential eligibility for penicillin allergy testing and/or receipt of standard prophylaxis.
Background: Positive surgical margin rates remain high in head and neck cancer surgery. Relocation is challenging given the complex, three-dimensional (3D) anatomy.
Methods: Prospective, multi-institutional study to determine accuracy of head and neck surgeons and pathologists relocating margins on virtual 3D specimen models using written descriptions from pathology reports.
Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a rare and relatively heterogenous salivary gland malignancy, for which there is debate regarding grading, and clinical prognostic factors, including the role of adjuvant radiotherapy.
Methods: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data were reviewed for AdCC cases from 2000 to 2018.
Results: A total of 1978 patients with AdCC were identified.
Open Forum Infect Dis
March 2024
Data evaluating dalbavancin use for vertebral osteomyelitis remain limited. In our retrospective cohort, 29 of 34 (85.3%) patients completed their dalbavancin course.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSinonasal tumors with neuroepithelial differentiation, defined by neuroectodermal elements reminiscent of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) and epithelial features such as keratin expression or gland formation, are a diagnostically challenging group that has never been formally included in sinonasal tumor classifications. Recently, we documented that most of these neuroepithelial neoplasms have distinctive histologic and immunohistochemical findings and proposed the term "olfactory carcinoma" to describe these tumors. However, the molecular characteristics of olfactory carcinoma have not yet been evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: In this feasibility study, we explored the combined use of circulating tumor human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA (ctHPVDNA) and HPV serology as diagnostic tests for HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).
Methods: Among patients with research-banked serum or plasma at diagnosis, IgG antibodies to oncoproteins from HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, and 58 were detected with multiplex serology. Positivity for HPV 16 was defined based on detection of combinations of anti-E6, E1, E2, and E7 and for other high-risk types on detection of anti-E6 and anti-E7.
Purpose: Fluorescence-guided surgery using a tumor-specific antibody-dye conjugate is useful in various cancer types. Fluorescence imaging is a valuable tool both intraoperatively and postoperatively for ex vivo imaging. The color of inks used for tumor specimens during ex vivo specimen processing in pathology is an important consideration for fluorescence imaging since the absorption/emission of the dyes may interfere with the fluorescent dye.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) recurrence is almost universally fatal. Development of effective therapeutic options requires an improved understanding of recurrent OPSCC biology.
Methods: We analyzed paired primary-recurrent OPSCC from Veterans treated at the Michael E.