Interobserver variability and accuracy of p16/Ki-67 dual immunocytochemical staining on conventional cervical smears.

Background: p16/Ki-67 dual immunocytochemical staining (DS) has been proven as a sensitive and specific test for triage of HPV positive women with good reproducibility and accuracy. However, implementation of the test into an organized screening program (OSP) is not easy. The aims of this study were to compare the performance and agreement of DS results among three Slovenian cytopathological laboratories involved in the national OSP, and to define cases where staining results can be difficult to interpret.

Randomised trial of HPV self-sampling among non-attenders in the Slovenian cervical screening programme ZORA: comparing three different screening approaches.

Background To overcome obstacles within the Slovenian organised cervical cancer screening programme, a randomised pilot study of human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling among non-attenders was performed, aiming to assess three different screening approaches. Participants and methods Non-attenders aged 30-64 years from two Slovenian regions were randomised to two HPV self-sampling groups-the opt-in (I1, n = 14.400) and the opt-out (I2, n = 9.

Grading of follicular lymphoma in cytological samples.

Objective: The treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL) depends on its grade. The current World Health Organization (WHO) 2008 Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues recommends the grading of FL on histological samples according to the Mann and Berard method, taking into consideration the number of centroblasts. There is no generally accepted method for the grading of FL in fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of primary breast myxofibrosarcoma: a case report.

Background: Primary soft tissue sarcomas of the breast are extremely rare neoplasms, and the value of a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the preoperative or intraoperative diagnosis of soft tissue tumors in the breast is still controversial. Nevertheless, correct recognition of such lesions can avoid unnecessary sentinel and axillary lymph node dissection.

Case: We report a 45-year-old woman who presented with a 10-cm tumor in her right breast.

Telomerase catalytic subunit gene expression does not influence survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx: a case-control study.

Aims: to determine correlations between relative quantities of telomerase catalytic subunit m-ribonucleic acid (hTERT mRNA) and conventional clinicopathological parameters (such as site, size and grade of tumour, the presence of regional lymph node metastases, and, in particular, survival) in patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs).

Material And Methods: The relative quantity of hTERT mRNA was analysed by a commercially available LightCycler Telo TAGGG hTERT Quantification Kit in 56 cases of SCC (40 laryngeal and 16 hypopharyngeal). The association with cancer-specific survival was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis.

Expression of human telomerase catalytic protein in gallbladder carcinogenesis.

Background: Telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) gene re-expression is a rate limiting step for the activity of telomerase, a key enzyme implicated in cellular immortalisation and transformation.

Aims: To determine the potential role of hTERT protein in gallbladder carcinogenesis.

Material/methods: hTERT protein was analysed by means of immunohistochemistry in 89 gallbladder tissue samples: 16 normal epithelia, 14 reactive hyperplasias, 15 low grade dysplasias, 16 high grade dysplasias, and 28 adenocarcinomas.

The reliability and accuracy of intraoperative imprint cytology of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer.

Objective: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a new component of the surgical treatment of breast cancer that accurately predicts axillary status. In this study the authors evaluated the accuracy of intraoperative imprint cytology (IC) in comparison with definitive histologic evaluation of SLN in breast cancer patients.

Methods: A total 413 women with breast carcinoma and clinically negative axillary nodes underwent breast surgery and SLN biopsy.

Human telomerase catalytic subunit gene re-expression is an early event in oral carcinogenesis.

Aims: Detection of telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) mRNA has been used as a surrogate marker for estimation of telomerase activity. The exact role and timing of telomerase re-activation, a key enzyme implicated in cellular immortalization and transformation, in the multistep process of oral carcinogenesis is still unknown. The aim was to test the hypothesis that (i) quantitative rather than qualitative differences exist in the level of hTERT mRNA expression between normal oral mucosa, different grades of oral epithelial abnormalities and squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity, and that (ii) hTERT gene re-expression is an important, probably early event in oral carcinogenesis.

Does end-stage kidney failure influence hepatitis C progression in hemodialysis patients?

Background/aims: The influence of end-stage kidney failure on the progression of liver disease in patients infected with hepatitis C virus and treated with hemodialysis is still controversial.

Methodology: Liver histology of 154 hepatitis C virus infected non-uremic patients was compared with liver histology of 13 hepatitis C virus infected uremic patients treated with hemodialysis.

Results: In either group of altogether 167 patients, no normal liver histology was found.

Laryngeal granuloma: characteristics of the covering epithelium.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the biological behaviour of the marginal epithelium, that proliferates and eventually covers laryngeal granulomas, and to reveal the applicability of the recently re-introduced Ljubljana classification when reporting reactive epithelial hyperplastic lesions. A retrospective clinical and histomorphological analysis was performed on 149 laryngeal granuloma biopsies. Epithelial changes were classified according to the Ljubljana classification into normal epithelium; simple, abnormal, or atypical hyperplasia; and carcinoma in situ.