Publications by authors named "LiVolsi Virginia"

Article Synopsis
  • - NIFTP is a newly classified thyroid neoplasm that has replaced the previous diagnosis of a certain type of thyroid cancer, with varying adoption rates noted across different global regions.
  • - A survey of 48 pathologists showed a 94% adoption rate for diagnosing NIFTP, with North American pathologists diagnosing it more frequently than those in Europe and Asia/Oceania.
  • - Significant differences exist in how pathologists assess nuclear features, especially for moderate changes, leading to regional variations in NIFTP diagnosis, with North American and European pathologists generally using lower thresholds for diagnosis compared to their counterparts in Asia/Oceania.
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Article Synopsis
  • Most thyroid nodules are benign, but differentiating between benign and malignant nodules can prevent unnecessary surgeries; this study focused on a genetic classifier's performance for indeterminate thyroid nodules in Southeast Asia.
  • The study involved 132 patients and utilized ThyroSeq v3 for molecular testing on FNA samples, revealing that 56% of the nodules were histologically malignant, with varying mutation characteristics compared to North American patients.
  • The genomic testing showed a 42% potential avoidance of surgery for patients with Bethesda category III-IV nodules, indicating that molecular testing was a stronger predictor of malignancy than traditional clinical factors.
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Struma ovarii is a well-known ovarian teratoma made up of benign thyroid tissue. These lesions demonstrate variable, normal architecture and normal thyroid immunohistochemical staining with positivity for TTF1, PAX8, and thyroglobulin. Though most are benign, some of these lesions can also present with a malignant component.

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The Cooperative Human Tissue Network was created by the NCI in 1987 to support a coordinated national effort to collect and distribute high quality, pathologist-validated human tissues for cancer research. Since then, the network has expanded to provide different types of tissue samples, blood and body fluid samples, immunohistologic and molecular sample preparations, tissue microarrays, and clinical datasets inclusive of biomarkers and molecular testing. From inception through the end of 2021, the network has distributed 1,375,041 biospecimens.

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The pathology of neoplasia tends to focus on the tumor that requires characterization, grading, and staging. However, nontumorous tissue surrounding the lesion can also provide information, particularly about pathogenetic mechanisms. In endocrine tissues, this takes the form of precursor lesions that characterize several genetic predisposition syndromes.

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Context.—: Sinonasal tract malignancies are rare cancers with frequent morphologic overlap. Given the similar histologic profiles seen in many of these entities, they often present a diagnostic challenge to the practicing pathologist.

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Background: Distant metastases of papillary thyroid carcinoma are exceedingly rare. We analyzed all cases of brain metastases of papillary thyroid cancer at our institution and performed a literature review over the past ten years to identify histologic and molecular features of primary and metastatic tumors.

Methods: Following institutional review board approval, the entire pathology archives at our institution were searched for cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma metastatic to brain.

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The effects of many pharmacological agents on thyroid function are well known. Direct influences on measurements of thyroid function tests are also described. However, certain classes of drugs produce morphological changes in the gland.

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Importance: Fine-needle biopsy (FNB) became a critical part of thyroid nodule evaluation in the 1970s. It is not clear how diagnostic accuracy of FNB has changed over time.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis estimating the accuracy of thyroid FNB for diagnosis of malignancy in adults with a newly diagnosed thyroid nodule and to characterize changes in accuracy over time.

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Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is the treatment of choice for symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). It is also the treatment of choice in asymptomatic PHPT with evidence for target organ involvement. This review updates surgical aspects of PHPT and proposes the following definitions based on international expert consensus: selective PTX (and reasons for conversion to an extended procedure), bilateral neck exploration for non-localized or multigland disease, subtotal PTX, total PTX with immediate or delayed autotransplantation, and transcervical thymectomy and extended en bloc PTX for parathyroid carcinoma.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common type of tumor found in salivary glands, and while some carcinomas can develop from it, cases are rare.
  • This text describes the first documented case of secretory carcinoma (SC) that developed from a pleomorphic adenoma, identified through the rare ETV6-RET translocation.
  • The findings enhance our understanding of the genetic variations in tumors associated with PA and could impact how SC is diagnosed, treated, and understood in terms of prognosis.
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Cytopathological evaluation of thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens can fail to raise preoperative suspicion of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The Afirma RNA-sequencing MTC classifier identifies MTC among FNA samples that are cytologically indeterminate, suspicious, or malignant (Bethesda categories III-VI). In this study we report the development and clinical performance of this MTC classifier.

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This review summarizes the changes in the 5th edition of the WHO Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors that relate to the thyroid gland. The new classification has divided thyroid tumors into several new categories that allow for a clearer understanding of the cell of origin, pathologic features (cytopathology and histopathology), molecular classification, and biological behavior. Follicular cell-derived tumors constitute the majority of thyroid neoplasms.

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Objectives: Increasing use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is likely to impact outcomes for HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs). We aimed to describe oncologic outcomes for a large HPV+ OPSCC cohort after TORS and develop a risk prediction model for recurrence under this treatment paradigm.

Materials And Methods: 634 HPV+ OPSCC patients receiving TORS-based therapy at a single institution were reviewed retrospectively to describe survival across the entire cohort and for patients suffering recurrence.

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Objectives: Although primary adrenal lesions and metastases are most commonly encountered, de novo cysts of the adrenal gland can occasionally occur.

Methods: We analyzed the pathology archives at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for diagnoses of cystic lesions of the adrenal gland between 1998 and 2020. Patient demographics and clinical information were extracted, and pathology slides and stains, as appropriate, were analyzed.

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Extraneural metastases of glioblastoma (GBM), although rare, are becoming an increasingly recognized occurrence. Currently, the biological mechanism underlying this rare occurrence is not understood. To explore the potential genomic drivers of extraneural metastasis in GBM, we present the molecular features of 4 extraneural metastatic GBMs, along with a comprehensive review and analysis of previously reported cases that had available molecular characterization.

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The most common malignant neoplasm affecting the thyroid gland is papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). PTC can demonstrate a number of morphologic variants including, but not limited to, classic, follicular, and tall cell. Each of these morphologic subtypes carry distinct clinical characteristics such that certain variants, like tall cell, behave more aggressively than others.

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This paper will review neuroendocrine lesions of the thyroid and the differential diagnosis with the most significant such tumor of the thyroid, that is, medullary thyroid carcinoma. A brief overview of the understanding of this tumor's identification as a lesion of C cells and its familial and syndromic associations will be presented. Then, a discussion of the various mimics of medullary carcinoma will be given with an approach to the types of tests that can be done to arrive at a correct diagnostic conclusion.

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Tumors of the head and neck with clear cell features prompt a broad differential diagnosis. A relatively uncommon, but increasingly recognized, entity is hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC). This neoplasm, first described in 1994, consists of clear cells arranged in nests or trabecule with a hyalinized stroma.

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Cancer derived from thyroid follicular epithelial cells is common; it represents the most common endocrine malignancy. The molecular features of sporadic tumors have been clarified in the past decade. However the incidence of familial disease has not been emphasized and is often overlooked in routine practice.

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