Identification of oestrogen, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression in mediastinal metastases of breast cancer obtained by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.

Background: In breast cancer patients, the expression statuses of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are crucial in the choice of treatment. Receptor expression in metastatic lesions can differ from the primary tumour. The aim of our study was to analyse the utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) to obtain samples allowing the identification of ER, PR and HER2 expression in patients with mediastinal metastases of breast cancer.

Minimally invasive diagnosis of a pericardial mass by CT-guided fine-needle aspiration.

The preferred management of a cardiac mass remains controversial, but it often includes open-chest surgical excision to obtain an adequate tissue sample for histological workup. We herein report a less invasive approach in which an accurate and timely cytological diagnosis of pericardial angiosarcoma was reached by studying a CT-guided fine-needle aspiration cell block. The cell block showed proliferation of atypical cells with occasional mitotic figures, vasoformative features, and immunoreactivity to WT1, vimentin, CD31, CD34, ERG, and Ki67.

Aberrant gene methylation and bronchial dysplasia in high risk lung cancer patients.

Introduction: The risk for lung cancer is incremented in high degree dysplasia (HGD) and in subjects with hypermethylation of multiple genes. We sought to establish the association between them, as well as to analyze the DNA aberrant methylation in sputum and in bronchial washings (BW).

Methods: Cross sectional study of high risk patients for lung cancer in whom induced sputum and autofluorescence bronchoscopy were performed.

Assessment of methylation status of locoregional lymph nodes in lung cancer using EBUS-NA.

Hypermethylation of the promoter region of tumor suppressor genes is associated with carcinogenesis in lung cancer (LC). Endobronchial ultrasound with needle aspiration (EBUS-NA) is a semi-invasive method for obtaining cell blocks from lymph nodes, which can be used for epigenetic analyses. To establish the relationship between methylation status of p16, DAPK, RASSF1a, APC and CDH13 genes in lymph nodes sampled by EBUS-NA, tumor staging and prognosis.

Benign and malignant nodular thyroid disease in acromegaly. Is a routine thyroid ultrasound evaluation advisable?

Data on the prevalence of benign and malignant nodular thyroid disease in patients with acromegaly is a matter of debate. In the last decade an increasing incidence of thyroid cancer has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of goiter, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer in a large series of patients with acromegaly with a cross-sectional study with a control group.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of intrathoracic lymph node metastases from extrathoracic malignancies.

Intrathoracic lymph node enlargement is a common finding in patients with extrathoracic malignancies. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a technique that is commonly used for lung cancer diagnosis and staging but that has not been widely investigated for the diagnosis of enlarged mediastinal and lobar lymph nodes in patients with extrathoracic malignancies. We conducted a retrospective study of 117 patients with extrathoracic malignancies who underwent EBUS-TBNA for diagnosis of intrathoracic lymph node enlargement from October 2005 to December 2009 and compared the EBUS-TBNA findings with the final diagnoses.

False positive endobronchial ultrasound-guided real-time transbronchial needle aspiration secondary to bronchial carcinoma in situ at the point of puncture: a case report.

Since the development of endobronchial ultrasound-guided real-time needle aspiration (EBUS-rt-TBNA) no false positive (FP) cases have been described. We present the first FP case for EBUS-rt-TBNA secondary to a carcinoma in situ (CIS) in the bronchial point of puncture. A 66-years-old male was referred to our Institution because of a mass in left lower lobe.

Condylomata, cytological abnormalities and human papillomavirus infection in the anal canal in HIV-infected men.

Background: Genital infections with low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes are associated with ano-genital condylomata and anal squamous cell cancer. HPV-related pathologies in HIV-infected men are a serious concern. In this study, the prevalence of anal condylomata and their association with cytological abnormalities and HPV infection in the anal canal in HIV-infected men [men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexuals] were estimated.

Contribution of cell blocks obtained through endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration to the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Background: Conventional smears of samples obtained by endobronchial ultrasound with real-time transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) have proven useful in lung cancer staging, but the value of additional information from cell-block processing of EBUS-TBNA samples has only been marginally investigated. This study focussed on the contribution of cell block analysis to the diagnostic yield in lung cancer.

Methods: Patients referred for lung cancer diagnosis and/or staging by means of EBUS-TBNA were enrolled, the adequacy of the obtained samples for preparing cell blocks was assessed, and the additional pathologic or genetic information provided from cell block analysis was examined.

Representativeness of nodal sampling with endobronchial ultrasonography in non-small-cell lung cancer staging.

The objective of our study was to determine the procedure-related requirements of mediastinal node sampling with endobronchial ultrasonography with real-time transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) that would provide negative predictive value (NPV) for the identification of stage III disease in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) high enough to consider the technique equivalent to cervical mediastinoscopy. Representative EBUS-TBNA was defined as a sampling procedure obtaining satisfactory samples from normal nodes in regions 4R, 4L and 7 or diagnosing malignancy in mediastinal nodes. NPV was estimated using the results of postsurgical staging in patients who underwent surgery as a reference.

Comparison between two human papillomavirus genotyping assays targeting the L1 or E6/E7 region in cervical cancer biopsies.

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is increasingly used in cervical cancer prevention strategies, and a variety of HPV genotyping assays have been developed. We aimed to compare the performance of two HPV genotyping techniques in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens from a series of invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases.

Methods: Archival FFPE tissue blocks from 78 SCC cases were initially considered.

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution and human papillomavirus 16 and human papillomavirus 18 genomic integration in invasive and in situ cervical carcinoma in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women.

Background: Women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk of developing precancerous and cancerous lesions in cervix because of persistence of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Scarce information about the HPV genotypes attributed to cervical cancer in the HIV-infected population is available, especially in countries with a low prevalence of this pathology.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence and distribution of HPV types, and the viral integration of HPV-16 and HPV-18 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma of HIV-infected and HIV-negative women.

[Usefulness of a lung cancer rapid diagnosis specialist clinic. Contribution of ultrasound bronchoscopy].

Objective: To analyse the results obtained in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer (LC) by a Lung Cancer Rapid Diagnosis Unit (LC-RDU) in which real-time endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (RT-EBUS guided-TBNA) is performed as part of the clinical evaluation of the patient prior to treatment.

Method: A four year observational study was conducted on a group of patients evaluated due to suspicion of LC in an LC-RDU. The times and the techniques required for the diagnosis and identifying the level of the disease in the initial staging were recorded.

Human papillomavirus HPV-16, 18, 52 and 58 integration in cervical cells of HIV-1-infected women.

Background: Genomic integration of high-risk human papillomavirus into the cellular genome is considered an important event in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer related to the progression from premalignant cervical lesions to invasive cervical carcinoma.

Objective: This cross-sectional study was aimed to characterize the viral integration of HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-52 and HPV-58 in cervical cells.

Study Design: HPV genotypes were determined by PCR and HPV integration by multiplex PCR in HIV-1-infected women without a background of HPV-related pathology.

Human papillomavirus 16 integration and risk factors associated in anal samples of HIV-1 infected men.

Background: The integration of HPV-16 DNA into the host genome is considered an important event in the progression of premalignant cervical lesions to cervical cancer. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of HPV-16 integration in anal cytologic specimens of HIV-1 infected men and its association with risk factors. PATIENTS METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 269 HIV-infected males.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for identifying EGFR mutations.

The presence of somatic mutations of the tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) correlates with a good response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The usefulness of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for the detection of EGFR mutations in cells recovered from malignant mediastinal nodes in patients with NSCLC was assessed. All patients with lung adenocarcinoma or unspecified NSCLC referred for staging with EBUS-TBNA were included.

Sensitivity of linear endobronchial ultrasonography and guided transbronchial needle aspiration for the identification of nodal metastasis in lung cancer staging.

The aim of this study is to determine the sensitivity of real-time endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) in lung cancer staging. Short- and long-axis node diameters were measured during EBUS in patients referred for lung cancer staging and sensitivities for the identification of nodal malignancy at TBNA determined. Three hundred fifteen real-time EBUS-guided TBNA nodal sampling procedures were performed in 161 patients and in 87 of them, N2/N3 metastasis was confirmed (50.

Evaluation of an array-based method for human papillomavirus detection and genotyping in comparison with conventional methods used in cervical cancer screening.

Cervical cancer is the second-most prevalent cancer in young women around the world. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), especially high-risk HPV types (HR-HPV), is necessary for the development of this cancer. HPV-DNA detection is increasingly being used in cervical cancer screening programs, together with the Papanicolau smear test.

[Linear endobronchial ultrasound as the initial diagnostic tool in patients with indications of mediastinal disease].

Background And Objective: Linear endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has proven useful for sampling mediastinal masses and nodes and for staging lung cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of this diagnostic tool in patients with indications of mediastinal disease that could not be diagnosed by noninvasive methods or white light bronchoscopy.

Patients And Methods: All patients undergoing linear EBUS-TBNA for the diagnosis of mediastinal masses and/or adenopathy at our endoscopy unit were included in the study.

Epidemiological data of different human papillomavirus genotypes in cervical specimens of HIV-1-infected women without history of cervical pathology.

Aim: To study the epidemiology of different human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in cervical samples of HIV-1-infected women with normal Papanicolau smears.

Design: : Retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort.

Patients And Methods: We selected HIV-1-infected women with 2 consecutive normal Papanicolau smears at baseline and at least 1 baseline and 1 follow-up cervical sample.

A sensitive method for detecting EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer samples with few tumor cells.

Background: Detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has relied on DNA purification from biopsies, amplification, and sequencing. However, the number of tumor cells in a sample is often insufficient for EGFR assessment.

Methods: We prospectively screened 1380 NSCLC patients for EGFR mutations but found that 268 were not evaluable because of insufficient tumor tissue.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy and incidence of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions among HIV-infected women with normal cytology and CD4 counts above 350 cells/mm3.

Objectives: To provide evidence for the long-term effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the incidence of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) among HIV-positive women with normal cytology test and CD4 count above 350 cells/mm(3).

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in HIV-positive women with two consecutive normal cervical cytological tests (Papanicolaou test) and at least one subsequent test, without previous cervical history of SIL or cancer diagnosis, and with an immunological status >350 CD4 cells/mm(3). The patients were divided into two groups: treated with HAART (HAART group) or not treated with HAART (NO-HAART group), during the period of time between cytology tests included in the survival analysis and time until SIL.

Evolution of cervical cytologic changes among HIV-infected women with normal cytology in the HAART era.

The influence of HAART on the evolution to cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) among HIV(+) women with a normal cytological test in the HAART era was studied. A retrospective cohort study (1997-2005) of HIV-infected women treated with HAART was conducted. Those with a normal cervical cytology (Papanicolaou test) and at least one subsequent test were included.

[Usefulness of endobronchial ultrasonography with real-time needle aspiration for lung cancer staging].

Background And Objective: To determine the usefulness of endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) with real-time needle aspiration (NA) for lung cancer staging.

Patients And Method: All patients examined with EBUS and real-time NA to measure and sample mediastinal and lobar nodes for lung cancer staging during one year were included, independently of the size of the mediastinal nodes at computed tomography (CT).

Results: Eighty two nodes > 5 mm were sampled using EBUS-NA (16.