The pathology of breast biopsy site marking devices.

This report presents our experience with 54 cases of patients who had excision of breast lesions after deployment of radiographic biopsy site markers at the time of stereotactic biopsy. These were of two types: pellets of a resorbable copolymer of polylactic acid/polyglycolic acid (31 cases) and plugs of bovine collagen (23 cases), both containing embedded metallic clips for long-term radiographic marking. On gross examination, the pellets have a characteristic appearance similar to a soft grain of rice, whereas the collagen plugs are spongiform with variable hemorrhagic changes.

Rapid intraoperative parathyroid hormone testing with surgical pathology correlations: the "chemical frozen section".

The classic surgical approach to patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism has experienced a dramatic shift owing to preoperative localization of the affected glands and/or the use of rapid intraoperative parathyroid hormone (RI-PTH) assays, allowing for minimally invasive surgical excisions. Institutional experience with 141 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy aided by the use of RI-PTH is reviewed. The orientation provided by the intraoperative assay is essential in guiding the surgeon in these minimally invasive procedures, it helps reveal the cases of primary hyperparathyroidism with involvement of more than 1 gland, and it replaces the need for performing frozen sections, except for cases of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Mesenteric fibromatosis with involvement of the gastrointestinal tract. A GIST simulator: a study of 25 cases.

Mesenteric fibromatosis (MF) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are distinct lesions, but they often are confused with each other. Correct identification is essential because of their vastly different therapeutic and prognostic connotations. We reviewed 25 cases of MF with involvement of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and found that GIST was the most common misdiagnosis (13 [52%]).