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.

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.

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.

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.

Is it possible to refine the indication for sentinel node biopsy in high-risk ductal carcinoma in situ?

Background: The indication for sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has not been fully established yet for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Aim: To relate the conversion rate to invasive carcinoma with sentinel node positivity in high risk DCIS, and to refine the clinical presentation analysis in order to better select patients for SNB. For this purpose, a risk score was devised.

High prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in the anus, penis and mouth in HIV-positive men.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types are associated with squamous cell cancers. HIV infection is linked with a higher prevalence of anal HPV infection. It is important to assess whether HPV is present in other body parts involved in sexual practices to establish a cancer prevention program.

[Contribution of human papillomavirus second-generation hybrid capture test for the diagnosis of cervical pathology in HIV-infected outpatients].

Background And Objective: The causal relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer is well established. The initial diagnosis of HPV-related cervical infection is currently performed by HPV-associated changes in cervical cytology. We aimed to study the accuracy and concordance between HPV ADN detection by second-generation hybrid capture (HC-2) and cervical cytological changes for the diagnosis of HPV cervical infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV+) outpatients.

Internal mammary sentinel node metastases in an otherwise lymph-node negative breast cancer patient.

A 35 year old woman with biopsy proved breast cancer was submitted for sentinel node (SN) biopsy. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy displayed both axillary and internal mammary (IM) uptake foci consistent with SNs. Full axillary dissection was completed because of a greater-than 2 cm primary lesion.

Intraoperative assessment of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with breast carcinoma: accuracy of rapid imprint cytology compared with definitive histologic workup.

Background: As sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) becomes a new surgical standard in the treatment of patients with breast carcinoma, there is an emergent need for a fast and accurate method with which to assess the SN intraoperatively, so a decision can be made regarding whether to perform axillary lymph node dissection during primary surgery. In the current study, the authors performed a prospective investigation of the relative merits of imprint cytology for that purpose.

Methods: Seventy-six patients with T1-T2 breast carcinoma were included after undergoing successful SNB.