Publications by authors named "Melina B Flanagan"

Introduction: High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) status is critical in the diagnosis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, informing prognosis and choice of therapy. HR-HPV status additionally plays a key role in the evaluation of squamous cell carcinoma of unknown origin metastatic to cervical lymph nodes. Thus, HR-HPV testing of fine needle aspirate (FNA) specimens from the head and neck is invaluable for accurate diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment planning.

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Introduction: This study aims to improve understanding of the cytopathology community's perspective regarding the value of rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) in clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: The American Society of Cytopathology membership was surveyed in 2019 to obtain subjective data on the cytopathology community's perceptions regarding ROSE. Comments were categorized by major themes and attitudes and analyzed by respondent's role in laboratory, practice size, and practice setting (Fisher's exact and χ tests).

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Context: - The most recent update to cervical cancer screening guidelines offers interim guidance on the use of primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening, with algorithms for management of results. After decades of screening with pure cytology and a shorter time with adjunctive HPV or cotesting with Papanicolaou (Pap) test and HPV, this is a significant change to our screening methods.

Objective: - To briefly review the history of cervical cancer screening, the evidence upon which these interim guidelines were based, the arguments for and against primary HPV testing, and the current state of the field.

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We investigated the influence of pathology data to improve patient outcomes in the treatment of high-grade cervical neoplasia in a joint pathology and gynecology collaboration. Two of us (B.S.

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Cytogenetic fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panels are a major prognostic tool in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), but few data exist on using paraffin-embedded extramedullary tissue biopsy specimens for these purposes. Isolated whole nuclei were extracted from 20 paraffin-embedded tissue biopsy specimens with CLL/SLL and analyzed using a standard CLL FISH panel. FISH studies were successful in 18 (90%) of 20 cases, and chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 18 (100%) of the technically successful cases.

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Oncotype DX is a commercially available reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction based assay that provides a Recurrence Score (RS) and has been shown to provide prognostic and predictive information in estrogen receptor-positive lymph node-negative breast cancers. Independent studies of its utility in routine practice are lacking. Slides and surgical pathology reports from 42 cases of breast carcinomas evaluated by Oncotype DX were retrospectively reviewed to determine patient age, tumor size, histologic grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR) and ERBB2 (HER-2/neu) data, with ER and PR reported as a semi-quantitative score reflecting both intensity of staining and proportion of positive cells.

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Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is the standard of care for the initial workup of thyroid nodules, but there is no consensus algorithm to manage patients with benign results. We examined performance characteristics of initial and repeat satisfactory FNAs for all 402 patients who underwent thyroid surgery during a recent 22-month period. Of these patients, 267 had at least 1 satisfactory FNA and 70 had 2 or more.

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The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA '88) detail the requirements for the cytotechnologist (CT) who evaluates gynecologic cytopathology specimens. However, the role of the CT in nongynecologic cytopathology is not clearly defined. Furthermore, non gynecologic cytopathology cases are diverse and the screening, interpretative, and diagnostic issues may be quite different from the gynecologic cases.

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