HMGA2 expression analysis in cytological and paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of thyroid tumors by relative quantitative RT-PCR.

The distinction between benign and malignant thyroid tumors in some cytological and histological specimens remains challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of High Mobility Group A2 (HMGA2) mRNA expression to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid tumors in cytological and histological specimens. RNA samples from 170 thyroid formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues and 226 fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

HMGA2 gene expression analysis performed on cytologic smears to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid nodules.

Background: Up to 80% of thyroid nodules with an indeterminate diagnosis on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) (eg, "suspicious for follicular neoplasm") prove to be benign at the time of surgical resection. Ancillary tests in current use are limited in their ability to improve the preoperative detection of malignant follicular thyroid nodules. Studies using paraffin-embedded tissue have indicated that high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) overexpression is present in a high percentage of malignant thyroid neoplasms but not in benign thyroid neoplasms.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: histopathologic features and clinical correlates in an underrecognized entity.

Context: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a common cause of chronic diarrhea and malabsorption. Morphologic changes associated with this condition have not, to our knowledge, been studied in detail.

Objective: To better characterize the histopathologic changes associated with SIBO by comparing the clinicopathologic features of patients with SIBO (duodenal aspirate cultures with > or =10(5) colony-forming units [CFUs]/mL) to controls with cultures found to be negative (<10(5) CFUs/mL).

Hepatocellular carcinoma metastatic to skin: diagnostic utility of antihuman hepatocyte antibody in combination with albumin in situ hybridization.

Background: Cutaneous metastases from hepatic neoplasms are rare. Histologic features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are often poorly differentiated, hindering accurate diagnosis on routine examination by hematoxylin-eosin stain. Antihuman hepatocyte antibody is highly sensitive for HCC but can be strongly expressed in other adenocarcinomas.