The basics of commonly used molecular techniques for diagnosis, and application of molecular testing in cytology.

Molecular diagnostics has expanded to become the standard of care for a variety of solid tumor types. With limited diagnostic material, it is often desirable to use cytological preparations to provide rapid and accurate molecular results. This review covers important pre-analytic considerations and limitations, and a description of common techniques that the modern cytopathologist should understand when ordering and interpreting molecular tests in practice.

Hemophagocytosis on ascitic fluid cytology: Diagnosis of HLH.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening syndrome of pathologic immune response characterized by excessive activation of macrophages. Hemophagocytosis is one of the diagnostic criteria for HLH, and it usually involves the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, or any part of the reticuloendothelial system. Hemophagocytosis in the ascitic fluid has rarely been reported in HLH.

Increasing ferritin predicts early death in adult hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare syndrome of pathologic immune activation. Most studies on adult HLH have evaluated prognostic factors for overall survival; factors predicting early mortality have not been sufficiently investigated.

Methods: This was a collaborative study between Henry Ford Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Salivary gland hyalinizing clear-cell carcinoma with cutaneous metastasis: A rare and deceptive tumor.

Clear-cell carcinoma (CCC) is an uncommon malignant tumor of minor salivary glands. It characteristically has a low-grade morphology and a favorable outcome by most reports. An EWSR1-ATF1 fusion can be detected in the majority of cases.