Fine needle aspiration of breast masses: an analysis of 1533 cases in private practice.

The diagnostic efficacy of fine needle aspiration cytology of breast masses and the causes for unsatisfactory specimens in private practices were investigated in Hong Kong. All specimens that were submitted to the histopathology unit at the Canossa Hospital between 1 January 1996 and 30 April 1997 formed the basis of this report. A total of 1533 specimens were received from 1447 patients; 274 (17.

Evaluation of the ThinPrep Papanicolaou test in clinical practice: 6-month study of 16,541 cases with histological correlation in 220 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the liquid-based ThinPrep Papanicolaou test. DESIGN: Prospective comparison of the ThinPrep test with the conventional Papanicolaou test. SETTING: Cervical smear specimens sent to a private practice, Hong Kong.

The diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the assessment of thyroid nodules: a retrospective 5-year analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To audit the diagnostic accuracy and value of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the assessment of thyroid nodules over a 5-year period. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Private practice, Hong Kong.

Sequential volume mapping for confirmation of negative growth in vestibular schwannomas treated by gamma knife radiosurgery.

Object: The purpose of this study was to confirm, by using a sequential volume mapping (SVM) technique, that gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) induces negative growth in vestibular schwannomas (VS).

Methods: Over a period of 5 years, 126 small- to medium-sized (< 15 cm3) VSs were treated using microradiosurgical techniques within a standard protocol. All patient data were collected prospectively.

Monte Carlo calculated output factors of a Leksell Gamma Knife unit.

The Leksell Gamma Knife is a standard radiosurgical tool for treating brain lesions by directing beams of gamma radiation to a specific region. The diameter of the gamma beams is confined by collimator systems and available collimator sizes are 4, 8, 14 and 18 mm. The reduction in dose rate for each collimator helmet is called the output factor (OPF).

Cell block preparation on residual ThinPrep sample.

The liquid-based cytology system ThinPrep has overcome many of the deficiencies of the conventional Pap test. However, the cytologic appearances of the cells in the liquid-based medium are different and staffs of laboratories adopting the new system have to be specially trained. Even after the training sessions provided by the vendor, the cytology staff still face a sharp learning curve initially.

Monte Carlo calculations and GafChromic film measurements for plugged collimator helmets of Leksell Gamma Knife unit.

The Monte Carlo technique and GafChromic films were employed to verify the accuracy of the dose planning system (Leksell GammaPlan) used in Gamma Knife (type B) radiosurgery when plugged collimator helmets were used. The EGS4 Monte Carlo code was used to calculate the dose distribution along the x, y, and z axes when a single shot was delivered at the center point (unit center point: x = 100, y = 100, z = 100) of a spherical polystyrene phantom, with gamma angle of 90 degrees. Two different sizes of the plugged collimator helmets, 4 and 18 mm, were studied.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of mucocelelike tumors of the breast.

Mucocelelike tumors of the breast encompass a spectrum of pathologic lesions, including benign tumor, atypical ductal hyperplasia, carcinoma in situ, and colloid carcinoma. Because the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of mucocelelike tumors covering this pathologic spectrum is not well defined, a study of 21 cases of mucocelelike tumors was conducted. Benign lesions are likely to be poorly cellular and to contain cohesive clusters of cytologically bland cells arranged in two dimensional sheets in the background of abundant mucoid material.

'Tweaked' GammaPlan for target volume measurement in non-fiducial based images: a simple routine for follow-up assessment.

The GammaPlan provides accurate estimation of target volume. However, a stereotactic frame and fiducials are required. At follow-up MR/CT, fiducials are no longer available.

Use of a disposable umbilical cord clamp in end colostomy.

A method is described in which a simple disposable plastic umbilical cord clamp replaces the traditional cumbersome instrument or expensive staples in the operation of end colostomy.