• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2018

Hyalinizing trabecular tumor (HTT) of the thyroid gland is a rare neoplasm and only less than 100 cases have been reported so far. It is characterized by hyalinizing stroma with trabecular growth pattern and has an indolent clinical course. Because of its histologic features, it is frequently misdiagnosed as papillary or medullary carcinoma in fine needle aspiration cytologic findings. The tumor is benign or low malignant potential and thyroid lobectomy is recommended for adequate treatment. We recently experienced a case of thyroidal HTT in a 57-year-old man, who presented with a right thyroid nodule that was suspicious of papillary carcinoma in aspiration cytology. We report the unique and rare disease entity with brief literature review.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 1998

Fine needle aspiration cytology was used widely to select thyroid nodules for surgery. The result could be highly reliable for most malignancies and for benign nodules. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of frozen biopsy by directly comparing the results of preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology to frozen biopsy examination. In our university hospital, 103 patients with thyroid nodule were operated during the years 1996 through 1997. A comparison of accuracy of the fine needle aspiration cytology with frozen biopsy was made for 85 patients who underwent both procedures. The 85 patients were separated into two groups. The group I included 65 patients, whose preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology results were reported as benign or malignant lesion definitely. The group II included 85 patients, the patients whose reported fine needle aspiration cytologic result was suspicious for malignancy were regarded .as malignant lesion and results for follicular neoplasm were regarded as benign lesion. The accuracy of both procedures was compared on two group also. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of frozen biopsy were 76.7%, 93.5%, and 85.2% in group I and 75.6%, 95.5%, and 85.9% in group II, respectively, compared with 63.3%, 87.1%, and 75.4% in group I and 65.4%, 81.8%, and 72.9% in group II for fine needle aspiration cytology. On benign lesion, the accuracy was 95.5% in frozen biopsy and 68.2% in fine needle aspiration cytology, 75.6% in frozen biopsy and 53.7% in fine needle aspiration cytology on malignant lesion. We conclude that although fine needle aspiration cytology is the reliable diagnostic test in the evaluation of thyroid nodule, frozen biopsy should be performed intraoperatively, because fine needle aspiration cytology is insufficiently sensitive for reliable surgical planning.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2004

The macrofollicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (MVPC) is characterized by macrofollicles occupying more than half of the tumor and demonstrating nuclear features of classic papillary carcinoma. It is difficult to recognize on fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology due to the paucity of aspirated neoplastic cell clusters, especially when the tumor is associated with extensive areas of hemorrhage. Case: A 34-year-old female presented with a well-demarcated nodule in the thyroid gland, diagnosed as a benign nodule on ultrasonography and computed tomography. FNA cytology smear revealed a few small aggregates of follicular cells with morphological features suspicious for papillary carcinoma, set in a background of hemorrhage, inflammatory cells, and hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Intraoperative frozen section revealed macrofollicular nests filled with hemorrhage and composed of follicular cells demonstrating nuclear clearing and grooves. Conclusion: MVPC is a rare but distinctive variant of papillary carcinoma, which is easily mistaken for adenomatous goiter or benign macrofollicular neoplasm on radiologic findings. The cytopathologist should alert oneself on encountering benign radiologic findings and any smear composed of scant numbers of follicular cells with nuclear features suspicious for papillary carcinoma despite the bland-looking background of hemorrhage and hemosiderin-laden macrophages, and recommend intraoperative frozen sections for a definite diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 1998

Mutant form of the p53 gene product is abnormally accumulated in the nuclei of the tumor cells due to prolonged half life, and readily detected by immunohistochemical methods. To determine the positivity rate of p53 in body cavity fluid according the primary site and histological types of tumors and the utility of p53 immunostaining as an adjunct in the diagnosis of malignancy, we reviewed 69 effusions, including pleural effusion, ascitic fluid, and pericardial fluid, that were diagnosed as overt malignancy and 21 effusions of suspicious malignancy, immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded cell blocks using a monoclonal antibody to p53 supressor gene product(Clone DO7) and a standard avidin-biotin complex technique with a citrate buffer antigen retrieval solution. The results were as follows; of the 46 pleural effusions with overt malignancy, 22 were immunopositive for p53 protein; of the 21 ascitic fluids with overt malignancy, 5 were positive for p53. Positivity rates according to the primary sites of tumors were 18 of 34(52.9%), 8 of 21(38.1%), 1 of 9(11.1%) cases of the tumors of the lung, GI tract, and ovary, respectively. According to the histologic types of lung cancer, 11 cases(61.6%) were positive out of 18 adenocarcinomas, 2 of 5 large cell undifferentiated carcinomas, and 1 of 2 small cell undifferentiated carcinomas. Of 21 cases of suspicious malignancy, 6 were positive for p53 and all of them(6/6) were confirmed as adenocarcinoma of the lung or GI tract. These findings indicate that p53 immunostaining using paraffin embedded cell block is useful diagnostic and prognostic marker in body fluid cytology although negative immunostaining does not exclude malignancy.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2003

Background and Objectives: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is a simple, safe and relatively accurate procedure of diagnosing thyroid nodules. Although the frozen section biopsy is well known as more reliable method than FNA and has high specificity, whether it is necessary it leaves room for adverse criticism. Authors have compared preoperative FNA cytology and frozen section biopsy with permanent histologic findings and evaluated the significance of FNA cytology and frozen section biopsy. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 110 patiens who underwent FNA cytology and frozen section during thyroidectomy from September. 1997 to December. 2001 at the Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of FNA was 75%, 91.4%, and 85.5% respcetively. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rate of frozen section biopsy were 92.5%, 100% and 97.3% respectively. Conclusion: FNA is simple, with rare complication and its diagnostic accuracy is comparatively so high that it is being used as primary test to diagnosis thyroid nodules. But frozen section is more accurate and may be helpful to suspicious FNA findings or if it beyond capacity of FNA. Therefore despite of the fact that the intra-operative frozen is more expensive and time consuming, it is very helpful to the treatment of thyroid nodules by using jointly with FNA.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 1996

Metastatic melanoma is often difficult to diagnose morphologically. However, the prognostic and therapeutic decision in cases of metastatic melanoma depends upon the morphologic documentation of the metastatic disease, which may rapidly and accurately be done by cytologic methods such as aspiration cytology of clinically suspicious lesion. Cytological features of 12 metastatic melanoma are described. Evaluation for melanin pigment, background composition, cytoplasmic vacuoles, intranuclear inclusions, bi- or multinucleated cells, eccentric nuclei, nucleoli, and degree of cellular cohesion were made. the presence of melanin pigment, prominent nucleoli, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, lack of cell cohesion, and eccentric nuclei are the important and useful cytologic features in the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma. Bi or multinucleated cells, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and bloody background are also frequently found in smears from metastatic melanoma.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 1999

We retrospectively reviewed the results of 1,850 fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) of thyroid nodules performed from 1990 to 1991 in the Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital. Among 1,528 cases and 322 cases aspirated by clinicians and a pathologist, 465 cases(30.4%) and 13 cases(4.0%) of the aspirates were inadequate, respectively. In 227 cases, correlation of the FNAC diagnosis and histologic diagnosis was done. Excluding the inadequate cases, the sensitivity nor the detection of neoplasm(malignancy together with follicular adenoma) was 86.4% and the specificity was 70.7%. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 79.0%. There were 16 false-positive cases(7.0%), and 19 false-negative cases(8.4%). The predictive value of each cytologic diagnosis was 92% in papillary carcinoma, and 100%, in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The expectancy of malignancy was 52.8% in "suspicious malignancy" and 26.7% in "atypical lesion".

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2009

Urinary bladder cancer is diagnosed through urine cytology and cytoscopy with biopsy. An atypical urothelial cast is often found by voided urine cytology in a papillary urothelial cell carcinoma. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the significance of the evaluation of urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) level and Sure Path Liquid-based cytology (SP-LBC) as compared to the examination of atypical urothelial cast in voided urine sediment for monitoring bladder cancer. From October 2007 to January 2008, we observed 3240 patients who visited the emergency laboratory of urology of Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan Hospital. Both NMP22 measurement and SP-LBC were performed in 31 patients who were positive in an atypical urothelial cast test. In particular, 26 men and 5 women were found to be atypical urothelial cast-positive persons. The average age for both men and women is 61.8. NMP22 test is positive in 23 of 31 cases (74.2%) from patients with atypical urothelial cast, while the test is negative in 8 of 31 cases (25.8%). The percentages of negativity, atypicality, suspicious malignancy, and malignancy in SP-LBC are 25.8% (8/31), 58.1% (18/31), 9.7% (3/31), and 6.5% (2/31), respectively. The relation of NMP22 positivity with the malignant degree in LBC is significant (P<0.01). Two malignant patients resulting from SP-LBC show the same results in histological examination. Overall, the study suggests the usefulness of NMP22 measurement and LBC as well as the examination of atypical urothelial cast for the diagnosis of early bladder cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 1998

Fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) has been used effectively as the initial modality in evaluating various thyroid lesions. We correlated cytologic and histopathologic features to investigate the diagnostic pitfalls of FNAC of the thyroid. A total of 1,593 FNACs of the thyroid were diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Hospital, from January 1993 to December 1997 There were 963 cytologically benign cases(60.5%), 97 suspicious cases(6.1%), and 75 malignant cases(4.71%). The remaining 458 cases(28.8%) were unsatisfactory. Subsequent surgical resection was done in 192 cases. Seventy-two cases(37.5%) were cytologically diagnosed as benign, 45 cases(23.4%) suspicious, 56 cases(29.2%) malignant, and 19 cases(9.9%) unsatisfactory. Histopathologically, 101 cases were benign(11 thyroidites, 52 adenomatous hyperplasias, 34 follicular adenomas, and four Hurthle cell adenomas), and 91 cases malignant(72 papillary carcinomas, 16 follicular carcinomas, one medullary carcinoma, one anaplastic carcinoma, and one granular cell tumor). After excluding 19 unsatisfactory cases, 63 were misdiagnosed. They included 17 benign(three thyroidites and 14 adenomatous hyperplasias), 27 suspicious(10 follicular adenomas, four Hurthle cell adenomas, and seven follicular carcinomas), and 19 malignant(16 papillary carcinoma, one medullary carcinoma, one anaplastic carcinoma. and one granular cell tumor) lesions. The accuracy rates in the benign, suspicious, and malignant categories were 54.9%, 49.8%, & 92.8%, respectively. The cytological pitfalls were as follows: (1) background, (2) crowded follicular cell clusters indistinguishable between follicular neoplasia and adenomatous hyperplasia, (3) papillary structure, irregular nuclear membrane and pleomorphism mimicking those of papillary carcinoma, (4) indistinct eosinophilia in follicular epithelial cells, (5) unusual cellular components not commonly seen in FNACS of the thyroid.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.152-155
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• 2009

Purpose: The most widely accepted tool for follow up management of thyroid cancer patients is serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement, but its value is limited by the interference of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg Ab). Recently thyroglobulin measurement in the wash out of fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens (Tg-FNAB) is frequently used for differential diagnosis of recurrences/metastases. The aim of this study was the investigation of the diagnostic utility of Tg-FNAB compared with serum Tg. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 41 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer who were evaluated for Tg-FNAB between January 2007 and February 2008 retrospectively. We ruled out 6 patients who anti-Tg Ab positive (${\geq}$100 U/mL) in the RIA (BRAHMS anti-Tgn RIA 100Det; BRAHMS Aktiengesell schaft, Berlin, Germany). Serum Tg and Tg-FNAB were measured by immunoradiometric assay (BRAHMS Tg pluS RIA 100 Det; BRAHMS Aktienge sellschaft, Berlin, Germany). We evaluated for Tg-FNAB compared with serum Tg and corresponding cytological smear. To compare the values of the two the t-test was used. Results: Tg-FNAB values were significantly higher (median 1,060 ng/mL, range 0.2~434,000 ng/mL) than serum Tg (median 2.5 ng/mL, range 0.9~131 ng/mL) (p=0.0394). The rate of correspondence with Tg-FNAB between cytological result was 87.9% and 65.9% in the case of serum Tg. Tg-FNAB was positive in 28 (24 with positive and 4 with suspicious cytology). Of the remaining 13 patients with negative Tg-FNAB, 1 had suspicious and 12 had unsuspicious cytology. serum Tg was positive in 26 (17 with positive and 3 with suspicious and 6 with unsuspicious cytology), Of the remaining 15 patients with negative serum Tg, 8 was positive in cytological result and 1 had suspicious and 6 had unsuspicious cytology. Conclusions: Tg-FNAB measurement is more accurate with high sensitivity (87.9%) than serum Tg (65.9%). The Tg-FNAB was a useful predictor for detecting recurrences/metastases with serum Tg.