Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine最新文献

Context.—: The current melanoma staging system does not account for 26% of the variance seen in melanoma-specific survival, therefore our ability to predict patient outcome is not fully elucidated. Morphology may be of greater significance than in other solid tumors, with Breslow thickness remaining the strongest prognostic indicator despite being subject to high levels of interobserver variation. The application of convolutional neural networks to whole slide images affords objective morphologic metrics, which may reveal new insights into patient prognosis.

Objective.—: To develop and evaluate a convolutional neural network for invasive cutaneous melanoma detection in whole slide images for the generation of objective prognostic biomarkers based on tumor morphology.

Design.—: One thousand sixty-eight whole slide images containing cutaneous melanoma from 5 data sets have been used in the initial development and evaluation of the convolutional neural network. A 2-class tumor segmentation network with a fully convolutional architecture was trained using sparse annotations. The network was evaluated at per-pixel and per-tumor levels as compared to manual annotation, as well as variation across 3 scanning platforms.

Results.—: The convolutional neural network located conventional cutaneous invasive melanoma tissue with an average per-pixel sensitivity and specificity of 97.59% and 99.86%, respectively, across the 5 test sets. There were high levels of concordance between the tumor dimensions generated by the model as compared to manual annotation, and between the tumor dimensions generated by the model across 3 scanning platforms.

Conclusions.—: We have developed a convolutional neural network that accurately detects invasive cutaneous conventional melanoma in whole slide images from multiple data sources. Future work should assess the use of this network to generate metrics for survival prediction.

Context.—: Histologic assessment of tumor regression grade (TRG) on esophagogastrectomy specimens after neoadjuvant therapy is an excellent predictor of local recurrence rate and long-term survival in esophageal adenocarcinomas. Although several grading systems exist globally, the modified Ryan system suggested by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) is widely used in North America. Most systems rely on quantitative percentage estimation of the residual tumor with or without additional qualitative descriptors, which is relatively subjective with poor interobserver agreement.

Objective.—: To test a morphometric-based approach using the microscopic objective lens to estimate the size of the largest focus of the residual tumor.

Design.—: A total of 69 esophageal specimens post neoadjuvant therapy were evaluated. Tumor size was morphometrically determined by the microscopic field, using an Olympus microscope with ×10/×22 eyepieces. Residual viable tumor was categorized into 4 groups, using ×2, ×4, and ×10 objectives: less than or equal to an ×10 field; larger than an ×10 field but less than or equal to an ×4 field; larger than an ×4 field but less than an ×2 field; and larger than or equal to an ×2 field.

Results.—: Morphometric measurements significantly correlated with the CAP treatment effect scores. There was no significant difference in overall survival between larger than or equal to ×2 and ×2 to ×4 groups; however, a 3-tier system (TRG1: ≤ ×10, TRG2: > ×10 and ≤ ×4, and TRG3: > ×4) showed significant survival differences (P = .01). Significant differences in the percentage of lymphovascular and perineural invasion, advanced TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis were identified among the 3 groups.

Conclusions.—: The proposed 3-tier morphometric approach based on microscopic field size is a simple and easy-to-use method, which helps stratify patients into 3 groups with distinct histopathologic features and overall survival.

Context.—: A correlation between the morphology of ovarian high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSOCs) and BRCA mutations has been previously reported.

Objective.—: To investigate, beyond BRCA, the association between the morphology of HGSOC and the presence of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD).

Design.—: We reviewed 522 of 806 cases of HGSOC from the PAOLA-1 clinical trial, including 163 cases with tumor BRCA mutation, 345 cases without tumor BRCA mutation, and 14 cases with inconclusive BRCA tests. Regarding HRD status (myChoice HRD Plus assay), 269 cases (52%) were positive (HRD+), 198 (38%) negative (HRD-), and 55 (10%) inconclusive. Morphologic analysis included tumor architecture (with more than 25% of solid, pseudoendometrioid, and transitional patterns defining a SET architecture), tumor-infiltrating intraepithelial lymphocytes (ieTILs), and tumor stromal lymphocytes (sTILs).

Results.—: SET architecture (51% versus 40%, P = .02), high number of ieTILs (16% versus 8%, P = .007) and more than 10% of sTILs (27% versus 18%, P = .02) were associated with tumor BRCA mutation, mostly for tumors with a BRCA1 mutation. These criteria were also associated with HRD status: 54% versus 33% (P < .001) for SET architecture, 14% versus 6% (P = .008) for high number of ieTILs, and 27% versus 15% (P = .003) for more than 10% of sTILs. SET architecture was also significantly associated with HRD+ tumors without tumor BRCA mutation (P < .001) when compared with HRD- tumors. The combination of these 3 criteria showed high specificity (0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99) but low sensitivity (0.07; 95% CI, 0.04-0.10).

Conclusions.—: The morphology of HGSOC correlates with HRD status and BRCA status but cannot substitute for molecular analysis in daily practice.

Context.—: Lymph node (LN) involvement (LNI) is not infrequently observed in ovarian serous borderline tumors (SBTs) but is not considered equivalent to malignant tumor metastasis, as it reportedly does not impact recurrence or survival in patients with SBT. However, the reasons underlying the insignificant clinical impact of LNI remain unclear.

Objective.—: To determine whether histologic reaction patterns (HRPs) are associated with SBT prognosis.

Design.—: We compared HRPs around tumor cell clusters in LNs of patients with SBT and low-grade serous carcinoma. HRPs were classified into 4 categories (HRP 1-HRP 4) based on tumor cell location in LNs, the presence of their adhesion to surrounding lymphoid tissue, or pericellular desmoplastic reactions.

Results.—: Although LNI itself was linked to reduced recurrence-free survival (RFS), no recurrence was observed in patients with HRP 1 or 2, characterized by freely floating tumor cells in the lumens of afferent/efferent lymphatics or intranodal sinus with surrounding free spaces. Conversely, HRP 3 or higher, characterized by firm tumor cell adhesion to lymphoid tissue (HRP 3) or peritumoral desmoplastic reaction (HRP 4), independently impacted RFS, albeit not overall survival.

Conclusions.—: The prognosis of SBT with LNI is not uniformly favorable, and HRPs around the LNI significantly influence patient outcomes. Patients with firm tumor cell adhesion to surrounding tissue, with or without peritumoral desmoplastic reaction (HRP ≥3), independently experience decreased RFS, although this does not correlate with reduced overall survival.

Context.—: Fumarate hydratase (FH)-deficient renal cell carcinoma (RCC) rarely exhibits a predominant tubulocystic architecture with few other components. RCC with pure tubules and cysts lined by eosinophilic tumor cells with prominent nucleoli would raise the diagnosis of tubulocystic RCC. It is important to differentiate the 2 entities because they lead to different outcomes.

Objective.—: To address this concern, a multicenter study was implemented to explore useful clinicopathologic features in differentiation between tubulocystic FH-deficient RCC and tubulocystic RCC.

Design.—: Clinical factors included age, sex, tumor size, and outcome. Morphologic factors included cell morphology, presence or absence of a nontubulocystic component, and stromal findings. Immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and next-generation sequencing were performed to explore the protein expression and molecular profiles of the 2 entities.

Results.—: We evaluated 6 patients with tubulocystic RCC and 10 patients with tubulocystic FH-deficient RCC. Tubulocystic RCC exhibited a small size (<4.0 cm, pT1a), low Ki-67 index (<5%), retained FH, and negative 2SC expression. Tubulocystic FH-deficient RCC had a relatively large size and a high Ki-67 index. Perinucleolar haloes, loss of FH, and 2SC positivity were always observed. Pure tubulocystic architecture was not observed in FH-deficient RCC, because focal nontubulocystic components can always be seen.

Conclusions.—: We emphasized multiple sectioning to identify a nontubulocystic architecture to exclude tubulocystic RCC. Moreover, tumor size, FH/2SC staining, and the Ki-67 index can differentiate tubulocystic FH-deficient RCC from tubulocystic RCC. The diagnosis of tubulocystic RCC was not recommended in renal mass biopsy because of the limited tissues sampled.

Context.—: M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) is the major autoantigen of membranous nephropathy (MN). As the specific antibodies of MN, the correlation between serum PLA2R antibody (sPLA2R-Ab) levels and PLA2R-associated MN (PMN) risk stratification is still controversial.

Objective.—: To apply the time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) method on urine PLA2R-Ab (uPLA2R-Ab), detect, and then establish a more sensitive method of combined serum and urine PLA2R-Ab detection for PMN hazard stratification.

Design.—: A highly sensitive TRFIA method was used to detect the initial serum and urine samples of patients with PMN. Patients were grouped into remission and nonremission groups according to the outcomes after 12 months of treatment and the data were analyzed.

Results.—: The cutoff values of sPLA2R-IgG (sPLA2R-immunoglobulin G), uPLA2R-IgG, sPLA2R-IgG4, and uPLA2R-IgG4 for distinguishing between remission and nonremission groups were 50 relative units (RU)/mL, 3.51 RU/mL, 6835 ng/mL, and 143.4 ng/mL, respectively. The average value in the remission group for sPLA2R-IgG, uPLA2R-IgG, sPLA2R-IgG4, and uPLA2R-IgG4 was 37.39 RU/mL, 1.10 RU/mL, 3498.99 ng/mL, and 33.83 ng/mL, respectively. The average value in the nonremission group for sPLA2R-IgG, uPLA2R-IgG, sPLA2R-IgG4, and uPLA2R-IgG4 was 279.96 RU/mL, 45.36 RU/mL, 25762.47 ng/mL, and 1383.89 ng/mL, respectively. For sPLA2R-Ab as the primary factor, in combination with uPLA2R-Ab, the high-risk predictive value of combined detection of serum and urine PLA2R-IgG and of serum and urine PLA2R-IgG4 was upgraded from 54.55% to 100% and from 75% to 100%, respectively.

Conclusions.—: A highly sensitive TRFIA method was applied in this study; the combined detection of serum and urine PLA2R-Ab improves the efficiency of PMN risk stratification, and can provide a better assessment of PMN monitoring.

Context.—: Histopathologic evaluation of bile duct and ampullary biopsies can be challenging. Biopsies from these sites are often tiny, scant, and/or fragmented. When assessing these biopsies, there is significant overlap between reactive atypia and malignancy, in situ precursor lesions can be misinterpreted as malignancy, and nonprimary tumors can mimic primary disease.

Objective.—: To provide diagnostic pearls and pitfalls in the evaluation of small biopsies from the biliary tract.

Data sources.—: Literature review of published studies and the author's own observations.

Conclusions.—: Because the procedures for obtaining specimens from the bile duct and ampulla are invasive, pathologists need to try to make definitive diagnoses. Diagnostic clues/pearls, ancillary studies, and recognition of various pitfalls can assist in providing accurate and confident diagnoses.

Context.—: Test-ordering practices vary widely between and within health care organizations, and methods used to benchmark test utilization data are unstandardized.

Objective.—: To develop and apply standardized methodology to compare inpatient test utilization data submitted by laboratories enrolled in a College of American Pathologists Q-Probes study.

Design.—: Participating laboratories provided inpatient test volumes for 50 designated analytes and total inpatient days for 2019 or a recent 12-month period. Test utilization patterns were characterized by studying test volumes standardized per 1000 inpatient days. Test volume variability used the standardized median absolute deviation; standardized test volumes were evaluated by calculating comparative ranges for each analyte. Standardized test volumes falling outside their respective comparative ranges are referred to as outliers in this study. Volume data were tested for association with stewardship practices and institutional demographics.

Results.—: Methodology using standardized test volume data identified test groups that are commonly used in the inpatient setting and efficiently identified volume outliers. High test volume outliers included creatine kinase myocardial band, free prostate-specific antigen, myoglobin, serotonin release assay, and hepatitis B serologies; no low-volume outliers were observed. Among 33 participants, 13 (39%) had no test volume outliers, while 5 (15%) showed multiple tests (13-34) with comparatively high volumes. No statistically significant relationships were found between stewardship practices and test-ordering patterns.

Conclusions.—: Our approach can be used to measure inpatient test volume data across organizations and for identifying test volumes falling outside of the standardized comparative ranges that may require interventions to change test utilization practices.

Context.—: Genomic reports are primarily organized in a narrative and unstructured format with variations in content and format. Regulatory requirements and professional guidelines for genetic test reporting exist but provide little guidance for effective communication of information.

Objective.—: To assess clinical genomic reporting practices across 5 disciplines within molecular diagnostics, including germline, somatic solid tumors, somatic hematologic malignancies, pharmacogenomics, and prenatal cell-free DNA screening.

Design.—: Reporting practices were assessed by using a structured review of clinical genomic reports from multiple laboratories in 5 molecular disciplines spanning different practice settings. Report content was reviewed by the presence/absence of from 27 to 44 elements, including 23 elements required by the College of American Pathologists and/or the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). If present, the element's location on the report was recorded.

Results.—: A total of 69 genomics reports from 31 laboratories were reviewed. Overall, the reports were compliant with regulatory requirements but showed variability in both format and content. Six of 7 required reporting elements (per CLIA, 42 CFR [Code of Federal Regulations] 493.1291) were included in 90% of the reports. However, these elements were often located in different report sections. Only patient demographics were always found in a specific report section (header).

Conclusions.—: These results show that reports are overall compliant with regulatory requirements, despite some reporting elements being less consistently reported. The lack of consistent presentation of the data elements presents an opportunity to improve the communication of molecular testing results to clinicians and patients.

Context.—: Opportunities to improve transfusion safety occur at lower hemoglobin (Hgb) thresholds and single-unit transfusions. Efforts to improve compliance with transfusion guidelines and single-unit transfusion practices reduce transfusions and lead to improved outcomes.

Objective.—: To evaluate demographic and practice characteristics associated with lower Hgb thresholds and single red blood cell (RBC) unit transfusion practices.

Design.—: This study used the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Q-Probes format with the recent 2020 and 2017 surveys of participating institutions.

Results.—: High rates of transfusion review and compliance were observed with institutions reporting RBC transfusions meeting institutional guidelines. CAP inspection participants and those with a formal policy to encourage single-unit transfusions showed a trend toward greater compliance. Comparison of 2020 and 2017 survey results showed favorable downward trends in the Hgb threshold for transfusion compliance review and pretransfusion and posttransfusion Hgb values. Institutions reporting initiatives to decrease transfusions, teaching hospitals, and those with updated guidelines in alignment with recent literature reported lower pretransfusion Hgb levels in both studies. The 2020 study showed greater single-unit transfusion use among hospitals with patient blood management programs, larger institutions, and those training pathology residents. Single-unit transfusion rates varied by hospital service, with highest rates reported within hematology/oncology (99 of 138 [71.7%]), intensive care (147 of 215 [68.4%]), and medicine (419 of 666 [62.9%]) services.

Conclusions.—: Transfusion practice improvement programs to decrease RBC transfusions include the use of single-unit transfusions and lower institutional pretransfusion Hgb thresholds. Opportunities to lower transfusion thresholds and increase single-unit transfusions exist in surgical and obstetrics services.