Faculty Bibliography

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) of breast cancer is an independent adverse prognosticator that is associated with increased regional and distant tumor recurrence. LVI is infrequently encountered in invasive lobular carcinoma when compared to invasive ductal carcinoma. We employed D2-40 antibody, a novel marker for lymphatic endothelial cells, in an attempt to enhance the detection of LVI in invasive lobular carcinomas. We identified 78 patients with invasive lobular carcinoma with known axillary status, who were studied between 2003 and 2006. D2-40 antibody was applied to one representative paraffin block from each case and the results were compared to LVI on routine histology. LVI was identified in 12 (15%) and 19 (24%) cases by routine histology and D2-40 antibody, respectively. Eleven of 12 patients (92%) with LVI identified by routine histology had axillary nodal metastasis compared to 14 of 19 patients (74%) with LVI identified by D2-40 antibody. LVI was missed by routine histology in 8 cases (10%). D2-40 antibody enhanced the identification of LVI by 9% in node negative patients. D2-40 antibody increased the identification of LVI by 12% in classic invasive lobular carcinoma. In conclusion, D2-40 antibody staining may be useful as an adjunct in detecting LVI in invasive lobular carcinoma, especially in node-negative patients with the classic variant of invasive lobular carcinoma

Mucinous lesions in the breast are uncommon. They constitute a wide spectrum of lesions ranging from extravasated mucin associated with fibrocystic change to mucinous carcinoma. There are limited data on the reliability of core biopsy in the diagnosis of mucinous lesions of the breast. We reviewed the core biopsy and surgical biopsy diagnoses in 32 mucinous lesions of the breast. We conclude that core biopsy is highly reliable for accurate diagnosis of mucinous lesions of the breast

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the head and neck region is well accepted as a diagnostic procedure in the adult population. FNAC in the pediatric population is gaining acceptance as clinicians add this technique to the diagnostic armamentarium. An experience with FNAC of the head and neck region in the pediatric population is described from 2 large inner-city hospitals. Eighty-five cases were retrieved from patients age <18 years. In 52 cases, clinical or surgical follow-up was obtained and among these cases the specificity and sensitivity of FNA was 93% and 100%, respectively. The high specificity of FNAC allows the clinician to be confident of malignancy in a clinically suspicious lesion of the head and neck in a pediatric patient. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2007. (c) 2007 American Cancer Society.