Browsing by Author "Randolph, Melissa"

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    Detection of BRAF Mutations on Direct Smears of Thyroid Fine Needle Aspirates through Cell Transfer Technique
    (Oxford, 2015-04) Shi, Qiuying; Ibrahim, Ashley; Herbert, Kristi; Carvin, Marcia; Randolph, Melissa; Post, Kristin M.; Curless, Kendra; Chen, Shaoxiong; Cramer, Harvey M.; Cheng, Liang; Wu, Howard H.; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IU School of Medicine
    Objectives: To determine the utility of the cell transfer technique (CTT) for BRAF molecular testing on thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based BRAF molecular testing was performed on tissues obtained through CTT from both air-dried and ethanol-fixed direct smears of thyroid FNA specimens and then compared with the corresponding thyroidectomy formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues on 30 cases. Results: BRAF testing was successfully performed on 29 of 30 air-dried CTT, 27 of 30 ethanol-fixed CTT, and 27 of 30 FFPE tissues. The results exhibited 11, 13, and 13 BRAF mutations and 18, 14, and 14 wild types for the air-dried CTT, the ethanol-fixed CTT, and the FFPE tissues, respectively. The concordance rate was 96% between air-dried and ethanol-fixed CTT tissues, 88% between air-dried CTT and FFPE tissues, and 92% between ethanol-fixed CTT and FFPE tissues. Conclusions: PCR-based BRAF mutational testing can be reliably performed on the direct smears of the thyroid FNA specimens through the application of CTT.
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    Prospective Assessment of the Performance of a New Fine Needle Biopsy Device for EUS-Guided Sampling of Solid Lesions
    (Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2018-11) Hajj, Ihab I.; Wu, Howard; Reuss, Sarah; Randolph, Melissa; Harris, Akeem; Gromski, Mark; Al-Haddad, Mohammad; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) remains the most common EUS-guided tissue acquisition technique. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a new Franseen tip fine needle biopsy (FNB) device for EUSguided sampling of solid lesions and compare it with the historical FNA technique. METHODS: Acquire® 22 G FNB needle (Boston Scientific Co., Natick, MA, USA) was used for solid tumor sampling (Study group). Tissue was collected for rapid on-site evaluation, and touch and crush preparations were made. Historical EUS-FNA samples obtained using Expect® 22 G FNA needle (Boston Scientific Co.) were used as controls (Control group). All specimens were independently evaluated by two cytopathologists blinded to the formal cytopathological diagnosis. RESULTS: Mean cell block histology scores were significantly higher (p=0.046) in the FNB group (51 samples) despite a significantly lower (p<0.001) mean number of passes compared to the FNA group (50 specimens). The overall diagnostic yields for the FNB vs. FNA groups were 96% vs. 88%. The degree of tumor differentiation was adequately assessed in all cell block qualifying lesions in the FNB group. Two patients developed post-FNB abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: The new Franseen tip FNB device provides histologically superior and cytologically comparable specimens to those obtained by FNA, but with fewer passes.
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    Utilization of Cell-Transfer Technique for Molecular Testing on H&E-stained Sections- A Viable Option for Small Biopsies that Lack Tumor Tissues in Paraffin Block
    (2016-12) Wu, Howard H.; Jovonovich, Stephen M.; Randolph, Melissa; Post, Kristin M.; Sen, Joyashree D.; Curless, Kendra; Cheng, Liang; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine
    Context.— In some instances the standard method of doing molecular testing from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded block is not possible because of limited tissue. Tumor cell–enriched cell-transfer technique has been proven useful for performing immunocytochemistry and molecular testing on cytologic smears. Objective.— To establish the cell-transfer technique as a viable option for isolating tumor cells from hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)–stained slides. Design.— Molecular testing was performed by using the cell-transfer technique on 97 archived H&E-stained slides from a variety of different tumors. Results were compared to the conventional method of molecular testing. Results.— Polymerase chain reaction–based molecular testing via the cell-transfer technique was successfully performed on 82 of 97 samples (85%). This included 39 of 47 cases for EGFR, 10 of 11 cases for BRAF, and 33 of 39 cases for KRAS mutations. Eighty-one of 82 cell-transfer technique samples (99%) showed agreement with previous standard method results, including 4 mutations and 35 wild-type alleles for EGFR, 4 mutations and 6 wild-type alleles for BRAF, and 11 mutations and 21 wild-type alleles for KRAS. There was only 1 discrepancy: a cell-transfer technique with a false-negative >KRAS result (wild type versus G12C). Conclusions.— Molecular testing performed on H&E-stained sections via cell-transfer technique is useful when tissue from cell blocks and small surgical biopsy samples is exhausted and the only available material for testing is on H&E-stained slides.