The morphological evaluation of cytological specimens from body cavity fluids presents difficulties in the differential diagnosis between benign reactive mesothelial (RM) cells and adenocarcinoma (AC) or malignant mesothelioma (MM). The aim of our study was to investigate whether a panel of five different antibodies can offer reliable markers in the differential diagnosis of RM, AC, and MM in serous effusions. A total of 134 cytological specimens of serous effusions from 80 ACs, 50 RMs, and 4 MMs, previously stained with Papanicolaou stain, were selected retrospectively from our files and stained with anti-human mesothelial cell (HBME-1), calretinin, epithelial specific antigen (MOC-31), Ber-EP4, and BG8. Statistical significance was found with HBME-1, calretinin, MOC-31, anti-human epithelial antigen (Ber-EP4), and blood group related antigen (BG8) when comparing AC vs. any type of mesothelial proliferation (MM or RM). The sensitivity of HBME-1 and calretinin for mesothelial cells was 98 and 100%, respectively, and the specificity was 71 and 80%, respectively. Both antibodies stained reactive mesothelial as well as MM cells, with calretinin showing a stronger intensity of immunostaining. The sensitivity of the stain for AC was 86.25% for MOC-31, 77.5% for Ber-EP4, and 67.5% for BG8, and, when combined, the sensitivity was 100%. Our data suggest that immunocytochemical studies performed on Papanicolaou-stained cytological smears with HBME-1, calretinin, MOC-31, Ber-EP4, and BG8 proved to be useful in the differentiation between metastatic AC and mesothelial proliferation. Probably, calretinin is a more preferred marker for mesothelial cells as evidenced by a more intense staining reaction.

No abstract

In order to appraise the usefulness of HMFG2 and thyroglobulin (Tg) as specific markers for the diagnosis of thyroid disease, we studied 63 FNA smears. Cases tested included 30 benign (nine colloid goitres, six cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, six Hürthle cell adenomas, nine follicular adenomas) and 33 malignant lesions (nine follicular carcinomas, 12 papillary carcinomas, nine anaplastic carcinomas, three medullary carcinomas). All cases with malignant lesions except the anaplastic carcinomas were positive for HMFG2. Immunoreactive cells to HMFG2 were also found in 15 adenomas out of 30 benign cases. Positive Tg reaction was found in benign and malignant thyroid lesions, except six cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, nine anaplastic and three medullary carcinomas. The results obtained indicate that morphology paired with immunocytochemistry can usually depict a more specific profile of thyroid lesions for better evaluation of the pathology.

Background DNA topoisomerase II alpha (topo IIα) is an enzyme that functions to separate intertwined chromosomes before mitosis. Topoisomerase IIα also is the molecular target for a variety of clinically useful anticancer drugs. Several of the agents are used to treat in most cases NHLs. To evaluate the potential association between topoisomerase IIα and cell proliferation, ki67 immunostaining was also assessed. Methods Topoisomerase IIα (topo IIα) and the monoclonal antibody MIB1 (ki67) were investigated immunocytochemically on imprints smears obtained from 30 patients aged from 22 to 82 years (mean age 45.3) with NHLs. The study comprised 16 patients with high‐grade and 14 with low‐grade NHLs. The cytomorphological diagnoses were verified by histology and were classified according to Kiel classification. We use the avidin‐biotin streptavidin immunoperoxidase technique and the monoclonal antibodies topoisomerase IIα (Clone 3F6 YLEM dilution 1:20) and the MIB1 (ki67 YLEM ready to use). Results The average topo IIα index of high‐grade NHLs was 50 with range from 15.2 to 78.5 whereas the average topo index of low‐grade NHL was 10 with a range from 0.8 to 15. The average of ki67 index of high‐grade was 50.1 with range 45–80 while the average of low‐grade NHl was 13.6 with a range from 2.5–78.9. Statistical analysis was employed by Mann–Whitey U‐test and the two values for high and low grades are statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions These results show that high‐grade NHLs have topo IIα and MIB1 indices that are significantly higher than low‐grade NHLs. The ratio of expression compatible with the grade of malignancy in NHLs possibly identifies the cases which are more or less sensitive to chemotherapy agents.