Follicular thyroid adenomas (FTAs) and carcinomas (FTCs), collectively the most common thyroid neoplasms, constitute a significant clinical challenge since histological evidence of invasive behaviour is required for a malignant diagnosis. Small subsets of FTAs relapse as manifest malignant FTCs, indicating that histology is not always adequate to predict malignant potential. Lately, recurrent mutations in the promoter of the Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene have been coupled to FTCs, whereas FTAs usually lack this aberrancy. We describe three patients with follicular thyroid tumours in which TERT promoter mutational screening was employed as part of the clinical work-up to pinpoint malignant potential. In two retrospective analyses of seemingly benign lesions, the detected mutations predicted future skeletal metastases, and in one prospective case, the mutational screening led to a different clinical management of the afflicted patient. We therefore consider TERT promoter mutational screening an adjunct tool of value in equivocal cases.

Abstract.A novel IgG1, κ mouse monoclonal antibody (clone 1E8.33) to human procollagen 11A1 has been generated. This antibody is poorly mutated, essentially in germ line configuration; its complementarity determining regions (CDRs) are especially rich in tyrosine and serine residues. The epitope recognized is encompassed in the YNYGTMESYQTEAPR amino acid stretch within the variable region of human procollagen 11A1. Human procollagens 5A1 and 11A1 are very similar. However, this antibody does not cross-react with human procollagen 5A1. In human breast tumors, only the activated peritumoral myofibroblasts show a strong intracytoplasmic staining with this antibody. As procollagen 11A1 is overexpressed in the stroma of human tumors with desmoplastic reaction, this antibody represents a valuable tool for diagnostic purposes.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition (CPDD) is the accepted name for a disease that mainly occurs in elderly patients. This disease affects many joints in particular the knee joint. CPDD is extremely rare in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with only few cases reported in the English literature. Herein, we present a case of an 89 years old woman with a radiological diagnosis of chondrosarcoma of TMJ. Fine-needle aspiration cytology however showed crystals, multinucleated giant cells and macrophages which allowed a correct diagnosis of CPDD.

The article “Aspiration Biopsy of Mammary Tumors in Diagnosis and Research - A Critical Review of 2,200 Cases” by Zajicek et al. [Acta Cytol 1967;11:169-175] is composed of two separate parts as can be seen from the title. Both are, however, of great historical interest. The first describes the early days of fine-needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of breast lesions in particular carcinomas. The results are still impressive with a diagnostic accuracy close to 90%. The second deals with the effect of negative pressure on cell viability during the aspiration procedure. These studies were aimed at evaluating the usefulness of aspirated tumor cells to analyze the effects of therapy and the origin of tumor cells.

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