Comparative study of fine needle aspiration and fine needle capillary sampling of thyroid lesions

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether fine needle capillary (FNC) sampling gives quantitatively and qualitatively superior cytologic material as compared to the conventional technique of fine needle aspiration (FNA) when performed by a single aspirator. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional diagnostic test evaluation study. FNA and FNC were performed by a single operator on 200 diffuse and nodular thyroid lesions. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in favor of FNC was observed for the parameter amount of cellular material. For the rest of the parameters--background blood or clot, degree of cellular degeneration, degree of cellular trauma and retention of architecture--the average score favored FNC but was not statistically significant--i.e., smears prepared from FNC displayed cellular material that was more concentrated, less damaged and less likely to be obscured by blood. CONCLUSION: Although FNC sampling was diagnostic in a greater number of cases than FNA sampling, this study did not prove a clear superiority of FNC over FNA. Until greater experience shows clear sampling superiority of FNC alone, rather than performing only FNA in diffuse or nodular thyroid lesions, incorporating FNC into the second puncture will definitely improve the quality and quantity of material at the patient's first visit.     

Variation of the Pinus ponderosa needle oil with season and needle age

Influence of season and needle age on the yield and composition of the Pinus ponderosa needle oil was investigated. Oil yields throughout the year averaged 0·13% on the basis of tissue green weight. The average composition was 11·9% -pinene, 70·2% β-pinene, 8·0% 3-carene, 5·0% myrcene, 1·8% limonene, 2·2% β-phellandrene and 6·4% methyl chavicol (total MONOTERPENES = 100%). The amount of methyl chavicol and total monoterpenoids was highest in summer, lower in juvenile than in mature firstyear needles, and decreasing thereafter with needle age. A significant increase in 3-carene and decrease in β-pinene was apparent in juvenile needles. The most important step towards decreasing the seasonal and age variability of needle samples in ecological or chemotaxonomic studies was found to involve exclusion of sample collections during a period between the initial appearance of young needles and the time that they reach maximum length.     

Percutaneous needle nephrostomy

Percutaneous nephrostomy is a simple technique for temporary drainage of an obstructed kidney. Under local anaesthesia a ureteric catheter is passed through a Vim–Silverman needle into the renal pelvis and is connected to a drainage bag. Seven cases (six successful) in which this method was used are described and the indications are discussed. It has been free from complications, is acceptable to patients, and is felt to represent a useful addition to the methods available for the treatment of obstruction of the upper urinary tract.     

Fine needle aspiration minibiopsies

During a five-and-one-half-year period, cell buttons were prepared from 393 (29%) of 1,375 fine needle aspirates. Of these, 237 were diagnostically helpful and confirmatory in conjunction with the smears. In 103 (7% of all cases), the tissue fragments in the cell button allowed a definite diagnosis or classification of the tumor that otherwise would not have been possible. The architecture that is often preserved in these minibiopsies is identical to that seen in larger tissue samples. The specimens lend themselves well to special histochemical and electron microscopic studies. Wider use of this established and simple procedure is encouraged.     

The needle necropsy.

The technique of limited necropsy by histological examination of needle tissue cores obtained percutaneously is indicated when a full necropsy is not justified owing to the risk of infection or when tissue for special investigations is needed soon after death without recourse to full necropsy facilities. The method is ideal for detecting conditions producing diffuse changes in an organ. Because the cadaver is preserved essentially intact relatives who refuse permission for a standard necropsy might consent to a needle necropsy if this option is offered to them.     

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue sampling by combined fine needle aspiration and trucut needle biopsy: a prospective study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has a diagnostic accuracy of 70-90%, depending on the site under evaluation. In order to improve EUS-guided tissue sampling a novel 19-gauge trucut-type needle has been designed to obtain core biopsies during EUS. We prospectively evaluated the safety and accuracy of EUS-FNA alone versus combined EUS-FNA and trucut needle biopsy (TNB) in patients referred to our Unit over a 3-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 159 patients underwent EUS-FNA alone (lesions<2 cm) or the combination of both sampling modalities (lesions>or=2 cm). The adequacy of sampling, sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracies of EUS-FNA or EUS-TNB alone and combined EUS-FNA/TNB were determined. RESULTS: Adequate samples were obtained by EUS-FNA, EUS-TNB and EUS-FNA/TNB in 91%, 88% and 97% of patients, respectively. From the pancreas (n=83), adequate samples were obtained by FNA in 94% and by TNB in 81%, compared with 87% and 92% from non-pancreatic sites (n=76), respectively. The combination of both techniques resulted in more adequate samples from non-pancreatic cases than EUS-FNA alone (P=0.044). The specificity was 100%. Overall accuracy for EUS-FNA alone was 77%, for EUS-TNB alone 73% and for EUS-FNA/TNB 91% (P=0.008). For pancreatic sampling, the accuracy of EUS-FNA alone was 77%, for EUS-TNB alone 56% and for EUS-FNA/TNB 83%. For non-pancreatic sampling, the accuracy for EUS-FNA alone was 78%, for EUS-TNB alone 83% and for EUS-FNA/TNB 95% (P=0.006). The complication rate was 0.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Combined EUS-FNA/TNB for lesions>or=2 cm improves adequacy of sampling and diagnostic accuracy compared with either technique alone and is safe.     

Climatic influences on needle cohort survival mediated by Swiss needle cast in coastal Douglas-fir

Swiss needle cast (SNC) severity in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) has been shown to vary spatially and temporally in response to climatic factors both within its native range and in regions where it has been planted as an exotic species. Survival models were developed for different Douglas-fir needle cohorts to enhance our understanding of how climatic influences on needle longevity are mediated by SNC in the Oregon Coast Range. The climate-based models were based on repeated measurement of 100 plots between 1998 and 2005 coupled with downscaled PRISM climate data. Potential predictors of needle survival by annual cohort were selected from numerous climatic variables at annual, seasonal, and monthly scales. Needle survival probability was positively associated with maximum summer temperature, and negatively associated with minimum winter temperature and spring precipitation. Seasonal climate variables associated with needle longevity are consistent with current epidemiological understanding of Phaeocyrptopus gaeumannii, as well as with previous analyses of climatic influences on SNC severity as measured by average years of foliage retention and frequency of fungal fruiting bodies, or pseudothecia, in stomates.     

Dothistroma needle blight of pines

In laboratory and field tests against Dothistroma pini of thirty-eight commercially available or experimental fungicides several showed high contact activity (notably Blasticidin M), indicating potential eradicant properties. Only triphenyl tin or copper-based compounds gave good field protection. For protection, two widely spaced annual applications are recommended for an area with two heavy rainfall periods.