OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the adequacy of archived and fresh fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens from metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) for the molecular detection and genotyping of high-risk (HR) HPV. STUDY DESIGN Thirty-seven specimens from 26 patients diagnosed by FNA with metastatic SCC were included as retrospective specimens [19 slides stai...

BACKGROUND Extraction of DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is a critical step in molecular oncologic testing. As molecular oncology testing becomes more important for prognostic and therapeutic decision making and tissue specimens become smaller due to earlier detection of suspicious lesions and the use of fine needle aspiration methods for tissue collection, it becomes m...

BACKGROUND Desmoplastic melanoma is a variant of malignant melanoma that can range in appearance from sarcomatoid to scar-like. Cytomorphology of desmoplastic melanoma has been previously described on conventional smears; however, to our knowledge, detailed cytomorphology on ThinPrep has so far not been described. Herein, we describe the cytomorphology of two cases of desmoplastic melanoma on f...

Dark blue rings and circles emerged when the non-specific polysaccharide stain lactophenol cotton blue was added to Gram stained slides. The dark blue staining is attributable to the presence of capsular polysaccharides and bacterial slime associated with clumps of Gram-negative bacteria.  Since all bacterial cells are glycosylated and concentrate polysaccharides from the media, the majority of...

Background: Direct identification of Leishmania species in Giemsa-stained slides without parasite culturing in the areas where multiple species exist, is very helpful. This study was designed to isolate Leishmani spp. from Giemsa-stained smears and to characterize them by PCR technique. Methods: A total of 48 Giemsa-Stained slides from confirmed cases of leishmaniasis were examined under a ligh...

The chromosomal spread and karyotype of Bleak (Alburnus alburnus) from Anzali lagoon were identified using tissue squashing techniques with injection of 0.5ml/100g body weight of 0.01% Colchicines solution in fish fingerlings. Kidney and gill tissues were then extracted and chopped in KCl 0.045M for 20 min and fixed in Carnoy solution in 3 stages. The chromosomal spreads were stained in 20% Gim...

Direct smear microscopy of sputum forms the mainstay of TB diagnosis in resource-limited settings. Stained sputum smear slides can serve as a ready-made resource to transport sputum for molecular drug susceptibility testing. However, bio-safety is a major concern during transport of sputum/stained slides and for laboratory workers engaged in processing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected sputum...