Fine Needle Aspiration vs. Touch Preparation Cytology: Insights from Selected Case Presentations

Course overview

Short description: Prognostication, treatment and management of many solid malignancies are rapidly evolving due in part to revolutionary changes in the molecular diagnostics field. The increased shift to minimally invasive diagnostic sampling techniques coupled with efforts to enhance utilization of more limited diagnostic tissue samples ("do more with less") pose new challenges to the pathology laboratory team today. This educational session will 1) discuss some of the factors driving the trend toward increased use of limited small tissue samples, 2) highlight how rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) is increasingly being used to optimize the adequacy assessment and triage of such small biopsy specimens, 3) compare the use of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and touch preparation evaluation of needle core biopsy in ROSE and 4) illustrate how the synthesis and current application of this evolving body of medical knowledge, skills and attitudes have resulted in some lessons learned from selected clinical cases. Objectives: 1. Recognize the factors influencing the increasing trend toward small diagnostic biopsy procurement and diagnosis across selected tumor tissue types. 2. Identify various types of cytologic preparations from tissue samples, in particular touch preparations, and how they compare to fine needle aspiration biopsy. 3. Discuss the utility of ROSE in the adequacy assessment and triage of small tissue samples and how FNAB and touch preparation evaluation of needle core biopsies compare in ROSE. 4. Discuss important insights gained from the use of ROSE illustrated by a series of selected cases.