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V Wadehra

Publications and source records attributed to V Wadehra.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

An audit of the positive predictive value of high-grade dyskaryosis in cervical smears: 2001-2002.

The positive predictive value (PPV) of high-grade dyskaryosis for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) or worse on histology is published annually for the laboratories in the UK National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP). The PPV fell in 2001 compared with 2000 for four of the five consultants reporting cervical smears in our laboratory, the greatest fall being from 91.6% to 77.9%. Investigation of the possible reasons for the fall suggested the main cause lay outside the laboratory in the type of biopsy taken at colposcopy. We conclude that biopsy type affects accuracy of PPV calculations. There is variation in collection and submission of KC61 data including PPV across laboratories. This factor needs to be taken into account when publishing and comparing laboratory data for the NHSCSP.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Management of stable angina.

Ischaemic heart disease may present as a wide variety of clinical entities including unstable or stable angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, and occasionally heart failure. Chronic stable angina is a common condition and results in a considerable burden for both the individual and society. The goals in management are (i) treatment of other conditions that may worsen angina; (ii) modification of risk factors and treatment with medications for coronary artery disease to improve outcome; and (iii) effective relief of anginal symptoms. There are limitations to the methods available to risk-stratify patients, and the optimal treatment strategy remains unclear. The benefits of lifestyle modification cannot be over-emphasised, and appropriate attention to modifiable risk factors is paramount. The mortality benefit of lipid lowering treatment and antiplatelet therapy is well proved. However the evidence base for anti-ischaemic therapy is less rigorous, being based mainly on extrapolations from studies of acute coronary syndromes. Angioplasty has been shown to be more effective in relief of symptoms than medical therapy alone, but provides no mortality benefit. Coronary artery bypass surgery, however, has been shown to reduce mortality in patients with severe proximal coronary disease when compared with medical management alone.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

How predictive is a cervical smear suggesting glandular neoplasia?

The prevalence of endocervical adenocarcinoma and its precursors has increased, in part due to increased diagnostic awareness of these lesions. To date, limited information has been published regarding the predictive value of glandular abnormalities in cervical smears. This study details the histological follow up of 418 cervical smears showing glandular abnormality, reported in our department over a six year period from 1993 to 1998. Histological follow up was available for 395 of the 418 smears (94.50%). The overall positive predictive value (PPV) for this group of smears was 72.66% for either significant glandular or squamous pathology (at least low grade cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia or CIN2 on follow up biopsy), and 55.70% for significant glandular pathology alone. Examination of subcategories of abnormal glandular smear showed that the PPV increased with the degree of abnormality reported within the smears.

Adenocarcinoma↗

How predictive is a cervical smear suggesting invasive squamous cell carcinoma?

How predictive is a cervical smear suggesting invasive squamous cell carcinoma? Features have been described in severely dyskaryotic cervical smears that suggest frankly invasive or microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma. These are reported in three separate categories in our department. The aim of the current study was to assess the positive predictive value of these categories for invasive disease on histology. All smears reported in these categories over a five year period were correlated with the histology results. 527 smears were assessed. The positive predictive value of a smear suggesting frank invasion was 55.7% for all invasive squamous carcinomas and 40% for stage IB or above. Smears suspicious of invasion or microinvasion predicted invasive disease in 22.3% and 17.2%, respectively, most carcinomas being stage IA. Invasive squamous cell carcinoma may be predicted to a limited degree by cervical cytology especially when the smear suggests frank invasion.

Adult↗

The importance of intracytoplasmic DPAS positivity in fine needle aspirates of breast lesions.

AIMS: For many years the presence of strong intracytoplasmic periodic acid Schiff (PAS) positive, diastase resistant (DPAS) staining within atypical cells has been used in this laboratory as a marker for carcinoma in fine needle aspirates from breast lesions. The aim of the current study was to document such DPAS positivity across the spectrum from benign to malignant breast disease and assess its value in the upgrading of cytology reports. METHODS: Over a six month period, 315 aspirates were studied, each having sufficient cellular material for DPAS staining to be carried out on one whole slide. DPAS staining was recorded semiquantitatively as negative, equivocal, or positive (+, ++, or +++). The cytology results were correlated with any subsequent histology performed on these patients. RESULTS: DPAS positive material was seen in both intracellular and extracellular locations. Care was needed in its interpretation. Occasional cells with apparently genuine intracytoplasmic positivity (+) were found in both benign and malignant cases. Frequent or particularly strong intracellular DPAS positivity (++, +++) correlated best with malignancy. Two cases were reliably upgraded from immediate reports suspicious of malignancy to final reports diagnostic of malignancy on the basis of the intracytoplasmic DPAS staining. CONCLUSION: Strict criteria are required for the interpretation of intracytoplasmic DPAS positivity and routine cytological appearances should also be taken into account. Weak positivity in occasional cells, especially in flat epithelial sheets, may be seen in benign lesions and is not reliable as a marker of malignancy. DPAS positivity with internal structure and producing nuclear indentation, especially in dissociated or atypical cells, correlates well with malignant histology and can be reassuring in the cytological diagnosis of malignancy.

Amylases↗

Thyroid aspiration cytology in Newcastle: a six year cytology/histology correlation study.

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a well-established technique for pre-operative investigation of thyroid nodule(s). Thyroid FNAC was introduced in the teaching hospitals of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1981, initially with a small group of clinicians as aspirators. Audit results for 1981-1986 inclusive showed an unsatisfactory rate of 25.3% and prediction of malignancy with a sensitivity of 93.5%. FNAC has become more popular locally for the investigation of thyroid disease and the number of clinicians performing aspirates has increased. The results for recent years have, therefore, been audited. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for 239 patients with a dominant thyroid nodule who had FNAC carried out in the 6 year period 1990-1995 and subsequent partial or complete thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Histology of thyroid specimens showed 60 follicular adenomas and 34 malignant lesions (including 19 papillary, 10 follicular and 3 medullary carcinomas, one lymphoma and one follicular neoplasm with indeterminate malignant potential). A total of 302 FNAC had been carried out on these 239 patients. On cytological grounds the unsatisfactory sample (AC0 and AC1) rate was 43.1% on initial aspiration which was reduced to 32.2% on repeated aspiration. FNAC predicted neoplasia (AC3, AC4 and AC5) with a sensitivity of 86.8%, a specificity of 67.0%, a negative predictive value of 87.5% and a positive predictive value of 65.5%. Malignancy was predicted by FNAC (AC3, AC4 and AC5) with a sensitivity of 88.9%. A FNAC report of AC5 had a positive predictive value for malignancy of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: FNAC is an invaluable and minimally invasive procedure for the pre-operative assessment of patients with a dominant thyroid nodule. It is, however, important that the number of aspirators and cytopathologists be kept small to maintain expertise and also that the results of FNAC be subjected to ongoing audit.

Adolescent↗

Peritoneal cytology in the surgical evaluation of gastric carcinoma.

Many patients undergoing surgery for gastric carcinoma will develop peritoneal metastases. A method to identify those patients at risk of peritoneal recurrence would help in the selection of patients for adjuvant therapy. Peritoneal cytology has received little attention in the West, but may prove a useful additional means of evaluating patients with gastric cancer. The aims of this study were to evaluate sampling techniques for peritoneal cytology in patients with gastric cancer, to assess the prognostic significance of free peritoneal malignant cells and to discover the effect of the operative procedure on dissemination of malignant cells. The study is based on 85 consecutive patients undergoing surgical treatment of gastric cancer and followed up for 2 years or until death. Peritoneal cytology samples were collected at laparoscopy, and at operation prior to resection by intraperitoneal lavage and serosal brushings. After resection, samples were taken by peritoneal lavage, imprint cytology of the resected specimen and post-operatively by peritoneal irrigation via a percutaneous catheter. Malignant cells were diagnosed by two independent microscopists. Preoperative peritoneal lavage yielded malignant cells in 16 out of 85 cases (19%). The yield of free malignant cells was increased by using serosal brushings (by four cases) and imprint cytology (by two cases); all of the cases had evidence of serosal penetration. One serosa-negative case exhibited positive cytology in the post-resection peritoneal specimen in which the preresection cytology specimen was negative. Survival was worse in the cytology-positive group (chi2 = 25.1; P< 0.0001). Among serosa-positive patients, survival was significantly reduced if cytology was positive, if cases yielded by brushings and imprint cytology were included (log-rank test = 8.44; 1 df, P = 0.004). In conclusion, free peritoneal malignant cells can be identified in patients with gastric cancer who have a poor prognosis; the yield can be increased with brushings and imprint cytology in addition to conventional peritoneal lavage. Evaluation of peritoneal cytology by these methods may have a role in the selection of patients with the poorest prognosis who may benefit most from adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗

DNA ploidy and cell cycle distribution of breast cancer aspirate cells measured by image cytometry and analyzed by artificial neural networks for their prognostic significance.

Chromosomal abnormalities are commonly associated with cancer, and their importance in the pathogenesis of the disease has been well recognized. Also recognized in recent years is the possibility that, together with chromosomal abnormalities, DNA ploidy of breast cancer aspirate cells, measured by image cytometric techniques, may correlate with prognosis of the disease. Here, we have examined the use of an artificial neural network to predict: 1) subclinical metastatic disease in the regional lymph nodes and 2) histological assessment, through the analysis of data obtained by image cytometric techniques of fine needle aspirates of breast tumors. The cellular features considered were: 1) DNA ploidy measured in terms of nuclear DNA content as well as by cell cycle distribution; 2) size of the S-phase fraction; and 3) nuclear pleomorphism. A further objective of the study was to analyze individual markers in terms of impact significance on predicting outcome in both cases. DNA ploidy, indicated by cell cycle distribution, was found markedly to influence the prediction of nodal spread of breast cancer, and nuclear pleomorphism to a lesser degree. Furthermore, a comparison between histological assessment and artificial neural network prediction shows a closer correlation between the neural approach and the development of further metastases as indicated in subsequent follow-up, than does histological assessment. These data demonstrate that artificial neural networks are capable of providing powerful and reliable indicators of possible lymph node metastasis, using measurements of cellular features alone.

Breast Neoplasms↗

A prospective follow up study of women with colposcopically unconfirmed positive cervical smears.

OBJECTIVE: To examine a cohort of women with positive cervical smears, but negative colposcopy, in order to ascertain whether there is a subsequent difference in the incidence of squamous dyskaryosis and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia when compared with a control group. DESIGN: Prospective follow up study. SETTING: Colposcopy clinics, antenatal clinics, GP surgeries. METHODS: A study group of 255 women with reported abnormal cervical smears but negative colposcopy was subdivided into three groups according to referral smears suggesting high grade dyskaryosis (n = 34), mild dyskaryosis (n = 120) and borderline changes (n = 101). They were followed for at least five years and were compared with a control group of 726 women followed up after a negative smear, using the first and worst follow up smears over a five year recall period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of subsequent cervical cytological and histological abnormalities. RESULTS: The control group had a similar incidence of squamous dyskaryosis as that expected in the screening population. Forty-six per cent of the study group with colposcopically unconfirmed ('false positive') cervical smears subsequently had abnormal smears. When the three groups were compared with controls using a chi2 test, their incidence of abnormal smears was significantly increased. Cervical intrepithelial neoplasia was found in 19% of the study group, and in 3% of the control group (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis demonstrates that women with so-called 'false positive' smears defined by negative colposcopy have an increased risk of subsequent abnormal smears and cervical intrepithelial neoplasia, suggesting that lesions may have been missed on colposcopy. However, in a significant proportion of women, further abnormalities were not detected during the follow up period, indicating that there may be other causes for positive smears and negative colposcopy.

Colposcopy↗

KU activity.

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England↗

The effects of different sampling techniques on smear quality and the diagnosis of cytological abnormalities in cervical screening.

A major cause of false-negative cervical smear is sampling error. We examined the results obtained with three different instruments in 126,608 smears from general practitioners. The spatula/brush combination yielded the highest proportion of smears showing cytological abnormalities, and the Cervex brush the lowest. Although not a randomized study, this paper highlights the shortcomings of the Cervex brush. We postulate a mechanical deficiency. Diagnostic accuracy rather than a high proportion of good quality smears should dictate the choice of instrument.

Cervix Uteri↗

A prospective evaluation of cytology from biliary strictures.

BACKGROUND: Bile duct strictures may be benign or malignant. A definite diagnosis is desirable to advise patients of their prognosis and to identify any amenable to curative surgery. AIMS: To compare different methods of cytology sampling from biliary strictures and evaluate the use of cytology in this context. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study 54 patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) had cytology samples obtained as follows: (1) biliary stricture brushings, (2) from the screw thread of a "Soehendra stent retriever" inserted through the stricture, (3) from the proximal end of a blocked biliary stent, and (4) cellular material spun down from a 20 ml specimen of bile. Examination of slides and rinsings was performed by an expert cytologist who graded them for the adequacy of the sample and for evidence of malignancy. RESULTS: Prolonged follow up disclosed malignancy in 52 of the 54 cases, the other two being chronic pancreatitis. Bile samples provided adequate cytology samples in 44%, the Soehendra stent retriever in 70%, retrieved stents in 84%, and cytology brush sampling in 96%. Overall, 28 malignancies were detected by cytology, including 14 of 28 pancreatic carcinomas and 12 of 16 cholangiocarcinomas. Twenty two of the malignancies were detected by brush sampling and the other methods added a total of another six cases. CONCLUSIONS: Cytology sampling is best done by brushing the biliary stricture. Cytology sampling can confirm the diagnosis in 75% of cholangiocarcinomas and 50% of pancreatic carcinomas. The techniques involved are simple to perform and should be routine clinical practice whenever potentially malignant biliary strictures are encountered at ERCP.

Adult↗

Quality grading for cervical smears.

Three thousand five hundred and eighty cervical smears were taken in 1990-1992 at a Genitourinary Medicine Clinic with various spatula or spatula brush combinations. The unsatisfactory rate and the detection of cellular abnormalities showed some relation to spatula type. However, the satisfactory smears screened in the laboratory are routinely assigned a quality grade-good, fair or poor. Analysis shows higher rate of detection of cellular abnormalities in good quality smears, the detection of dyskaryosis being twice as high, in contrast to the fair or poor quality smears. It is suggested that quality grade is a better way of classifying smear quality in the cervical screening programmes rather than the presence or absence of endocervical and/or metaplastic cells.

Adolescent↗

A medical audit and patient survey of hysterectomies performed for menstrual disorders.

The aim of the study was to carry out an audit of 283 hysterectomies performed for menstrual disorders over a one year period, and to determine the satisfaction of the women concerned towards their treatment. The medical records of these patients were examined, and they were each sent a questionnaire, 69% of which were completed and returned. The most common presenting symptoms were menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea. In 53% of cases no clinical abnormality was postulated and in 31% of cases no pathological abnormality was found. The preoperative clinical and pathological diagnoses were in agreement for 59% of patients. Over 90% of women were satisfied with the management of their case by their GP and the gynaecology outpatient clinic. The use of patient-controlled analgesia systems was associated with better post-operative pain relief than intramuscular injections. Thirteen percent of patients required blood transfusion; 21% suffered some form of postoperative complication, most of which were minor. Ninety-four percent of the women were pleased that they had undergone hysterectomy, and 76% wished that they had had the operation sooner. It was concluded that hysterectomy is perceived positively by patients and should not necessarily be considered as a last resort treatment for menstrual disorders.

Adult↗

An assessment of partial rescreening as an internal quality control method for cervical smears.

Partial screening was performed on 10,800 cervical smears, comprising 8640 filed negative and unsatisfactory smears and 2160 newly received smears prior to conventional screening. Each slide was screened for 30 s and those considered abnormal were reviewed by standard screening. Partial screening led to the detection of 27 additional infections and 44 additional cytological abnormalities. These detection rates are better than those obtained with the traditional method of rescreening only a proportion of smears. Amongst the smears partially screened before conventional screening, partial screening detected 37-66% of infections and 22-71% of cytological abnormalities. We recommend the use of partial rescreening of all negatively reported smears as a method of internal quality control in cervical cytology laboratories.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗