in Diagnostic Cytopathology: Strategies to Reduce Overuse A CQI initiative Dr. Mariamma Joseph and Susan McRae Objectives Review cytology literature on standardization of as a diagnostic term Address the clinical impact of in cytopathology diagnosis Discuss in house strategies to reduce your rate of diagnosis Share approaches we have taken to limit diagnosis in pancreatic FNABs LHSC experience Susan McRae /Atypical in Cytopathology Background Greek language a+typos meaning without type or a condition of being irregular or nonstandard was first Introduced by George Papanicolaou to convey a very low suspicion of (pre) malignancy Papanicolaou Class 11 findings Gyn cytology Survived in The Bethesda System terminology for cervical cytology 1
Current Status in GYN Cytology The Bethesda System for Cervical Cytology (2001) 2014 Atypical Squamous Cells (ASC US, ASC H) Atypical Glandular Cells (endocervical, endometrial, NOS) Definitions clear, Atlas available ASCUS/SIL ratio performance indicator Accepted rate (<3:1) Management guidelines available ASC US repeat X 6 &12 mos (Ontario) OR HPV, Colp ASC H colposcopy AGUS depends on cell type, age Current Status in Non Gyn The Bethesda System for Thyroid Cytopathology (2010) AUS/FLUS: Criteria defined (multiple scenarios, heterogeneous category), risk of malignancy (5 15%), recommendation (repeat FNA) Expected frequency (7%) of all thyroid FNAs Cytology Performance indicator Dr. Jeffrey Krane, Ritu Nair and Andrew Renshaw Current Status in Non Gyn Cytology Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology Guidelines: Pancreaticobiliary Cytology 2014 The category of atypical should only be applied when there are cells present with cytoplasmic, nuclear, or architectural features that are not consistent with normal or reactive cellular changes of the pancreas or bile ducts, and are insufficient to classify them as a neoplasm or suspicious for a high grade malignancy. The findings are insufficient to establish an abnormality explaining the lesion seen on imaging. Follow up evaluation is warranted Heterogeneous category, multiple scenarios Martha Pittman, Lester Layfield: Cytopathol. 2014;42:338 350 2
Current Status in Non Gyn Cytology The Paris System for Urine Cytology coming soon Diagnostic criteria will be evidence based, and tested for reproducibility Upcoming atlas in Other Non Gyn Cytology Clinical Impact Normal Premalignant or malignant Grey zone, when diagnosis is uncertain Some thing unusual (not necessarily bad) Do not conform to our expectation of normality Other scenarios Create our own definitions, vague and ambiguous Personality /emotional elements, style of pathologist Attitude towards diagnoses and consequences Fear of litigation Sign out time of the day Create confusion for clinicians How to Avoid Misuse (ASC) We Need Narrow definitions with clear inclusion and exclusion criteria Quantitative criteria (nuclear size, chromatin) Agreed upon reference images (well illustrated atlas) Known likely hood ratio of (pre)malignancy Aim for low risk of malignancy Clear and agreed up on clinical significance of diagnoses Well defined management options 3
: In house Strategies to Reduce Overuse Continuous evaluation of atypia diagnoses: in house QA monitoring Gyn cytology FNAB: Thyroid, EBUS, EUS Urine cytology Use stringent adequacy criteria Low cellularity, degeneration, artifact (classify sample as non diagnostic or suboptimal) Institute ROSE as a QA intervention to improve quality and quantity as needed : In house Strategies to Reduce Overuse Continuously train cytology professionals on criteria and clinical impact Focus on atypia and other grey areas during in house CE activities Multihead microscope rounds Multidisciplinary rounds educate clinicians Internal consultation Reduce inter observer variability /Atypical Take Home Message as a diagnostic category is unavoidable, the term will continue in cytopathology vocabulary Keep it as low as possible, tighten the usage by effective inhouse strategies If used, give reasons clearly in a well crafted report and discuss the diagnostic and management implications 4
Pancreas EUS FNAB An Analysis Of Equivocal Results The London Experience S. McRae, M. Joseph, B. Yan, N.Hussain, M. Al Beshir, E Filter, M. M. Weir Presented at CAP meeting, July 2014, Toronto Objectives Examine the frequency and reasons for equivocal diagnoses in EUS FNAB of solid pancreatic lesions. Assess surgical outcome and neoplastic risk for equivocal diagnoses. Develop additional in house strategies to reduce equivocal diagnoses. LHSC Clinical and Cytologic Data (2004 2013) 574 total pancreatic EUS FNAB performed 414 were solid lesions (160 cystic lesions excluded) 191 (46%) had equivocal diagnosis 87 (46%) had surgical follow up 2 gastroenterologists 9 cytotechnologists 11 pathologists 5
Frequency of Diagnoses n= 414 solid lesions frequency of AT diagnosis (24%) is higher than reported in the literature (1 14%). (Cancer Cytopathol 2013;21:620 8) Positive/ Neoplastic 36% Neg 9% Insuff 9% Equivocal 46% AT 24% IN 6% SU 16% AT, atypical cells Present IN, indeterminate SU, suspicious for malignancy % Rates Over Time (2004 2013) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Reasons for Equivocal Diagnosis Other 12% Low overall cellularity 38% GI contaminant with rare atypia 50% The main reasons for equivocal diagnoses are related to suboptimal lesional material and GI contamination. GI contaminant with rare atypia (slight nuclear variation, crowding and nucleoli) was the commonest cause GI contaminant with rare atypia (slight nuclear variation, crowding and nucleoli) was the commonest cause 6
Neoplasia Risk AT 79% n=48 IN 73% SU 93% n=11 n=28 Adenoca Other ca Neuroend Solid Pseudopap Other neg Adenocarcinoma was the most common cell type (63%) ROSE: Average # of Passes ROSE was performed on 93% of equivocal cases 7 # passes 6 at ROSE for equivocal cases is higher than for positive and neoplastic cases, 5 as predicted. 4 5.8 Our clinicians 6.2 appropriately use ROSE to obtain further passes in suboptimal 3 5.6 cellularity cases. 4.9 2 1 # of passes were similar in equivocal cases and higher than positive/neoplastic 0 AT IN SU POS/NP # passes at ROSE for equivocal cases is higher than for positive and neoplastic cases, as predicted. Our clinicians appropriately use ROSE to obtain further passes in suboptimal cellularity cases. Internal Consultation Positive/ Neoplastic 43% Negative 24% Insuff 16% Equivocal 48% AT 43% IN 46% SU 54% Internal Nearly consultation half of equivocal was performed cases in had nearly internal 50% of consultation equivocal cases. Internal consultation is high in our practice for pancreas cases compared to other body sites. Pocrnich CE, Weir MM. Examination of Cytopathology Intradepartmental Consultation practice. Poster presentation CAP2013. 7
Ongoing In house Strategies at LHSC Redefined diagnostic terminology to reflect newly published Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology Guidelines for Pancreatico biliary Cytology Dr. Weir Educated cytology professionals (cytotechs, pathologists) and GEs on new terminology Communicate neoplastic risk to clinicians for equivocal categories. Continue internal consultation (CTs and pathologists) Discuss equivocal cases at EUS FNAB monthly multidisciplinary rounds. Continue ROSE on all cases and evaluate impact of sampling technique and ROSE. Re evaluate equivocal diagnostic category in 2 3 years time Thank You 8