Biopsy and Pathology Flashcards
6 cards from real Mesothelioma Diagnosis practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Biopsy and Pathology flashcards as text
Which procedure is considered the gold standard for diagnosing malignant pleural mesothelioma?
Answer: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) biopsy
VATS biopsy provides large tissue samples under direct visualization and is the gold standard for diagnosing and staging pleural mesothelioma.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is essential in mesothelioma pathology primarily to:
Answer: Distinguish mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma
IHC panels are used to differentiate mesothelioma from metastatic adenocarcinoma, which can be morphologically identical on routine staining.
Which IHC marker is characteristically positive in epithelioid mesothelioma?
Answer: Calretinin
Calretinin is a highly sensitive and specific positive marker for mesothelioma and is routinely included in diagnostic IHC panels.
TTF-1 (thyroid transcription factor-1) positivity in a pleural biopsy would support a diagnosis of:
Answer: Metastatic lung adenocarcinoma
TTF-1 is a marker of lung and thyroid epithelial origin; its positivity in pleural disease supports metastatic lung adenocarcinoma rather than mesothelioma.
What is the minimum tissue requirement for a definitive mesothelioma diagnosis according to current guidelines?
Answer: Core biopsy with sufficient tissue for IHC
Current guidelines require a core biopsy with adequate tissue for histological assessment and immunohistochemical panel to confirm mesothelioma.
Loss of BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) expression on IHC is significant in mesothelioma because:
Answer: It confirms malignancy and distinguishes from reactive mesothelial proliferation
Loss of BAP1 nuclear expression strongly supports malignant mesothelioma and helps distinguish it from benign reactive mesothelial hyperplasia.