On 17th January 2023 the second joint webinar on cytopathology, initiated by the EFCS, has taken place. This time lung cytopathology had been the topic – a large field, in which cytopathology has made an important impact for diagnostics and in which many recent developments have occurred. The webinar has been organized by Dr. Maria Lozano from Pamplona/Spain and Dr. Marianne Engels from Cologne/Germany from the Spanish Society of Cytology and the German Society of Cytology, respectively.
In the first part of the webinar, Dr. Lozano from Pamplona and Dr. Ralf Heine from Halle in Germany have given two general lectures on FNA of lung and mediastinal lesions and on biomarkers in cytological samples.
Dr. Heine started with an overview on the techniques of transthoracic, transbronchial and transesophageal aspiration. Photos of the clinical procedures, short videoclips and photos of the microscopic slides obtained during the procedures illustrated various clinical conditions and diseases.
Dr. Lozano proceeded with the very important topic of biomarkers. The timely and precise diagnosis of lung cancer is required for correct treatment of every single patient in the time of personalized medicine. Cytological samples may be used for immunocytochemistry including predictive markers and for all the required molecular diagnostics. She gave a fascinating outlook on the complex technique of multiplex immunoassay to evaluate the tumor environment.
Both talks lead to a lively discussion with lots of questions from the attendants, many of them asking after very special aspects of techniques, e.g. of cell block preparation and of immunocytochemistry.
In the second part of the webinar four younger colleagues from Spain and from Germany presented one interesting case each. Dr. Argueta from Pamplona presented a case of malignant melanoma with the question of a pulmonary primary or a metastasis. After him Dr. Hieggelke from Cologne presented a case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma in a patient with a history of colorectal cancer. Then Dr. Robledano from Pamplona presented a case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma with coexistence of EGFR mutation and NTRK fusion. Last, but not least Dr. van der Linde from Hamburg presented a case of solitary fibrous tumor showing the pathognomonic STAT6 gene fusion. After further discussion on the cases Dr. Lozano closed the webinar.
The webinar had more than 600 registrants from all five continents. More than 400 of them were attending the live webinar, among them about 280 medical doctors and more than 100 cytotechnicians. The recording of the webinar is available via the EFCS webpage until the end of April 2023.
Marianne Engels
EFCS Educational Committee