Is routine pathological examination required in South African children undergoing adenotonsillectomy?
The following criteria could improve cost-effectiveness of pathological examination of adenotonsillectomy specimens: positive tuberculosis contact at home, systemic symptoms of fever and weight loss, cervical lymphadenopathy>3 cm, suspicious nasopharyngeal appearance, HIV-positive patient, rapid tonsillar enlargement or significant tonsillar asymmetry. On our evidence, routine pathological investigation for South African children does not seem to be justified.
Our results suggest that the expression of rearranged RET hybrid oncogenes (1) is present in a similar percentage of HCCs when compared with the literature on nonoxyphilic PTCs, (2) defines PTC-like HCCs better than histomorphologic characterization, (3) excludes HCCs as a subgroup of FTCs, and (4) may play a role in the early tumorigenesis of oncocytic tumors.