PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Marwa Al-Azzawi
AU  - Joseph Misdraji
AU  - Marie-Louise F van Velthuysen
AU  - Jinru Shia
AU  - Melissa W Taggart
AU  - Rhonda K Yantiss
AU  - Magali Svrcek
AU  - Norman Carr
TI  - Acellular mucin in pseudomyxoma peritonei of appendiceal origin: what is adequate sampling for histopathology?
AID  - 10.1136/jclinpath-2019-206213
DP  - 2020 Apr 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 220--222
VI  - 73
IP  - 4
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/73/4/220.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/73/4/220.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2020 Apr 01; 73
AB  - Introduction Acellular intra-abdominal mucin is associated with a favourable prognosis in pseudomyxoma peritonei. There are no current guidelines on how many blocks are needed to classify the mucin as acellular with confidence.Methods Specimens from cytoreductive surgery for mucinous appendiceal neoplasia, in which acellular mucin was found on initial histopathological examination, were prospectively identified. Additional tissue blocks were then taken to include either all residual visible intra-abdominal mucin or a maximum of 30 blocks. We also sent a questionnaire to pathologists in other centres.Results Twelve patients were identified. In two cases, neoplastic epithelial cells were found on taking additional blocks. The questionnaire results suggested considerable variation in block-taking practice.Conclusion Taking additional tissue identified neoplastic cells in 2 of 12 cases. We recommend that sampling additional material should be considered when only acellular mucin is found on initial histology. Further work to determine the optimum sampling protocol is indicated.