{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]],"date-time":"2026-02-24T12:22:06Z","timestamp":1771935726547,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":12,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,17]],"date-time":"2026-02-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1771286400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:p>A woman in her mid-50s with Lynch syndrome and a history of malignant neoplasms was found to have a superior vena cava (SVC) thrombus and a necrotic mediastinal mass on surveillance imaging. The initial biopsy yielded necrotic debris, and the procedure was complicated by a mediastinal hematoma. Due to concern for possible infection, the patient was empirically treated with antibiotics while planning further workup. A broad-range 16S polymerase chain reaction (BRPCR) was performed on a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, which was negative for fungi and mycobacteria but revealed DNA from normal oral flora. Subsequently, she developed SVC syndrome, raising concern about a mediastinal abscess. A repeated biopsy confirmed the suspected carcinoma with necrosis. This case underscores the importance of proper interpretation of BRPCR results in FFPE (non-sterile) tissue and emphasizes the need to use these results in an appropriate clinical context.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1736694","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,17]],"date-time":"2026-02-17T05:18:05Z","timestamp":1771305485000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A broad-range polymerase chain reaction on a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue is a powerful diagnostic tool, but requires cautious interpretation: a case report"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Paddy","family":"Ssentongo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center","place":["Hershey, PA, United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tonya","family":"Crook","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center","place":["Hershey, PA, United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rezhan","family":"Hussein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. 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