Treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia with the carbon dioxide laser beam. A preliminary report

Forty-five patients with histologically proved cervical dysplasia or carcinoma in situ were treated by the carbon dioxide-laser method. The carbon dioxide laser induces cell vaporization by causing intracellular steam combustion stimulated by the emission of a mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and helium. This method of treatment is easily performed in the outpatient clinic without anesthesia, is inexpensive, and is effective in the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The treatment allows preservation of the transformation zone, thus permitting future colposcopic visualization.

Isoantigens A, B, and H in morphologically normal mucosa and in carcinoma of the larynx

A modified Coombs' mixed cell agglutination reaction was performed on biopsy specimens of 24 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Isoantigens A, B, and H(O) were absent in 15 cases, partially lost in eight, and completely retained in one case. In four cases the initial biopsy specimens were histologically benign yet negative for isoantigens. In subsequent biopsies these showed the presence of carcinoma. The morphologically normal-appearing squamous mucosa adjacent to a carcinoma was found to be devoid of isoantigens in ten cases. The investigation suggested that isoantigenic alteration as detected by mixed cell agglutination reaction was a sensitive sign, since it occurred in squamous mucosa prior to recognizable morphologic change for malignancy. The reaction may represent a functional dedifferentiation in cancerous tissue, analogous to but sometimes preceding morphologic dedifferentiation. The results were comparable to those in previous studies of neoplasms of various other anatomic sites.

The Radiology Corner. Gastrointestinal histoplasmosis, roentgenographic, clinical and pathological correlation

Five cases with gastrointestinal histoplasmosis are presented. Gastrointestinal involvement is moderately frequent during the hematogenous dissemination of histoplasmosis. Depending on the underlying pathological changes, six roentgenographic patterns can be identified: 1. malabsorptive; 2. ulcerative; 3. polypoid; 4. granulomatous; 5. tumefactive and 6. compressive. Perforation, hemorrhage, obstruction and erroneous diagnosis for ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or carcinoma are the major complications. Histoplasmosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of diseases presenting with a malabsorption pattern, gastrointestinal polyposis, ulcerative and granulomatous gastrointestinal diseases and carcinoma, particularly if pulmonary lesions co-exist.

Ultrasonic diagnosis of seminal vesicle cyst

Seminal vesicle cysts are uncommon, particularly when associated with ipsilateral agenesis of the kidney, ureter, and/or trigone. This entity should be considered when a cystic pelvic mass is seen in a young male. B-scan ultrasound can be of considerable aid in making the diagnosis.

Acinic cell carcinoma: collective review, including bilateral cases

Bilateral acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland is rare. On the basis of one case and a review of 486 parotid acinic carcinomas, unilateral as well as bilateral, total parotidectomy seems to be the treatment of choice for this low-grade malignant neoplasm that recurs commonly following inadequate excision. If involved by tumor, the facial nerve must be taken. Metastases are more likely to lung and bone than to regional nodes. For this reason, radical neck dissection is not routinely indicated.

Hailey-Hailey disease in a black family

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