Primary hepatic carcinoid tumor

A primary hepatic carcinoid tumor arising in a 49-year-old woman is reported. The patient was admitted with multiple hepatic tumors and treated by a left lobectomy and cholecystectomy. Cut sections of the specimen revealed a solid and necrotic mass, measuring 10 x 12 x 13 cm, with multiple small satellite nodules. Histologically, the tumor cells had small oval-shaped nuclei and presented with a trabecular arrangement and rosette-like formation. Both Grimelius and Fontana-Mason stainings were positive. The tumor cells were positive for chromogranin A and negative for other antigens. Ultrastructural studies of the tumor cells revealed duct-like formation with microvilli and a cluster of dense small immature neurosecretory granules in the cytoplasm. These findings were consistent with those of carcinoid tumors. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with repeated transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for any remnant tumors. However, she died of the disease 5 years after the initial surgery. The autopsy findings suggested the primary site to be the liver.

Observation of triply charged metal ion clusters by electrospray and laser spray

Studies of the gas phase ion chemistry of triply charged metal ions, M(3+) = Sc(3+), Y(3+), La(3+), Ce(3+), and Yb(3+), were made by electrospray and laser spray. Triply charged ion ligand complexes, M(3+)(ligand)(n) were produced in the gas phase by electrospray and laser spray for the following ligands; glucose; sucrose; raffinose; cyclodextrin; ginsenoside Rb(1); dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA). The ion evaporation mechanism must be invoked to explain the transfer of more surface active ions (e.g., NH(4)(+)(H(2)O)(n)) in solution to the gas phase, while the transfer of low surface active ions (e.g., La(3+)(sucrose)(n)) may be explained by the charged residue model. In general, the laser spray gives stronger ion signals than electrospray for aqueous and water/methanol solutions. The laser spray is found to be more suitable for the observation of ions with larger solvation energies (e.g., Sc(3+)(DMSO)(n)). These results may be due to the enrichment of the sample concentration by the selective vaporization of the volatile solvent on the tip of the stainless steel capillary and also to the finer droplet formation caused by the laser irradiation. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Struma ovarii: appearance on MR images

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to examine the appearance of struma ovarii on magnetic resonance (MR) images.

METHODS

MR images of 12 patients with histologically proven struma ovarii were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images with Gd-DTPA were available in 10 patients. The following determinations were made: tumor morphology, signal intensities, contrast-enhancement effects of solid components with Gd-DTPA, and comparison of MR images with resected specimens.

RESULTS

All 12 patients had both cystic and solid components, with a multilobulated surface and thickened septa. Signal intensities on T1-weighted images were mainly low, partly intermediate to high, or high, and those on T2-weighted images were mainly high, with different signal intensities. Contrast-enhancement effects were marked or moderate. The contents that showed low signal intensities on T1-weighted images and signal voids or low signal intensities on T2-weighted images were viscid gelatinous materials.

CONCLUSIONS

A multicystic tumor with a solid component, a multilobulated surface, and signal intensities that indicate the presence of viscid gelatinous materials appear to be a characteristic MR finding of struma ovarii.

MR appearance of endometrial carcinoma and mucinous cystadenoma in a postmenopausal patient treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer

We present a case of endometrial carcinoma accompanied with mucinous cystadenoma in a 70-year-old postmenopausal woman treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer demonstrated by MR imaging. Tamoxifen therapy (20 mg/day) had been carried out for more than 11 years since the surgical procedure for the primary tumor. MR images showed a markedly enlarged uterus containing endometrial carcinoma, cystic atrophy of the endometrium, and a right adnexal mass with multicystic components of various signal intensities.

I-123 uptake in nonfunctional struma ovarii

A case of nonfunctional struma ovarii preoperatively diagnosed by scintigraphy of the pelvis using I-123 NaI is reported. US, CT, and MRI revealed a multilobulated mass composed of cystic and solid components. CT showed cystic components with slightly high density and MRI showed various signal intensities on T1- and T2-weighted images. I-123-scintigraphy of the pelvis showed uptake in the pelvic mass. Microscopic examination revealed the histologic appearance of thyroid tissue accompanied by follicular adenoma. I-123 scintigraphy of the pelvis was useful for reaching the correct preoperative diagnosis in this patient with nonfunctional struma ovarii.

Cervical carcinoma: dynamic MR imaging with a turbo-FLASH technique

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristic findings of cervical carcinoma in dynamic MR imaging with a turbo-FLASH technique and to investigate the cause of the hyperintense rim surrounding the tumor on dynamic MR images by comparing them with the pathological findings in the resected specimens. Sixty consecutive patients with cervical carcinoma were included in this study. Dynamic MR imaging was performed with the rapid administration of Gd-DTPA using the turbo-FLASH technique. After dynamic MR imaging, T1-weighted spin echo (SE) images were obtained. Dynamic patterns of the lesions were investigated from images acquired in the early and late phases of dynamic MR imaging. The causes of the hyperintense rim were investigated by comparing dynamic MR images with the pathological findings. Most of the cervical carcinomas showed higher signal intensity than normal cervical stroma in the early phase of dynamic MR imaging. The pathological findings of the hyperintense rim on dynamic MR images differed according to the time of appearance of the hyperintense rim. Dynamic MR imaging with the turbo-FLASH technique, which shows high contrast between the lesion and normal cervical stroma, should be performed before obtaining contrast-enhanced T1-weighted SE images in patients with cervical carcinoma.

Effect of NaCl on Aggregation Number, Microviscosity, and Cmc of N-Dodecanoyl Amino Acid Surfactant Micelles

Microviscosity, micellar aggregation number (N), and critical micelle concentration (cmc) were determined in solutions of sodium N-dodecanoyl-glycinate (Lau-Gly), -valinate (Lau-Val), -leucinate (Lau-Leu), and -phenylalaninate (Lau-Phe) as a function of NaCl using fluorescent probes (auramine, pyrene). The microviscosity increased with increasing concentration of NaCl and reached a saturated value. In addition, two breakpoints were found on the curve of microviscosity vs NaCl concentration and by comparison with the data of N and solution viscosity. The first and second breakpoints were explained, respectively, as the beginnings of micellar growth and intermicellar interaction. The value of N increased steeply above the first breakpoint and the solution viscosity began to increase at the second breakpoint. The NaCl concentrations at the first and second breakpoints increased in the order Lau-Phe < Lau-Leu < Lau-Val approximately Lau-Gly. The absolute value of the slope of the Corrin-Harkins plot of the cmc was smaller for Lau-Leu and -Phe than for Lau-Gly and -Val. Larger absolute values of the slope (1.2 approximately 2), which suggested the contribution of a salting out effect on cmc, were observed at high NaCl concentration for Lau-Gly and -Val. The micellar growth and intermicellar interaction occurred at lower NaCl concentration with increased size of the amino acid residue when the amino acid of the amino acid surfactant was larger than valine; that is, the hydrophobicity of the amino acid residue was the dominant factor rather than steric hindrance.

Endometrial carcinoma: dynamic MRI with turbo-FLASH technique

PURPOSE

Our goal was to investigate the usefulness of dynamic MRI with the turbo-FLASH technique in estimating myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma.

METHOD

Forty-six patients with endometrial carcinomas were evaluated with pathologic correlation. Dynamic MRI was performed with the rapid administration of Gd-DTPA using the turbo-FLASH technique.

RESULTS

The inner muscle layer showed more rapid contrast enhancement effects than the outer muscle layer even after menopause. Contrast-to-noise ratio between the inner muscle layer and endometrial carcinoma was maximum at approximately 50 s after administration of Gd-DTPA. In postmenopausal women, the accuracy in estimating myometrial invasion with T2-weighted images, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, and dynamic MRI was 66.7, 77.8, and 92.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Dynamic MRI with the turbo-FLASH technique is considered to be a useful imaging method for the estimation of myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma, especially in postmenopausal patients.