Spermatic cord mixed liposarcoma. Case report and review of the literature

A 75-years-old man presented with a clinical diagnosis of hydrocele. Grossly examination revealed a large (14x8x9 cm) tumor. Histologically, the tumor had a mixed pattern, with major pleomorphic and a minor sclerosing well-differentiated component. The anatomo-clinical features, the prognosis and the principles of treatment of this rare condition are shortly discussed.

Ganglioglioma with glioblastoma component

Ganglioglioma with a glioblastomatous component and high-grade atypia of neuronal cells are extremely rare findings. In this paper, we report the case of a 60-year-old man who presented with a tumor of the left temporal lobe. Hematoxylin-Eosin stained slides revealed a complex tumor with features of glioblastoma and marked atypia of neuronal cells. Glial cells were highlightened by antibodies to GFAP and neuronal cells by chromogranin and synaptophysin markers. There was an accumulation of p53-positive cells. There was a high Ki-67 labelling index (19%).

Anorectal melanoma. Case report and review of the literature

We report a case of primary anorectal melanoma, a very rare malignant tumor in this localization. The patient, a 57-year-old female, complained for one year of symptoms, which were attributed to hemorrhoids. An abdomino-perineal resection was performed. Pathologic examination revealed an anorectal melanoma with numerous lymph node metastases and an unusual metastatic deposit in a uterine leiomyoma. The pathogenesis, pathology, principles of treatment and prognosis of this entity are briefly discussed.

Collision adenocarcinoma--carcinoid tumor of the colon. Case report and review of the literature

Collision tumors are extremely rare and raise interesting problems related to histogenesis. In this paper we report a case of collision tumor of the colon and review the literature related to this subject.

Vaginal superficial myofibroblastoma. Case report and review of the literature

Superficial myofibroblastoma of the lower female genital tract is a rare, recently described tumor, which has a distinctive clinico-pathological profile. We report a 63-year old patient who presented with a polypoid vaginal mass. Histopathological examination revealed a moderately cellular tumor composed of bland spindled and stellate cells. Immunohistochemical investigations showed reactivity for vimentin, desmin and CD34. This tumor should be differentiated from other mesenchymal lesions, which may arise in this area.

Primary chondroblastic osteosarcoma of the breast. Case report and review of the literature

Primary osteosarcomas of the breast are rare tumors. We report a 58-year-old woman who presented with a left breast lump suggestive of phyllodes tumor. A sectorectomy was performed and histological examination revealed a chondroblastic osteosarcoma, an unusual finding. Two months later she underwent a mastectomy. A review of the literature revealed the divergency of therapeutic options.

Retroperitoneal synovial sarcoma

Retroperitoneal synovial sarcomas are very rare. The authors describe a 39-year-old male with a primary retroperitoneal synovial sarcoma showing a monophasic pattern. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, S-100 protein, CD99 and calretinin. The differential diagnosis, clinical evolution and principles of treatment are shortly discussed.

Signet-ring prostatic carcinoma. Case presentation and review of the literature

The authors present the case of a 71 years old man with the histopathological diagnosis of a signet-ring prostatic carcinoma, examined in usual and special stains as PAS and mucicarmin. The literature, the clinical aspect, the microscopic features, and the pathogenesis concerning this subject are reviewed.

Computer-based image analysis of nucleoli in prostate carcinoma

The authors have evaluated the nucleoli in 37 cases of prostatic carcinoma. The increase in Gleason's grade 1 correlated with an increase in the percentage of nucleolated nuclei. The increase in the percentage of bi- and trinucleolated nuclei was accompanied by a decrease of the uninucleated nuclei. The values of morphometrical parameters studied in the individual nucleoli (area, perimeter, diameters) increased in Gleason grade 2 tumors as compared with grade 1 tumors. In tumors higher grades there was, however, a progressive decrease of these values.

Morphometric investigations on bone giant cell tumors

The authors have studied 12 cases of bone giant cell tumors and have shown that the increase in aggressiveness is accompanied by higher values of mitotic activity and nuclear features (area, perimeter, long and short axes), which might be useful for grading the bone giant cell tumors.

Carcinosarcoma (malignant mesodermal mixed tumor) or urinary bladder

The authors report a case of carcinosarcoma (malignant mesodermal mixed tumor of the urinary bladder. We discuss the histological criteria of positive and differential diagnosis, the histogenesis, as well as their biological behavior.

Nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in intraepithelial neoplasia of the uterine cervix

The authors have studied the AgNORs counts in intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix. The following values were obtained (mean +/- SD AgNORs/cell): normal specimens--2.11 +/- 0.98; mild dysplasia--2.83 +/- 1.12; moderate dysplasia--3.42 +/- 1.13; severe dysplasia--3.55 +/- 1.28; carcinoma in situ--4.63 +/- 1.34; glandular extensions of carcinoma in situ--4.64 +/- 0.98. The values in moderate and severe dysplasia were similar, an argument for grouping these categories in the high-grade lesions. AgNORs counts in carcinoma in situ were, however, higher than in severe dysplasia, suggesting a continuous evolution of the neoplastic process.

Study on the nucleolar organiser regions in soft tissue liposarcoma

The authors studied 24 cases of liposarcoma of soft tissue included in two categories: myxoid liposarcoma and pleomorphic liposarcoma. The 24 tumors were stained by Ploton's method for revealing the nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs). AgNORs were counted in the nuclei of 100 cells/case. AgNORs in the cells of some cases showed hyperchromasia and an increased size. The results suggest a role of AgNORs as a possible prognostic discriminator of different histological types.

Increasing gallstone prevalence and cholecystectomy rate in a large Romanian town. A necropsy study

To study whether the increasing prevalence of gallstone disease noted in a 100-year interval in a large Romanian town has continued in recent years, we analyzed all necropsies (5234) performed during 10 years (1983-1992) in Cluj-Napoca. Gallstone disease (GD) was defined as the presence of stones or the absence of the gallbladder due to cholecystectomy. The results obtained were compared to those of the previous 10-year period (1973-1982). We found a significant increase of GD both in men (6.9% to 9.8%) (P < 0.001) and women (17.1% to 21.7%) (P < 0.001). The ratio of women to men with GD decreased as compared to the first time period (1.4/1 vs 1.8/1). The actual age-standardized prevalence of GD was higher than that calculated for the first time period: 7.6% in men (5.0% in 1973-1982) and 16.9% in women (8.4% in 1973-1982) (P < 0.001). The necropsy cholecystectomy rate rose markedly; 42.1% of the GD men and 43.0% of the GD women had undergone operation during their life. The present study indicates a higher prevalence of GD in the Romanian town than previously found. The actual prevalence is comparable with that of other central European countries, but it is less than that found in England, Scotland, or Sweden.

Nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in in situ and invasive components of breast cancers

The authors have studied the nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) (which reflect the cell kinetic activity) in the in situ and invasive components of breast cancers. The mean number of AgNORs/nucleus was 4.18 (s.d.: 1.35) in the in situ compartments and 5.41 (s.d.: 1.90) in invasive areas. The difference between these two groups is statistically significant. The higher proliferative activity in the infiltrating component might be due to the interaction between epithelial cells and the supporting stroma.

Quantification of Grimelius reaction in neuroendocrine tumors of the lung

The authors have studied the percent area occupied by the Grimelius-positive cells in lung neuroendocrine tumors. The highest values were noted in typical carcinoid tumors: they decreased progressively in atypical carcinoids, small "oat cell" carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. There was, however, a large dispersion of values, especially in the groups of typical and atypical carcinoid tumors. The possible significance of these data in the diagnosis, evaluation of therapeutical results and prognosis is discussed.

Morphometric study of cell populations in primary breast tumors and their lymph node metastases

The study of nuclear parameters (long and short nuclear axes, nuclear axes ratio, nuclear area) revealed differences both between the primary breast tumors and their lymph node metastases and between the lymph nodes isolated from the same axilla. The results are discussed in terms of tumor progression.

Composite endocrine cell, typical adenocarcinoma and signet ring carcinoma of the gallbladder

The authors report a case of composite tumor of the gallbladder which exhibited features of both adenocarcinoma (with typical areas, signet ring cells and clear cells) and endocrine cell carcinoma. The histological picture suggests the origin of both components in a common primitive cell with the capacity to differentiate to different types of metaplastic epithelium and supports the hypothesis of a sequence metaplasia--dysplasia--carcinoma.

Mixed folliculo-papillary and squamous cell variant of medullary thyroid carcinoma

A case of thyroid carcinoma with a triple medullary, folliculo-papillary and squamous differentiation is reported. Lymph node metastatic deposits showed folliculo-papillary and squamous cell areas. The problems of histogenesis are discussed.

Automated estimation of nuclear volume in brain tumors

The comparative study of the percentage nuclear area in brain tumors by the point-counting technique and digital analysis showed a good correlation between the results obtained. The investigation suggests the possibility of using the volume corrected mitotic index to tumors with uniformly distributed cells.

Morphometric grading of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

The authors have used the point counting method for the morphometric assessment of the histological aspect of laryngeal carcinoma. The results suggest that subjective histopathological grading tends to overestimate the tumor grade. The implications of these data for the prediction of prognosis and selection of therapy are briefly discussed.

Gastric Burkitt's lymphoma. Case report and review of the literature

A case of gastric Burkitt's lymphoma with pancreatic infiltration in a 15-year-old boy is reported. Local lymph nodes were not involved. Review of the literature disclosed that the reported cases of Burkitt's lymphoma were localized in the intestine. The origin, evolution and prognosis of gastrointestinal lymphoma are briefly discussed.

DNA nuclear content of apocrine cells in fibrocystic mastopathy and breast cancer

The DNA nuclear content of apocrine cells was studied in 5 cases of fibrocystic disease, 3 cases of invasive duct carcinoma and 3 cases of invasive lobular carcinoma. Both diploid and aneuploid values were found in each group. The possible significance of apocrine change in breast lesions is discussed.

Myxoid malignant melanoma. Report of three cases and review of the literature

Three cases of malignant myxoid melanomas are described. That feature may simulate other malignant tumors with myxoid changes, especially in amelanotic metastases. The problems of differential diagnosis are briefly discussed.

Morphometric studies on melanocytic tumors

The authors have studied the longest and the shortest nuclear axes, the ratio between nuclear axes, the nuclear areas and the mitotic indices in melanocytic tumors and have noted progressive changes of the values in superficial spreading and in nodular melanoma as compared to nevi. The most powerful discriminants were the mitotic index and the ratio between the nuclear axes. These findings are discussed in relationship with the tumor progression.

Drug-induced immunodeficiency associated with nodal Kaposi's sarcoma

A 40-year-old male showed a syndrome of acquired immunodeficiency after a prolonged use of antidiabetic sulfamides. The lesions were revealed by the biopsic examination of inguinal lymph nodes. Immunodeficiencies are usually associated with malignant lymphoma: our case was, however, associated with Kaposi's sarcoma.

Cytophotometric study of DNA content of cells in type III cervical smears

Cytophotometric study of suspicious (group III of the Papanicolaou's classification) smears shows the heterogeneity of this group, which includes cases with diploid--tetraploid DNA modes, cases with a wide distribution of DNA values and aneuploid cases. The significance of these findings in relation with the biological properties of cells is briefly discussed.

Relationship between structural and ionic changes in cardiosclerosis

The parallelism between hypoxic changes in the myocardium revealed by Lie's technique and by fluorescence microscopy and the ionic changes (Na+, K+, Ca2+) was studied in 51 autopsy cases. The Lie technique was positive in 52.6 per cent of the cases of cardiosclerosis with myocardial infarction and in 15 per cent of the cases of cardiosclerosis without infarction, while fluorescent areas were found in all cases of infarction and in 35 per cent of cardiosclerosis cases without infarction. Na+ and K+ were decreased and Ca2+ ions were increased in both ventricles and in both sexes, both in infarctions and in cardiosclerosis cases without infarction. Ionic changes are more probably related to the intensity of cardiosclerosis rather than to age or sex.

Argyrophil cells in gastric carcinomas

Seven out of 36 gastric carcinomas showed neuroendocrine cells, as revealed by histochemical methods (Grimelius' staining). Histologically, two of these tumors were adenocarcinomas, while the other five were scirrhous type carcinomas. PAS and mucicarmin stainings revealed the presence of intracytoplasmic mucins in all the tumors with a positive argyrophilic reaction. The problems related to histogenesis and clinical behaviour of tumors with a neuroendocrine component are briefly discussed.

Value of quantitative cytologic studies in the grading of papillary tumors of human urinary bladder

Mitotic indices and nuclear volumes were determined in 10 papillomas, 20 grade I, 20 grade II and 20 grade III papillary carcinomas of the urinary bladder. The mean mitotic indices were 1.22% in papillomas, 2.77% in grade I carcinomas, 8.2% in grade II carcinomas and 15.25% in grade III carcinomas. The nuclear volumes showed a gradual shift to larger values paralleling the histological degree. It is suggested that these objective parameters might be especially useful for the cytological assessment of exfoliated tumor cells.

Morphological behaviour of lympho-myeloid organs at experimental stimulation with leukotrophine

The influence of leukotrophine on the behaviour of lymphomyeloid organs was studied in male Swiss mice aged 2 months. In the four comparatively studied groups it was shown that leukopoiesis and immune maturation was slightly stimulated by leukotrophine or protected by thiola, a radioprotective substance; the administration of both substances, leukotrophine + thiola, enhances the two actions, myelo-lymphoid leukopoiesis and cellular pyroninophilia, almost doubling them. Histochemical studies were supplemented with histoenzymatic and cytogenetic investigations.

Frequency of mortality due to cancer in the last 110 years (1870-1979) in the department of pathology of Cluj-Napoca

Records of 36,775 autopsies performed between 1870 and 1979 in the Department of Morphopathology, Cluj-Napoca, were re-studied. 10.82 per cent of deaths were due to cancer, whose incidence increased during the last 50 years. Cancer is more often seen in males and its highest incidence was noted between 50 and 70 years of age. Gastric and lung cancers are more frequent in males, while uterine, intestine, stomach and ovarian cancers are the most frequent localizations in females.

Incidence and significance of micronuclei in pernicious anemia

The incidence of micronuclei in bone marrow erythroblasts of patients with pernicious anemia ranged between 0.5-5.6% as compared with the value of 0-0.5% noted in hematologically healthy patients. The mechanism of formation and the possible significance of micronuclei in megaloblastic anemia are briefly discussed.

Different cell clones in bone marrow and spleen of a patient with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) in blastic phase

The chromosome study of a patient with chronic myelocytic leukemia in blastic phase revealed a 46,XY,Ph1/47,XY,Ph1,+8 cytogenetic constitution in bone marrow cells and a 46,XY,Ph1/48,XY,2Ph1,+19 cytogenetic constitution in spleen cells. As the cell clones exhibiting chromosome abnormalities in addition to the Ph1 chromosome evolved apparently independently, it is suggested that the acute transformation had a bifocal, myeloid and splenic origin.

Clustering of mitoses in human cervical carcinoma

Mitotic nests have been noted both in tissue culture (Cone, 1968) and in human skin (Rowe and Dixon, 1975). The present paper is concerned with the disposition of mitoses in human tumor tissue. Mitotic indices, cell counts, and mitotic clusters were recorded in 20 carcinomas of the cervix uteri. The significance of the results was verified statistically. In 18 of 20 biopsies, the clustering of mitoses was in excess of chance at the 95% confidence level. Assuming a chance distribution, one would expect only one case (5% of 20 cases) to show significant clustering of mitoses. The incidence of cases which show mitotic clustering is higher in cervical carcinoma than in normal skin and uninvolved skin of psoriatic patients. The clustering phenomenon might be due to an initiating factor derived from a mitotic cell which propagates to other cells and activates them, or to a local deficiency in inhibitor factors which reversibly inhibit mitoses under normal conditions.

Formation dynamics of lymph node metastases after heterografting of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in rats

The inoculation of 100 X 10(6) Ehrlich ascites tumor cells into the peritoneal cavity of X-irradiated rats induced a transitory ascites tumor and lymph nodes metastases. The sequential aspects of metastases formation and regression were studied. No metastases were found in non-irradiated rats injected with the same amount of tumor cells.

Chromosomes of lymph node metastases derived from Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells inoculated into rats

The inoculation of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in irradiated and cortisone-treated rats induced an ascitic tumor and lymph node metastases. Chromosome banding analysis showed that metastatic lymph nodes are composed of Ehrlich tumor cells and normal rat metaphases, derived from reactive host cells.