Pleomorphic liposarcoma of bone: a rare primary malignant bone tumour

BACKGROUND

Liposarcoma is an extremely rare primary bone sarcoma.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of primary pleomorphic liposarcoma that arose in an 18 year old male in the metaphysis of the left tibia. Plain radiographs showed a partly sclerotic lesion and MR imaging a heterogeneous tumour predominantly isointense on T1- and high-signal on T2-weighted sequences with focal areas of increased T1 signal that suppressed with fat saturation. PET/CT showed marked FDG uptake (SUV = 17.1) in the primary tumour as well as a metastasis in the right distal femur and multiple small pulmonary metastases. Histologically, the tumour was a pleomorphic liposarcoma containing large tumour cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and hyperchromatic pleomorphic nuclei as well as numerous lipoblasts and scattered brown fat-like cells. Tumour cells strongly expressed FABP4/aP2, a marker of adipocyte differentiation, and UCP1, a marker of brown fat, but not S100. The case was treated with neoadjuvant MAP chemotherapy, resulting in extensive (> 95%) necrosis in the primary tumour and almost complete resolution of the femoral and pulmonary metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

Pleomorphic liposarcoma can present as a sclerotic primary malignant bone tumour; markers of adipose differentiation are useful in histological diagnosis and neoadjuvant MAP chemotherapy results in significant tumor necrosis.

Utility of VS38c in the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of osteosarcoma and other bone tumours/tumour-like lesions

Background

VS38c is a monoclonal antibody that recognises a rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) intracellular antigen termed cytoskeleton-linking membrane protein 63. rER is typically found in viable tumour cells and is abundant in osteosarcoma cells. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic utility of VS38c in the histological assessment of osteosarcoma and other bone tumours/tumour-like leisons.

Methods

Immunohistochemical staining with VS38c was carried out on formalin-fixed specimens of osteosarcoma (pre/post-chemotherapy) and a wide range of benign and malignant bone lesions. In addition, VS38c staining of cultures of MG63 and Sa0S2 osteosarcoma cell cultures. (±cisplatin and actinomycin D-treatment) was analysed.

Results

VS38c strongly stained tumour cells in all low-grade and high-grade osteosarcomas and in undifferentiated sarcomas and high-grade chondrosarcomas. There was little or no VS38c staining of low-grade chondrosarcomas or chordomas and variable staining of Ewing sarcomas. Osteoblasts in benign bone-forming tumours and mononuclear stromal cells in chondroblastomas, giant cell tumours and non-ossifying fibromas strongly stained for VS38c. VS38c staining was absent in cisplatin and actinomycin D treated Sa0S2 and MG63 cells. In specimens of osteosarcoma post-neoadjuvant therapy, VS38c staining was absent in most morphologically necrotic areas of tumor although some cells with pyknotic nuclei stained for VS38c in these areas. Most tumour cells exhibiting atypical nuclear forms were not stained by VS38c.

Conclusions

Our findings show that VS38c is a sensitive but not specific diagnostic marker of osteosarcoma. Staining with VS38c identifies viable osteosarcoma cells, a feature which may be useful in the assessment of percentage tumour necrosis post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Granular cell tumour of the breast: case series and review of the literature

Granular cell tumours (GCTs) are uncommon rare neoplasms that may occur in any part of the body. Approximately 5-8% of granular cell tumours occur within the breast. Although nearly always benign in behaviour, granular cell tumours of the breast can often mimic breast malignancies both clinically and on the basis of imaging techniques. This article reports five cases of benign granular cell tumours appearing in the breast, mimicking a malignant breast lesion. In addition to reporting the cases, the relevant literature was reviewed.

Impact of repeated bouts of eccentric exercise on sarcolemma disruption in human skeletal muscle

In animal models, unaccustomed eccentric exercise (EE) has been widely related to muscle fiber membrane (sarcolemma) damage. On the contrary, studies in humans reported that sarcolemma was not susceptible to damage following a single bout of EE. We hypothesized that the single bout of EE used by those studies was not sufficient to induce sarcolemma damage, in humans. In this study we examined muscle biopsies from untrained males who either performed six sets of 15 reps of maximum voluntary eccentric contractions (n=9), for six consecutive days, or served as control-group (n=6). Blood and biopsy samples were obtained one week prior to exercise, immediately after bout 3, and 24h after the last training session. In addition to standard haematoxylin-eosin staining, all biopsies were stained immunohistochemically using antibodies specific for fibronectin and desmin antigens. In the exercise-group, no biopsies taken at pre-exercise or post-exercise level showed evidence of sarcolemma damage as stained by anti-fibronectin antibody in eight of nine subjects. Serum creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities increased significantly throughout the study despite the lack of sarcolemma damage.We suggest that in humans, repeated bouts of EE do not cause gross sarcolemma damage in the mid-belly of Vastus Lateralis.

Prognosis of patients with local recurrence after mastectomy or conservative surgery for early-stage invasive breast cancer

Between 1983 and 1987, 1309 women with stage I or II breast cancer underwent mastectomy (n=894) or conservative surgery (CS, n=415). Of these patients, 124 developed an isolated local recurrence (ILR): chest wall, 56 and in-breast, 68. The 10-year actuarial rate of cause-specific survival after treatment for ILR was 52%. On multivariate analysis three independent prognostic factors for the risk of death after ILR were identified: operability of recurrence (operable vs. inoperable, relative risk [RR]: 5.9), age at initial diagnosis (>40 vs. < or = 40 years, RR: 2.2) and time to ILR (>24 vs. < or = 24 months, RR: 2). Initial lymph node stage (negative vs. positive) showed borderline significance (p=0.06), and type of initial surgery (CS vs. mastectomy) and recurrent tumor grade (1-2 vs. 3) were not independent predictors of survival. In the mastectomy group, single surgical scar recurrence with initial node negative stage predicted good prognosis, and the 10-year survival was 85%. In the CS group, the 10-year survival rate was 88% with new primary tumor and 54% with true recurrence (p=0.01), and the type of salvage surgery (mastectomy vs. repeat complete excision) had no significant impact on survival (p=0.2). The majority (n=44) of CS patients developed < or = 2 cm in-breast recurrence, and the 10-year survival was 81% after both salvage excision (n=28) and mastectomy (n=16). The identified unfavorable prognostic factors are pointers of the forthcoming systemic progression. Patients with < or = 2 cm in-breast recurrence might receive a second CS.

WT1 expression in angiogenic tumours of the skin

AIMS

To determine the expression of WT1 in endothelial proliferations and tumours. Endothelial cells are derived from angioblasts which differentiate into bone marrow stem cells (BMSC). BMSC are characterized by the constitutive expression of the WT1 gene and we have postulated that its expression may be maintained during the differentiation of angioblasts to endothelial cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The expression of WT1 was studied in human umbilical vein-derived (HUVEC) and brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBME) as well as in a Kaposi sarcoma (KS) cell line in vitro. Forty-two human skin biopsy samples of endothelial proliferations and tumours were analysed for the protein expression of WT1 using the monoclonal antibodies for wt-WT1 (6F-H2) and its 17AA+ variant (2C12). WT1 expression was detectable in HUVEC and KS cells and all WT1 splice variants examined (17AA+/- KTS+/-) were detectable in KS cells, while the 17AA+/- and KTS- variants were present in HUVEC. Immunohistochemical analysis of the 42 human skin biopsy samples revealed cytoplasmic WT1 expression using wild-type specific antibody (6FH2) in microvessels, which is maintained during neoangiogenesis (inflammation, haemorrhage, peritumoral angiogenesis). Around one-third of haemangiomas (3/10) and non-HIV-Kaposi sarcomas (7/18) expressed the WT1 protein in the cytoplasm of tumour cells compared with its frequent expression in angiosarcomas (7/8) using the same antibody (6FH2). The nuclear 17AA+ isoform of WT1 was detectable at protein level in a small proportion of KS cases exclusively (3/7).

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that WT1 protein expression is maintained during angiogenesis and malignant transformation of endothelial cells and can be considered as a new endothelial marker.

Heterogenous S-100B protein expression patterns in malignant melanoma and association with serum protein levels

OBJECTIVE

Serum S-100B is a reliable tumor marker of malignant melanoma, but efficient use is restricted to patients with metastatic disease. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess serum S-100B levels at different stages of malignant melanoma and to compare these levels with the expression of the S-100B phenotype in primary tumors and lymph node metastases.

METHODS

Fifty-nine patients were included in this study; serum S-100B protein was measured using an immunoluminometric assay while the expression pattern in the primary tumor was determined by immunohistochemistry using an anti-S-100B monoclonal antibody.

RESULTS

Serum S-100B concentrations were significantly elevated in stage III (p = 0.01) patients, with normal levels in stage I-II. The most frequent S-100B protein expression pattern of the melanoma tissue was found to be diffuse staining observed in around half of the cases (52.5%) followed by heterogeneous (30.5%) and focal patterns (17%), being independent of the stage as well as the lymph node involvement. In stage I-II patients, the various staining patterns did not correlate with the serum concentration of the S-100B protein, while in stage III patients with heterogenous or diffuse S-100B staining patterns in tumor tissue, the serum marker concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in patients with focal staining. Furthermore, S-100B staining of the melanoma tissue also differed (low/negative, medium and strong staining), and serum marker concentrations corresponded to the pattern of the staining intensity. In stage I-II, only strong staining was associated with elevated serum S-100B concentrations while in stage III medium and strong staining was found to be associated with significantly higher serum marker concentrations compared to patients with tumors with low/negative staining (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In malignant melanoma characterized by focal and/or low S-100B staining in the tumor tissue determined by immunohistochemistry, S-100B monitoring in the serum may not suffice to detect disease progression.

Inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy for staging anal cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The optimal treatment of clinically negative inguinal lymph nodes in patients with primary anal cancer has not yet been clearly defined. The presence of metastases in the inguinal lymph nodes is an adverse prognostic factor for anal cancer. In the present study the feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for staging anal cancer was investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From September 1999 to March 2002, 8 patients with biopsy proven primary anal cancer underwent lymphoscintigraphy and dual-agent guided inguinal SLNB for nodal staging before starting multimodality treatment.

RESULTS

Inguinal SLNB was successful in all 8 patients (13 groins). A total of 20 hot and blue SLNs (mean 1,5 (1-2) per groins) were removed. In 2 patients (25%) the SLN was positive for metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphoscintigraphy followed by dual-agent guided inguinal SLNB is technically feasible for staging patients with primary anal cancer. The detection of metastases in the removed sentinel lymph node(s) may alter the treatment and thus may improve the locoregional control and overall survival of these patients.

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa complicated by cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and pulmonary and renal amyloidosis

A 25-year-old woman with Hallopeau-Siemens recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa had generalized blistering, scarring and milia since birth. In the course of the disease, acral pseudosyndactyly developed, and the patient suffered from corneal erosions, oesophageal strictures, malabsorption, recurrent severe pneumonias and nephrotic syndrome. In addition, she had severe anaemia, sideropaenia, hypocalcaemia, heavy proteinuria and hypoalbuminaemia. A rapidly growing skin squamous cell carcinoma developed on the neck that spread to axillary and cervical lymph nodes. Recurrent hypocalcaemic tetanic convulsions and dyspnoea and a pneumonia refractory to antibiotics led to the premature demise of the patient. Autopsy revealed extensive amyloidosis of the renal, hepatic and splenic tissues. AA type amyloid deposits were detected in the renal glomeruli and in the lung, explaining the patient's unusually severe pulmonary infections. In essence, the patient had severe recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, complicated by squamous cell carcinoma, recurrent pneumonias and nephrotic syndrome due to secondary amyloidosis of the kidney and lung. The possibility of secondary pulmonary amyloidosis should be considered in severe dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients with recurrent pulmonary infections.

The role of boost irradiation in the conservative treatment of stage I-II breast cancer

In this article, we review the current status, indication, technical aspects, controversies, and future prospects of boost irradiation after breast conserving surgery (BCS). BCS and radiotherapy (RT) of the conserved breast became widely accepted in the last decades for the treatment of early invasive breast cancer. The standard technique of RT after breast conservation is to treat the whole breast up to a total dose of 45 to 50 Gy. However, there is no consensus among radiation oncologists about the necessity of boost dose to the tumor bed. Generally accepted criteria for identification of high risk subgroups, in which boost is recommended, have not been established yet. Further controversy exists regarding the optimal boost technique (electron vs. brachytherapy), and their impact on local tumor control and cosmesis. Based on the results of numerous retrospective and recently published prospective trials, the European brachytherapy society (GEC-ESTRO), as well as the American Brachytherapy Society has issued their guidelines in these topics. These guidelines will help clinicians in their medical decisions. Some aspects of boost irradiation still remain somewhat controversial. The final results of prospective boost trials with longer follow-up, involving analyses based on pathologically defined subgroups, will clarify these controversies. Preliminary results with recently developed boost techniques (intraoperative RT, CT-image based 3D conformal brachytherapy, and 3D virtual brachytherapy) are promising. However, more experience and longer follow-up are required to define whether these methods might improve local tumor control for breast cancer patients treated with conservative surgery and RT.

Endoscopy and autopsy follow-up of biodegradable oesophageal anastomoses in dogs

The biofragmentable Anastomosis Ring (BAR) is a mechanical device composed of absorbable material and creates an inverting, atraumatic compressive anastomosis with no foreign material at the anastomotic site after healing. The aim of the present experimental study was to assess the safety of oesophagoscopy in early days after oesophageal anastomoses performed with the BAR and to follow-up the healing of BAR anastomoses by in vivo endoscopy and autopsy examination. Thirty mongrel dogs divided into subgroups according to the time-points of endoscopy and autopsy (4th, 7th, 14th, 28th day) were used. There was no significant difference in the healing of anastomoses performed under or above the tracheal bifurcation. Pleural adhesions helped to cover and seal small subclinical leaks. The mortality was 13.3% (4 dogs) and the overall leakage rate 14.3%. We looked for bleeding, haematoma, erosion, ulceration and granulation tissue in the anastomosis. Due to the high mechanical strength of these anastomoses, oesophagoscopy was a safe, easy and feasible method for follow-up BAR intrathoracic anastomoses, with no significant difference between the number of lesions found with endoscopy as compared to the autopsy data. The overall sensitivity of oesophagoscopy to discover mucosal lesions was 73.1%. Endoscopy had no complications, therefore it is a useful method of follow-up and may help predict the normal or compromised healing of oesophageal anastomoses.

Immunohistochemical features of paragangliomas

Immunohistochemistry is part of the routine diagnosis of the neuroendocrine tumors. In our study, we included 52 paragangliomas with various localizations by routine histology and immunohistochemistry. In order to increase the diagnostic specificity, a complex immunohistochemistry panel has been performed consisting of Bcl-2, Ki-67, Bax and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Peptide (PACAP), somatostatin, VIP and Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP). After heat induced antigen retrieval, the immunostaining was performed by StreptABC using DAB as a chromogen. We were the first to demonstrate the presence of Bax and PACAP in paragangliomas. Some of the used markers are of prognostic value. The relationship between Bcl-2 and Bax is decisive in generating the final response to the input apoptotic signals. The Ki-67 antigen staining has gained wide acceptance in prognostic evaluation of other tumor types. We noted a small number of Ki-67 positive cases, which signifies a low mitotic activity of these tumors and a relatively high number of Bax positivities (32.9%) and the much lower number of Bcl-2 positivities (11.39%), and could explain the benign behaviour of paragangliomas.

Postirradiation angiosarcoma of the chest wall and breast: issues of radiogenic origin, diagnosis and treatment in two cases

The authors report two cases of postradiation angiosarcoma (AS) among 5,100 breast cancer patients treated in the period 1980-1994 at the National Institute of Oncology, Budapest. Relevant data in the literature is also reviewed to analyze the questions of radiogenic origin, diagnosis and treatment. Secondary AS occurred in these cases in a previously irradiated field after a 6- and 8-year latency period, respectively. Detailed histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations from the biopsy specimens confirmed the diagnosis as AS. The first patient was treated successfully with radical surgery. The second patient, with unresectable AS, died of rapid local progression within 4 months. The incidence of chest wall and breast AS after radiotherapy was found to be 0.46 per 1,000 in our patient population, which means an estimated odds ratio of 2.9 for secondary AS. Patients treated with radiotherapy for primary breast cancer are at higher risk for developing secondary AS compared to the healthy population. An etiological relationship between radiotherapy and subsequent AS of the chest wall and breast is likely, but still controversial. Initial radical surgery is the only effective treatment for achieving long-term survival. These very rare cases deserve special attention due to the atypical clinical appearance, difficulties of differential diagnosis and poor prognosis.

[Intraabdominal sclerosing panniculitis--myofibroblast proliferation that can mimic malignancy]

Intraabdominal sclerosing panniculitis is a fibroinflammatory lesion of the intraabdominal fat tissue of unknown origin. The authors report 4 secondary cases, that were associated with other kind of intestinal pathology. The cases had different clinical manifestation (mesenterial sclerosis leading to bowel obstruction, lesion simulating transmural spread or peritoneal metastasis of colorectal carcinoma, and chance finding associated with ulcerative colitis). They review the literature and summarize the features of the reactive process characterized by a spindle cell proliferation, fibrosis (sclerosis), chronic inflammatory infiltrate and fat necrosis. The immunohistochemical staining pattern of spindle cells favors a myofibroblastic origin. These cells, like cells of many other, but not all myofibroblastic lesions are CD-34 negative. The significance of recognizing the lesion as such is highlighted by the fact that the correct diagnosis has been seldom made without excision of the involved bowel segment. Theoretically surgical excision should be reserved for cases with bowel obstruction, or underlying pathology requiring this intervention. They believe that with awareness of the lesion secondary cases are not as rare as previously thought, although primary cases (those not associated with other intestinal pathology or specific etiologic agents) are only rarely encountered in everyday practice. They share the view that both primary and secondary cases are reactions to noxious agents, but this agent is unknown in primary cases.

Cytogenetic abnormalities of alveolar soft-part sarcomas using interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization: trisomy for chromosome 7 and monosomy for chromosomes 8 and 18 seem to be characteristic of the tumor

Four alveolar soft-part sarcomas were investigated by means of standard immunohistochemistry and interphase cytogenetics to further characterize the immunophenotype and proliferative activity of this tumor. The main goal of this study was to explore the chromosomal changes of this rare soft-tissue sarcoma. One epithelial (KLI), three neurogenic [neuron specific enolase (NSE), PGP 9.5, and S100], and five myogenic (desmin, myoglobin, alpha-smooth mnuscle actin, alpha-sarcomeric actin, and MyoD1) markers were used for the immunophenotypical analysis. Proliferative activity was assessed using the Ki67 index. Twelve (peri)centromeric (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 18, and X) and one telomeric (17q25-qtel.) chromosomal probes were used for interphase cytogenetic analysis. Three of the cases showed cytoplasmic desmin and/or myoglobin, and one showed smooth muscle actin positivity. All of the four tumors had granular, cytoplasmic, possibly nonspecific MyoD1 and sarcomeric actin positivity. Two of the tumors were positive for vimentin, four gave focal and weak staining with neurogenic markers (four of four NSE, one of four S100, and four of four PGP 9.5), but none of them was positive with KLI. Alveolar soft-part sarcomas may show myogenic immunophenotype in a number of cases, which supports myogenic differentiation. Fluorescent in situ hybridization using alpha satellite chromosomal probes revealed significant alterations in all of the cases. Most frequent and repeated numerical changes, which seem to be characteristic of the neoplasm and may play an important part in its pathogenesis and/or progression, were trisomy 7, monosomy 8 and monosomy 18.

Molecular pathology of tumor metastasis. I. Predictive pathology

Millennium reviews of oncology agreed that the last century produced major developments mainly in the management of the primary tumor, but despite all of these results, cancer still remains among the leading causes of death due to the failure of clinical management of disseminated disease. This failure is primarily due to the lack of detailed information on the molecular mechanisms of tumor metastasis. Therefore, one of the hottest fields in experimental oncology is metastasis research, which provides more and more information about the molecular mechanisms. However, this information is fragmented and is not yet exploited in clinical practice. A new field of diagnostic pathology recently emerged, which translates basic research data to diagnostic practice to provide clinically relevant information on the biological potential (in this case metastatic potential) of the malignant tumors. Since tumor cell-extracellular matrix interactions are key features of tumor dissemination, expression of genes responsible for them can define the metastatic potential of malignant tumors. This review summarizes our recent knowledge on the metastatic geno- and phenotype of major human solid tumors: lung, colon, breast, prostate cancers and malignant melanoma.

Syndecan-1 expression in different soft tissue tumours

BACKGROUND

In vitro studies have suggested that expression of syndecan-1 (CD138) is correlated with morphologic phenotype (epithelioid or spindle) of cultured tumour cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-seven different soft tissue tumours were selected to analyse their syndecan-1 (CD138) reactivity. Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin sections, following a high temperature unmasking technique, was performed. The intensity and the pattern of staining was studied.

RESULTS

Cell membrane positivity was observed in epithelioid sarcomas and epithelial elements of synovial sarcomas. GISTs, some malignant epithelioid schwannoma and some fibromatosis showed intracytoplasmatic reaction, while pyogenic granuloma, Kaposi's sarcoma, fibrosarcoma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans were negative.

CONCLUSION

At first it seemed that the cell membrane positivity of syndecan-1 accompanied true epithelial differentiation in soft tissue sarcomas, but the results further highlighted the non specific nature of this expression. Therefore the heterogeneity in the appearance of syndecan-1 in various soft tissue tumours is not simply associated with the phenotype, suggesting more complex functions.

[Feasibility and accuracy of the combined radioisotope and blue-dye guided sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer]

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a minimally invasive operation for staging regional lymph nodes in breast cancer. This method was introduced in the last decade. However there are some remaining questions regarding labelling, surgical technique, indications, and the pathological examination of the removed sentinel lymph nodes which have to be answered before can be introduced as the routine clinical practice. 98 patients with primary breast cancer underwent double guided (radioisotope and blue-dye) sentinel lymph node biopsy in our department during a surgical feasibility study between December 1997 and February 2000. The operation was successful in 92 patients (94%). False negative rate, sensitivity and accuracy were 15%, 85% and 95% retrospectively. During the learning curve the success rate improved from 83% to 99%, the sensitivity from 79% to 89% and the accuracy from 88% to 97% and the false negative rate decreased from 21% to 11%. In T1 tumors the false negative rate and accuracy were 6% and 98%, while in T2 tumors these were 24% and 86%. Application of a larger particle sized colloid (200-600 nm), subareolar injection and next day operation technique had no effects on the results. Double guided sentinel lymph node biopsy is a sensitive surgical staging procedure which accurately predicts the lymph node status in T1 breast tumors. The technique used by us is easy to reproduce, and learn and is beneficial in technical and radiation protection aspects.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia: report of a lesion mimicking soft tissue tumor of extremely long duration

We present a large sized lesion of the right upper arm in which characteristics of the angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) intermingled with those of Kimura's disease (KD). The laboratory findings, the prominent vascular proliferation and the features of endothelial cells were suggestive of ALHE. However, the long duration of the disease, the site of involvement, the abundant lymphoid component forming lymph follicles with germinal centers and the fibrosis are features of KD. In agreement with other reports, our case shows that clinicopathologically there is an overlap between ALHE and KD.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumour of the pleura: a case report with further cytogenetic and ultrastructural evidence of 'mesothelioblastemic' origin

A typical case of desmoplastic small round cell tumour of the pleura in a 25-year-old man is described. In addition to the typical histological and immunohistological findings, the EWS-WT1 fusion product was also observed. Ultrastructurally, some tumour cells displayed intracytoplasmic neolumina, with short microvilli characteristic of submesothelial cells. These findings support the theory of a splanchnopleuric intraembryonic mesodermal, 'mesothelioblastemic' origin, both morphologically and cytogenetically.

Melan-A/Mart-1 expression in various melanocytic lesions and in non-melanocytic soft tissue tumours

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to test different malignant non-melanocytic tumours with the commercially available antibody Melan-A to examine its diagnostic specificity and to compare the S100, Melan-A and HMB-45 reactivity in various melanocytic lesions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Seventy-three benign and malignant melanocytic lesions and 31 cases of non-melanocytic tumours, sarcomas, carcinomas and carcinoids, were selected. Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin sections, following a high temperature antigen unmasking technique, was performed. Melan-A stains junctional and dermal melanocytes in all benign melanocytic lesions with the exception of neuro-naevoid areas. The epithelioid and the spindle cells in malignant melanomas did not show considerable difference in their Melan-A reactivity. The predominantly spindle cell type mucosal melanomas contained more Melan-A-positive cells than HMB-45-positive cells and similar results were observed in metastatic malignant melanomas. In desmoplastic melanomas the positivity of Melan-A was not consistent. None of the sarcomas, carcinomas and carcinoids expressed Melan-A. Almost all soft tissue tumours, except for two malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumours, were unreactive for HMB-45. These two cases did not react with Melan-A antibody.

CONCLUSIONS

Melan-A is a useful additional marker to differentiate non-melanocytic tumours from primary or metastatic melanoma. In melanocytic lesions the Melan-A staining pattern is similar to S100, but seems to be more specific. In desmoplastic melanomas, however, the variable Melan-A staining further necessitated detailed histological examination and the use of the S100 reaction.

[Clinico-pathology of lobular breast cancer]

997 operations were performed because of malignant breast lesions at the National Institute of Oncology during a two-years period (1990-1991). Histologically 94 tumours proved to be invasive lobular cancer. Comparable data were available for 89 patients; a questionnaire was used for data collection. Analysing these cases, the authors discuss the clinicopathology of lobular cancer and current practice in its treatment. The mean age of the patients was 57.1 years, which in accordance with the literature. No synchronous contralateral tumour was observed in the studied patient group. 4.9% of the cases proved to be multifocal, what is considerably less than that reported in the literature. It is a frequent matter of debate in many papers whether mastectomy should be indicated if the multicentricity of the tumour is only suspected. The features of the studied group may also emphasise this question, and further investigation is needed for moderating the surgical radicality. The rate of large tumours and the mean tumour diameter was lower than suggested by the literature. The rate of positive axillary lymph nodes was higher than in reports of other centres. The authors underline the necessity of axillary block-dissection even in case of operations with decreased radicality. Beside lymph node metastases, invasive lobular cancer produces haematogenous metastases with a higher probabilty than other breast cancers. This observation is supported by our study, too.

Epithelial mesothelioma with deciduoid features

A rare case of malignant mesothelioma in a 15-year-old girl is described. The patient presented with secondary amenorrhoea and clinical symptoms resembling those of an ovarian cyst. One large and multiple small peritoneal nodules were found at laparoscopy. Histologically the tumour was characterised by an unusual pattern with a superficial resemblance to decidual reaction, but because of significant mitotic activity the diagnosis of a malignant tumour, epithelial mesothelioma with deciduoid features, was made. The patient died 11 months after diagnosis. Post-mortem examination revealed extensive extraperitoneal spread.

Prostatic leiomyosarcoma

The histopathological findings from the third prostate operation of a 63-year-old patient proved that his leiomysarcoma was malignant. Leiomyosarcoma is a disease of low incidence. Of 1000 cases of a carcinoma of prostate one proves to be this disease. Its clinical distinction from benign prostate disease meets difficulties. A survey of literature has shown that even multiple aggressive therapy fails when the process has overpassed the limits of the organ. Early diagnosis followed be radical pre- and postoperative X-irradiation may lead to long-term survival. Neither cytostatic nor hormonal therapy is successful. The course of the illness of our patients merits interest because of the rarity of the disease and the diagnostic difficulties.

[Steroid hormone receptors in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck]

In this study we have tried to find new prognostic markers to extend the therapeutical modalities for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. During evolution the development of the pharyngolaryngeal region differs in males and females, therefore this region can be considered as one of the target organs for sex steroids. Some of the tumours, originating from this area, contain hormone receptors that theoretically makes them susceptible for hormone therapy. Therefore the real concentration of steroid receptors is of great clinical importance. We determined the estradiol, progesterone and testosterone receptor content using biochemical method in tumour tissue of 33 male patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The receptors in the macroscopically intact mucosa in 15 of all tumour cases were also measured. The patients were followed for 18-24 month after operation and postoperative irradiation performed according to the protocol of the Head and Neck Surgery department. There were 26/33 (79%) estradiol receptor positive, 14/33 (42%) progesterone receptor positive and 18/30 (60%) testosterone receptor positive cases among the tumour samples. The healthy mucosa samples were positive in 6/15 (40%), 2/15 (13%) and 3/15 (20%) of cases, respectively. The differences in proportion of positive status between tumour and healthy mucosa was statistically significant. We established that during the control period the highest rate of the tumour-free survival was in the estradiol receptor positive, progesterone receptor negative group. Consequently the steroid receptor status of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas might help in assessing the prognosis of survival, and in possible choice for endocrine treatment, in order to complete the complex tumour therapy.

[Experience in the treatment of breast sarcomas]

Authors operated on 6339 malignant breast tumors at the Department of Surgery, National Institute on Oncology between 1980 and 1994. The records of 14 patients with sarcomas of the breast were analyzed. These included 2 malignant phyllodes tumors, 3 malignant fibrous histiocytomas, 2-2 fibrosarcomas and carcinosarcomas and liposarcoma, angiosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans one of each. During this period 5 patients died, 9 are living without evidence of tumor. Analysing these 14 cases authors present their policy in surgical therapy of breast sarcomas compared with literature data. They emphasise the importance of wide resection margins for prevention of tumor progression. The above mentioned principle is valid for local recurrences so radicalization of the previous conservative breast surgery may be necessary in selected cases. Intraoperative histological examination is recommended to verify that the resection margins are tumor free. Axillary block dissection is not necessary except in cases when palpable, firm lymph nodes are present in the region. Depending on the histological grade adjuvant radiotherapy could be considered but its effectiveness is not proven.

[Multiple fibrous pseudotumor of the great omentum]

The authors describe a case of multiplex fibrous pseudotumor of the great omentum that developed in a 15 year-old man and was treated by surgical resection. They discuss the clinical and pathological differential diagnostic problems and give a review of the omental tumors and pseudotumors. The occurrence of pseudotumors in the abdomen is rare and these are mostly inflammatory variants. On our knowledge this case is one of the first of multiplex fibrous pseudotumor simulating fibroma that was localized in the great omentum.

Non-isotopic in situ hybridization of human papilloma virus on histologic sections: an amended protocol

The authors report on their experience with an HPV non-radioactive in situ hybridization kit and describe the favorable results gained with the amended protocol, which are as follows: 1. The application of a decreased amount of both the probe and the chromogen substrate did not alter the quality of reactions. Therefore we were able to make 60 reactions instead of the originally suggested 21. 2. The proteolytic enzyme digestion time could be prolonged by changing proteinase-K for pepsin which intensifies the signal of hybridization. 3. By changing the order of hybrid detection and posthybridization washing, we succeeded in removing the excess amount of probe-ABC-AP-BAAV-ABC-AP conglomerates without losing the target sequence. 4. Using alkaline phosphatase or ABC-AP-BAAV-ABC-AP complex instead of peroxidase it was possible to demonstrate a very low number of gene copies, even if they were not detectable following the original instructions.

[Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung]

The authors review the theories of origin of the so-called sclerosing heamangioma of the lung. The results of immunohistochemical studies--epithelial membrane antigen positivity and vimentin and factor VIII. related antigen negativity--support the hypothesis of epithelial origin. The problems of clinical and pathological differential diagnosis are discussed.

Unusual benign neurogenic soft tissue tumour. Epithelioid schwannoma or an ossifying fibromyxoid tumour?

An unusual form of subcutaneous soft tissue tumour with benign character is reported. The tumour was composed of uniform cells which were epithelioid in appearance. True myxoid matrix, osteoid formation or metaplastic bone were not present. Immunohistochemically S-100 protein and vimentin was demonstrated in the tumour cells. Electron microscopic examinations showed fragmented or continuous basal lamina, interdigitating cytoplasmic projections, myelin-like figures and a few cell junctions. The immunohistochemical and electron microscopic results indicate that the tumour is of Schwann's cell origin. Based on light microscopic, electron microscopic and immunohistochemical results we think our case is an epithelioid benign schwannoma but the non-ossifying form of fibromyxoid tumour of the soft parts cannot be excluded with confidence.