Immunohistochemical investigation of cytokine expression levels as biomarkers in transrectal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy specimens of prostate adenocarcinoma

Cytokines influence the biological behaviour of prostate cancer (PC) and may influence patient outcome and serve as useful prognostic biomarkers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate cytokine expression levels in prostatic needle biopsy specimens and the association with clinicopathological characteristics of patients with PC. A total of 18 patients with PC who underwent transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy were included in the clinical study. These patients were naïve to radiotherapy (RT) or androgen deprivation therapy prior to TRUS biopsy and clinical follow up data was collected. Cytokine expression levels were analysed by using immunohistochemistry and Spearman's correlation test was used to determine the correlation between cytokine expression and clinicopathological characteristics. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-6 decreased as Gleason score (GS) increased; however, a statistically significant difference was not detected. A statically significant correlation was observed between needle biopsy specimen and pre-RT plasma sample expression levels of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-6 (P=0.01 and P=0.05, respectively) and anti-inflammatory TGF-β1 (P=0.05). However, further studies are needed to confirm these results using a larger sample size to confirm the prognostic value of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-6 and anti-inflammatory TGF-β1 in patients with PC.

Unilateral Maxillary Sinus Plasmablastic Lymphoma in an Immunocompetent Patient. An Unusual Occurrence Report and Literature Review

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare and aggressive form of mature B cell neoplasms almost exclusively identified in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The small number of HIV-negative PBL cases reported in the literature to date is composed of single case reports and small case series which characteristically are present involving the oral cavity mucosa or gingiva. We present a 72-year-old HIV-negative Australian patient without any cause of immunodeficiency, with an isolated left maxillary sinus PBL.

Atypical ductal hyperplasia is a multipotent precursor of breast carcinoma

The current model for breast cancer progression proposes independent 'low grade (LG)-like' and 'high grade (HG)-like' pathways but lacks a known precursor to HG cancer. We applied low-coverage whole-genome sequencing to atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) with and without carcinoma to shed light on breast cancer progression. Fourteen out of twenty isolated ADH cases harboured at least one copy number alteration (CNA), but had fewer aberrations than LG or HG ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). ADH carried more HG-like CNA than LG DCIS (e.g. 8q gain). Correspondingly, 64% (7/11) of ADH cases with synchronous HG carcinoma were clonally related, similar to LG carcinoma (67%, 6/9). This study represents a significant shift in our understanding of breast cancer progression, with ADH as a common precursor lesion to the independent 'low grade-like' and 'high grade-like' pathways. These data suggest that ADH can be a precursor of HG breast cancer and that LG and HG carcinomas can evolve from a similar ancestor lesion. We propose that although LG DCIS may be committed to a LG molecular pathway, ADH may remain multipotent, progressing to either LG or HG carcinoma. This multipotent nature suggests that some ADH cases could be more clinically significant than LG DCIS, requiring biomarkers for personalising management. Copyright © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Splenic infarction. A rare presentation of anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma and a review of the literature

CONTEXT

Anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare variant of ductal adenocarcinoma. The histogenesis and biologic behavior of these tumors are still controversial. They occur in elderly men and are associated with a very poor prognosis.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of advanced anaplastic carcinoma in a 41-year-old man who presented with splenic infarction. He had a prolonged survival of 16 months from diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Splenic infarction is a most unusual acute presentation of pancreatic carcinoma, which may require emergency tumor resection and splenectomy.

Eosinophilic Pustular Folliculitis

Classical eosinophilic pustular folliculitis, or Ofuji's disease, is a chronic and relapsing dermatosis that is predominantly reported in East Asian populations. Clinically, the disease typically begins as small papules, which enlarge and coalesce into a large plaque, usually on the face. The histopathology is characterized by a prominent eosinophilic infiltrate in the dermis with concentration around pilosebaceous units, often with eosinophilic microabscess formation. The differentiation of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis from other eosinophilic dermatoses is practically challenging and requires close clinicopathologic correlation. Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis may also be associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection, various drugs, and some lymphomas and could also be thought of as a nonspecific dermatopathologic pattern in such settings. The cause of classical eosinophilic pustular folliculitis is unknown, although immune processes are almost certain to play a key role in its pathogenesis.

Case report of a dermoid cyst at the floor of the mouth

The growth of dermoid cysts at the floor of the mouth is considered a rare condition. Typically, intra-oral dermoid cysts present as non-tender, slow growing masses at the sublingual, submental and submandibular region. We report a case of a young adult male who presented at our hospital with a sublingual cyst superimposed with acute infection and failed antibiotic treatment. The cyst was excised and confirmed histopathologically as a dermoid cyst with overlying acute inflammation. Clinical progress was uneventful and postoperative recovery excellent with no recurrence.