Aurora B kinase expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and its prognostic implications.

AIMS: To investigate the clinical and prognostic significance of Aurora B in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC). METHODS AND RESULTS: Aurora B protein expression was analysed in 259 LSCC. The proliferation index (Ki67) and the expression of other cell cycle control proteins, such as Aurora A, survivin and p53 was also determined. Aurora B was highly expressed in 55.4% of LSCC. High Aurora B expression levels were correlated with tumour recurrence (P=0.01), death from disease (P=0.05) and decreased disease-free survival (P=0.013) and overall survival (P=0.04). Survivin expression was neither associated with clinicopathological characteristics nor with survival. However, survivin expression in the nucleus paralleled Aurora B expression (P=0.014). Aurora A expression was associated significantly with increased tumour grade (P=0.008). Multivariate analysis indicated that Aurora B was an independent predictor for LSCC-specific disease-free survival [hazard ratio (HR), 2.10; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.25-3.52 (P=0.005)] and overall survival [HR, 1.91; 95% CI 1.01-3.34 (P=0.023)]. CONCLUSIONS: Aurora B may be a novel prognostic biomarker for LSCC and a potential therapeutic target in this type of tumour.

[Splenic lymphangioma. A rare tumour. Presentation of 3 cases and a literature review]. / Linfangioma esplénico. Un tumor raro. Presentación de 3 casos y revisión de la bibliografía.

BACKGROUND: Lymphangiomas are benign tumours, considered to be congenital malformations of the lymphatic system that predominately affect children, with only a few cases reported in adults. The most common sites of these lesions are the neck (75%) and axillary region (20%), but rarely found in the spleen. OBJECTIVE: A description is presented of 3 cases of incidentally detected splenic lymphangioma, one in a child and in 2 adults, respectively, as well as a literature review. CLINICAL CASES: After a clinical and physical examination, all patients had an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan and a complete splenectomy, followed by a histopathological study on the removed spleen. Two patients were asymptomatic, and the paediatric patient referred to intermittent abdominal pain without other symptoms. The clinical and physical examinations related to the mass were negative. The final diagnosis was based on a combination of radiological and histopathological findings. Total splenectomy was undertaken in all cases without complications. CONCLUSIONS: Splenic lymphangioma is very rare, and more so in adults. This condition is often asymptomatic and is incidentally detected by imagenology due to any other differet cause. The final diagnosis should be based on a combination of clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings. Splenectomy is the treatment of choice and the prognosis is good.

Primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis mimicking meningeal tuberculosis.

Primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis (PDLG) is a rare condition, with only 45 cases recorded to date, characterized by infiltration of the meninges by glial cells without evidence of primary tumor in the brain or spinal cord parenchyma. Here, we describe a patient with PDLG who was managed with tuberculostatic drugs owing to multiple findings that were suggestive of tuberculous meningitis. A 19-year-old woman presented with headaches and behavioral changes. A sudden decrease in visual acuity with papilledema, bilateral sixth nerve palsies, and neck stiffness developed. Lumbar puncture showed elevated opening pressure (50 cm H2O). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed glucose 30 mg/dL, protein 26.5 mg/dL, white blood cell count 150 (60% lymphocytes, 40% neutrophils). The second sample of CSF provided adenosine deaminase activity 21.9 U/L. Polymerase chain reaction for Koch's bacillus was positive in the third CSF sample. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed meningeal thickening of the quadrigeminal cistern, tentorium cerebelli, cerebral convexity, and spinal cord, with gadolinium enhancement in nodular lesions. The patient died 22 weeks after symptom onset owing to brainstem infarction. Postmortem pathologic studies revealed PDLG. This entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis that does not respond to treatment with antituberculous drugs. Surgical biopsy should be considered in contrast-enhanced areas in magnetic resonance imaging.