Alpha-interferon in superficial bladder cancer: a Northern California Oncology Group Study.

Thirty-five patients with superficial transitional carcinoma of the bladder were treated intravesically with escalating doses of recombinant alpha-2-interferon administered weekly for 8 weeks. Of the 19 patients with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (17 carcinoma in situ [CIS], two severe dysplasia, all cytology positive), six (32%) had complete resolution of all histologic and cytologic evidence of disease (complete response). An additional three patients (16%) had complete resolution of CIS, but the interval appearance of a low-grade transitional cell neoplasm. Five (26%) had a partial response (complete resolution of all evidence of CIS on multiple bladder biopsies but persistently positive cytologic preparations). Sixteen patients with recurrent papillary tumors and extensive prior therapy were also treated. Four (25%) had a complete response. Twenty-three of the 35 patients had prior intravesical therapy. Seven of the 23 (30%) patients with prior intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy had a complete or partial response to interferon, while eight of the 12 patients (67%) without prior intravesical treatment responded. These responses were achieved with minimal local and systemic toxicity. Of the ten complete responders, five remain in continuous unmaintained remission for 18+ to 37+ months. Intracavitary alpha-2-interferon is an effective new treatment for some patients with bladder cancer.

Pseudomalignant ulcerative change of the gastrointestinal tract.

The occurrence of pseudomalignant ulcerative change in seven specimens from the colon and rectum of six patients is described. In all cases, there was surface ulceration of a polypoid lesion which contained granulation tissue and acute and chronic inflammation. There was an underlying inflammatory pseudopolyp in four lesions, a juvenile polyp in one lesion, an adenomatous polyp in one lesion, and a benign retention polyp in one lesion. Within the stroma of all cases were numerous atypical cells that mimicked a malignant neoplasm. The atypical cells expressed vimentin in immunohistochemical studies; no expression of keratins, leukocyte common antigen, factor VIII, Ulex europaeus, carcinoembryonic antigen, actin, or desmin was found. Recognition of this lesion is important, as confusion with carcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, or a viral infection may easily occur.

Carcinomas with metaplasia and sarcomas of the breast.

The clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and flow cytometric characteristics of 34 cases of mammary carcinoma with metaplasia were compared with those of 20 cases of pure sarcoma of the breast. All 20 of the latter tumors showed the pattern of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. There were 20 cases of carcinoma with mesenchymal metaplasia, 7 cases of carcinoma with mixed epithelial (squamous) and mesenchymal metaplasia, and 7 cases of carcinoma with epithelial metaplasia (four mixed ductal/squamous and three pure squamous cell carcinomas). No patient with pure sarcoma had lymph node metastases develop; all nodal metastases were found in patients who had carcinoma with metaplasia, although in one case the carcinomatous component was seen only within a lymph node metastasis. Epithelial antigens were found not only within the epithelial elements of all cases of carcinoma, but also within the apparent mesenchymal elements of 44% of the carcinomas showing divergent differentiation. Flow cytometric analysis of eight cases of carcinoma with mesenchymal metaplasia showed aneuploidy/tetraploidy in six neoplasms. For patient management purposes, the distinction of pure sarcoma from carcinoma with metaplasia is important, but additional subclassification of carcinoma with metaplasia is of greater biologic than clinical interest.

Marginal vacuoles in metastatic thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

A case of metastatic follicular carcinoma to the iliac bone in a 78-yr-old woman is presented. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) smears showed numerous, cohesive tumor cell groups with moderately abundant cytoplasm and distinctive, peripherally situated pink-staining vacuoles on May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain. The presence of marginal vacuoles strongly suggested the possibility of metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Immunohistochemical studies performed on a concomitant needle core biopsy showed immunoreactivity for thyroglobulin, supporting a thyroid derivation for this metastasis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in which marginal vacuoles ("flame cells") have been identified in a malignant thyroid condition.

Disseminated histoplasmosis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy of the adrenal gland. A case report.

A case of disseminated histoplasmosis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the adrenal gland is reported for a 60-year-old man who presented with a 40-pound weight loss and abdominal computed tomography showing bilateral adrenal enlargement. FNA biopsy of the adrenal gland revealed clusters of macrophages with abundant cytoplasm containing the yeast forms of Histoplasma capsulatum. This case emphasizes that FNA is effective in diagnosing infectious as well as neoplastic conditions of the adrenal glands.

Cytology of angiosarcoma in effusions.

The cytologic and immunocytochemical findings in pleural effusions from three cases of angiosarcoma are presented. In two of the cases, the primary lesion was on the scalp; in the third case, an angiosarcoma of the small intestine developed after radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. Single malignant cells and small clusters of cells were seen in cytologic preparations from two cases while only single cells were seen in preparations from one case. The malignant cells had delicate, finely vacuolated cytoplasm with distinct borders. No specific morphologic features were noted. Immunoperoxidase studies revealed binding of Ulex europaeus and reactivity for vimentin in all three cases and expression of Factor VIII-related protein in two of the cases but no expression of epithelial markers. The clinical history and immunoperoxidase studies are necessary to distinguish angiosarcoma from metastatic adenocarcinoma and other malignancies in effusions.

Scintigraphic hot nodules and thyroid carcinoma.

Three patients who had hot nodules on I-123 scan were found to have thyroid cancers in the nodule. Two of the cancers were follicular, one was a follicular variant of papillary cancer.

Difficult denture patients: observations and hypothesis.

The similarities between the HRC and the DDP have been presented. The HRC has been described by many investigators in the psychoanalytic literature. Indications are that both the HRC and the DDP are working through the same mechanism. The similarities are as follows: Both types of patients are driven by a need to seek treatment from someone they will ultimately reject. A self-fulfilling prophecy develops as a cycle leading to failure. Due to lack of trust and a desire to feel important, the patient creates an atmosphere that leads to discord, hostility, anger, and frustration. Resultant discord leads to the establishment of a relationship that demands much time and energy from the helper. The helper is ultimately manipulated into a no-win situation that ends with the helper dismissing the patient, thereby completing the patient's self-fulfilling prophecy. Recurrent stress in the patient's life recycles the drive force and the need for treatment and attention starts all over again. With greater understanding of the DDP's problems, management solutions could be formulated. Management techniques might include an initial interview with trust-building strategies, the reassurance to the patient of the uniqueness of his situation to neutralize the need to create a crisis for his own identity; and challenges to point out the hopelessness of their position to activate the patient's need to prove the helper wrong. Finally, in addition to management of the patient, techniques can be developed to identify the DDP with HRC tendencies. Proper recognition and diagnosis before treatment begins can prevent many problems associated with these patients and prevent stress and discord for both dentist and patients.

Embolic vascular seeding of endometrial adenocarcinoma, a complication of hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy.

OBJECTIVE: A case of embolic vascular seeding of endometrial adenocarcinoma following hysteroscopy is reported. METHODS: This phenomenon was recognized in the uterus specimen from a hysterectomy performed 1 week after hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy. Tissue processing artifact was excluded. RESULTS: Since the patient was otherwise low risk, treatment was limited to hysterectomy. The patient was not given adjuvant therapy. Two years later she remains alive and well with no evidence of disease. The surgical, morphologic, and clinical features of this case are presented and illustrated. CONCLUSION: Previous reports of peritoneal tumor seeding associated with hysteroscopy are reviewed. Tumor embolization during hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy was not followed by tumor recurrence in this case.

Testicular tumors with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

The case of a 6-year-old boy with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), gynecomastia, and multifocal and bilateral testicular tumors is described. Females with PJS are known to be at increased risk for developing gonadal tumors. This case and other reports from the literature suggest that males, as well as females, with PJS are at risk for developing gonadal tumors.

Fate of primary orbital dermis-fat grafts in guinea pigs.

A year-long study was undertaken to serially evaluate the tissue changes occurring in dermis-fat graft (DFG) after orbital implantation in nine guinea pigs. Methods used to evaluate the DFGs were histology, magnetic resonance imaging, morphometric analysis, and clinical observations. The histology of a 1-year-old failed human dermis-fat graft has been included for completeness. The study reveals that clinically successful DFGs have a fibrous capsule surrounding the DFG. Minimal revascularization was present. The grafts appear to undergo continual histological changes for approximately 9 months before a steady-state condition ensues. Of interest are changes in the deep-orbital fat posterior to the DFG.

A dentist oriented fear reduction technique: the iatrosedative process.

This article describes a treatment process that significantly reduces learned dental fear and can be performed by the dentist in 30 to 40 minutes. The findings support the conclusion that the process is effective for calming the fearful dental patient. The iatrosedative process is cost and time effective. It is a procedure the dentist can learn readily, and it can substantially diminish the fear that interferes with treatment.

The pathophysiology of the anophthalmic socket. Part II. Analysis of orbital fat.

The pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for the clinical features of the anophthalmic socket are poorly understood. Atrophy of orbital fat has been thought to be a major contributing cause of enophthalmos and the superior sulcus deformities that develop after enucleation, but it has never been demonstrated histopathologically or confirmed by scientific analysis. This study was undertaken to investigate the changes that occur in the orbital fat compartment of the anophthalmic socket in an animal model by measuring orbital soft tissue mass and evaluating adipocyte cell size. Instead of reduction in the tissue mass, a statistically significant greater weight of the fat and connective tissue compartment was found in the anophthalmic orbit by nearly 13% compared to the control orbit in the animals in the long-term group. No significant change in the mean maximal diameter of adipocytes developed 7 months after enucleation. These analyses do not support the concept that orbital fat atrophy or a reduction of metabolic activity occurs in the anophthalmic socket in this animal model. From these results and our previous findings that the circulation dynamics and blood flow to orbital tissues do not change after enucleation, we propose that the pathophysiologic basis of the problems associated with anophthalmos is a disturbance in the spatial architecture and interrelationships of the multiple tissue components of the orbit, not a change in the orbital blood flow or development of fat atrophy.