Changes of gastric histology in patients with erosive oesophagitis receiving long-term lansoprazole maintenance therapy.

BACKGROUND: Changes in gastric histology associated with long-term maintenance therapy with lansoprazole for erosive oesophagitis have not been well described. AIM: To evaluate the effect on gastric histology of long-term dose-titrated lansoprazole administered as maintenance therapy for up to 82 months in patients with erosive oesophagitis. METHODS: Sequential gastric biopsy specimens were obtained for evaluation of histological changes and Helicobacter pylori infection status. RESULTS: Active and chronic inflammation improved from baseline to final visit in a majority of patients receiving long-term therapy with lansoprazole, irrespective of baseline H. pylori infection status. Reductions in active inflammation in the gastric body and antrum were seen in 53% (17/32) and 67% (20/30) of H. pylori-positive patients, respectively, and in 88% (7/8) and 86% (12/14) of H. pylori-negative patients, respectively. Reductions in chronic inflammation in the gastric body and antrum were seen in 38% (12/32) and 47% (15/32) of H. pylori-positive patients, respectively, and in 58% (70/121) and 57% (68/120) of H. pylori-negative patients, respectively. No clinically meaningful increases in hyperplasia, dysplasia, neoplasia, intestinal metaplasia or atrophy were observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Lansoprazole administered as maintenance therapy for up to 6 years in patients with erosive oesophagitis demonstrated gastric mucosal safety and was well tolerated.

The clinical safety of long-term lansoprazole for the maintenance of healed erosive oesophagitis.

BACKGROUND: The clinical safety of long-term lansoprazole therapy for the maintenance of healed erosive oesophagitis has not been extensively studied in clinical trials. AIM: To assess the long-term clinical safety of dose-titrated lansoprazole as maintenance therapy for up to 82 months in subjects with healed erosive oesophagitis. METHODS: Clinical safety was assessed by monitoring adverse events (AEs), laboratory data including serum gastrin levels, and endoscopy. RESULTS: Mean duration (+/- s.d.) of lansoprazole treatment during the titrated open-label period was 56 +/- 24 months (range <1-82 months). Overall, 189 of 195 (97%) subjects experienced a total of 2825 treatment-emergent AEs. Most AEs occurred during the first year of treatment, were mild-to-moderate in severity and resolved while on treatment. Of 155 serious AEs (in 74 subjects), only two (colitis and rectal haemorrhage in one subject) were considered treatment-related. Sixty-nine of 195 subjects (35%) experienced 187 treatment-related AEs, with diarrhoea (10%), headache (8%) and abdominal pain (6%) being the most common. Gastrin levels > or = 400 pg/mL were seen in 9% of subjects; hypergastrinemia was not associated with gastro-intestinal AEs or nodules/polyps. CONCLUSIONS: Lansoprazole maintenance therapy for up to 6 years is safe and well tolerated in subjects with healed erosive oesophagitis.

Laparoscopic repair of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy has been proposed as a diagnostic and potentially therapeutic modality for penetrating diaphragmatic lacerations. The purpose of this study was to assess the technical feasibility and strength of various laparoscopic repairs of diaphragmatic injuries. METHODS: Swine underwent either open suture repair or laparoscopic repair by staple, suture, or patch technique of a 2-cm laceration to both the right and the left muscular or tendinous diaphragmatic leaflets. Six weeks after operation, diaphragms were harvested for either histologic analysis or bursting strength measurements. RESULTS: All methods of repair proved technically feasible. There was no significant difference in bursting strength measurements between treatment groups. Bursting was due to tissue failure either at or adjacent to the repair site. Histologic analysis confirmed healing of all specimens with the laparoscopic patch technique inciting less inflammation and greater fibroblastic proliferation than the other techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic repair of diaphragmatic lacerations can be accomplished using any of the currently available techniques. Laparoscopic stapling, suturing, or patch techniques all result in complete healing with a strong and durable repair. When selecting a particular technique, familiarity of the surgeon should be used as a guideline.

Reproducibility of the diagnosis of dysplasia in Barrett esophagus: a reaffirmation.

Morphologic assessment of dysplasia in Barrett esophagus, despite limitations, remains the basis of treatment. We rigorously tested modified 1988 criteria, assessing intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility. Participants submitted slides of Barrett mucosa negative (BE) and indefinite (IND) for dysplasia, with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) and high-grade dysplasia (HGD), and with carcinoma. Two hundred fifty slides were divided into 2 groups. The first 125 slides were reviewed, without knowledge of the prior diagnoses, on 2 occasions by 12 gastrointestinal pathologists without prior discussion of criteria. Results were analyzed by kappa statistics, which correct for agreement by chance. A consensus meeting was then held, establishing, by group review of the index 125 slides, the criteria outlined herein. The second 125-slide set was then reviewed twice by each of the same 12 pathologists, and follow-up kappa statistics were calculated. When statistical analysis was performed using 2 broad diagnostic categories (BE, IND, and LG v HG and carcinoma), intraobserver agreement was near perfect both before and after the consensus meeting (mean kappa = 0.82 and 0.80). Interobserver agreement was substantial (kappa = 0.66) and improved after the consensus meeting (kappa = 0.70; P =.02). When statistical analysis was performed using 4 clinically relevant separations (BE; IND and LGD; HGD; carcinoma), mean intraobserver kappa improved from 0.64 to 0.68 (both substantial) after the consensus meeting, and mean interobserver kappa improved from 0.43 to 0.46 (both moderate agreement). When statistical analysis was performed using 4 diagnostic categories that required distinction between LGD and IND (BE; IND; LGD; HGD and carcinoma), the pre-consensus meeting mean intraobserver kappa was 0.60 (substantial agreement), improving to 0.65 after the meeting (P <.05). Interobserver agreement was poorer, with premeeting and postmeeting mean values unchanged (kappa = 0.43 at both times). Interobserver agreement was substantial for HGD/carcinoma (kappa = 0.65), moderate to substantial for BE (kappa = 0.58), fair for LGD (kappa = 0.32), and slight for IND (kappa = 0.15). The intraobserver reproducibility for the diagnosis of dysplasia in BE was substantial. Interobserver reproducibility was substantial at the ends of the spectrum (BE and HG/carcinoma) but slight for IND. Both intraobserver and interobserver variation improved overall after the application of a modified grading system developed at a consensus conference but not in separation of BE, IND, and LGD. The criteria used by the group are presented. HUM PATHOL 32:368-978.

Dysplasia as a predictive marker for invasive carcinoma in Barrett esophagus: a follow-up study based on 138 cases from a diagnostic variability study.

The objective of endoscopic surveillance in Barrett esophagus (BE) is to assess the risk of subsequent development of invasive carcinoma. Criteria for morphologic evaluation of dysplasia, the presumed precursor lesion, have been established, although there are surprisingly few data in the literature correlating biopsy diagnosis of dysplasia with outcome. We collected follow-up information on 138 patients with BE whose initial endoscopic biopsy specimens had been selected for submission in an interobserver variability study performed by 12 pathologists with special interest in gastrointestinal pathology and reviewed blindly twice each by all the participants. Cases were scored as BE with no dysplasia, atypia indefinite for dysplasia (IND), low-grade dysplasia (LGD), high-grade dysplasia (HGD), intramucosal carcinoma, and frankly invasive carcinoma, thus generating 24 scores on each biopsy specimen. Clinical follow-up was obtained and correlated with both the submitting diagnoses and majority diagnoses. Kaplan-Meier statistics were used to compare both the submitting and majority diagnoses with outcome using detection or documentation of invasive carcinoma as the endpoint. Using the submitting diagnoses, no invasive carcinomas were detected in 44 cases diagnosed as BE (median follow-up, 38.5 months). Carcinomas were detected in 4 of 22 (18%) cases submitted as IND (median progression-free survival of 62 months), in 4 of 25 (15%) cases of LGD (median progression-free survival of 60 months), in 20 of 33 cases of HGD (median progression-free survival, 8 months), and all 13 (100%) cases submitted as adenocarcinoma. Grade on initial biopsy correlated significantly with progression to invasive carcinoma (log-rank P =.0001). Majority diagnosis was achieved in 99 of the cases. Using the majority diagnoses, no invasive carcinomas were found in 50 cases of BE (median follow-up, 48 months), and carcinomas were detected in 1 of 7 (14%) IND cases (80% progression-free survival at 2 months), 3 of 15 (20%) LGD (median progression-free survival, 60 months), 9 of 15 (60%) HGD (median progression-free survival, 7 months), and all 12 (100%) carcinoma. Initial grading again correlated significantly with progression to invasive carcinoma (log-rank P =.0001). However, there were 39 cases without a majority diagnosis. Among these, no carcinomas developed in 8 cases with an average score between BE and IND. Carcinomas were detected in 9 of 21 (43%) cases with an average score between IND and LGD, and 7 of 10 (70%) cases with an average score between LGD and HGD. There were ulcers in 8 of 39 cases (20%) of the "no-majority" group and in 13 of 99 (13%) of the majority cases. Of 21 total ulcerated cases, cancer was demonstrated in 15 (71%) of these on follow-up. These data support combining the IND and LGD categories for surveillance purposes. Cases without dysplasia may be followed up conservatively. The data obtained from submitted diagnoses as opposed to those from blind review suggest that knowledge of the clinical findings aids in diagnosis. The data also support the assertion that HGD is strongly associated with invasive carcinoma. Rebiopsy of ulcerated areas should be considered because they may harbor malignancy. Histologic grading of dysplasia using established criteria is a powerful prognosticator in BE. HUM PATHOL 32:379-388.

Helicobacter pylori effects on gastritis, gastrin and enterochromaffin-like cells in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and non-Zollinger-Ellison syndrome acid hypersecretors treated long-term with lansoprazole.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is said to cause atrophy of the gastric corpus and enterochromaffin-like cell proliferation in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients treated long-term with a proton pump inhibitor. AIMS: To determine the effect of H. pylori infection on gastritis, enterochromaffin-like cell density and hyperplasia, mucosal atrophy and serum gastrin in patients with gastric hypersecretion (basal acid output gt; 15 mmol/h) with either hypergastrinemia (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome) or normal gastrin (non-Zollinger-Ellison syndrome) before and during long-term treatment with lansoprazole. METHODS: Lansoprazole was individually titrated to reduce basal acid output to < 5 mmol/h (< 1 mmol/h in post-surgical Zollinger-Ellison syndrome). Gastric corpus biopsies were obtained every 6 months before treatment and up to 8 years later. RESULTS: H. pylori was present in corpus biopsies in approximately 50%, causing active gastritis which resolved rapidly in 15 subjects after elimination of H. pylori. Patchy mild/moderate corpus atrophy was present at entry in two and at the end in four out of 60 patients, one being H. pylori-positive. Intestinal metaplasia (< 10%) was seen in six isolated biopsies (1% of total). H. pylori did not affect serum gastrin, enterochromaffin-like cell density or hyperplasia. Enterochromaffin-like cell density was twice as high in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome as in non-Zollinger-Ellison syndrome patients (241 vs. 126 cells/mm2, P < 0.001). Enterochromaffin-like cells remained normal in the non-Zollinger-Ellison syndrome hypersecretors regardless of H. pylori status. CONCLUSION: Corpus enterochromaffin-like cell increases were related to serum gastrin elevation, but neither H. pylori nor long-term treatment with lansoprazole alone or together had any effect on enterochromaffin-like cell density or hyperplasia. Corpus acute gastritis resulted from H. pylori infection, but did not result in mucosal atrophy despite long-term proton pump inhibitor treatment and promptly resolved with loss of H. pylori.

Antioxidant enzymes are induced during recovery from acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contribution of the pulmonary antioxidant defense enzymes of the hexose monophosphate (HMP) shunt and glutathione systems to recovery from oxidant-mediated lung injury in an animal model shown to closely resemble the clinical syndrome of acute respiratory distress syndrome. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled laboratory study on phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced lung injury in rabbits. SETTING: Animal research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Rabbits were injected with PMA (80 microg/kg) for 3 consecutive days. Control animals received normal saline. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Lungs were harvested at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hrs (n = 5/time point) after PMA injection or after the third injection of normal saline in control animals (n = 6). The cytosolic fraction from lung and bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was used for measurements of HMP shunt and glutathione enzymes. Pulmonary activity peaked at 48 hrs post-PMA injury with a 40% increase in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and a 32% increase in 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity over control levels. BAL activity was maximal at 72 hrs with an increase of 98% in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 346% in 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities. Glutathione peroxidase was maximally induced by 77% at 48 hrs in BAL and by 107% at 24 hrs in lung. Glutathione reductase activity did not increase significantly in either lung or BAL. CONCLUSIONS: The observed induction of the antioxidant enzymes in response to PMA suggests that both the HMP shunt and the glutathione systems contribute to the recovery phase of oxidant-mediated lung injury. The inability of natural host defenses to regenerate reduced glutathione may explain failure of recovery from acute respiratory distress syndrome and suggests an avenue for clinical intervention.

Superiority of lansoprazole vs ranitidine in healing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated gastric ulcers: results of a double-blind, randomized, multicenter study. NSAID-Associated Gastric Ulcer Study Group.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is limited by adverse gastrointestinal tract events. OBJECTIVE: To identify the optimal antisecretory therapy for healing of gastric ulcer in patients using NSAIDs and the impact of concurrent Helicobacter pylori infection on ulcer healing. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind, multicenter, parallel-group study. SETTING: Gastroenterology practices in ambulatory and referral center settings. PATIENTS: Three hundred fifty-three patients with an active, nonmalignant gastric ulcer at least 5 mm in diameter confirmed by endoscopy and biopsy and who continued to receive stable doses of NSAIDs. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized to receive ranitidine hydrochloride, 150 mg twice daily, or lansoprazole, 15 mg or 30 mg once daily, for 8 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Healing was assessed by endoscopy at 4 and 8 weeks in an intent-to-treat population. Helicobacter pylori status was assessed by histological examination. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment, healing was observed in 61 (53%) of 115, 81 (69%) of 118, and 85 (73%) of 117 patients receiving ranitidine lansoprazole, 15 mg, and lansoprazole, 30 mg, respectively (P<.05 for ranitidine vs both lansoprazole doses; 95% confidence interval, 3.2-28.0 for ranitidine vs lansoprazole, 15 mg, and 7.4-31.8 for ranitidine vs lansoprazole, 30 mg). The gastric ulcer healing rates were similar between H pylori-infected and -noninfected patients, with a statistically significant increase with the use of lansoprazole vs ranitidine. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who require continuous treatment with NSAIDs, lansoprazole is superior to ranitidine for healing of NSAID-associated gastric ulcers. Healing is not delayed by the presence of H pylori infection.

Reflux gastritis in gastroesophageal reflux disease: A histopathological study.

Increased intragastric alkaline reflux has been documented in patients with reflux esophagitis; however, the effect on gastric histology has not been investigated in this population. We examined gastric biopsies from 72 non-acid-suppressed patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for changes of reflux gastritis or other forms of gastritis. In the Helicobacter pylori-negative GERD patients (n = 52) using the Dixon scoring system for reflux gastritis with a threshold score of >/=11, reflux gastritis was found in 15% (three of 20) of GERD patients with erosions and in no GERD patients without erosions. When the reflux gastropathy threshold score was changed to more than 8, 90% (18 of 20) of GERD patients with erosions and 19% (six of 32) of GERD patients without erosions were classified as having reflux gastritis. Regardless of the reflux gastritis threshold used, only 14% (seven of 52) of the H pylori-negative GERD patients exhibited normal gastric histology. Inactive chronic gastritis or nonspecific reactive changes were histologic findings in those gastric biopsies not classified as reflux gastritis or normal. All H pylori-positive GERD patients (n = 20) had active chronic gastritis. We conclude that most GERD patients will exhibit some form of gastric pathology: either reflux gastritis, chronic gastritis, or nonspecific reactive changes, depending on what reflux threshold score is applied and the presence of H pylori. Studies to define the intragastric alkaline content in conjunction with gastric histopathology need to be performed to further define those reflux esophagitis patients with reflux gastritis.

Gastric histologic findings in patients with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated gastric ulcer.

The purpose of this study was to characterize gastric histologic findings in patients with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-associated gastric ulcer (GU). Gastric biopsy specimens from 136 patients with NSAID-related GU were compared with those from a control population of 185 patients with Helicobacter pylori-related gastritis. Foveolar hyperplasia, edema, muscular stranding, vascular ectasia, and active and chronic inflammation were semiquantitatively graded. Lymphoid aggregates, intestinal metaplasia, atrophy, and cystic gland changes were noted. No single parameter reliably distinguished between the two populations, although moderate/severe foveolar hyperplasia, edema, and vascular ectasia were significantly more common in the NSAID group. With use of the Dixon scoring system for reflux/reactive gastropathy, with a threshold score of 11 or more, 39 (29%) patients in the NSAID group were correctly diagnosed as having reactive gastropathy (sensitivity, 29%; specificity, 100%; positive predictive value, 100%). When the Dixon scoring threshold score was decreased to 8 or more, 114 (84%) patients were classified as having reactive gastropathy (sensitivity, 84%; specificity, > 99%; positive predictive value, > 99%). We conclude that a decreased threshold enhances the usefulness of the reactive gastropathy score in the NSAID-related GU population. Additional studies, however, must be performed to evaluate the effect of a lowered threshold relative to a normal population and those with other causes of reactive gastropathy.

Efficacy and safety of lansoprazole in the treatment of erosive reflux esophagitis. The Lansoprazole Group.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare lansoprazole 30 mg, lansoprazole 15 mg, omeprazole 20 mg, and placebo in the treatment of erosive reflux esophagitis. METHODS: In a double-blind, multicenter study, 1284 patients with endoscopically diagnosed erosive reflux esophagitis were randomized to received lansoprazole 30 mg (n = 422), lansoprazole 15 mg (n = 218), omeprazole 20 mg (n = 431), or placebo (n = 213) once daily for 8 wk. At 2, 4, 6, and 8 wk, healing was evaluated endoscopically. Patients kept daily diaries of symptoms. RESULTS: Healing rates at 2, 4, 6, and 8 wk were 65.3%, 83.3%, 89.4%, and 90.0%, respectively, for lansoprazole 30 mg; 56.3%, 74.6%, 80.3%, and 78.8% for lansoprazole 15 mg; 60.9%, 82.0%, 89.7%, and 90.7% for omeprazole 20 mg; and 23.9%, 32.8%, 36.6%, and 40.0% for placebo (all active treatments higher than placebo, p < 0.001). Healing rates with lansoprazole 30 mg were significantly higher than with lansoprazole 15 mg at all time points (p < 0.05). Healing rates with omeprazole 20 mg were significantly higher than with lansoprazole 15 mg at 4, 6, and 8 wk and were similar to those with lansoprazole 30 mg. Based on patient diaries, lansoprazole 30 mg produced better symptomatic relief than lansoprazole 15 mg or omeprazole 20 mg, primarily early in the treatment course. CONCLUSIONS: Both lansoprazole 30 mg and omeprazole 20 mg were more effective than lansoprazole 15 mg in esophageal mucosal healing. Compared with omeprazole 20 mg, lansoprazole 30 mg was as safe, was similarly effective with respect to esophageal healing, and provided superior symptomatic relief, primarily early in treatment. Lansoprazole 30 mg provided greater symptomatic relief than lansoprazole 15 mg.

Relationship of aminotransferases to liver histological status in chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVES: Serum aminotransferase levels characteristically fluctuate in chronic hepatitis C, but their relationship to grade (i.e., inflammatory activity) and stage (i.e., degree of fibrosis) of liver disease is uncertain. We therefore correlated aminotransferase levels and liver biopsy findings in 90 patients with serologically confirmed chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Mode of transmission; disease duration; symptoms and signs of liver disease; alcohol intake; autoantibody, HIV, and hepatitis B virus status; and liver biochemistries were obtained from records. Liver biopsies were 1) given a morphological diagnosis, 2) evaluated for features of chronic hepatitis C, and 3) scored with a histological activity index. RESULTS: Individual aminotransferase levels were not related to clinical or laboratory variables, nor were they reliably predictive of morphological diagnosis. No histological characteristics were associated with a particular range of aminotransferase values, except aminotransferases > 350 U/L, which were associated with piecemeal necrosis. Although mean values of aminotransferases were significantly lower among patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) (i.e., with minimal activity) compared with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) (mild to moderate activity) (ALT 110 U/L +/- 71 SD vs 256 +/- 211; AST 57 U/L +/- 34 vs 123 +/- 88) and in the absence of piecemeal necrosis compared with in its presence (ALT 133 +/- 84 vs 207 +/- 149; AST 73 +/- 47 vs 120 +/- 83), overlap of values was considerable between different histological groups. CONCLUSION: Aminotransferases do not predict liver histological status in chronic hepatitis C, although > or = 10-fold elevations suggest that piecemeal necrosis is present.

Enterocolic lymphocytic phlebitis. Clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features.

Venous compromise as a cause of ischemic colitis and enteritis is infrequent. Enterocolic lymphocytic phlebitis, a rare cause of such compromise, to our knowledge has been reported in only three patients. We describe a patient with this condition who had hematochezia and a cecal mass that was mistaken endoscopically and radiologically for carcinoma and required resection. The mass, which was ulcerated, was due to intense submucosal edema. The patient had no history of taking hydroxyethylrutoside, a drug used in Europe in treating varicose veins that has been implicated in all three previously reported cases. This entity is characterized by a mixed T- and B-cell vasculitis affecting veins exclusively in the wall and mesentery of the colon and small bowel, without systemic involvement, leading to fibrointimal proliferation, thrombosis, venous occlusion, and subsequent edema and ischemic necrosis. It should be distinguished from other enterocolic phlebitides, including Behçet disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins, and can be treated by local excision of the affected bowel.

Determination of the DNA content of the Reed-Sternberg cell of Hodgkin's disease by image analysis.

The nature of the Reed Sternberg (RS) cell, the malignant cell of Hodgkin's disease (HD), remains unknown. Cytogenetic studies have yielded ambiguous results regarding the chromosomal profile of this cell. In an attempt to further clarify the ploidy status of the RS cell, we analyzed the DNA content of CD30-positive RS cells and RS cell variants in HD lesions from 32 patients using an image analysis system. A diploid and/or near-diploid (DNA index [DI], 1.0 +/- 0.2) and a tetraploid (2.0 +/- 0.2) RS cell population were identified in 9 and in 11 of the 32 cases examined, respectively. An aneuploid RS cell population was identified in 8 of the 32 cases examined. The remaining four cases contained two RS cell subpopulations with different DNA content, each one representing more than 15% of the total RS cell population. There was no significant correlation between the DNA content of the RS cells and the category of HD. Furthermore, analysis of multiple biopsies of an individual patient taken from different lymphoid organs at the same or different time periods showed a constant DNA profile. Our data indicate that RS cells can express variable DNA content and suggests that multiple subpopulations of RS cells with different DNA content may simultaneously coexist within the same HD lesion in some patients. In addition, the RS cell population within each patient appears to express a specific DNA content profile, possibly representing unique clones. These highly individualized profiles potentially may be useful as markers to follow the clinical course of patients with HD.

Simple cysts of testis.

Three cases of benign intraparenchymal cysts of the testis are described. A nine-month-old infant and a forty-two-year-old man were seen with painless testicular enlargement and underwent orchiectomy and cyst excision, respectively. The third patient, a sixty-eight-year-old man, was asymptomatic with the cyst discovered following orchiectomy for prostatic carcinoma. In each case the cyst was multilocular and lined with a simple cuboidal epithelium. In 1 case special and immunohistochemical stains were performed. Review of the literature in conjunction with the cysts' staining characteristics are strongly supportive of its derivation from ectopic epithelium.

Heterogeneous in vivo MR images of soft tissue tumors: guide to gross specimen sampling.

Twelve soft tissue tumors preoperatively studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contained areas of inhomogeneous intralesional signal intensity. The pathologist's selection of biopsy sites from gross specimens was based on specific MR images selected by a radiologist and depended on close cooperation between the radiologist and pathologist. The histopathology so sampled, further depended on the lesion's size, careful gross specimen orientation, discrete sampling, and a specially developed Grid Analysis technique. Our initial experience indicates that (1) histology may vary within different and often neighboring sites of a single soft tissue lesion; (2) that such variability is common in soft tissue tumors; (3) that histological variability within different sites of a single lesion influences signal heterogeneity; and (4) that although differing MR signal intensities per se are not tissue specific, MR may enhance the histopathological accuracy of pathologists who can be directed to particular gross specimen sites by magnetic resonance images. To our knowledge such a specific, detailed effort has not been made.

Detection of cytomegalovirus in lung allografts. Comparison of histologic and immunohistochemical findings.

Although the histologic manifestation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) is usually characteristic intracellular inclusions and cytomegaly, some investigators, using immunohistochemical or in situ hybridization techniques, have demonstrated the presence of histologically occult infections in certain tissues. A series of lung biopsy specimens from pulmonary transplant recipients were studied using a monoclonal antibody (CCH2) to CMV early viral antigen and the results were compared with routine histologic findings. Occult infection could not be demonstrated in any of these cases. These results may reflect the relative sensitivity of the monoclonal antibody used in this study, although other possible factors are discussed. The results suggest that, in lung allograft biopsy specimens, immunohistochemical analysis using monoclonal antibody CCH2 is not likely to increase significantly the yield of positive cases compared with examination of multiple levels of hematoxylin-and-eosin-stained sections. Additional studies are needed to compare the sensitivity of monoclonal antibodies to CMV antigens using a variety of sampling techniques and clinical settings.

Magnetic resonance grid analysis of soft tissue lesions.

Soft tissue tumors of seven patients were imaged with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to operative resection. In four cases, gross surgical specimen biopsy sites were broadly selected from areas of diverse signal intensity. A subsequently developed "grid analysis" technique, used in three additional patients, better localized differing zonal intensities within individual gross specimens. Further investigation of this technique is warranted, since MR images, when analyzed by means of a detailed grid technique, appear to enhance histologic diagnostic accuracy. Examination of larger segments of inhomogeneous soft tissue tumors is facilitated, while pathologists' sampling time is diminished.

Cytologic criteria to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma from nonneoplastic liver.

The authors reviewed a series of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens of the liver to identify useful cytologic criteria to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from nonneoplastic liver. Ten cytologic features were examined in this study: high cellularity, acinar pattern, trabecular pattern, hyperchromasia, pleomorphism, irregularly granular chromatin, uniformly prominent nucleoli, multiple nucleoli, increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, and atypical naked hepatocytic nuclei. These features were examined in a series of 82 FNAB specimens from 52 patients with HCC and 30 patients with nonneoplastic lesions. With the use of a step-wise logistic regression analysis, three features were identified as predictive of HCC: increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio (P = 0.001), trabecular pattern (P = 0.002), and atypical naked hepatocytic nuclei (P = 0.03). When these three criteria were used, the sensitivity of diagnosing HCC by FNAB was 100%, and the specificity was 87%.