Bilateral Hilar and Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy as an Initial Manifestation of Amyloidosis.

A 75-year-old male visited our hospital with bilateral hilar lymph node swelling detected on chest radiography during an annual medical checkup. Chest computed tomography revealed swelling of multiple hilar mediastinal lymph nodes. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) specimens from the hilar lymph nodes revealed amyloid deposition. Bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathies can be the first manifestations of amyloidosis diagnosed using EBUS-TBNA.

A Case of Phlebolith in the Tip of Tongue.

The differential diagnosis of a tongue mass containing calcified bodies includes a phlebolith associated with vascular lesions, such as hemangioma and vascular malformation, and diseases such as neoplasm, osseous choristoma and hypercalcemic states, including hyperparathyroidism. The appearance of the calcified bodies on plain radiographs may help to differentiate these entities. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography are also useful for differentiating these soft tissue lesions. We report a 40-year-old man with a small mass containing a calcified body in the tip of tongue. The mass was surgically resected and histologically evaluated, confirming the diagnosis of phlebolith. Our case was a rare phlebolith that did not involve a vascular lesion.

Clinicopathological features of PD-L1 protein expression, EBV positivity, and MSI status in patients with advanced gastric and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma in Japan.

This real-world study examined the prevalence of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression and assessed the frequency of microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) status and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positivity in Japanese patients with advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. This multicenter (5 sites), retrospective, observational study (November 2018-March 2019) evaluated Japanese patients with advanced gastric and GEJ adenocarcinoma after surgical resection (Stage II/III at initial diagnosis) or unresectable advanced cancer (Stage IV). The primary objectives were prevalence of PD-L1 expression (combined positive score [CPS] ≥1), MSI status, and EBV positivity. Tumor specimens of 389/391 patients were analyzed (male, 67.1%; mean age, 67.6 ± 12.2 years); 241/389 (62%) were PD-L1 positive, 24/379 (6.3%) had MSI-H tumors, and 13/389 (3.3%) were EBV positive. PD-L1 expression was higher in tumor-infiltrating immune cells than in tumor cells for lower CPS cutoffs. Among patients with MSI-H tumors and EBV-positive tumors, 19/24 (79.2%) and 9/13 (69.2%), respectively, were PD-L1 positive. A greater proportion of patients with MSI-H tumors (83.3% [20/24]) were PD-L1 positive than those with MSI-low/stable tumors (60.8% [216/355]; p = .0297); similarly, an association was observed between history of H pylori infection and PD-L1 expression. A higher proportion of patients with MSI-H tumors demonstrated PD-L1 expression with a CPS ≥10 (66.7% [16/24]) vs those with MSI-low/stable tumors (24.8% [88/355]; p < .0001). The prevalence of PD-L1 positivity among Japanese patients was comparable to that in previous pembrolizumab clinical trials and studies in gastric cancer. Particularly, higher PD-L1 expression was observed in MSI-H tumors.

Immunohistochemical Marker Expression in Temporal Bone Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The correlation between genomic mutations (or the overexpression of abnormal proteins) and prognosis in temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma (TBSCC) is not clear. We investigated the overexpression of EGFR and p53 as a pathological biomarker for predicting the clinical course of patients with TBSCC. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 22 TBSCC cases treated in Tokai University Hospital between January 2005 and October 2016. We assessed the overexpression of EGFR and p53 in TBSCC patients through immunohistochemical staining. We also evaluated the association between the overexpression of these proteins and clinicopathological variables, including survival outcomes. RESULTS: The primary lesion in all patients was the external auditory canal. Nine (40.9%) patients were EGFR positive, and 9 (40.9%) were p53 positive. The 5-year overall survival rate for EGFR-positive patients (55.6%) was significantly lower (p = 0.043) than that of the EGFR-negative patients (92.3%). CONCLUSION: EGFR overexpression in TBSCC patients may be a prognostic biomarker.

A p16 Positive M1 Oral Tongue Cancer Completely Responsive to the EXTREME Regimen: A Case Report.

METHODS: A 42-year-old woman presented to our clinic with tongue pain and dysarthria. She had a smoking history of 22 pack-years and no history of alcohol consumption. A deep ulcer at the left side of the tongue and induration across the whole tongue were observed. The bilateral cervical lymph nodes were palpable. A biopsy from the ulcer revealed squamous cell carcinoma. PET/CT showed sternal bone metastasis resulting in the final diagnosis of left-sided oral tongue cancer (cT4aN2cM1). Systemic chemotherapy treatment involving 6 courses of the EXTREME regimen followed by weekly cetuximab administration was indicated. RESULTS: After the first two courses, diminished tongue pain and improved dysarthria were observed; complete response was obtained after 6 courses. Re-examination of the biopsy specimen showed that the tumor was p16 positive. The p16 protein is a surrogate marker for HPV, but in this case HPV in-situ hybridization was negative. Locoregional or distant failure were not observed during the 5-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment regimen unexpectedly proved successful. It may be beneficial to examine p16 expression in oral tongue cancer to identify patients that are more likely to benefit from the EXTREME treatment regimen.

Sonographic appearance of syphilitic induration mimicking squamous cell carcinoma in the lower lip: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Recently, its incidence has been increasing worldwide. We encountered a young woman who presented with induration mimicking squamous cell carcinoma in the lower lip, without major medical conditions. CASE PRESENTATION: A 25-year-old Japanese woman presented with a 1-month history of a painless induration in her lower lip. Because squamous cell carcinoma was suspected, a preoperation work up was performed, including laboratory tests, an ultrasonographic examination, and a biopsy. The ultrasonography findings showed an oval-shaped 17 × 11 × 12 mm tumor-like lesion with heterogeneous internal echo and an indistinct border. A pressure test and color Doppler sonography revealed that the lesion was soft with a very abundant blood flow. These findings suggested the possibility of underlying inflammatory causes rather than a neoplastic tumor. Serology tests for syphilis, including the anti-Treponema pallidum antibody and reactive rapid plasma reagin tests, were positive. The biopsy revealed no malignancy. Finally, she was diagnosed as having primary syphilis and treated with amoxicillin for 28 days. The rapid plasma reagin value gradually decreased and the initial induration in her lower lip disappeared. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the need for prompt examinations for possible underlying infective causes, such as syphilis, when seeing a painless induration with ulcer in the lip. Ultrasonography was helpful in the differential diagnosis of a tumor-like lesion and should be included in addition to syphilis serology tests, such as anti-Treponema pallidum antibody and rapid plasma reagin tests.

Myxofibrosarcoma that Developed Rapidly in the Breast of an Elderly Man and Recurred Early after Surgery: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Myxofibrosarcoma is a rare disease occurring subcutaneously in the limbs. We report a case of a rapidly growing myxofibrosarcoma in the breast of an elderly man that recurred early after surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old man presented with a breast mass. Physical findings showed a large tumor in the right breast, and malignancy was suspected on ultrasonography. Computed tomography (CT) revealed tumor invasion into the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles. Positron emission tomography/CT showed no abnormality in other organs. Needle biopsy results excluded breast cancer but did not provide a definitive diagnosis. However, the tumor grew rapidly before further results were available, so emergency mastectomy was performed. The final pathological diagnosis was high-grade myxofibrosarcoma. Postoperative radiotherapy was started because of remnant tumor. The wound became worsened and swollen, and needle biopsy 10 days after the start of therapy indicated recurrence. Radical resection and thoracoplasty were performed. Postoperative pathological specimens showed no residual tumor. Radical radiation therapy was resumed. The patient has shown no recurrence after an year. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consult a soft tissue oncologist for tumors in the breast and perform appropriate examination and treatment if soft tissue tumors cannot be ruled out.

Preventive effect of early introduction of everolimus and reduced-exposure tacrolimus on renal interstitial fibrosis in de novo living-donor renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: To improve the long-term outcomes following renal transplantation, prevention of renal-allograft interstitial fibrosis (IF), mainly due to calcineurin inhibitors, is an important therapeutic target. Everolimus (EVR) was reported to have antifibrotic effects. We aimed to investigate the safety, efficacy, and IF of our modified immunosuppressive regimen, which includes early introduction of EVR and reduced-exposure tacrolimus (Tac) (EVR group), and compare it with the standard-exposure tacrolimus-based regimen (Tac group) in de novo living-donor renal recipients. METHODS: In this retrospective, single-center cohort study, we compared the 2-year clinical courses between the two groups according to intention to treat. Additionally, in patients in whom biopsies were obtained at 1 h, 3 months, and 12 months post-transplant, we compared IF between the groups using imaging analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 47 patients were included (EVR group, n = 22; Tac group, n = 25). There were no significant differences in renal function and incidences of rejection and viral infections between the groups at the 2-year post-transplant follow-up. However, pathologic imaging analysis (n = 34) revealed chronological progression of IF in the Tac group during the first year post-transplant and no changes in the EVR group (fibrosis rate at 3 months: 20.8 vs. 13.6%, p < 0.001; at 12 months: 24.7 vs. 14.7%, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our modified immunosuppressive regimen may have an antifibrotic effect on transplanted kidneys without loss of safety and efficacy.

Correction to: Preventive effect of early introduction of everolimus and reduced­exposure tacrolimus on renal interstitial fibrosis in de novo living­donor renal transplant recipients.

In the Original publication of the article, the co-author name has been misspelled as "Yousuke Nakagawa".

[A Case of Long-Term Survival Following Two-Stage Surgery for Perforated Advanced Gastric Cancer Caused by Chemotherapy].

A 74-year-old man with bloody vomit was diagnosed as having clinical Stage Ⅳ advanced gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis around the abdominal aorta. Initially, for curative surgery, he was administered neoadjuvant chemotherapy. On day 32, in the second course of chemotherapy containing S-1 after 12 courses of chemotherapy containing S-1 and cisplatin, he developed pan-peritonitis owing to the perforation of gastric cancer caused by chemotherapy, and thus, we performed emergency omental implantation and peritoneal drainage. He was discharged from the hospital after 14 days with no trouble. His gastric cancer was judged to be resectable without retaining metastatic lymph nodes based on intraoperative findings and abdominal computed tomography. Therefore, 3 months after the emergency surgery, he underwent total gastrectomy with D1+(+No. 11d)lymphadenectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. He rejected adjuvant chemotherapy despite our recommendation. Regrettably, intraabdominal dissemination was observed 15 months after total gastrectomy, and he then received chemotherapy again. He has remained alive for 57 months after the first visit to our hospital.

An entire clinical course of mediastinal myxofibrosarcoma treated by surgery and radiation.

A woman in her 70s with an 8.6-cm tumor in the anterior mediastinum underwent tumor excision by median sternotomy, which combined resection of the fifth and sixth ribs. The pathological diagnosis was myxofibrosarcoma, and pathologically curative resection was accomplished. Local recurrence was detected at 10, 19, 23 and 28 months after the initial surgery. After repeated surgical resection, radiation therapy for the fourth unresectable recurrence resulted in failure. She died 34 months after the initial surgery. There have been 3 case reports of mediastinal myxofibrosarcoma. With regard to prognosis, control over local recurrence by surgical resection might be essential to achieve a long survival. However, the clinical course of mediastinal myxofibrosarcoma has not been reported in detail. This is the first description on the entire clinical course of mediastinal myxofibrosarcoma.

Giant Pulmonary Hamartoma with Dominant CD34- Positive Smooth Muscle Cell Component.

Pulmonary hamartoma (PH) is usually a solid mass of less than 4 cm in size that contains cartilage omponents. A 44-year-old Japanese woman received surgical resection of a well-demarcated cystic tumor in the right lung. Resected tissue contained a 13 × 10 × 8 cm-sized solid mass with a prominent unilocular cyst (8 × 6.5 × 5 cm). The tumor was composed of a dominant smooth muscle cell (SMC) component with entrapped glandular respiratory epithelium. There was little cartilaginous or fatty tissue. Immunohistochemically, SMC was positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and desmin, as well as CD34. We report a unique case of giant pulmonary hamartoma with a dominant CD34 (+) SMC component.

Synchronous HPV-Related Cancer of Bilateral Tonsils Detected Using Transoral Endoscopic Examination with Narrow-Band Imaging.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of human papillomavirus- (HPV-) related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been rapidly increasing worldwide. HPV is reported in approximately 50% cases of OPSCC in Japan. However, there are few reports of synchronous bilateral HPV-positive tonsillar carcinoma, and, in almost all those cases, carcinoma was detected using positron emission tomography/computed tomography and/or bilateral tonsillectomy. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report the case of a 63-year-old male with bilateral tonsillar carcinoma detected using transoral endoscopic examination with narrow-band imaging (NBI). A biopsy of the bilateral tonsils revealed squamous cell carcinoma, which was demonstrated to be HPV-related using in situ hybridization and p16 immunohistochemistry. The patient was diagnosed as synchronous bilateral tonsillar carcinoma: T1 (2) N2b M0. He was treated with induction chemotherapy, bilateral radical tonsillectomy with neck dissection, and radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of a synchronous bilateral tonsillar carcinoma detected using transoral NBI in the outpatient setting. Early diagnosis without the inspection under general anesthesia is beneficial for the patients with lymph node metastasis from unknown primary lesion.

Salivary Duct Carcinoma with Invasive Micropapillary and Rhabdoid Feature Arising in the Submandibular Gland.

Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a high-grade malignant salivary gland tumor associated with poor prognosis, frequent recurrence, and metastasis. An 82-year-old man presented at the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Tokai University Hospital with a painless swelling in the right submandibular region that had been there for 20 years. On presentation, an elastic hard tumor, 50 × 50 mm in size, was observed in the submandibular region. Diagnostic imaging was performed, and a malignant tumor in the submandibular gland was suspected. The suspected tumor was excised and postoperative radiotherapy and adjuvant-chemotherapy were performed. Despite this treatment, the patient died of multiple metastases 12 months postoperatively. SDCs are often diagnosed as carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenomas and multiple variants and subtypes exist. This case was histopathologically rare in terms of the coexistence of invasive micropapillary and rhabdoid features.

Progressive Multifocal Micronodular Pneumocyte Hyperplasia in the Lungs of a Patient with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Case Report.

We report a case of multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia (MMPH) in a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex, in whom the lung nodules increased in the number and size over the course of 8 years. We diagnosed MMPH following a lung biopsy performed during video-assisted thoracic surgery. In most of the previously reported cases, the number and size of lung nodules is unchanged during the clinical course. Our case is the first report of progressive disease in pathologically proven MMPH.

A Case Report of an Incidentally Diagnosed Blind-ending Bifid Ureter in a Patient with Ovarian Cancer.

A 58-year-old Japanese female was admitted to our hospital for treatment of ovarian cancer. She had no urinary tract symptoms at the time of presentation. Preoperative CT (Computed Tomography) was performed for surgical planning, and it revealed two left-sided ureters including a short ureter with a blind, cystic ending and a short ureter joined to the main ureter before entering into the bladder. On CT urography, these radiological findings were compatible with a blind-ending bifid ureter. Preoperatively, a double J stent was inserted into the normal left ureter, and then the blind-ending bifid ureter was resected before an ovarian cancer operation.

Sudden death of a 14-year-old girl with lymphangiomatosis.

A 14-year-old girl presented with progressively worsening intermittent orthopnea. Imaging studies showed cardiomegaly, extensive pericardial effusion, and a mediastinal tumor. By pericardial drainage, approximately 8,000-mL fluid was collected over 10 days. Left thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration and mediastinal tumor biopsy were performed, revealing lymphangiomatosis. Chylous pleural effusion developed post-surgery. Although control was attempted, her condition worsened. Eight months later, she died of sudden cardiopulmonary arrest. Autopsy revealed systemic spread of the primary lesion from the hyperplastic lymph ducts to the parietal pleura and mediastinum confirming systemic lymphangiomatosis.

Reduced Expression of Hugl 1 Contributes to the Progression of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Cell polarity and cell-cell adhesion play a critical role in the regulation of normal tissue architecture and function. Disruption of cell adhesion and cell polarity is often associated with neoplastic tumors. Loss of apical-basal polarity in epithelial cells is one of the hallmarks of aggressive and invasive cancers. Several polarity proteins including atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), Par 6, Par 3, and Lethal giant larvae (Lgl, the human homologues of which are called Hugl 1 and Hugl 2) are localized at the leading edge of migrating cells, and play critical roles during directional migration. Herein, we investigated the expression of aPKC, Par 6, Par 3, Hugl 1, and Hugl 2 in lung squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC). An inverse correlation was observed between the expression of Hugl 1 and lung SqCC progression. Results of immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR analyses showed that reduced expression of Hugl 1 predicts poor survival in lung SqCC patients. The expression of Hugl 1 was inversely correlated with both overall survival rate and tumor stage. On the other hand, no associations were observed between the expressions of Hugl 2, Par 6, and Par 3 and lung SqCC progression. These findings indicate that the reduced expression of Hugl 1 could be considered as a poor prognostic factor in human lung cancers.