Detection of non-haematolymphoid malignancies in bronchoalveolar lavages-A cancer centre's 10 year experience.

INTRODUCTION: Fibreoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (FOB-BAL) is often performed in immunocompromised and cancer patients to investigate possible infectious and non-infectious causes of clinical and radiological respiratory abnormalities. Knowledge of the incidence and distribution of non-haematolymphoid malignancies (NHLM) detected by FOB-BAL in this population is limited. METHOD: Our pathology electronic database was searched from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2018 for BAL specimens with diagnoses of "malignant" and a review of the pathology report and electronic medical record was performed. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the incidence, distribution of NHLM, and demographics of patients in these BALs. RESULTS: A total of 209 (1.92%) out of 11 035 BAL cases were reported in the "malignant" category. After exclusion of 22 cases with haematolymphoid malignancies, 187 cases were included in this study. The average patient age was 58 years (ranging from 9 to 83 years). The most common NHLM identified were from lung/thoracic primaries (n = 103; 55.1%) with adenocarcinoma being the most common type of lung primary (n = 91; 88%). Other tumours detected included carcinomas from breast (n = 34; 18.2%), gastrointestinal tract (n = 17; 9.1%), genitourinary tract (n = 13; 7%), Müllerian origin (n = 8; 4.3%), and head and neck (n = 6; 3.2%). Rarer NHLM encompassed 3.2% of BALs (n = 6). CONCLUSION: FOB-BAL is a useful tool for evaluating various pulmonary abnormalities in our cancer institute's patient population and a valuable method for detecting NHLM, which is critical to guide appropriate subsequent therapies.

Thyroid carcinoma metastasizing to the submandibular gland: Sonographic findings.

Metastases to the submandibular gland are extremely rare; a literature search retuned only three previously reported cases from a thyroid gland primary site. Herein, we report two cases of metastatic thyroid carcinoma to the submandibular gland in a 64-year-old woman with PTC and a 70-year-old-woman with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The metastases were identified on CT and PET/CT in one case and on CT in the other case, but both were diagnosed with ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. Our cases highlight that while rare, both PTC and MTC can metastasize to the submandibular gland.

Placental Fetal Thrombotic Vasculopathy Occurring in Association with Megacystis-microcolon-intestinal Hypoperistalsis Syndrome: A Case Report.

Megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is a rare disease of functional obstruction affecting the bladder and intestines, characterized by a markedly distended bladder, microcolon, and decreased or absent intestinal peristalsis. Afflicted neonates have very poor prognosis, usually with fatal outcomes in first days to months of life. Placental fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (FTV) is a thrombo-occlusive disorder of the chorionic plate and fetal circulation. Herein, we describe an undocumented association of MMIHS and placental FTV. We present the case of 32-year-old female G4P2-0-1-2, who gave birth to a viable female infant at 35 weeks of gestation via spontaneous vaginal delivery. Fetal MRI, completed at 24 weeks of gestation, revealed a massively distended urinary bladder, bilateral hydronephrosis in the presence of normal amniotic fluid, and poorly visualized bowel loops without meconium extending into the rectum. Given the constellation of these findings, a presumptive diagnosis of MMIHS was established. After birth, the neonate presented with clinical and radiological features consistent with MMIHS. An intact placenta was delivered and macroscopic examination showed numerous thrombi in fetal vasculature. Microscopic examination showed thrombosis and recanulization of fetal vessels in stem villi and histologic changes consistent with placental FTV. Neonatal course was complicated by hypoglycemia, malrotation, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and coagulopathy. The infant was subsequently discharged home with hospice and palliative care. To our knowledge, this is the first case of MMIHS associated with placental FTV documented in the English literature. Our report illustrates the value of pathological examination of the placenta in this rare disease.

SIRT1 overexpression in cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions and invasive squamous cell carcinoma.

Invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix involves the progression of premalignant cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and is associated with persistent human papillomavirus infection. Most CINs will regress, and the challenge is to identify the lesions likely to progress to invasive cancer. We evaluated Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression in nonneoplastic cervix, CINs, and SCCs as a potential biomarker to predict disease progression. A total of 101 cases were selected including 29 CIN 1s, 32 CIN 2s, 16 CIN 3s, 2 microinvasive SCCs, and 22 invasive SCCs. Cervical nonneoplastic squamous epithelium showed weak positivity of SIRT1 in the basal layer. SIRT1 cytoplasmic overexpression was found in 13.8% of CIN 1s (4/29), 40.6% of CIN 2s (13/32), and 50% of CIN 3s (8/16), and it was statistically significant between CIN 1 and CIN 2/3 lesions (P=.01). All 24 cases of invasive and microinvasive SCC showed SIRT1 overexpression, with 25% (6/24) showing cytoplasmic staining only, 4.2% (1/24) showing nuclear staining only, and 70.8% (17/24) showing both nuclear and cytoplasmic staining. From CIN 1 to SCC, SIRT1 expression showed steady and statistically significant increase (CIN 1 versus CIN 2-3, P=.01; CIN 2-3 versus SCC, P=.0001). Thus, SIRT1 may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting the progression of CIN to invasive SCC.

Dirofilariasis Presenting as an Infiltrative Mass in the Right Buccal Space.

Dirofilariasis is caused by filarial nematodes (roundworms) of the genus Dirofilaria Dirofilariasis of the oral mucosa is very rare. Herein, we report a case of a 79-year-old man who had a slowly growing infiltrative mass in the right buccal space. Histopathologic examination showed an inflammatory infiltrate with eosinophilia, histiocytes, and small organisms (0.2-0.3 mm). Digital images were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which identified the parasite as a nematode in the genus Dirofilaria It appeared to be dead and degenerating, but external, fine longitudinal cuticular ridges and the presence of tall muscle cells were diagnostic. Thus, Dirofilaria, despite its rarity, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumor-like lesions in the buccal mucosa.

Carcinosarcoma of the parotid: investigating its biology with morphoproteomics.

Carcinosarcoma of the parotid is a rare biphasic malignant neoplasm comprised of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components representing approximately 0.4% of all malignant salivary gland neoplasms. We report a case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man who presented with a progressively enlarging left facial mass. Histopathological evaluation of the tumoral tissue revealed a high grade, mixed epithelial and mesenchymal malignant tumor, most consistent with a carcinosarcoma of the parotid. Morphoproteomic analysis was performed and revealed expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC); glioma-associated oncogen protein 2 (Gli2); and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (p-STAT3 [Tyr705]) in the carcinomatous and malignant mesenchymal components. These aforementioned markers have been linked to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in which epithelial cells lose their characteristics and phenotypically become mesenchymal cells. This finding allows us to further understand the biology of the 2 cellular components of the carcinosarcoma as having a monoclonal origin.