A Symptomatic Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm of the Mesentery: A Case Report.

Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) are rare tumors primarily observed in the pancreas but occasionally found in other locations such as the retroperitoneum, ovary, liver, and spleen. These neoplasms are histologically classified based on the degree of dysplasia, with some associated with invasive carcinoma. Colorectal surgeons infrequently encounter MCNs. Mesenteric MCNs pose a diagnostic challenge secondary to their atypical location, subtle histology, and lack of specific biochemical markers. In this context, we present a case involving a 68-year-old female who initially presented with an assumed ovarian mass. Subsequent exploration revealed a 12 cm MCN situated in the sigmoid mesentery, a location seldom associated with these tumors. The patient underwent laparotomy with successful resection and recovery. Histopathological analysis confirmed the neoplasm's mucinous epithelium with a complex papillary architecture. Immunohistochemical staining supported the diagnosis, revealing positivity for CK7, SATB2, and CDX2.

Videoconference microscopy is a reliable alternative to conventional microscopy in the evaluation of Barrett's esophagus: Zooming into a new era.

Telepathology, practicing pathology from a distance, allows experts to review cases without the need to transfer glass slides. Due to significant intra- and inter-observer variabilities in the histological evaluation of Barrett's esophagus (BE), current guidelines recommend expert consultation in cases of dysplasia. We aimed to determine whether telepathology using microscope videoconferencing can be reliably used for evaluation of BE. Biopsies from 62 patients with endoscopic findings of salmon colored mucosa extending ≥1 cm proximal to the gastroesophageal junction were randomly selected to represent benign esophagus, non-dysplastic BE, low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, and adenocarcinoma. Three gastrointestinal-trained pathologists reviewed the cases via videoconference microscopy followed by conventional microscopy. Intra-observer and pairwise inter-observer agreements between the conventional microscopy and videoconference methodologies were calculated for each of the three pathologists using Fleiss-Cohen weighted kappa (K) analysis. The intra-observer agreement for each pathologist's assessment of videoconference microscopy and glass slide readings showed very good reliability (K = 0.94, 95% confidence interval = 0.89-0.99; 0.88, 95% confidence interval = 0.79-0.98; 0.93, 95% confidence interval = 0.90-0.97). Mean pairwise inter-observer agreement was 0.90 for videoconference and 0.91 for conventional microscopy. Diagnosis and grading of BE using videoconference microscopy show similar reliability as conventional microscopy. Based on our findings, we propose that videoconferencing pathology is a valid instrument for evaluating BE.

NAB2-STAT6 Gene Fusions to Evaluate Primary/Metastasis of Hemangiopericytoma/Solitary Fibrous Tumors.

OBJECTIVES: Hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) and solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) were considered two distinct entities, but a common gene fusion, NAB2-STAT6, has been identified in both. Although rare, HPCs and SFTs do metastasize, some many years later after resection. Given the extended disease-free interval, it can be difficult to determine with certainty if an HPC or SFT at a new anatomic location represents a second primary or metastatic disease. METHODS: RNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of two patients with multiple SFT/HPC samples. The fusion gene was amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and a custom-designed Archer FusionPlex panel (94 target genes) and the Illumina NextSeq 550. RESULTS: We identified two patients with multiple resections for HPC/SFT during 26 years at our institution. The first patient had a history of HPC and almost 10 years later she was diagnosed with malignant SFT. The HPC and the SFT shared the same fusion breakpoint. The second patient had multiple lesions in the brain and bone/soft tissue over a 27-year span following a diagnosis of meningeal SFT. Three lesions from this patient shared the same fusion breakpoint. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated the same fusion breakpoints in primary and metastatic SFTs/HPCs at different time points using both RT-PCR and the Archer fusion panel.

Second Opinion Expert Pathology Review in Bladder Cancer: Implications for Patient Care.

OBJECTIVES: To review bladder specimens referred to our facility for secondary review to determine the frequency and degree of changes in pathological diagnoses, which could affect patient care. METHODS: A retrospective review of 246 bladder specimens sent to our pathology department for second opinion pathological review was performed. All consultation specimens were reviewed by a single genitourinary (GU)-subspecialized surgical pathologist. Any changes in the pathological grade, stage, or histological tumor type were noted as well as patient demographic data. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the frequency and type of discrepancies in diagnoses and determine any associations with patient demographic parameters. RESULTS: Secondary pathology consultation of 246 bladder specimens from 233 patients were reviewed and compared with the primary diagnosis. The diagnosis was altered in 91/246 cases (37.0%). The number of cases reviewed per patient and specimen type was not associated with a change in diagnosis ( P = .19; P = .1). Of the cases with a change in diagnosis, 8 (8.8%) changed malignancy status, 46 (50.5%) changed stage, 16 (17.6%) changed tumor type (ie, change from urothelial carcinoma to prostate adenocarcinoma), 16 (17.6%) changed histological variant subtype, and 14 (15.4%) changed grade. There was no association noted between age, gender, or race and changes in diagnosis ( P = .53; P = .41; P = .70). CONCLUSIONS: Secondary pathology review with a GU-subspecialized surgical pathologist can change the stage, grade, or histological subtype on bladder biopsy and tumor resection specimens in more than one-third of cases. Age and gender were not associated with the frequency of change in diagnosis on consultation review.

Five-year real world outcomes of GeoForm ring implantation in patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Reductive ring annuloplasty represents the current standard surgical therapy for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR); however, the clinical results have been suboptimal. Etiology-specific prostheses such as the GeoForm annuloplasty ring have been designed to better address the annular and subvalvular perturbations associated with IMR. However, clinical experience is limited, and mid-term results are lacking. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical outcomes of 86 patients who had undergone implantation of a GeoForm ring at our center from 2005 to 2011. Perioperative mortality and clinical parameters were derived from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. Follow-up survival was assessed using the Social Security Death Index. Surviving patients were interviewed by telephone for valve-specific follow-up data and to complete the Medical Outcomes Study, short-form, 36-item, quality-of-life questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean grade of IMR preoperatively was 3.1±0.8 (range, 1-4+), 0.2±0.4 in the immediate postoperative period, and 0.7±0.7 at the last mean follow-up point of 41 months; only 2 patients developed ≥2+IMR during the follow-up period, for a 5-year freedom from recurrent 2+ IMR of 86%. The mean left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters decreased from before to after surgery from 6.0±0.0 cm to 5.3±09 cm and 5.0±0.9 cm to 4.3±1.1 cm, respectively (P<.001). Perioperative mortality was 5.8% (5 of 86), and 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival was 87%, 81%, and 75%, respectively. At the last follow-up point, 80% of patients were in New York Heart Association class I and II, and their quality of life was equal to, or better than, age-matched controls from the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of the GeoForm ring offers very good control of IMR, with low rate of recurrent IMR at mid-term follow-up. The use of this prosthesis was associated with good perioperative mortality, mid-term survival, and quality of life.

Comparison between three-dimensional angiographic reconstruction and intravascular ultrasound imaging for the measurement of cross-sectional luminal dimensions in intermediate coronary lesions.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has enabled the measurement of minimal luminal area of coronary stenoses. We evaluated the hypothesis that angiographic three-dimensional reconstruction of luminal dimensions may be able to provide similar measurements to IVUS in intermediate coronary lesions. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography and IVUS for the assessment of angiographically intermediate coronary lesions (50-70%) at a high-volume tertiary care hospital between July 1, 2006, and May 20, 2008. IVUS (Boston Scientific, Natick Massachusetts, USA) minimal cross-sectional area (CSA) and minimal luminal diameters (MLD) were compared with the measurements obtained using a sophisticated three-dimensional angiographic reconstruction software (CardiOP-B, Paieon, Inc., Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel), with orthogonal angiographic views used to reconstruct and calculate lesion dimensions. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 34 patients with 35 lesions. The lesions were assessed in the left main (n = 2), left anterior descending artery (n = 15), left circumflex/marginal artery (n = 7), and right coronary artery (n = 11). Using IVUS, the mean minimal CSA was 3.78 +/- 1.60 mm(2), and MLD was 1.88 +/- 0.43 mm. Three-dimensional reconstruction measurements of minimal CSA (3.42 +/- 1.66 mm(2)) highly correlated in a linear fashion with the measurements by IVUS (R = 0.88, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A three-dimensional angiographic measurement of coronary minimal CSA is highly correlated with the measurements using IVUS. This new software technology may be a promising imaging modality to measure CSAs in coronary lesions.

Experimental efficacy of an everolimus eluting cobalt chromium stent.

INTRODUCTION: Rapamycin and its analogs are now being coated on different stent platforms, using different polymer matrices to prevent restenosis by impairing vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and neointimal formation. METHODS: We evaluated the feasibility and compared the efficacy of biostable polymeric everolimus and sirolimus (CYPHER, Cordis) eluting stents in a porcine coronary model. Cobalt chromium balloon expandable stents (ML VISION, Guidant) were coated with a polymer containing everolimus (190 mug/cm(2)). Twelve pigs underwent placement of 36 oversized sirolimus (n = 12), everolimus (n = 12), and bare metal (cobalt chromium, n = 12) stents in the coronary arteries. RESULTS: At day 28, vessel injury scores were low (<0.25) and similar between each of the three test groups. The mean neointimal thickness was significantly lower in the everolimus- (0.13 +/- 0.07 mm, P = 0.02) and sirolimus-eluting stents (0.13 +/- 0.08 mm, P = 0.04) versus the bare metal stents (0.20 +/- 0.07 mm). The mean percent area stenosis was similar for the everolimus-eluting stents [(20.8 +/- 6.9)%] and the sirolimus-eluting stents [(20.8 +/- 7.6)%], and each was significantly less than that of bare metal stents [(26.1 +/- 7.8)%, P = 0.05]. CONCLUSION: Stent-based delivery of sirolimus and everolimus delivered via durable polymeric matrices are equally effective in the suppression of neointimal formation at day 28 in the porcine coronary model. Further study is necessary to document dose response and long-term comparative effects of these drug-eluting stents.

Segmental vessel wall shear stress and neointimal formation after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation: physiological insights in a porcine coronary model.

BACKGROUND: Low vessel-wall shear stress promotes atherosclerosis and restenosis. We conducted serial analysis of vessel-wall shear stress following placement of metal and sirolimus (SRL) stents to determine the relationship between shear stress and neointima. METHODS: Serial quantitative coronary angiography, intracoronary ultrasound (IVUS), and Doppler flow analysis were performed at baseline, immediately poststent, and at 30 and 90 days on 16 stents (metal, n = 8; SRL, n = 8) implanted in the coronary arteries of eight miniswine. Segmental vessel-wall shear stress (dyn/cm2) was calculated at 10 sections within the stent and normalized to the average proximal and distal reference vessel shear stress using IVUS and hyperemic average peak flow velocity. At 90 days, histological analysis was completed to determine vessel-wall morphometry on corresponding sections from each stent. RESULTS: Stent placement resulted in a similar degree of in-stent stenosis (-5% to 25%) and immediate post-in-stent shear stress. At 30 days, the IVUS neointimal cross-sectional area and percentage of area stenosis were significantly less in SRL (1.2+/-0.8 mm2; 12.7+/-8.5%) versus metal stents (2.3+/-0.4 mm2; 28.2+/-3.4%, P < .003). In-stent normalized shear stress was less for SRL (0.93+/-0.07) versus metal (1.07+/-0.08, P = .002) stents. At 90 days, the mean neointimal area was similar for the SRL (2.50+/-0.47 mm2) and metal stents (2.72+/-1.15 mm2). Linear regression documented a negative correlation between poststent shear stress and neointima for metal stents (r = .61, P < .0001). In the SRL stents, however, the post-in-stent shear stress had a positive correlation with neointima (r = .40, P = .0002). CONCLUSIONS: The placement of oversized stents causes alteration of segmental vessel-wall shear stress, which appears to be an important physiological stimulus for neointimal formation, and may influence the pharmacodynamics of SRL-eluting stent in the porcine coronary model.

Stent-based delivery of ABT-578 via a phosphorylcholine surface coating reduces neointimal formation in the porcine coronary model.

Stent-based delivery of the antiproliferative and immunosuppressive macrocyclic lactone sirolimus reduces neointimal formation and restenosis by cytostatic inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of stent-based delivery of ABT-578, a structurally unique macrocyclic lactone. Stainless steel balloon-expandable stents were coated with thin layer of phosphorylcholine (PC) or PC with ABT-578 (10 microg/mm). Fifteen juvenile domestic pigs underwent placement of oversized bare metal (n = 15), PC (n = 8), and PC with ABT-578 (n = 9) stents in the coronary arteries. At 28 days, histology demonstrated similar mean injury scores for the control, PC-, and ABT-578-coated stents. The mean neointimal area (mm2) was significantly reduced for ABT-578 (1.70 +/- 0.47) as compared with PC (2.82 +/- 1.24) and control (2.89 +/- 1.91) stents (P < or = 0.05). The 40% reduction in neointimal area resulted in significantly less mean percent diameter stenosis for ABT-578 (19.4% +/- 4.0%) as compared with PC (30.3 +/- 12.1 %) and control (29.4% +/- 15.5%) stents (P < or = 0.03). Twelve of the 45 bare metal stent cross-sections (26.7%) exhibited a giant cell reaction, while none of the sections from the ABT-578-eluting stents had a giant cell reaction (P = 0.004). Stent-based delivery of ABT-578 via a PC surface coating inhibits neointimal formation at 28 days in the porcine coronary model. Further study is necessary to determine the dose-response and long-term effects ABT-578-eluting stents in the porcine coronary model.