Impact of molecular subtypes classification concordance between preoperative core needle biopsy and surgical specimen on early breast cancer management: Single-institution experience and review of published literature.

BACKGROUND: Core needle biopsy (CNB) plays a crucial role as diagnostic tool for breast cancer (BC). The characterization of biomarkers status before surgical treatment is crucial when primary systemic therapy is a therapeutic option. The aim of this analysis was to report concordance between preoperative CNB and surgical specimen (SS) in evaluating biomarkers and molecular subtypes. METHODS: Data have been collected from a cohort of 101 patients affected by early BC treated at Careggi Florence University Hospital, between January 2014 and March 2015. The conformity between molecular subtype classification was tested using kappa (κ) test. RESULTS: Mean age was 57.5 years (range 29-86). There was concordance between the estrogen receptor (ER) assessment on CNB and SS in 95 cases (94.1%). Concordance of the progesterone receptor (PgR) assessment was observed in 89 cases (88.1%). Concordance for detecting immunohistochemistry-assessed BC molecular subtypes was 87.1% (κ = 0.78). Concerning Ki-67 evaluation, we report a concordance rate of 88.1% (κ = 0.68). The evaluation of luminal A plus luminal B/HER negative subgroup showed a κ-value of 0.65. CONCLUSIONS: CNB showed good accuracy in evaluating hormonal receptors status, HER2, and BC molecular subtypes. Evaluation of Ki67 status was less accurate than other biomarkers; therefore, we recommend that it should be detected both on CNB and SS samples, especially in hormonal positive HER2 negative tumors, in order to avoid a misclassification of tumor subtypes that could lead to an omission of potential effective systemic therapy.

MRI of cerebral rheumatoid pachymeningitis: report of two cases with follow-up.

We report the clinical and neuroradiological features of cerebral rheumatoid pachymeningitis with 1 year follow-up in two patients. MRI of the head enabled noninvasive diagnosis of both the meningeal abnormality and its complications, consisting of hypertensive hydrocephalus and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, respectively. Dural sinus thrombosis, very uncommon in rheumatoid arthritis, was confirmed by phase-contrast MRA. Worsening of the pachymeningitis at follow-up was observed in both patients despite regression or stability of the clinical picture and long-term therapy.

Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis-like syndrome.

Clinical and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and multiple sclerosis-like (MS-like) syndrome are reported. Cerebral MRI demonstrated multiple, MS-like, scattered foci of signal abnormality, one of which showed contrast enhancement. Lesion dissemination in "space and time" is a hallmark for diagnosis of MS, and its demonstration by enhanced cerebral MRI prompted suspicion of coexistence of MS and AS in our patient.

Origin of bronchial and pulmonary elastic fibers and their role in some pathological events.

The purpose of this contribution is to place a higher value on the existence of a turn-over of bronchial and pulmonary elastic fibers: the former would derive from the smooth muscle cells of the bronchial wall, the latter from the interstitial myofibroblasts of the alveolar septa. The reduction of the number of the elastic fibers in the bronchial wall during chronic atrophic bronchitis depend on the atrophy of the bronchial smooth muscle cells; in the alveolar septa the hyperplasia of the elastic fibers during pulmonary fibroses depend on the myofibroblastic proliferation, while the reduction of the elastic fibers number during pulmonary enphysema depend on the reduction in the number of myofibroblasts.

Myofibroblast and elastic and collagen fiber hyperplasia in the bronchial mucosa: a possible basis for the progressive irreversibility of airway obstruction in chronic asthma.

Considering the role proposed for myofibroblasts in inflammatory and hyperelastotic lung diseases, the possibility arises that these cells are involved in bronchial pathology, including asthma. To address this issue, we have analyzed by light microscopy, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry the structure of extra- and intra-pulmonary bronchi of patient died of asthma. We have demonstrated hyperplasia of connective tissue cells and fibers in the mucosa, all around the lumen of extra- and intra-pulmonary bronchi. The cells were thin and elongated, labeled by anti-actin and anti-vimentin antibodies and interspersed with many elastic and collagen fibers, therefore they were interpreted as myofibroblasts. These findings may explain the rigidity of the bronchial wall in patients with asthma, which causes the progressively more limited resolution of airway obstruction upon pharmacological treatment and the gross anatomical finding of bronchial stiffness at inspection of the lungs. The possibility should also be considered that myofibroblasts and elastic--not collagen--fibers have contributed to bronchial hyperreactivity at an early stage of the disease.

[Histogenetic problems of a "granular cell tumor" in the trachea]. / Problemi istogenetici su un "tumore a cellule granulose" a sede tracheale.

On the possible ontogeny of the cells of a "granular cell tumor" of the human trachea. In a young patient affected with pulmonary tuberculosis during bronchoscopy a "granular cell tumor" of the membranous part of trachea was occasionally evidentied. After pathologic examination, the specimen is analyzed in order to assess the kind of cells that are present in the lesion: the ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study shows Schwann cells which particularly well developed lysosomal complement.

Hypothesis of classification of pulmonary fibroses.

A new framework for pulmonary fibroses may be obtained by distinguishing the "true" forms (solely collagen hyperplasia) from the "false" forms or mesenchymal fibril lung diseases (collagen, reticular and elastic hyperplasia with neo-angiogenesis): the "true fibroses" are then divisible into those not causing architectural subversion of the lung and those which bring it about. Pulmonary architectural subversion is common to true granulomatous fibroses and mesenchymal fibril lung diseases: it is, in our opinion, the product of a combination of factors, including the hyperactivity of a fibroblast sub-population normally in the minority, stimulated by T lymphocytes which are activated by an autoimmune response to type I collagen produced in excess.