Cytomorphometric and Morphological Analysis in Women with Trichomonas vaginalis Infection: Micronucleus Frequency in Exfoliated Cervical Epithelial Cells.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the cytomorphometric and morphological effects of Trichomonas vaginalis in exfoliated epithelial cells. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-six Pap-stained cervical smears were divided into a study group and two control groups as follows: T. vaginalis cases, a first control group with inflammation, and a second control group without inflammation. Micronucleated, binucleated, karyorrhectic, karyolytic, and karyopyknotic cells and cells with perinuclear halos per 1,000 epithelial cells were counted. Nuclear and cellular areas were evaluated in 70 clearly defined cells in each smear using image analysis. RESULTS: The frequencies of morphological parameters in the T. vaginalis cases were higher than the values of the two control groups, and the difference among groups was found to be significant (p < 0.05). The nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of epithelial cells were diminished in patients with trichomoniasis. The mean nucleus/cytoplasm ratio in T. vaginalis patients was higher than the value in the control groups, and the difference between the study group and control group 1 was significant. However, there was no statistically significant increase between the study group and control group 2. CONCLUSIONS: T. vaginalis exhibited significant changes in the cellular size and nuclear structure of the cells. The rising frequency of micronuclei, nuclear abnormalities, and changing nucleus/cytoplasm ratio may reflect genotoxic damage in trichomoniasis.

Lymphatic differentiation in classic Kaposi's sarcoma: patterns of D2-40 immunoexpression in the course of tumor progression.

The recent development of lymphatic endothelium-specific immuno-indicators has given rise to research on the histogenesis of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), specifically focusing on its lymphatic root and differentiation. D2-40 is a new lymphatic marker that recognizes podoplanin and is easily applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human tissues. This study examined D2-40 immunoexpression in 178 classical KS lesions using immunohistochemical methods. D2-40 immunoexpression was also examined in 63 non-KS soft tissue lesions to test the reliability of D2-40 monoclonal antibody in the pathological diagnosis of KS. D2-40 immunoreactivity was detected at all of the KS lesions and in lymphangioma and nonneoplastic lymphatic endothelium. There was no significant relationship between the extent of D2-40 staining and histopathological stage; however, there was a positive correlation between the staining intensity and histopathological stage in KS cases. D2-40 immunoreactivity was detected at all histopathological stages of KS and may be added to the routine immunohistochemical panel used for the differential diagnosis of KS. Widespread D2-40 protein expression is evidence of a lymphatic origin or the differentiation of neoplastic cells in KS, and D2-40 expression increases with tumor progression.

Elastofibroma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of seven cases and literature review.

Elastofibroma is a rare fibrous lesion characterized by accumulated abnormal elastic fibers whose etiology remains largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed seven cases of elastofibroma to further explore the characteristics of its cellular composition. Immunohistochemistry was performed for mast cell tryptase, S-100 protein, vimentin, CD34, smooth muscle actin, desmin and collagen type IV. Histochemical staining methods for Gomori's trichrome and Verhoeff elastica-van Gieson were also evaluated. Histopathologically, a haphazard array of collagen, eosinophilic amorphous fibers, and globules in a fibrous tissue was seen. The elastic nature of the fibers was confirmed by elastic stain, and with Gomori's trichrome collagen fibers were also demonstrated. The interspersed spindle or stellate cells were almost consistently positive for vimentin and frequently positive for CD34. Mast cell tryptase-positive cells were present in five of the cases. Collagen type IV immunoreactivity was seen in two cases. No staining was observed with smooth muscle actin, desmin or S-100 protein. Our findings suggest that CD34-positive mesenchymal cells are an integral component of elastofibroma.

Primary stromal tumor of the omentum: Report of a case.

We report the case of a primary extragastrointestinal stromal tumor (EGIST) found in the omentum of a 65-year-old woman. The resected specimen, which measured 6 cm at its largest point, consisted of an outer solid part and inner uniloculated cysts. Microscopically, the tumor was characterized by interlacing bundles of elongated spindle cells, with the nuclei showing a focal palisading pattern; however, skenoid fibers were not observed anywhere and mitoses were absent. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was negative for smooth-muscle actin, desmin, and S-100 protein, but it was positive for CD117 and CD34. The microscopic features were consistent with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor.