Uterine adenosarcomas overgrown by sex-cord-like tumour: report of two cases.

Müllerian adenosarcomas are tumours of low malignant potential with proliferation of benign glands and low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS). Unusually, the latter may include foci of uterine tumours resembling ovarian sex-cord tumours (UTROSCT). Two cases of uterine adenosarcomas massively overgrown by UTROSCT are reported, for the first time. The patients, aged 71 and 64, one receiving tamoxifen, presented with intracavitary polypoid adenosarcomas; each was overgrown by an immunopathologically characteristic UTROSCT that constituted more than 75% of its volume. Periglandular CD10+LGESS represented less than 25%. Both are alive and well after 5 and 3 years, respectively. Compared to the poor prognosis of adenosarcomas overgrown by high grade sarcomata, the cases reported here had a benign behaviour. Quantitative assessment of volume percentage of the potentially aggressive LGESS, CD10+ areas should be considered as a relevant prognostic histological parameter in these tumours.

Tissue binding pattern of plant lectins in benign and malignant lesions of thyroid.

N-acetyl D-galactosamine specific lectins were isolated from the seeds of Jack Fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) and Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) and D-galactose specific lectin was isolated from peanut (Arachis hypogaea). These lectins were conjugated to Horse Radish Peroxidase (HRP) and were used to study the lectin binding properties of benign and malignant lesions of the thyroid. For comparison of the results 10 normal fresh autopsy specimens were included in the study. The Peanut lectin (PNL) and Jack fruit lectin (JFL) conjugates showed positive binding with the cells in different lesions, while Winged Bean Lectin (WBL), despite its having a common inhibitory sugar, showed no binding even after neuraminidase treatment. These lectins revealed difference in the composition of glycoconjugates of benign and malignant thyroid cells. The HRP conjugated JFL and PNL may be of use in distinguishing carcinomatous tissues from benign tissues which makes them potential tools in the differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions.

Adrenal carcinoma with reactive plasmacytosis.

An 18 year old boy presented with anaemia, congestive cardiac failure and a 'renal mass'. Preoperative and post-operative investigations demonstrated "reactive plasmacytosis" with antibodies directed against a non-functioning adrenal carcinoma. Existing literature on reactive plasmacytosis and anti-tumour antibodies is summarised.