Malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast associating malignancy of both mesenchymal and epithelial components (invasive or in situ ductal carcinoma).

Phyllodes tumors of the breast are biphasic tumors consisting from an epithelial component and a mesenchymal component. Usually, the mesenchymal component of the tumor is the one who dictates the malignancy of the biphasic proliferation. Presence of the malignancy of the both, epithelial [under the form of invasive carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)] and mesenchymal components is very rare. Most of the data available from the literature refers to single case presentations. This paper presents the experience of Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta Oncological Institute (IOCN), Cluj-Napoca, Romania, with the malignant phyllodes tumors with both epithelial and mesenchymal components showing malignancy. Over two decades (1999-2018), four cases of malignant phyllodes tumors with concomitant epithelial and mesenchymal malignancy were found and presented as a case series. Two out of four cases were malignant phyllodes tumors harboring invasive breast carcinomas (one case with associated DCIS and one case of pure invasive carcinoma) and two cases were malignant phyllodes tumors with the epithelial component showing DCIS. Average follow-up period was 67 months (from 39 to 132 months) with a disease-free survival of 58 months.

Blue nevus-like melanoma of the uterine cervix. Case report and review of the literature.

We present the clinical and pathological aspects of a patient diagnosed with a very rare tumor, a blue nevus-like melanoma of the uterine cervix. The patient turned to our Service for a second opinion regarding a cervical polyp causing vaginal bleeding, polyp which has been excised in another Hospital and interpreted initially as a pleomorphic sarcoma. In the presentation, we emphasize upon the stages of solving a difficult diagnosis, pathological description and treatment of these rare, aggressive tumors with poor prognosis, which represent the fundamental precondition in order to formulate the best therapeutic strategy.

Comparison between resection, bipolar coagulation and Plasmajet®: A preliminary animal study.

OBJECTIVE(S): To compare the most used types of surgical techniques, for peritoneal lesions management, to Plasmajet® (PJ), in term of healing and post-operative adhesion. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, experimental animal study. Female pigs (Landrace/Large White-Pietran) weighing 20-25kgs were used for the experiments. Eleven areas of 2cm2 were treated on each lateral side of the peritoneal wall. Two areas of control, 2 of surgical resection with scissors, 2 of bipolar coagulation, 2 of Plasmajet® 10 low (PJ10L, adjustment of the Plasmajet®) used in contact with the peritoneum, 2 of PJ10L used at 3-5mm from the peritoneum, 2 of PJ10L used at 10mm, 2 of PJ used at 10 High (PJ10H) close to the peritoneum, 2 of PJ10H used at 3-5mm, 2 of PJ10H used at 10mm, 2 of PJ used at 40 Low (PJ40L) used at 3-5mm, 2 of PJ40L used at 10mm from the peritoneum. RESULTS: For each 2 areas, one was removed immediately for histological analysis. All animals were reoperated 14days later to evaluate macroscopic healing, adhesion score, histological inflammation and mesothelialization. Immediate histological analysis shows that in every treated area the peritoneum was completely vaporized, coagulated or removed. After resection, the healing was macroscopically perfect and there was no adhesion, as in the control area. After bipolar coagulation in half of cases there was adhesion. There was no adhesion after treatment by Plasmajet® 10 low used at 10mm from the peritoneum. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection leads to perfect healing, and no adhesion formation. The use of Plasmajet® 10 low used at 10mm from the peritoneum could be an alternative to resection, because it allows complete superficial destruction, with a low rate of adhesion. Further study is required to explore and assess fully the potential of this device.

[Histopathological diagnostic concordance in bone and soft tissue sarcomas between two comprehensive cancer centers from eastern and western Europe: a collaborative experience]. / La concordance du diagnostic histopathologique des sarcomes osseux et des tissus mous entre deux centres anticancéreux de l'Europe de l'Est et de l'Ouest : une expérience de collaboration.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to assess the degree of concordance of histological diagnosis of bone and soft tissue sarcomas between a Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) of Eastern Europe - not specialized in this area of pathology - and an important CCC of Western Europe, which is one of the coordinators of a clinical reference network in sarcoma pathology. The goal is to have an overview of the sarcomatous pathology in a region of Eastern Europe and to discover diagnostic discrepancies between the two centers, while determining their cause. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The initial diagnosis was compared with the revised diagnosis on 110 specimens from 88 patients with bone or soft tissue sarcomas from East-European CCC, in a one-year period of time. RESULTS: Complete diagnostic agreement was observed in 55 cases (62.5%), a partial agreement in 23 cases (26.1%) and a major disagreement in 10 cases (11.4%). Major discrepancies of the histological type was observed in only 3 cases (3.4%): one case of discordance benign/malignant and 2 cases of discordance mesenchymal/non mesenchymal. Minor histological discrepancies - not affecting the management of the patient - were observed in 18 cases (20.4%). A major discordance in grading - potentially changing the management of the patient - was noted in 7 cases (7.9%), and a minor discrepancy in 5 cases (5.7%). DISCUSSIONS: Some histological types were clearly overdiagnosed, like "adult fibrosarcomas" and "malignant peripheral nerve sheet tumors" (MPNST), mostly converted after the audit into "undifferentiated spindle cell sarcomas" or other types of sarcomas. Some "unclassified" sarcomas and "undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas" could be re-classified with the aid of an extensive panel of antibodies. Overall, immunohistochemistry was responsible, but not in exclusivity, for half of the minor discrepancies, and for 2 out of 3 cases of major histological discrepancies. Otherwise, the main cause of discrepancies was the difficulties in the interpretation of the morphology. Molecular biology was decisive in one case. Most grading discrepancies resulted from the appreciation of the mitotic index. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of the sarcomatous pathology in the northwest region of Romania does not appear to differ significantly from other parts of Europe or the world, but a prospective epidemiological study would be necessary to confirm this assessment. The expansion of immunohistochemical antibody panel, the over-specialization of pathologists and, in the future, the establishment of a national network of referral centers in sarcoma pathology, are required for a high level of histological diagnosis in Eastern Europe. A periodic external audit, continuing this trans-European collaboration between the two centers, would be beneficial for monitoring progress.