Immunohistochemical expression of growth factors in the exocrine pancreas of patients with chronic liver diseases.

Acute viral hepatitis has been reported to cause acute pancreatitis. It was also reported that exocrine pancreatic function is damaged in chronic liver disease (CLD). Growth factors stored in the extracellular matrix and released in the course of pancreatic degradation are major mediators of inductive processes. The immunostaining technique was used to evidence the changes of the expression of the growth factors in different pancreatic cells. VEGF and FGF-beta are involved in the angiogenesis processes and in the evolution of the pancreatic interstitial tissue in case of chronic pancreatitis. Theses markers can also be used for the diagnosis of pancreatitis, but their value is variable. They stimulate the pancreatic star cells, the myofibroblasts and play an important role in the genesis of the extracellular matrix and in the repairing of the tissue after the aggression. TGF beta is important for its role in cellular differentiation and growth and in the development of the fibrosis in liver and other organs. The present paper studies the immunohistochemical expression of these growth factors in pancreatic cells.

Nodular subcutaneous lesion - an alarming sign for an upcoming pancreatic disorder.

Pancreatic panniculitis represents a rare dermatological manifestation mainly due to a pancreatic disorder, but other etiologies are possible. Even rarer, it can occur prior to the clinical signs of the underlying disease, and its presence must orientate the investigations especially towards pancreas, liver and neuroendocrine system. We report a rare case of a 47-year-old male patient who presented to the Emergency Unit complaining about a two weeks-long-persistent pain in the upper abdomen and biliary vomiting. The medical history included alcohol abuse. Several days prior to the onset of these symptoms, the patient has noticed the occurrence of a nodular inflammatory lesion of 5∕3 cm on the right calf (this makes the case even rarer). Based on clinical aspect and high levels of pancreatic enzymes, acute pancreatitis was diagnosed. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a cystic pancreatic mass and dilated intrahepatic biliary ducts. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a cystic tumor of the pancreatic head and thrombosis of the portal vein, which increased the suspicion of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Biopsy was performed from the calf nodular lesion, with the diagnosis of panniculitis. This case, besides its rarity, supports the clinical important value of a pancreatic workup in case of histologically proved panniculitis, even without pancreatic related symptoms.

Giant abdominal tumor - would you think adrenal?

Adrenal cavernomas are rare benign tumors, and those of giant dimensions are exceptional. Usually, they are symptomless or they induce symptoms and signs due to compression over nearby organs. We present the case of a 68-year-old woman, who complained of abdominal enlargement and abdominal pain in the left part of the abdomen. Imagistic investigations (native and contrast abdominal computed tomography) revealed an inhomogeneous retroperitoneal mass of 210∕182∕200 mm, containing calcifications. Laboratory findings were not relevant, just a slight and non-significant elevation of carcinoembryonic antigen and a slight elevation of C-reactive protein. Diagnosis of cancer of undetermined origin was considered, and surgery was performed. During surgery, a giant encapsulated inhomogeneous tumor of 330 mm, with cystic areas, was removed, without assessing the origin. Primary or secondary tumors (metastasis from breast, intestinal, lung, renal or skin cancer) were taken into account. Only histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed the diagnosis of adrenal cavernoma. Until this moment, we found only one published article in the medical literature with similar dimensions of an adrenal cavernoma as in our case. Even if rare, hemangioma of the adrenal gland must be considered during the differential diagnosis of an adrenal tumor.

Gallbladder carcinoma - a rare cause of pyloric-duodenal stenosis.

Pyloric duodenal stenosis is usually caused by pyloric, juxtapyloric or duodenal ulcer, or by postbulbar ulcer. Gallbladder cancer (GBC), duodenal diverticula, annular pancreas and superior mesenteric artery syndrome (Wilkie's syndrome) are rare causes of pyloric duodenal stenosis. The case of a 66-year-old female patient is presented. The patient was admitted to hospital presenting anorexia, repeated alimentary vomiting, epigastric pain, and weight loss. Objective clinical examination upon admission: clapotage à jeun is present, triggered by tapping the epigastric region. Laboratory tests reveal moderate anemia, hypokalemic alkalosis, increased levels of cholestatic enzymes and of tumor markers. Gastroendoscopy: Stomach presenting stasis fluid in large quantity. Deformed antropyloric region caused by extrinsic compression. Abdominal native magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and with contrast medium: cholecyst lumen entirely obstructed with calculi; thickened wall, with heterogeneous gadolinophilia; gadolinophilic mass erasing the bordering limit in relation to the cholecyst wall and the colon hepatic angle, and leaving a print on the pyloric region. During surgery, upon opening the peritoneal cavity, a tumoral pericholecystic block was observed, including the pyloric-duodenal region and the transverse mesocolon. Histopathology tests of tissue samples showed adipose conjunctive tissue with invasive adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical tests [cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK17, CK19, CK20, CDX2, mucin (MUC) 1, MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC6, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)] were consistent with infiltrating neoplastic carcinoma, originating in the gallbladder epithelium. Gastrointestinal obstruction cases caused by gallbladder carcinoma are rare. The pyloric-duodenal region is more frequently affected, as compared to the small intestine or the colon.