Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract: an analysis of clinical and pathologic features affecting outcome.

Clinical and histopathologic data from 87 patients with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract diagnosed between 1974 and 1984 were reviewed. B-cell lymphomas of intermediate- or high-grade histology constituted 78% of lesions. Stage of disease varied with histologic grade, with a preponderance of advanced disease (stages IIIE and IV) in patients with low-grade lymphoma (15 of 21) (71%), compared with higher grade lesions (38%, P = .01). Among patients with nonlocalized (stages IIE through IV) lymphoma of intermediate- or high-grade histology, surgical resection of the primary focus afforded a higher rate of complete remission (CR) (70% v 50%) and sustained CR (61% v 21%, P = .04) after cytotoxic therapy compared with the nonresected cohort. The median survival in the resected group was 51 months + compared with 13 months in the nonresected patients (P = .012). Differences in outcome were attributable to a high risk of treatment-related complications (perforation and/or hemorrhage) (43% v 0%, P = .001) and local relapse (29% v 4%, P = .05) in nonresected individuals. Life-threatening local complications were not observed in patients with low-grade lymphoma managed solely with medical therapy. Histologic findings from surgically staged patients identified presence of extravisceral disease and intermediate- or high-grade tumor histology as features predictive of transmural invasion, enabling potential identification of patients who might be optimally managed by resection of the primary GI focus before initiation of cytotoxic therapy.

Cholangitis with a silver lining.

Acute obstructive cholangitis developed secondary to a common duct stone formed around a silver hemostatic clip, introduced at cholecystectomy two years previously, that had migrated from a long cystic duct remnant. Stone formation around a silk suture is well known, and silver clips in the area of the porta hepatis may constitute a similar hazard.

Tubular adenoma of the main pancreatic duct.

We report a case of tubular adenoma of the duct of Wirsung with focal villous changes. To our knowledge, this is the 13th reported case of this uncommon neoplasm and the first with a primarily tubular histologic pattern. The patient presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea and was found on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography to have a mass in the head of the pancreas, which was confirmed by endoscopic ultrasound. Clinical and pathological features of the 12 previously reported cases are reviewed. Intraoperative testing failed to rule out adenocarcinoma which, in addition to difficulties presented by local anatomic relationships of the tumor, supports wide surgical resection as the preferred surgical solution.

Stratified diagnostic approach to fine needle aspiration of the breast.

The clinical value of fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the breast is enhanced by incorporating into the cytologic diagnosis explicit comments on the level of diagnostic certainty. This stratification of diagnostic certainty is based predominantly on the cytologic features but occasionally also takes into consideration the clinical situation. Strong clinical and mammographic suspicion of mammary carcinoma associated with FNA, diagnostic of typical, intermediate to high-grade mammary carcinoma, warrants proceeding to definitive therapy without further diagnostic studies. False-positive results are virtually eliminated by placing cases with any uncertainty into a "probable" category, which does not support definitive therapy. In addition, oversimplified "benign versus malignant" approaches to FNA diagnoses ignore the heterogeneity of breast masses, with in situ and low-grade carcinomas warranting special clinical management and usually being placed in the "probable" category. Thus, malignant diagnoses are stratified into "definite" and "probable," with only the former supporting definitive therapy. Within our recent series of 1,005 FNAs of the breast, we were able to confirm the diagnosis in all 62 patients with a "definite" carcinoma diagnosis, and only 3 of 25 "probable" cancer diagnoses were benign at tissue biopsy. Thus, false-positive results were successfully avoided in the "definite" category. Furthermore, a much greater incidence of unusual and good prognosis tumor types were identified by the "probable" category. If the clinical setting is relatively suspicious only, a definitive diagnosis of cancer by FNA is rare and not necessary because the clinical question to be addressed is only whether to biopsy. This approach to FNA diagnosis, unlike the oversimplified "benign versus malignant" scheme, provides an approach that is more likely to result in optimal therapy for breast neoplasms, with low-grade or in situ carcinomas requiring special clinical management since these types of cancers are found predominantly in the "probably malignant" category. It also provides additional security against false-positive diagnoses by incorporating clinical level of certainty statements into FNA diagnostic categories, which more closely reflect the diversity and inherent complexity in the appropriate diagnosis and therapy of mammary carcinomas.

Primary malignant melanoma of the adrenal gland. A report of two cases and review of the literature.

Primary malignant melanoma of the adrenal gland is an established entity despite early doubts. It originates in the adrenal medulla from cells derivative of the neural crest. Because of the high frequency of metastatic involvement of the adrenal by cutaneous and ocular melanomas, rigid diagnostic criteria should be followed. Only four cases of this lesion have been reported since 1946. Review of these four together with the two described in this article shows that primary adrenal melanoma is a highly malignant tumor of middle age that often manifests as a painful flank mass. Distant lymph node metastases can be seen as a presenting sign. Treatment is not effective with a mortality rate approaching 100 per cent within two years. Since the true melanocytic origin of primary adrenal melanoma has not been established and because of the similarity of its pathologic findings with the pheochromocytomas, we believe that adrenal melanoma arises from the pheochromocytes and should be called "melanotic malignant pheochromocytoma."

Cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck.

Melanoma of the head and neck, if diagnosed early and treated with aggressive appropriate surgical therapy, is potentially curable in up to 80 to 90 per cent of the cases. The use of microscopic staging by level of invasion and thickness of the tumor is helpful in determining the appropriate surgical procedure for the individual patient and is of prognostic significance. If possible, prophylactic incontinuity regional node dissection should be performed for melanomas of the head and neck that have invaded to Level III or deeper, especially those that are greater than 1.5 mm in thickness. The histological status of the regional nodes is beneficial both therapeutically and prognostically, in that patients who have negative nodes have a better prognosis than those with microscopically positive nodes. Also, these patients with microscopically positive nodes have a much better survival than those with macroscopically positive nodes. Melanoma of the head and neck should be treated very aggressively with wide excision of the primary tumor in order to prevent local recurrence and further spread of the disease. Since surgical treatment is the only effective curative measure for melanoma, all localized tumor in the region of the primary and solitary distant metastasis should be removed if possible. The adjunctive use of chemotherapy and immunotherapy when regional nodes are involved with melanoma is being studied and may be of some benefit. The combinations of surgical therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy offers the patient with advanced disease significant palliation, sometimes for prolonged periods. The treatment of head and neck melanoma is best summarized by the statement in the December 4, 1965 of The Lancet.-.29 "The surgeon who first operates on a malignant melanoma has a great responsibility. Prompt and competent action will give the patient a chance of survival better than in most other forms of cancer. The only additional operative surgical skill required is the ability to cut and apply split skin grafts. If he lacks confidence therein, let the surgeon refer the case at once and certainly before he has ruined, by niggling interference, the patient's chance of survival."

Cutaneous melanoma: a twenty-year retrospective study with clinicopathologic correlation.

The survival of melanoma patients is directly related to the involvement of regional nodes and to the microscopic level of invasion of the tumor. During the past 10 years, with the increased use of aggressive surgical therapy (wide local excision or re-excision of the primary tumor and prophylactic dissection of predictably involved regional nodes) the 5-year survival rate has more than doubled. The 5-year survival has doubled in those patients with regional lymph node involvement who were infused for 5 days with L-phenylalanine mustard. Perfusion of the lower extremities with L-phenylalanine mustard has been abandoned at Vanderbilt. The potential aggressiveness of a specific melanoma can be predicted, and thus an appropriate treatment may be planned.

Management of adult choledochal cysts.

A review of the English literature reveals a total of 1,337 patients with choledochal cysts. Improved diagnostic techniques to visualize the biliary system are demonstrating an increasing number of unsuspected choledochal cysts in adult patients. Either choledochal cysts remain clinically silent until adulthood or may develop in later life. Experience is reported with adult patients having type I, II, III, and IV choledochal cysts. Type I cysts are preferably managed by excision but cyst anatomy may necessitate choledochoenteric drainage. Type II cysts are treated by excision except for those located within the pancreatic portion of the common bile duct. These are best managed by transduodenal cystoduodenostomy. The type III cyst (choledochocele) should be excised carefully, identifying and preserving the common bile and pancreatic ducts. Type IV cysts include a combination of any one of the first three types of cyst plus the presence of intrahepatic cyst or cysts. Treatment of these cysts is dictated by the type and location of the extrahepatic cyst. Since choledochal cysts are being recognized with increased frequency in adults, surgeons need to be aware of the diagnostic and treatment modalities available for each type of biliary cyst.

Heterogeneous survival rates for isolated skeletal metastases from melanoma.

In this study, the authors examine the survivorship of individuals who constitute the small subset of patients with Stage IV melanoma who present with their first and only detectable metastasis to the skeleton. One thousand two hundred six patients were identified with primary melanoma at the authors' institution since 1962. There were 14 patients with isolated (solitary) skeletal metastases. Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier technique. The survival rate for any individual with an isolated metastasis to the axial skeleton was 0. Three of 8 patients with melanoma metastases to the appendicular skeleton are alive at 18, 25, and 52 months after Stage IV detection. A statistically significant prolonged latency period (initial diagnosis to Stage IV) in the appendicular group compared with the axial group contributed to their significant survival rate advantage. The melanoma literature strongly supports the complete resection of soft tissue metastatic foci. These data support this concept and extend it to include isolated skeletal metastases. The mechanisms by which axial and appendicular skeletal metastases occur are significantly different. This difference manifests itself as a survival advantage for the appendicular group and warrants an aggressive surgical approach for these individuals.

Preservation of anal function after total excision of the anal mucosa for Bowen's disease.

Six women with Bowen's disease of the anogenital area were treated by total excision of the anal mucosa, perianal skin and, in some cases, partial vulvectomy. Two patients had foci of microinvasive squamous carcinoma. Adequate tumor margins were determined by frozen sections. The resulting mucosal and cutaneous defects were grafted with medium split-thickness skin grafts applied to the anal canal and sutured circumferentially to the rectal mucosa. Grafts were held in place by a finger cot inserted in the anal canal and stuffed with cotton balls. Patients were constipated five or six days with codeine. The skin grafts healed per primam. One additional patient was similarly treated for a chronic herpetic ulceration of the anus and healed. Contrary to dire predictions, all patients were able to distinguish between gaseous and solid rectal contents and sphincter function was preserved. In one patient, Bowen's disease has recurred in the grafted perianal skin.

Orbital metastasis from cutaneous melanoma.

Although orbital extension from ocular melanoma occurs frequently in advanced cases, orbital metastasis from cutaneous melanoma has been reported but eight times previously. We have reported two such cases. One of the patients had three previous primary melanomas; the other had metastasis to the cauda equina. Both patients died when orbital involvement developed years after the initial lesions. Ours are the first cases to include CT and MRI findings in metastatic orbital melanoma.

Carcinoma of the male breast: a review of 41 cases.

We reviewed the cases of 41 consecutive men treated for breast carcinoma from 1950 through 1987 at Vanderbilt University Affiliated Hospitals to examine controversies in and methods of therapy for this disease. Twenty-two patients (52%) had stage I or II lesions potentially curable by operative therapy. The overall 5-year survival rates were 100% for stage I, 65% for stage II, 56% for stage III, and 0% for stage IV. Radical mastectomy offered no advantage over modified radical mastectomy in terms of survival or rate of recurrence. Diagnosis at an early clinical stage and no finding of disease in axillary lymph nodes were important factors in survival in this series of patients. All tumors evaluated for hormone receptors were positive. Although experience was limited, encouraging results were obtained with the use of tamoxifen citrate in adjuvant as well as palliative roles. With the exception of a predominance of centrally located lesions and a uniquely high frequency of positive hormone receptor status, carcinoma of the male breast appears biologically similar to the disease in women, and treatment should be guided by similar principles.

Recurrent mammary carcinoma after local excision. A segmental problem.

BACKGROUND: The acceptance of local operative therapy for mammary carcinoma has stimulated scrutiny of specific techniques with the goals of minimizing the incidence of local recurrence while optimizing the cosmetic result. Intraductal spread of carcinoma has been established as a major factor in determining the rate of local recurrence after breast-conserving therapy for mammary carcinoma. The relationship of the anatomic location of a recurrent neoplasm to that of the primary tumor is likely to be instructive in evaluating the effectiveness of various proposed approaches to primary excision. METHODS: Using the tumor registry of a tertiary care medical center, the authors reviewed all patients with mammary carcinoma treated with primary local excision during a 9-year period (1984-1992; n = 86), and identified all patients who subsequently experienced local recurrence (n = 5). The pathologic anatomic findings in each case were reviewed carefully and correlated with clinical and mammographic data. RESULTS: The rate of local recurrence in this series was 5.8%, similar to that of Veronesi's "lumpectomy" group (7%). In all five patients, the recurrent lesion was located in the same breast quadrant, along a radius from the nipple to the edge of the breast disc that crossed the site of the initial lesion. CONCLUSION: Local recurrence of mammary carcinoma after breast-conserving operative therapy most often occurs within the same segment; it is therefore proposed that its incidence may be substantially reduced with the use of a primary excision technique (based on normal breast anatomy) that removes en bloc the dominant tumor mass and the associated (possibly diseased) duct system.

Breast sonotomography and high-frequency, hand-held, real-time sonography: a clinical comparison.

The diagnostic quality of breast sonography as performed with a dedicated tomographic unit (ST) and a hand-held, high-frequency, real-time transducer (RT) was evaluated in 76 patients. In 38 per cent of cases, ST was found to be of equal diagnostic quality to RT. The number of instances in which ST was judged to be better than RT was slightly greater than those in which RT was considered better than ST (34 vs. 24 per cent) (P less than or equal to 0.10). In 3 per cent of cases, the diagnostic quality of both ST or RT was considered to be poor. The majority of instances when the diagnostic quality of ST was judged to be better than RT occurred in establishing a negative diagnosis, whereas RT seemed to have greater diagnostic quality than ST in the evaluation of a palpable mass.

Palpable breast masses: evaluation by high frequency, hand-held real-time sonography and xeromammography. Work in progress.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic virtues and limitations of the combined use of high frequency, real-time ultrasound scanning (US) using hand-held transducers and xeromammography (XM) in the evaluation of palpable breast masses. Seventy-one patients, who ranged in age from 14 to 88 years and who had histologically proved masses, were examined by both imaging modalities. US demonstrated the highest degree of accuracy in establishing the presence of cysts (96%) and fibroadenomas (89%). XM afforded better overall depiction of the breast and correctly identified seven carcinomas, five of which were prospectively diagnosed by sonography. When all types of breast masses were considered, the combined use of XM and US was more accurate (89%) than when either XM (70%) or US (85%) was used alone. For this reason, a combined approach using both modalities in the examination of most patients with palpable breast masses is advocated. The advantages and limitations of both XM and US in the evaluation of palpable masses are discussed and illustrated.