MRI findings and demographics of elastofibroma dorsi: assessment of diffusion-weighted imaging and contrast enhancement patterns.

Background Elastofibroma dorsi is a rare pseudotumoral lesion. Thus, there is no report of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings that investigates multiple patients particularly with respect to diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings and contrast enhancement patterns. Purpose To describe the imaging findings of elastofibroma on MRI, particularly DWI findings and contrast enhancement patterns, and to further investigate patient demographics. Material and Methods Forty-four patients with elastofibroma that underwent MRI were enrolled in this retrospective study. All images were evaluated by two radiologists to visually assess the signal intensity for each sequence. Enhanced elastofibromas were classified into four categories to assess the enhancement pattern. Differences in gender and laterality were also assessed statistically. Results An equal number of men and women were included (n = 22 each). There was no significant difference in laterality ( P = 0.783). All lesions (73 lesions) had low signal intensity on both T1-weighted (T1W) and T2-weighted (T2W) images: heterogeneous in 56, homogeneous in 17. None of the 41 lesions with DWI had true abnormal diffusion restriction. The average ADC value was 1.36 × 10-3 ± 0.29 mm2/s. All 31 lesions that had contrast-enhanced MRI were classified according to enhancement pattern: homogeneous (three lesions, 9.7%); heterogeneous (15 lesions, 48.4%); streak-like (three lesions, 9.7%); and rim-like (ten lesions, 32.2%). Conclusion There were no statistically significant differences in gender or laterality. Elastofibroma showed homogeneous to heterogeneous low signal intensity on T1W and T2W images. No lesion showed abnormal diffusion restriction, and all lesions demonstrated enhancement on MRI.

Significance of rat mammary tumors for human risk assessment.

We have previously indicated that the ideal animal tumor model should mimic the human disease. This means that the investigator should be able to ascertain the influence of host factors on the initiation of tumorigenesis, mimic the susceptibility of tumor response based on age and reproductive history, and determine the response of the tumors induced to chemotherapy. The utilization of experimental models of mammary carcinogenesis in risk assessment requires that the influence of ovarian, pituitary, and placental hormones, among others, as well as overall reproductive events are taken into consideration, since they are important modifiers of the susceptibility of the organ to neoplastic development. Several species, such as rodents, dogs, cats, and monkeys, have been evaluated for these purposes; however, none of them fulfills all the criteria specified previously. Rodents, however, are the most widely used models; therefore, this work will concentrate on discussing the rat rodent model of mammary carcinogenesis.

Incidence, clinical analysis, and management of ovarian fibromas and fibrothecomas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to identify the incidence, diagnosis, and therapeutic and histological particularities of ovarian fibromas and fibrothecomas. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of 24 patients who underwent surgical treatment for ovarian fibromas and fibrothecomas between January 1994 and December 2006. Clinical, ultrasonographic, tumor marker, therapeutic, and histologic data were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 49 years. Thirteen patients were menopausal. Ultrasonographic findings were ovarian echogenic tumor in 6 cases, hypoechogenic tumor in 12 cases, mixed tumor in 6 cases, and anechogenic tumor in 1 case. Cancer antigen-125 level measured in 21 cases was abnormal in 3 cases. Twenty-one patients underwent laparotomy. Three patients underwent laparoscopy; however, 1 was converted to laparotomy because of a suspected tumor. Histological findings were 16 fibromas and 9 fibrothecomas. CONCLUSION: Ovarian fibromas and fibrothecomas are uncommon, accounting for 3.3% of ovarian tumors. These lesions often occur in perimenopausal and menopausal patients. Clinical, ultrasonographic, and tumor marker data remain the best preoperative approach currently available for ovarian tumors. However, the diagnosis remains histological.

Imaging evaluation of tendon sheath disease: self-assessment module.

The educational objectives for this self-assessment module are for the participant to exercise, self-assess, and improve his or her understanding of the imaging evaluation of tendon sheath disease.

Asymptomatic cardiac papillary fibroelastoma: diagnostic assessment and therapy.

Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare benign cardiac tumor with elevated risk for embolization. This report describes the case of a 65-year-old man, admitted for the occasional finding of a round, pedunculate mass adherent to the chordae of the anterior mitral valve leaflet, mimicking an endocarditic mass. Appropriate diagnostic evaluations lead to the suspect of a papillary fibroelastoma. Because of the elevated risk of thromboembolism, surgery was emergently performed with complete removal of the mass and preservation of the integrity of the mitral valve. Histologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis. Papillary fibroelastoma should be always considered in the differential diagnosis of intracardiac masses.

[Localized fibrous tumors of the pleura: clinical and surgical evaluation]. / Tumores fibrosos de localización pleural: valoración clinicoquirúrgica.

Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura are uncommon and mainly arise in the pleura itself. Such tumors are generally asymptomatic and slow-growing. We report a series of 10 cases (8 men and 2 women with a mean age of 58.6 years) treated over a period of 54 months. The tumors were classified histologically as benign or malignant according to the criteria used by England. The treatment of choice was complete resection of the tumor. Six posterolateral thoracotomies and 4 video-assisted resections were performed. Histology showed a mixture of fibroblast-like cells and collagenous stroma. Sarcomatous degeneration was observed in the excised tumor of 1 patient. The patients were followed for a mean of 23.9 months. We conclude that although fibrous tumors of the pleura are considered benign histologically, complete resection and follow up for all patients are recommended.

Cardiac valvular tumors: cardiac papillary fibroelastoma.

Case histories of proposed life insurance are presented to introduce the topic of cardiac valvular tumors. Using fibroelastoma as the prototypical cardiac tumor, pathology, diagnosis, echocardiographic findings and clinical course are reviewed, based on available clinical literature. Although the natural history of benign cardiac tumors is uncertain, because of the risk of adverse outcomes, cases must be underwritten on an individual basis until long-term studies become available.

Assessment of fibromyxoma cell proliferation in a tench (Tinca tinca L.) by the silver staining nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) technique.

A previously described fibromyxoma in a tench was examined for AgNOR proteins and mitotic index to evaluate the cell proliferation of the different tissue areas forming the tumorous mass. The different areas were: myxoid (myxoid cells in a mucous ground substance with few reticular fibres), collagenous (fibroblast-like cells and collagenous fibres) and mixed areas (intermediate cytological and histological features). A significant (P < 0.01) difference in cell proliferative activity between the three different areas was found by the AgNOR technique and confirmed by the mitotic index. The myxoid areas appeared to be the true proliferative compartment of the tumour, whereas the collagenous areas probably played a structural role, related to low cellular proliferative activity. The AgNOR technique appeared to be a convenient method for the rapid evaluation of cell proliferation in fish tissues.

[Assessment of bone scintigraphy showing markedly increased accumulation in mandibular lesion of cementifying fibroma].

This report concerns two cases of cementifying fibroma showing markedly accumulation of 99mTc -MDP in mandibular lesions. The bone scintigraphic and histopathological findings are presented and discussed.

The pathological assessment of ovarian neoplasms. IV: The sex cord-stromal tumours.

All neoplasms of the ovary encountered in a 25-yr study period at the King George V Memorial Hospital were classified according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Histological Classification of Ovarian Tumours. Of just less than 1700 tumours, 168 fell into the category designated as sex cord-stromal tumours, this report analysing their major clinical and pathological correlates. A detailed histological assessment is then presented, including 4 cases of the recently separated subcategory of sclerosing stromal tumour of the ovary.