Primary oncocytic carcinoma of ectopic salivary gland: a unique case.

Oncocytic carcinoma of the salivary glands is an extremely rare malignant neoplasm. The parotid is the most frequently involved salivary gland, but tumours in the submandibular gland and minor salivary glands have also been described. It appears that oncocytic carcinoma of an ectopic salivary gland has not been reported so far. The unique case of a 78-year-old male patient diagnosed with oncocytic adenocarcinoma of an ectopic salivary gland is reported here. The patient underwent surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. The clinical, morphological, and immunohistochemical features of this rare entity are also described.

Uncommon presentation of nasopharyngeal extramedullary plasmacytoma: a case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: We report an exceptional presentation of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the nasopharynx without bone marrow involvement or other characteristics of multiple myeloma. METHOD: Case report and a review of the world literature concerning the clinical presentation, histopathological features, optimal treatment and prognosis of nasopharyngeal extramedullary plasmacytoma. RESULTS: Reports of patients with symptomatic extramedullary plasmacytomas of the nasopharynx eventually being documented with histopathological evidence are not uncommon; however, the converse appears to be an extremely rare event. The patient was completely asymptomatic and following a paroxysm of coughing, expectorated a polypoidal nodule, which on histopathological investigation had features suggestive of extramedullary plasmacytoma. CONCLUSION: Although these tumours commonly present with significant nasal symptoms, this exceptional presentation in an asymptomatic patient has never been previously reported. Unusual presentations of rare tumours can pose considerable diagnostic dilemmas to both the surgeon and histopathologist. Awareness of these rarities is important to ensure the best patient care.

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland: is an association with Epstein-Barr virus possible in non-endemic areas?

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) is a rare histological type of cancer of the salivary glands. Here is reported a case of LEC of the parotid gland that developed in a Caucasian female, whose serology was positive for Epstein-Barr virus antibody. The patient underwent surgical treatment and postoperative radiotherapy. Because of the relatively limited clinical data concerning LEC of the salivary glands compared to other more common histological types, the clinical course, optimal treatment and prognosis have not been extensively studied. The aim of this report was to summarize all the key points, following a comprehensive literature review.

Isozyme variation in Verticillium dahliae isolates from Crete.

Fifteen isolates of Verticillium dahliae (eight of race 1, seven of race 2; most from the island of Crete, Greece) were examined for isozyme and molecular variation. Among the isozyme banding patterns (zymograms) of six enzymes that were "activity-stained" after electrophoresis in 9% polyacrylamide gels, differences were observed in diaphorase, alpha-esterase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase; 2, 2, 3 and 5 different types of zymograms were recorded, respectively. The zymograms could not be correlated with either race 1 or 2. However, all six isolates originating from the Oropedio (plateau) area of Lasithi (Crete) showed an esterase zymogram clearly distinguishable from the other isolates. No differences were observed when staining for acid phosphatase or aspartate aminotransferase ('glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase'). Furthermore, electrophoresis of random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) in 2% agarose gels showed that three race-2 isolates from Oropedio of Lasithi could also be distinguished by the RAPD pattern generated with primer OPA-1. The variation observed possibly represents adaptation of V. dahliae to the Oropedio environment.

Direct skin involvement of cervical lymph node metastasis from mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

INTRODUCTION: Direct skin involvement of nodal metastasis from mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has traditionally been considered a poor prognostic indicator. METHODS: This retrospective review identified eight patients (five with mucosal upper aerodigestive and three with occult primary squamous cell carcinoma) who presented between 2000 and 2007 with direct skin involvement of nodal metastasis. RESULTS: Five patients were treated with extended radical and three with extended modified radical neck dissection. Closure was achieved directly (four cases), with local (two) or pedicled (two) flaps. Surgery was always followed by radiotherapy (pan-mucosal or to the primary site). The five-year recurrence-free and disease-specific survival rates were 100 per cent. CONCLUSION: It is exceptionally rare to encounter direct skin involvement of metastatic lymph nodes from mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma without evidence of involvement of other anatomical structures. Surgical intervention is possible and combined modality treatment with curative intent is essential, as most patients can have a favourable outcome.

A peripheral nerve sheath tumour as a cause of nasal obstruction.

Neurogenic tumours form a very small percentage of all neoplastic lesions of the head and neck region. However, the head and neck region is by far the most common location for benign peripheral nerve tumours. Several cases involving the nose have been sporadically documented throughout the medical literature. We present a rare case of a solitary neurofibroma arising from the lateral nasal wall of a 68-year-old woman. En bloc surgical resection of the mass was achieved by the lateral rhinotomy approach. The clinical significance of this case report is due to its rare site. In recent medical literature, there has been only one report concerning a solitary neurofibroma arising from the inferior turbinate. This case also highlights the importance of considering this clinical entity in the differential diagnosis when encountering a unilateral soft tissue mass in the nasal cavity.

Inheritance and linkage relationships of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase isoenzymes in apple : 1. The gene GOT-1, a marker for the S incompatibility locus.

Four zones of enzymatic activity for glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) were found in apple tissue. A dimeric gene, GOT-1, determining the fastest migrating zone, was identified. Six alleles were found, including a near null allelle which produced detectable heterodimeric bands but not homodimeric bands. A marked deficit or absence of certain geno-types in all backcrosses and in some crosses between unrelated varieties was attributed to the close linkage (r=0.02±0.005) of GOT-1 with the incompatibility S locus. GOT-1 was also closely linked with the isocitrate dehydrogenase locus IDH-1 (0.03±0.01). Proposed incompatibility genotypes for four cultivars, and the linked GOT-1 alleles are 'Cox': S 1 b/S 2 d, 'Idared': S 3 a/S 4 c, 'Fiesta': S 3 a/S 2 d and 'Kent': S 3 a/S 1 b.

Inheritance and linkage relationships of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase isoenzymes in apple : 2. The genes GOT-2 and GOT-4.

Independent dimeric genes GOT-2 and GOT-4 determining activity for glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (E.C.2.6.1.1; GOT) in zones GOT-II and GOT-IV respectively were identified. Three alleles were found for GOT-2 and two for GOT-4, including a null allele for GOT-2 which produced detectable heterodimeric bands but not homodimeric bands. Linkage studies with leucine aminopeptidase (E.C.3.4.11.1; LAP) genes suggested linkage of GOT-2 with LAP-2 (r=0.13±0.23) and GOT-4 with LAP-1 (r=0.10±0.40).

Genetics of leucine aminopeptidase in apple.

Six zones of LAP activity were detected in apples, some of them tissue specific. Genetic studies in four of them revealed the presence of four genes LAP-1, LAP-2, LAP-3 and LAP-4 with 4, 5, 4 and 4 alleles respectively including two null alleles. There were no big differences in allelic frequency within cultivars, selections, rootstocks and Malus species. Close linkage was found between LAP-2 and resistance to mildew derived from 'White Angel'.

Inheritance and linkage relationships of peroxidase isoenzymes in apple.

Six anodal and two cathodal zones of peroxidase activity were observed in apple and designated PRX-I to PRX-VIII from the most anodal to the most cathodal on the basis of migrational distance. PRX phenotypes were found to be coded by at least eight genes (PRX-1-8); analyses of four (PRX-2, PRX-3, PRX-4 and PRX-7) revealed 15 alleles including three null alleles. PRX-2 and PRX-3 were closely linked, and PRX-1 appeared to be in the same linkage group. In addition, PRX-4 and PRX-5 were linked.

Genetics of esterase isoenzymes in Malus.

Three main zones of esterase activity (EST-I, EST-III, EST-IV) identified in leaf extracts of cultivated apple and Malus species were determined by the genes EST-1, EST-3 and EST-4, respectively. In addition to earlier reported alleles of EST-1 (a, b) three further bands c, d and f were identified in the EST-I zone of which c was found to be determined by an allele, c. Two alleles, a, b, and a null allele were found for both the genes EST-3 and EST-4. Differences in allelic frequency were observed between cultivars, rootstocks and Malus species. Allele EST-1a was rare amongst the rootstocks. The examination of Malus species and derivatives showed a geographical relationship. Allele EST-1c was confined to species of Asian origin, and EST-1d was confined to American species.

Molecular marker linkage map for apple.

Linkage maps for two apple clones, White Angel and Rome Beauty, were constructed using isozyme and DNA polymorphisms segregating in a population produced from a Rome Beauty x White Angel cross. The linkage map for White Angel consists of 253 markers arranged in 24 linkage groups and extends over 950 cM. The Rome Beauty map contains 156 markers on 21 linkage groups. The White Angel map was taken as the standard, and we were able to identify linkage groups in Rome Beauty homologous to 13 White Angel linkage groups. The location of several genes not segregating in the Rome Beauty x White Angel population could be determined on the basis of known linkages with segregating markers. Hence, the standard map for apple now contains about 360 markers, with most linkage groups saturated at 10-15 cM. The double pseudotestcross format of the mapping population permitted the comparison of recombination frequencies in male and female parents in certain regions of the genome where appropriate markers were available. The recombination frequencies observed for the approximately 170 cM that were comparable gave no indication that a sex-related difference in recombination rate was characteristic of apple.