Primary mediastinal germ cell tumors.

Mediastinal germ cell tumors share similar histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features with their counterparts in the gonads. Therefore, proper clinical and radiological evaluation of patients with an anterior mediastinal mass becomes essential in the final interpretation of these tumors. The gold standard for the diagnosis of these tumors remains histopathological evaluation. However, immunohistochemical stains and molecular studies also provide an aid in cases in which the histology is not typical. It is also important to keep in mind that a small mediastinoscopic biopsy may not be representative of the entire neoplasm. In this review, we will provide our perspective regarding histopathological diagnosis, staging, immunohistochemical and molecular profile, and briefly family of tumors address pertinent epidemiological, clinical and treatment options. However, the main emphasis is to review the process of pathological assessment in pre and post-treated tumors. Knowledge of the different growth patterns and histological associations is important, mainly when confronted with mediastinoscopic biopsies, which ultimately will determine treatment options.

Contemporary practice patterns related to the risk of acute kidney injury in the catheterization laboratory: Results from a survey of Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) cardiologists.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the present study was to survey the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) member cardiologists to evaluate contemporary practice patterns with regards to contrast use, acute kidney injury (AKI) risk assessment, and prevention in patients undergoing invasive angiography. We sought to compare the physician responses against guideline statements and evidence-based data from clinical studies. METHODS: A 20-question online survey based on a modified Likert scale was sent out via email to the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) member cardiologists. The survey questions focused on prophylaxis methods, medication management, risk assessment, contrast agent use, and postprocedure care. A scoring system was developed which examined the individual responses to analyze the 10 questions with the greatest strength of evidence in the literature and guidelines. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 506 individuals. Selected responses of note included the use of standardized volume expansion protocols: 64.8%, use of iso-osmolar contrast (iodixanol) in the majority of patients at risk of AKI: 55%, and 27% of individuals reported diluting contrast with saline for patients at risk of AKI during coronary angiography. For questions with support from guideline documents, 56.9% of the responses were scored as concordant with evidence-based data. Individuals who reported that the risk of AKI was often or always important in planning angiography for "at risk patients" were more likely to closely monitor renal function (76.7% vs. 40.0%, P = 0.003), obtain nephrology consultation (45.2% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.016) and use iso-osmolar contrast agents (56.0% vs. 26.7%, P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of cardiologists participating in this survey, reported practice patterns consistent with guideline and evidence-based recommendations. However, over 40% of responses to questions were inconsistent with these recommendations, suggesting continued opportunities for education and quality improvement concerning AKI prevention. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Integrated Pathologic Score Effectively Stratifies Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Who Received Neoadjuvant Therapy and Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Neoadjuvant therapy is increasingly used to treat patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Pathologic parameters of treated PDAC, including tumor (ypT) and lymph node (ypN) stage, and tumor response grading (TRG) are important prognostic factors in this group of patients. To our knowledge, a multifactorial prognostic score combining pathologic features including ypT, ypN, and TRG in treated PDAC patients has not been reported. Our cohort consisted of 398 PDAC patients who received neoadjuvant therapy and underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at our institution. All pancreaticoduodenectomy specimens were grossly and microscopically evaluated using a standard protocol. The integrated pathologic score (IPS) was calculated as the sum of the scores for ypT, ypN, and TRG according to either the MD Anderson grading system (IPSMDA) or the College of American Pathologists (CAP) grading system (IPSCAP). The IPSMDA and IPSCAP were correlated with clinicopathologic parameters and patient survival. Using either IPSMDA or IPSCAP, PDAC patients were stratified into 3 distinct prognostic groups for both disease-free survival (DFS) ( P <0.001) and overall survival (OS) ( P <0.001). The IPSMDA and IPSCAP correlated with tumor differentiation, margin status, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, and tumor recurrence ( P <0.05). In multivariate analysis, IPSMDA, IPSCAP, margin status, and tumor differentiation were independent prognostic factors for both DFS ( P <0.05) and OS ( P <0.05). However, patients with AJCC stage IB, IIA, or IIB disease had no significant difference in either DFS or OS ( P >0.05). The IPS appears to provide improved prognostic information compared with AJCC staging for preoperatively treated patients with PDAC.

Rapidly progressive fatal hypoxia in a young woman.

We present a rare cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension in a 29-year-old woman with rapidly progressive and fatal hypoxia. Subsequent workup revealed classic radiological findings and pathologic confirmation of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease.

Coexisting sarcoidosis and occult mantle cell lymphoma.

Sarcoidosis and lymphoma are two separate entities that need to be considered in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy. Rarely these two diseases may coexist, in which case there may arise a diagnostic challenge, especially when the available sample is limited. We report a case of occult mantle cell lymphoma arising in an individual with a long history of sarcoidosis.

Primary pulmonary Ewing sarcoma/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

Ewing sarcoma/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/pPNET) is a malignant small round cell sarcoma commonly occurring among children, adolescents, and adults. We report a rare case of ES/pPNET arising from the lung in a 49-year-old woman. She was found to have a mass in the right lung on a screening imaging study for her BRCA2 mutation. A lobectomy was performed and the mass had histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of ES/pPNET. Few cases of primary pulmonary Ewing sarcoma have been reported.