Comparison of clipping versus ligation of side-branches during saphenous vein graft harvesting: which method is superior?

BACKGROUND: The greater saphenous vein remains the most common conduit used in coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. Surgical trauma during vein harvesting can cause endothelial and smooth muscle injury that has important implications for vein graft longevity. This study was designed to investigate the effect of clipping and ligation of the side-branches during saphenous vein graft harvesting on histologic structures of the saphenous vein. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 50 coronary artery bypass grafting patients (37 men and 13 women, mean age of 59 ± 6 years) were investigated in two groups according to side-branch closing method. In each patient, two side-branches were studied; one of them was ligated using 3/0 silk suture, and the other one was clipped next to the saphenous vein. Each venous sample was studied using hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and elastic tissue fibers-Verhoeff's Van Gieson staining. Histopathologic examination using light microscope was performed to assess intimal, elastic tissue, muscular layer, and adventitial changes. The pathologic alterations were graded on the basis of a scoring system (normal [0], minimal changes [+], mild changes [++], or severe changes [+++]) to assess the degree of damage inflicted by these two different types of branch closing methods. RESULTS: Histologic examination of venous tissue samples with ligated side-branches demonstrated vascular injury in most sections, including denudation and loss of the integrity of the endothelial layer of the vein. An evident disorganization of the subintimal collagen and elastic fibers was also reported. By contrast, histopathologic structure of most sections obtained from the specimens with clipped side-branches remained intact. Intimal, elastic tissue, muscular layer, and adventitial changes were significantly different between the two methods (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Clipping, rather than ligation, of the side-branches of the saphenous vein conduit during its harvesting for coronary bypass grafting is associated with decreased vein damage. These findings suggest that clipping of the side-branches can be used without major detrimental effects on vascular integrity.

Anti-CD10 (56C6) is expressed variably in adrenocortical tumors and cannot be used to discriminate clear cell renal cell carcinomas.

In the evaluation of retroperitoneal masses, the practicing pathologist faces a dilemma when making a diagnosis based on histology given the often overlapping morphologic appearances of the adrenocortical carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CD10 is expressed in a membranous fashion in the vast majority of clear cell RCCs; therefore, it is widely used for distinction from its mimics. However, its expression is not well-investigated in adrenal cortical tumors. We examined CD10 expression in 47 surgically resected adrenocortical tumors (26 adenomas and 21 carcinomas) and compared with 20 clear cell RCCs and 25 HCCs. Twenty HCCs (80%), 18 RCCs (90%), 11 adrenocortical carcinomas (52%), and 18 adrenocortical adenomas (69%) were positive for CD10. HCCs were characterized by a canalicular staining, and clear cell RCCs exhibited membranous or mixed membranous-cytoplasmic staining. Adrenocortical tumors displayed mainly cytoplasmic staining. Four adrenocortical carcinomas and one adenoma also displayed the membranous staining pattern. Despite the relatively small number of samples, our preliminary results revealed that adrenocortical tumors may express CD10 (Clone: 56C6). The most important point from this paper is the fact that anti-CD10 expression has not been previously reported in adrenocortical carcinomas. This suggests that CD10 does not seem to be a useful marker for discriminating clear cell RCCs from adrenocortical tumors since CD10 expression does not rule out the possibility of adrenocortical tumors. This feature should be kept in mind when constructing an antibody panel for an epithelial tumor that involves the adrenal gland and kidney, especially in small biopsy specimens.

A rare cause of hemosuccus pancreaticus: primary splenic artery aneurysm ruptured into pancreatic serous cystadenoma.

Hemosuccus pancreaticus is a rare clinical condition defined as bleeding into the pancreatic duct from a peripancreatic artery. We present here a 57-year-old woman admitted to our clinic with abdominal pain, tar-colored stool and confusion. Further investigations were done because of severe anemia. Abdominal computerized tomography revealed intraabdominal hematoma. Laparotomy was performed, which confirmed that intraabdominal haemorrhagia had occurred with the rupture of a splenic artery aneurysm into a pancreatic serous cystadenoma, which ruptured into the abdomen because of high pressure. This is an interesting case diagnosed with multidisciplinary approaches.

The positive effect of adenoma weight and oxyphil cell content on preoperative localization with 99mTc-sestamibi scanning for primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Although the sensitivity of sestamibi scanning (MIBI) is high in patients with solitary parathyroid adenomas, negative sestamibi scan results are inevitable. The exact mechanism of visualization of abnormal and hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue is not yet clear. The aims of this clinical study were (1) to evaluate positive and negative sestamibi scan results with regard to adenoma weight and oxyphil cell content and (2) to compare the effects of adenoma weight and oxyphil cell content on the results of sestamibi scanning. PATIENTS: The patients were divided in 2 groups according to their sestamibi scan results. Group 1 consisted of 27 patients with positive sestamibi scan results, and group 2 consisted of 20 patients with negative sestamibi scan results. Parathyroid adenoma weight and oxyphil cell content were determined in all patients. RESULTS: The weight and oxyphil cell content of the parathyroid adenomas in the patients of group 1 were significantly higher than those in the patients of group 2 (P = .001). An adenoma weight >600 mg and an oxyphil cell content >20% increased the rate of obtaining a positive sestamibi scan result 10- and 4-fold, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both adenoma weight and oxyphil cell content were found to significantly correlate with positive sestamibi scan results. In patients with high-weight adenomas, adenoma weight was the most significant factor in obtaining positive MIBI scan results, whereas in patients with low adenoma weights, high oxyphil cell content was the most significant factor in obtaining positive MIBI scan results.

Does HepPar-1 immunoexpression have a role in differential diagnosis of periampullary cancer?

AIMS: Histological subtyping of periampullary carcinomas is considered as a criterion for prognosis and therapeutic implications of these tumours. We assessed the immunoexpression rates of HepPar-1, CDX2 and MUC2 antibodies in different subtypes of periampullary adenocarcinomas (PAC), intestinal and pancreatobiliary, in order to assess their impact on differential diagnosis of this group of cancers. The expression of antibodies was also measured in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head (DAPH). METHODS: Sixty-five patients with PAC and DAPH who underwent pancreatic Whipple resection constituted the study cohort. Of these, 46 (71%) had PAC, and 19 (29%) had DAPH. Among PACs, 20 (44%) were intestinal and 26 (56%) were pancreatobiliary type. RESULTS: HepPar-1 immunoreactivity was detected in 18 (39%) of all PACs. The rate of HepPar-1 expression was significantly higher in intestinal type PAC (75%) than it was in pancreatobiliary type (12%). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of HepPar-1 immunoexpression for diagnosing intestinal type PAC were 75% , 89%, and 83%, respectively. Similarly, the rates of both CDX2 and MUC2 expressions were significantly higher in intestinal type PAC (80%) than they were in pancreatobiliary type (8%). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of both CDX2 and MUC2 immunoexpressions for intestinal type PAC were 80%, 92%, and 87%, respectively. CONCLUSION: HepPar-1 antibody was found to be a highly sensitive and specific marker for distinguishing intestinal type from pancreatobiliary type among PACs. In addition to CDX2 and MUC2 antibodies, HepPar-1 immunoexpression seems to have a potential role in differential diagnosis of PACs.

Thyroid metastasis of endometrial carcinosarcoma associated with Graves' disease.

A 54-year-old woman who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral adnexial resection because of endometrial carcinosarcoma presented with thyrotoxicosis, rapidly enlarging neck mass, right cervical tenderness to the ears, palpitation, swelling and heat intolerance, 3 years after the operation. Her serum thyroid hormone levels confirmed hyperthyroidism. Triiodothyronine/thyroxine ratio was 18. The thyroid antibodies were markedly elevated. A thyroid scan showed a cold area corresponding to the thyroid nodule, with high radioiodine uptake in the remaining thyroid tissue. Antithyroid drugs were started to control the hyperthyroidism. In our patient, who had a history of malignancy, the rapidly enlarging neck mass was considered as metastasis to the thyroid gland. The patient underwent bilateral total thyroidectomy. Histopathological examination demonstrated findings compatible with Graves' disease on the left and a carcinosarcoma metastasis on the right thyroid lobe. We suggest that both destructive thyroiditis and Graves' disease contributed to our patient's thyrotoxicosis. Metastatic thyroid carcinoma and destructive thyroiditis should be considered in patients with rapidly enlarging neck mass and a prior history of visceral malignancy.

Differing DNA methylation patterns and gene mutation frequencies in colorectal carcinomas from Middle Eastern countries.

PURPOSE: The epidemiology of colorectal carcinoma is well known to differ among countries but the molecular characteristics are usually assumed to be similar. International differences in molecular pathology have not been studied extensively but have implications for the management of patients in different countries and of immigrant patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We evaluated the CpG island methylator phenotype pathway characterized by concordant methylation of gene promoters that often silences transcription of the genes, the microsatellite instability pathway, and K-ras and p53 gene status in 247 colorectal carcinomas from the three selected Middle Eastern countries of Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey. RESULTS: Colorectal carcinoma from Egypt had the lowest frequencies of methylation. In multinomial logistic regression analysis, Jordanian colorectal carcinoma more frequently had methylation involving the p16 tumor suppressor gene (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-10.6; P = 0.023) and MINT31 locus (odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-5.1; P = 0.041). The K-ras proto-oncogene was more frequently mutated in colorectal carcinoma from Turkey (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.7; P = 0.016), but p53 overexpression was more common in both Jordanian and Turkish colorectal carcinoma than in Egyptian cases (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-5.5; P = 0.019; and odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-7.1; P = 0.0003, respectively). The findings in Turkish colorectal carcinoma were most similar to those reported for Western cases. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal carcinoma from Middle Eastern countries have differing gene methylation patterns and mutation frequencies that indicate dissimilar molecular pathogenesis, probably reflecting different environmental exposures. These molecular differences could affect prevention strategies, therapeutic efficacy, and transferability of clinical trial results.

Spontaneous regression of a pancreatic head mass and biliary obstruction due to autoimmune pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune pancreatitis is an evolving entity. METHODS: A patient who had spontaneous regression of a pancreatic head mass and biliary obstruction due to autoimmune pancreatitis is presented. RESULTS: A 58-year-old diabetic woman with jaundice was referred for pancreatic head carcinoma diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At laparotomy, a pancreatic head mass (4 x 3 cm) that involved the transverse mesocolon and two other hard masses (1 cm) in the pancreatic body and tail were found. The gallbladder was palpated as a hard tumor mass. Frozen section examination of the gallbladder and pancreatic biopsies revealed cholecystitis and pancreatitis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. The common bile duct was brittle and unsuitable for anastomosis. Starting 1 month after the operation, drainage from the biliary catheter decreased gradually and stopped. There was no parenchymal lesion on MRI examination in the 2nd postoperative month. Cholangiography from the percutaneous catheter showed flow of contrast agent into the duodenum. Serum immunoglobulin G, G4 and E levels were increased. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous regression of a pancreatic head mass and biliary obstruction due to autoimmune pancreatitis.

Cystic lymphangioma of the right adrenal gland.

Lymphangiomas are benign malformations of the vessels. They are commonly located in the neck, axillary region and mediastinum. Lymphangioma of the adrenal gland is very rare. These lesions were first discovered as incidental autopsy findings. As the imaging techniques have improved, they now appear as incidental findings at abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography scan examinations. They are usually asymptomatic. We present a 26-year-old woman admitted to the hospital, complaining of weakness, putting on weight, and lumbago. Her laboratory findings were within normal limits. Radiological examination revealed a 7 cm cystic lesion located in the right adrenal gland. Right adrenalectomy was performed. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical analysis of the cystic lesion was consistent with a lymphangioma.