Prospective Study to Analyze the Concordance Between a Standardized Visual Method With Pathology to stratify Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Cadaveric Liver Grafts Evaluated for Transplantation.

Background: The main challenge of liver transplantation is the discrepancy in demand and availability. Marginal grafts or full organs from donors with expansion criteria have been considered to reduce the shortage and assist a greater number of patients. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most important defining criteria for expanded criteria organs. The present study proposes that an organized visual analysis method could correctly identify and classify NAFLD and organ viability without the need for liver biopsy and its logistical concerns. Methods: Pictures from the grafts were taken at a standardized method (same distance, light conditions, and register device) before and after the perfusion. The visual liver score (VLS) was applied by transplant surgeons; biopsies of the grafts were analyzed by a pathologist in a double-blind design. Score performance and interobserver agreement for NAFLD detection and grading, as graft viability evaluation, were calculated. Results: Fifty-seven grafts were analyzed. At least 1 previous expansion criterion was presented by 59.64% of donors. The prevalence of NAFLD was 94.73%, with 31.57% borderline nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and 5.26% nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Steatosis was identified with 48.68% (preperfusion) and 64.03% (postperfusion) accuracy. NAFLD stratification was performed with 49.53% (preperfusion) and 46.29% (postperfusion) accuracy. Viability related to NAFLD was identified with 51.96% (preperfusion) and 48.52% (postperfusion) accuracy. Interobserver agreement was moderate for total VLS and poor for individual components of VLS. Conclusions: Although a standardized method was not reliable enough for visual evaluation of NALFD compared with pathology, efforts should be made to expand access to biopsy. Further studies are needed to understand whether the VLS needs to be adapted or even excluded in the liver transplant scenario, to assess the importance of ectoscopy related to posttransplant clinical outcomes, and to determine its role in graft selection.

Radiation-induced cerebral cavernous malformation: is it just a childhood disease?

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are clusters of dilated sinusoidal channels, lined by a single layer of endothelium. Acquired form of these lesions was related to previous radiation-therapy, and might be related to its pathophysiology, because the vascular endothelial growth factor has higher expression in the immature brain of the child. Consequently, although it occurs mainly in the paediatric population, it can happen in adults. We report a case of radiation-induced CCM in an adult patient presenting with aggressive behaviour and cerebral haemorrhage.

Intracranial ependymal cyst - A modern systematic review with a pathway to diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial ependymal cysts (IECs) are rare, histologically benign neuroepithelial cysts that mostly occur in the cerebral parenchyma. The majority of these cysts are clinically silent and discovered incidentally, but when symptomatic they may compress surrounding structures, thus surgical intervention is needed. The current data in the literature about ECs is very scarce, and many are misdiagnosed, once they share many radiological characteristics with a variety of intracranial benign cysts. Also their terminology is confusing, and its definitive diagnosis can only be made through a thorough histopathological study, hence a detailed description about these uncommon lesions is necessary. The correct identification of the lesion lead to our better understanding of the condition and further improvement of the patient's prognosis. METHODS: A descriptive case is presented; moreover, a detailed PubMed search according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was performed. The data found was analyzed by various criteria in order to correctly describe the characteristics of this lesion. RESULTS: The literature review gathered 9 descriptions of patients with IECs with a diverse range anatomopathological and clinical manifestations. All of the included studies found were case reports. Moreover, the authors suggest an updated classification of the lesion, involving their immunohistochemical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The information obtained from this study highlights IECs rarity and their inaccurately classification. We propose that the definitive diagnosis of IECs shall be made upon histopathological confirmation of an ependyma-lined cyst along with a positive glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

Primary mandibular xanthoma: case report.

Xanthoma is a very rare bone tumor, especially in the mandible, that can be associated with metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia. A 14-year-old girl presented with a non-corticated unilocular radiolucent lesion observed on panoramic radiography. The lesion was located between the roots of the left first and second premolar teeth, extending from the cervical to the apical region, measuring approximately 1 cm in greatest dimension. An excisional biopsy revealed foam cells and occasional nonfoamy mononuclear macrophage-like cells spread among a discrete fibrous stroma. Immunohistochemically, the xanthomatous cells were CD68 and vimentin positive, focally positive for S100, CD1a, and CD3 and negative for AE1/AE3, CD20, CD117, and HMB45. Hematologic and biochemical investigations ruled out systemic disease.