[The role of the pathologist in mammography screening]. / Die Rolle des Pathologen im Mammographie-Screening.

Within the framework of mammography screening programmes the expertise of the pathologist is embedded in an interdisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. The quality of histopathological diagnosis not only depends on the expertise of the pathologist, but also requires skillful co-operation with the radiologist and the gynecologist who are both responsible for determining the medical indications for further radiographic and surgical tests and must ensure appropriate tissue samples are taken for non-palpable lesions. Bearing this process in mind it becomes clear that increased expertise in interventional tissue sampling leads to histological samples which are more representative. If the samples are not representative, their histological evaluation does not permit a conclusive statement on the origin of tissue abnormalities shown by mammography. At the mammography unit in Wiesbaden it was demonstrated that breast tissue punches almost always allow a precise histological diagnosis of tissue abnormalities and are at the same time appropriate for additional immunohistochemistry, such as for hormone receptors on carcinoma cells. Non-representative tissue samples are the exception.

[Fasciitis nodularis pseudosarcomatosa. A difficult differential diagnosis in the head-neck area]. / Fasciitis nodularis pseudosarcomatosa. Eine schwierige Differenzialdiagnose im Kopf-Hals-Bereich.

INTRODUCTION: Nodular fasciitis (nF) was first described in 1955 by Konwaler et al. as a benign fibroblastic proliferation. The onset of the disease occurs suddenly as a solitary tumor reaching a size of 10 to 50 mm in a few weeks. Relapse is rare and spontaneous remission frequent. The literature points out histologic similarities to a sarcoma. CASE: The 57 year old female patient presented a spheroid, coarse, nonadherent, slightly painful tumor of the left paramandibular region. The history was inconspicuous. The B-scan sonography revealed a spheroid, anechoic, defined mass of 10-11 mm. The palpatory dimension increased noticeably during the following 2 weeks. Under local anesthesia the suspected lymph node was exposed via intraoral approach. Intraoperatively a non-capsulated, coarse, adherent, spheroid node of 25 mm was resected subtotally to preserve the marginal branch of the facial nerve. Histologically a fibroblastic cell-rich proliferation with mucoid milieu and few mitosis was found. No atypical cells or nuclei were observed and the proliferation reached fascial parts. DISCUSSION: Based on clinical findings the diagnosis nF cannot be proven. Ultrasound and clinical findings suppose a lymphadenopathia, whereas the dynamics points out a malignant tumor. Therefore, histologic assurance after diagnosis is mandatory. In case of vulnerable anatomic structures in vicinity, the absence of a capsule should lead to partial resection despite of a total excision. The histology plays a primary role to avoid surgical overtherapy.

Seizure-inducing paradoxical reaction to antiepileptic drugs.

We report on an 18-month-old girl with a seizure frequency of five/day, receiving an antiepileptic polytherapy consisting of primidone, clonazepam and phenytoin. Following discontinuation of clonazepam and primidone, the patient has been seizure-free under monotherapy for 2 years and shows marked developmental progress. Possible mechanisms of this paradoxical effect of antiepileptic drugs and the implications for antiepileptic therapy are discussed.

Diagnostic significance of nuclear p53 expression in the surveillance of Barrett's esophagus--a longitudinal study.

The efficacy of currently performed surveillance in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) is substantially compromised by shortcomings of dysplastic lesions as diagnostic markers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of p53 protein expression as complementary method in the diagnosis of neoplastic transformation in BE. A longitudinal study was performed. 41 patients were enrolled. The median time of surveillance was 46 months. 234 archival paraffin blocks containing a total of 627 biopsies were retrieved. p53 protein immunostaining by application of the monoclonal antibody DO-1 was performed. The results of immunohistochemistry were compared with the exact histopathological diagnosis and grading of dysplasia (no dysplasia, indefinite for dysplasia, low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, carcinoma). In merely four of 206 nondysplastic mucosal sites p53 expression was found. However, p53 expression was detected with increasing frequency in sites indefinite for dysplasia (2/9), specimens with low-grade dysplasia (9/15), high-grade dysplasia (3/3) and the one with a carcinoma. This study shows a close association of nuclear p53 protein expression to the process of neoplastic transformation in Barrett's epithelium. However, it apparently does not precede the appearance of dysplasia significantly. Thus, nuclear p53 expression as detected by immunohistochemistry may serve to confirm a suspected diagnosis of dysplasia in BE.

Differential diagnosis of neonatal adrenal haemorrhage and congenital neuroblastoma by colour coded Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography.

UNLABELLED: The differentiation between neonatal neuroblastoma and adrenal haemorrhage may be very difficult in the individual case. We investigated eight neonates with adrenal haemorrhage and one patient with congenital neuroblastoma by colour coded Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography. Six haemorrhages were cystic, whereas the neuroblastoma and four adrenal haemorrhages had a solid appearance. Colour coded Doppler sonography and power Doppler demonstrated vessels within the neuroblastoma. In none of the ten adrenal haemorrhages could flow be shown either with conventional colour coded Doppler sonography or power Doppler sonography. CONCLUSION: Conventional colour coded Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography are useful to differentiate between neuroblastoma and adrenal haemorrhage.

[Basilar artery insufficiency--a possible cause of sudden infant death? Results of a Doppler ultrasound study of 39 children with apparent life-threatening events]. / Basilarisinsuffizienz--eine mögliche Ursache des plötzlichen Kindstods? Ergebnisse einer dopplersonographischen Studie an 39 Kindern mit anscheinend lebensbedrohlichen Ereignissen.

AIM: Hypoperfusion of the brain stem in dependence on head and body position followed by central bradycardia and apnea may be an important cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). METHODS: 39 infants with a mean age of 10.6 +/- 10.2 weeks (6 days to 11 months) with apparent life threatening events (ALTE) were investigated by cranial Doppler sonography. Additionally 68 healthy infants aged 6 days to 5 months (m 3.7 +/- 4.1 weeks) were investigated. In all patients flow measurements were performed in one anterior cerebral artery (ACA), both internal carotid arteries (ICA), the basilar artery (BA), and both vertebral arteries (VA) in dependence on head (right/left/neutral) and body position (prone/supine). RESULTS: In healthy infants flow velocities within all intracranial arteries were independent of head and body position. In none of our infants with ALTE significant flow alterations in the ACA and both ICA in dependence on head and body position could be found. In 23 patients with ALTE no dependence of flow in the BA and both VA of head and body position could be shown. In 16 infants however pathologic flow profiles with low flow velocities could be found in the contralateral VA if the head was rotated to the other side. In 9 infants additionally pathologic flow profiles with a dramatic decrease of the flow velocities in the BA could be found. The reduction of the blood flow is caused by compression of the contralateral vertebral artery at the craniocervical junction. CONCLUSION: The reduction of blood flow in the VA and especially the BA may cause hypoperfusion of the brainstem followed by central bradycardia and apnea. Hypoperfusion of the brainstem in dependence on head and body position may be a significant cause of SIDS. By means of cerebral Dopplersonography infants at risk for SIDS may be detected. Body and head positions which should be avoided can be evaluated noninvasively.

Superficial esophageal carcinoma in achalasia, detected by endoscopic surveillance.

A 42 year old woman had undergone a Heller myotomy for achalasia of the cardia at age 28. Thereafter, she had become asymptomatic but reported for endoscopic follow-up examinations at three-yearly intervals. Fourteen years after surgery, endoscopy and biopsy revealed "carcinoma in situ" in the proximal esophagus and surgery was recommended. In the resected specimen, a circumscribed area of cancer was demonstrated that invaded the lamina propria but was confined to the mucosa. With the exception of mild and transient postoperative dysphagia, she had an uneventful postoperative course and remains well 16 months following surgery. This case demonstrates that endoscopic surveillance may detect early malignant changes in the achalasic esophagus and may possibly lead to an improvement in survival.

Distinct immunohistochemical findings in columnar epithelium of esophageal inlet patch and of Barrett's esophagus.

Immunohistochemistry was performed on biopsies of columnar mucosa from 11 patients with Barrett's esophagus and 11 patients with columnar mucosa in the cranial esophagus, the "inlet patch." Both epithelia contained endocrine cells, immunoreactive to antisera against serotonin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide; the specialized mucosa of Barrett's esophagus contained, in addition, neurotensin-immunoreactive cells, and in the mucosa of an inlet patch we found a gastrin cell. These findings are not compatible with some of the current theories on the origin of these epithelia. The mucosa of the inlet patch has been considered to consist of heterotopic gastric mucosa. The mucosa of the adult human stomach, however, does not contain glucagon cells. These cells are only present in the early embryonic stomach, and they disappear during embryonogenesis. According to our findings, the mucosa of the inlet patch therefore represents embryonic gastric mucosa. The specialized columnar epithelium of Barrett's esophagus has been considered to have evolved from gastric mucous neck cells. However, although glucagon cells are a feature of the embryonic stomach, neurotensin-immunoreactive cells have not been found in the gastric mucosa. Our study suggests that the specialized columnar epithelium of Barrett's esophagus originates from a very immature multipotent gastrointestinal stem cell.

Three other types of duodenal polyps: mucosal cysts, focal foveolar hyperplasia, and hyperplastic polyp originating from islands of gastric mucosa.

Seven cases are reported that initially presented on endoscopic examination as duodenal polyps originating from islands of gastric mucosa within the duodenal bulb. Microscopic examination revealed mucosal cysts (MC), focal foveolar hyperplasia (FFH), and hyperplastic polyp (HPP). These lesions must be added to the list of neoplastic and tumorlike lesions of the duodenum that may endoscopically present as polyps.

[Solitary primary amyloid tumor of the rectum]. / Solitärer primärer Amyloidtumor des Rektums.

Solitary primary amyloidtumor of the rectum. Gastrointestinal involvement of AL and AA amyloidosis is common and shows a broad variety of clinical appearance. We report a case of amyloidosis manifestated as a sole large rectum tumor and discuss the therapeutic procedure.