Mandibular Defect Reconstitution: A Contaminated Caprine Model of Bone Regeneration.

PURPOSE: Mandibular reconstitution with bioabsorbable scaffolds seems feasible with the application of 3-dimensional printing combined with bioactive proteins. As yet, previous studies have been limited in number of animals and have avoided a contaminated defect. We present a caprine model of mandibular defect bone regeneration with a 3-dimensionally printed bioabsorbable scaffold contaminated with oral secretions and explore the impact of bone morphogenic protein in mandibular bone reconstitution. METHODS: A 3-cm, contaminated mandibular defect was generated in 18 goats and stabilized with 2 mandibular reconstruction plates. An uncoated scaffold was placed in 6 goats, and in the final 6 goats, the scaffold was coated with bone morphogenic protein-2. In 6 goats, the defect was left empty. After 12 weeks, the operative site, scaffold, and adjacent mandible were plasticized, sectioned, and evaluated histologically to assess for bone regeneration. RESULTS: The specimens revealed only focal (average of 5.8% of the scaffold pores) and early bone formation in the scaffold-only group. In the scaffold + bone morphogenic protein-2 group, there was more (average of 51.4% of the pores) bone formation. In the periosteum-only group, the ratio of the bone thickness of the defect to that of the normal bone ranged from 0.16 to 0.78. No major infections occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This caprine model serves as an excellent method to assess reconstructive options for contaminated mandibular deficits. Bone regeneration was documented in a 3-cm contaminated caprine mandibular defect reconstructed with a 3-dimensionally printed synthetic scaffold with or without the addition of bone morphogenic protein-2. Bone morphogenic protein-2 significantly augments bone generation in the synthetic scaffold. Residual mandibular periosteum generated bone. Future studies will focus on optimizing vascularization.

Does Argininosuccinate Synthase 1 (ASS1) Immunohistochemistry Predict an Increased Risk of Hemorrhage for Hepatocellular Adenomas?

Hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) often pursue an innocuous clinical course. Recent work has elucidated important subtypes of HCA and biomarkers to identify them, including HCA at an increased risk for malignant transformation. Another key complication of HCAs is the risk of spontaneous tumoral hemorrhage, which may be life-threatening. Identification of a predictive biomarker for this clinical complication would therefore be of clinical value. It has been suggested that Argininosuccinate Synthase 1 (ASS1) immunohistochemistry (IHC) identifies HCA with a high propensity for hemorrhage. The aim of our study was to validate ASS1 IHC as a predictive marker of hemorrhage. Eighty-nine HCAs were collected for ASS1 IHC and subtyped according to published criteria. Clinical records were examined for evidence of tumoral hemorrhage. Twenty-one (23.6%) HCAs were complicated by clinically detected hemorrhage and were more likely to be resected (P=0.0002). Hemorrhage complicated all WHO subtypes of HCA. There was no association between hemorrhage and HCA subtype (P=0.92). Neither the distribution of ASS1 expression nor the intensity of ASS1 expression compared to normal liver showed a significant association with hemorrhage (P=0.051 and 0.34). Interlaboratory comparison of 8 cases showed good agreement regarding the intensity (6/8 and 7/8) and distribution of staining (7/8 and 7/8) across 3 laboratories performing ASS1 IHC. In conclusion, all subtypes of HCA may be complicated by hemorrhage. ASS1 IHC expression did not correlate with hemorrhagic complications. Caution is prudent before routine implementation of ASS1 IHC in clinical practice.

Clinical impact of celiac ganglia metastasis upon pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma guides clinical decision making. Limited data indicate that metastasis to celiac ganglia (CG) correlates with poor prognosis. We investigated feasibility and safety of endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) detection of CG metastasis and its impact upon tumor stage, resectability, and survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PATIENTS: We reviewed our prospectively maintained EUS and cytopathology databases to identify patients with FNA proven CG metastasis in patients with PDAC from 2004 to 2017. Clinical demographics, EUS, CT, MRI, cytopathology, cancer stage, and resectability data were analyzed. Survival of PDAC patients with CG metastasis was compared to the expected survival of PDAC patients of similar stage as reported by the United States National Cancer Database. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with PDAC [median age 73 (IQR63-78); 14 (67%) female)], had CG metastasis confirmed by cytopathologic assessment. CG metastasis resulted in tumor upstaging relative to other EUS findings and cross sectional imaging findings in 12 (57%) and 15 (71%) patients, and converted cancers from resectable to unresectable relative to EUS and cross sectional imaging in 7 (37%) and 7 (37%) patients, respectively. In patients with PDAC, the survival of patients with CG metastasis was not significantly different from the overall survival (hazard ratio 0.71; 95% confidence interval 0.44, 1.13; p = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA may safely identify CG metastases. While CG metastasis upstaged and altered the resectability status among this cohort of patients with PDAC, the survival data with regard to PDAC suggest that this may be misguided.

Diffuse Adenomatosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Liver Transplantation in an Adolescent Female with Kabuki Syndrome with a Novel KMT2D Gene Mutation.

Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare disorder primarily associated with mutations in the KMT2D and KDM6A genes. Several tumors have been reported with KS; however, there have been no reports of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or hepatic adenomatosis. We present an adolescent girl with KS and a novel KMT2D mutation who developed diffuse adenomatosis, HCC, and subsequently underwent liver transplantation.

Albumin In Situ Hybridization Can Be Positive in Adenocarcinomas and Other Tumors From Diverse Sites.

OBJECTIVES: Albumin messenger RNA (mRNA) expression is a marker of hepatocellular differentiation. Most published data are from review of tissue microarrays, and albumin in situ hybridization (ISH) expression across several tumor types is incompletely characterized. METHODS: Sections from 221 tumors were evaluated for albumin mRNA. Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm diagnoses. Albumin ISH was performed according to manufacturer-provided instructions. Fifty-nine cases were evaluated with both commercial ISH assays. RESULTS: Albumin mRNA was detected in all hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and 81% of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. Lung (20%), gallbladder (39%), hepatoid pancreatic (n = 1 of 1) adenocarcinoma, breast invasive ductal carcinoma (18%), yolk sac tumor (25%), and acinar cell carcinoma (29%) showed expression. Both assays were concordant in 93% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Albumin ISH was expressed in all HCCs studied. It was also positive in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and patchy positive in gallbladder adenocarcinoma and a subset of other neoplasms, which can be a potential pitfall.

Safety, Diagnostic Accuracy, and Effects of Endoscopic Ultrasound Fine-Needle Aspiration on Detection of Extravascular Migratory Metastases.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Tumor cells can migrate via diminutive perivascular cuffing to distant sites along blood vessels to form extravascular migratory metastases (EVMM). These metastases usually are identified during surgery or autopsies. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of perivascular soft-tissue cuffs to detect EVMM. We compared findings from EUS with those from noninvasive cross-sectional imaging (reference standard) of patients who underwent EUS-FNA to assess suspected EVMM and studied the effects on pancreatic tumor staging and determination of resectability. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 253 patients (mean age, 62 ± 12 y) who underwent EUS-FNA of 267 vessels for evaluation of suspected EVMM, from April 2001 through May 2018. EUS findings were compared with those from computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the reference standard. Lesions were considered to be malignant based on cytology analysis of FNA samples, histology analyses of surgical or biopsy specimens, or vascular abnormalities detected by CT or MRI that clearly indicate EVMM. RESULTS: Thirty patients were found to have benign lesions. The remaining 223 patients who had malignancies (166 with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas [PDACs]), underwent further analyses. A median of 4 FNAs (range, 1-20 FNAs) were obtained from 4-mm perivascular soft-tissue cuffs (range, 2-20 mm). FNA and cytology analysis showed malignant cells in 163 vessels (69.4%) from 157 patients (70.4%). CT or MRI did not detect EVMM in 44 patients (28%) with malignancies, including 24 patients (24%) with newly diagnosed PDAC. Detection of EVMM by EUS-FNA resulted in upstaging of 15 patients and conversion of 14 patients with PDAC from resectable (based on CT or MRI) to unresectable. No adverse events were reported during a follow-up period of 3.9 months (range, 0-117 mo). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA and cytologic analysis of perivascular soft-tissue cuffs can detect EVMM that were not found in 28% of patients by CT or MRI. Detection of EVMM affects tumor staging and determination of tumor resectability.

Accuracy of Endoscopic Ultrasound Imaging in Distinguishing Celiac Ganglia From Celiac Lymph Nodes.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows visualization of celiac lymph nodes (CLNs) and celiac ganglia (CG). Reliably distinguishing these structures is important for tumor staging and CG ablative therapies. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of EUS in distinguishing CLNs from CG using a strict cytopathology reference standard. We also determined the rate of detection of CLN and CG by conventional cross-sectional imaging. METHODS: From EUS and cytopathology databases, we identified all patients who underwent EUS-FNA of a presumed CLN or CG from October 1, 2004, through March 1, 2017, and compared the findings with those from cytology (reference standard). Indeterminate cytology results were re-reviewed. EUS imaging (ie, index test) results were compared with those from the reference standard. An expert radiologist re-reviewed computed tomography and magnetic resonance images from 100 lesions, from 94 randomly selected patients with a reference standard, to determine the rates of CLN and CG detection. RESULTS: A total of 504 patients (mean age, 63.4 ± 13.2 years; 292 men) underwent a median of 7 EUS-FNA passes (range, 1-13) for a total of 566 lesions perceived to be either a CLN or CG; the cytology reference standard was available for 521 lesions (92.1%). When we excluded indeterminate cytology results, the EUS accurately identified 281/286 CLNs (98.3%) and 166/186 CGs (89.2%), for an overall accuracy of 447/472 (94.7%). EUS-FNA distinguished CG from CLNs with a 93.3% sensitivity, 93.7% specificity, a positive predictive value of 96.2%, and a negative predictive value of 89.2%. Of 100 lesions in 94 patients randomly selected for a second expert radiology review, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging detected 59/67 CLNs (88.1%) and 13/33 CG (39.4%). CONCLUSION: EUS accurately distinguishes CLNs from CG. EUS might therefore be used to increase the accuracy of tumor staging, to select tumor stage-appropriate therapy, and to guide CG-ablative therapies.

Desmoid Fibromatosis Mimicking Metastatic Recurrence After Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Desmoid fibromatosis is a rare, neoplastic tumor known for its aggressive local invasion and recurrence after surgery. Tumors can occur sporadically or associated with familial adenomatous polyposis. We present 3 cases of desmoid fibromatosis postpancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. All cases occurred within 3 years of diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, with subsequent extensive diagnostic work-up to rule out metastatic disease. No relationship between pancreatic cancer and desmoid fibromatosis is documented in the literature, with a postulated connection via mutations on the Wnt/APC/Beta-catenin pathway.

Undifferentiated Pancreatic Carcinomas Display Enrichment for Frequency and Extent of PD-L1 Expression by Tumor Cells.

OBJECTIVES: Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has been described, but unselected PDAs have shown limited clinical responsiveness to anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 therapy. METHODS: We studied 24 cases of undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma (UPC) using immunohistochemistry for PD-L1 (E1L3N clone), CD3, CD20, CD68, and DNA mismatch repair proteins in this study. Slides were scored for extent of PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. RESULTS: PD-L1 expression was more frequent in UPCs than in PDAs (63% vs 15%, P < .01). The extent of PD-L1 expression was greater in UPCs, with 13 (87%) of 15 cases containing 10% or more positive tumor cells compared with three of seven PDAs (P = .05). Both tumor groups showed similar numbers of tumor-infiltrating T cells, B cells, and macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: UPC is enriched for PD-L1 expression in frequency and extent, relative to conventional PDA. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents may represent a valuable therapeutic approach for this subset of highly aggressive pancreatic carcinoma.

Exchange transfusion for babesiosis when, how, and how long?

Babesiosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by Ixodes ticks seen in the United States and parts of Europe. Because of the typically mild course of most infections, the disease is uncommonly seen in clinical practice. However, asplenic patients can develop a life-threatening infection. The first line of therapy for Babesia infections is antiparasitic medications; however, red blood cell (RBC) exchange transfusion has been described as an adjunct therapy. We describe a severe case of babesiosis in an asplenic patient and review the evidence, indications, and protocols for RBC exchange transfusion in this setting.

Prognostic Significance of the Histologic Response of Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma to Preoperative Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Liver Explants.

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) has a dismal prognosis. Protocols incorporating chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and liver transplantation (LT) have emerged as curative options for unresectable tumors with 70% 5-year survival rates. We aimed to assess the value of extent of residual tumor (ERT) and other pathologic factors following chemoradiation in predicting outcome; 152 liver explants with pCCA treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and LT between 1993 and 2013 were reviewed for ERT, pathologic stage, histologic grade, and perineural and lymphovascular invasion. ERT was quantified as the percentage of viable carcinoma in the tumor bed. Tumors were classified into 4 ERT categories: (1) complete/near-complete response (≤1% ERT); (2) marked response (>1 to <10% ERT); (3) moderate response (10 to <30% ERT); and (4) minimal response (≥30% ERT). Overall 5-year survival rate was 69%. 5-year disease-free estimate was 74%. 57%, 16%, 18%, and 9% of explants were placed in ERT categories 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. ERT correlated significantly with the overall 5-year survival rate and 5-year, disease-free estimate by univariate (P<0.0001) and multivariate analysis (P=0.004 and 0.009, respectively). By multivariate analysis, pathologic stage was also an independent predictor of recurrence (P=0.003). Other variables that correlated with risk of death and recurrence by univariate analysis included perineural (P<0.0001) and lymphovascular invasion (P<0.0001), absence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (P=0.006 and P<0.0001, respectively), and pretreatment CA19-9 level (P=0.001 and 0.02, respectively). Histologic grade did not predict outcome. In summary, ERT independently predicts outcome in pCCA patients following neoadjuvant chemoradiation and LT and can stratify patient prognosis.

Intracardiac juvenile xanthogranuloma with presentation in adulthood.

Juvenile xanthogranuloma is the most frequent type of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis. It most commonly presents in infancy and early childhood; manifesting as cutaneous lesions on the head, neck, and trunk that suddenly appear and usually undergo spontaneous regression. Extracutaneous involvement, although rare, may occur along with the cutaneous form or in isolation. It most frequently involves the eye, deep subcutaneous tissues, lung, and liver. Involvement of the heart is exceptionally rare, with only seven reports found in the English literature, all affecting infants. We present the first report of an intracardiac juvenile xanthogranuloma in an adult.