ABSTRACT
Objetivo: Presentar el caso de una escolar con quiste tirogloso y granuloma de colesterol, hallazgo inusual que simuló clínica e imagenológicamente un carcinoma de tiroides. Esta asociación es infrecuente y hay pocos casos reportados. Caso clínico: Escolar femenina de 11 años, quién consultó por presentar disfagia y tumoración en región anterolateral izquierda del cuello, de 3x3 cm, de consistencia dura, dolorosa a la palpación, sin signos de flogosis. Ultrasonido de cuello evidenció conducto tirogloso permeable en la línea media con presencia de nódulo hipoecoico, de bordes bien definidos, sin calcificaciones que medía 1,8 x 0,9 cm. Se extirpó la tumoración que medía 3x2, 5x0, 8cm. y se observó cavidad quística de 0,8 cm. de diámetro mayor que contenía material de aspecto gelatinoso. Por debajo de éste, se observó nódulo bien circunscrito de 1,5 cm. de diámetro mayor, constituido por tejido firme de color blanco-amarillento. El estudio histopatológico reveló un quiste revestido por epitelio cilíndrico y respuesta inflamatoria linfohistiocitaria, con células gigantes tipo cuerpo extraño alrededor de hendiduras; que correspondían a d dd epósito de colesterol. Conclusión: Se presenta este caso por su rareza y porque puede confundirse clínica e imagenológicamente con una neoplasia maligna. Asimismo, pudiera corresponder al primer caso reportado en nuestro país.
Objective: We report the case of a 11 year- old girl with thyroglossal cyst and cholesterol granuloma, an unusual finding that clinically simulates thyroid carcinoma. This association is unusual and there are few reported cases worldwide. Case report: An 11-year-old girl consulted for dysphagia and a 3 x 3 cm hard mass. The mass was painful on palpation and was located in the anterolateral neck left. It was phlogosis-free. A neck ultrasound showed a 1.8 x 0.9 cm permeable midline thyroglossal conduct with a hypoechoic nodule with well-defined edges but without calcifications. A 3 x 2,5 x 0, 8cm tumor was removed. A 0.8 cm cystic cavity that contained gelatinous material was observed. Below that cavity, a well-circumscribed nodule was observed. It measured 1.5 cm and was made up of firm yellowish tissue. The histopathology examination revealed a cyst lined with columnar epithelium and inflammatory linfohistiocitic response with foreign body type giant cells around cracks that corresponded to a cholesterol deposit. Conclusion: We present this case because it is very unusual and because it can be clinically and radiologically mistaken for a malignant tumor. It could be the first case ever reported in Venezuela.
ABSTRACT
Neovascularization is required for solid tumor maintenance, progression, and metastasis. The most described contribution of cancer cells in tumor neovascularization is the secretion of factors, which attract various cell types to establish a microenvironment that promotes blood vessel formation. The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that tumors are composed of cells that may share the differentiation capacity of normal stem cells. Similar to normal stem cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have the capacity to acquire different phenotypes. Thus, it is possible that CSCs have a bigger role in the process of tumor neovascularization. In this study, we show the capacity of a specific population of ovarian cancer cells with stem-like properties to give rise to xenograft tumors containing blood vessels, which are lined by human CD34+ cells. In addition, when cultured in high-density Matrigel, these cells mimic the behavior of normal endothelial cells and can form vessel-like structures in 24 hours. Microscopic analysis showed extensive branching and maturation of vessel-like structures in 7 days. Western blot and flow cytometry analysis showed that this process is accompanied by the acquisition of classic endothelial markers, CD34 and VE-cadherin. More importantly, we show that this process is vascular endothelial growth factor-independent, but IKK beta-dependent. Our findings suggest that anti-angiogenic therapies should take into consideration the inherent capacity of these cells to serve as vascular progenitors.
