Atypical ductal hyperplasia in breast core needle biopsies. Correlation of size of the lesion, complete removal of the lesion, and the incidence of carcinoma in follow-up biopsies.

We reviewed the results of all breast core needle biopsies with a diagnosis of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) or atypia not otherwise specified and subsequent excisional biopsies for a 50-month period and correlated the results. Of 3,026 biopsies, 216 were diagnosed as ADH or atypia not otherwise specified, and subsequent resection was available for 105. After review, 95 qualified as ADH. Subsequent resection showed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in 13 excisions, ADH in 31, lobular carcinoma in situ in 6, and benign proliferative lesions in the remaining 45. In none of the 8 biopsies in which DCIS was found and radiographs were available for review was the radiographic lesion entirely removed. For comparison, the incidence of carcinoma in resections done for a diagnosis of DCIS, low or intermediate grade (solid, cribriform, or micropapillary type), on core needle biopsy was significantly greater (8 of 10 cases). However, the size of the lesions diagnosed as carcinoma also was significantly greater than that of the lesions diagnosed as ADH, and in none of the 8 biopsies with DCIS at excision was the lesion entirely removed at the time of biopsy. The incidence of carcinoma in excisional biopsies done for a diagnosis of ADH in core needle biopsies in our institution is relatively low, while the incidence of ADH is relatively high. Possible reasons for this include total removal of small lesions at the time of biopsy and use of the diagnostic term ADH for lesions that are not associated with coexistent DCIS.

Inclusion body fibromatosis of the breast. Two cases with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings.

Two cases of fibromatosis of the breast, characterized by a proliferation of spindle cells containing intracytoplasmic, spherical, eosinophilic inclusion bodies, are reported. The light and electron microscopic features, as well as the immunohistochemical features, are indistinguishable from those found in infantile digital fibromatosis. The proliferating spindle cells are characterized as myofibroblasts, whereas the inclusion bodies show an immunohistochemically nonreactive, hollow-like pattern with peripheral reactivity for actin filaments. This lesion, observed for the first time in the breast, expands the number of extradigital inclusion body fibromatoses.

Papillary cystic tumor of the pancreas. A clinicopathologic study of 20 cases with cytologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and flow cytometric observations, and a review of the literature.

Twenty cases of papillary cystic tumor of the pancreas were studied (19 female patients, one male patient; median age, 19.5 years). Most tumors developed in the head or body of the pancreas as well-circumscribed, large masses. Gross examination showed that they were solid, cystic, and hemorrhagic. Preoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy anticipated the diagnosis in four cases. Histologic examination showed that uniform cells formed solid sheets, and loss of cohesion produced pseudopapillae. Hemorrhage, foam cells, cholesterol granulomas, and entrapped nests of pancreatic parenchyma were often found. Fifteen cases studied immunohistochemically were reactive for vimentin and alpha-1-antitrypsin, 13 expressed neuron-specific enolase, 2 expressed cytokeratin, and 1 expressed S-100 protein. None were reactive for pancreatic hormones, opioid peptides, hormonal receptors, or neuroendocrine markers. Electron microscopic examination in five cases showed oval nuclei, moderate amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and many mitochondria; it also showed that annulate lamellae were common. No diagnostic secretory granules were found. DNA study in nine cases revealed a diploid GO/1 peak in eight and hyperdiploid (diploid index = 1.1) DNA content in one case. Fourteen patients with follow-up were free of disease (mean, 2.6 years). Papillary cystic tumor of the pancreas possibly originates from primordial pancreatic cells and lacks definite evidence of endocrine or exocrine differentiation.

The pathologist's examination of the "lumpectomy"--the pathologists' view of surgical margins.

Despite the widespread conservative management of breast cancer, the pathologists' examination of these specimens is far from uniform. Pathologists sample margins differently, and even disagree on what constitutes a positive margin. This variability in the pathologic examination of the lumpectomy creates tremendous problems in analyzing the existing literature on the importance of positive margins. Herein is a discussion of the available data on the significance of margin assessment. We furthermore suggest a practical approach to examining margins with an emphasis on a functional orientation of the specimen with respect to the nipple. Only by adopting a uniform system of margin assessment can we begin to critically evaluate the importance of positive margins in segmental resections of the breast.

Childhood bullous pemphigoid. Clinical and immunologic features, treatment, and prognosis.

A 2 1/2-month-old female infant presented with multiple tense bullae on the hands and feet. Analysis of biopsy specimens confirmed our clinical impression of childhood bullous pemphigoid. Confirmatory data included type IV collagen mapping of the basement membrane zone, a readily available technique that helps distinguish childhood bullous pemphigoid from childhood epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. To our knowledge, our patient is the youngest described with childhood bullous pemphigoid, and we use this opportunity to review the literature and examine the clinical and immunologic features, treatment, and prognosis of this rare childhood immunobullous disorder.

Pruritic papular eruption of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: a clinicopathologic study.

The pruritic papular eruption of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is characterized by generalized, pruritic, skin-colored papules and nodules. Chronic lesions are excoriated and hyperpigmented. The eruption and pruritus typically wax and wane and are resistant to oral antihistamine and topical steroid therapy. The characteristic histologic features are (1) superficial and mid dermal perivascular and perifollicular mononuclear cell infiltrate with numerous eosinophils and (2) follicular damage of varying degrees. When compared with control subjects, these patients did not demonstrate any significant difference in laboratory or demographic data.

Visceral protothecosis mimicking sclerosing cholangitis in an immunocompetent host: successful antifungal therapy.

A healthy 39-year-old man who had clinical findings consistent with sclerosing cholangitis was found to have systemic protothecosis at surgery. Severe granulomatous inflammation and palpable nodules were found in the gallbladder, on the surface of the liver, and in the duodenum. Prototheca wickerhamii was detected in biopsied specimens and stool; the titer of indirect fluorescent antibody to this organism was 1:2,000. The patient recovered after a short course of treatment with amphotericin B and 3 months of oral therapy with ketoconazole. He had no other concurrent illness and had no abnormality in his immune system. This is the second reported human case of systemic protothecosis. An elevated IgG level, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eosinophilia, and abnormal levels of enzymes in the liver were found in both cases. Protothecosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hepatic and biliary inflammatory diseases of uncertain etiology.

Locally infiltrative glomus tumors and glomangiosarcomas. A clinical, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical study.

Six cases of locally aggressive and/or potentially malignant glomus tumors are described. On the basis of clinical and pathologic criteria, the following classification is proposed. The first category is a locally infiltrative glomus tumor (LIGT) which has the usual glomus histologic features. The second group is a cytologically malignant tumor arising and merging with a typical glomus tumor, designated glomangiosarcoma arising in a benign glomus (GABG). The third category and the most difficult to recognize is the de novo glomangiosarcoma (GADN), which must be distinguished from other round cell sarcomas. Most of these locally aggressive glomus tumors are vimentin positive and are immunoreactive for muscle-specific actin. Electron microscopic examination in one GABG case showed cells with numerous microfilaments and pinocytotic vesicles; a second GADN case contained cells with microfilaments and an incomplete basal lamina. As a group these locally aggressive or potentially malignant glomus tumors are larger and more deeply located than the conventional glomus tumor. Although 50% of these tumors recurred locally, none have metastasized.

Studies of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene rearrangement in cutaneous B and T cell lymphomas.

We report two patients with cutaneous B and T cell lymphomas, respectively, in which DNA rearrangement studies were instrumental in establishing a diagnosis. In each case clinical, histopathologic, and immunologic criteria were not sufficient to establish a definitive tissue classification. The use of DNA gene rearrangement studies in the analysis of cutaneous lymphomas is discussed.

Interface dermatitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We report twenty-five patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and interface dermatitis. Patients with AIDS and interface dermatitis had numerous opportunistic and herpetic infections. Nearly all patients were receiving at least one medication prior to the development of their rash and many were clinically thought to have a drug eruption. When compared to skin biopsy specimens from non-AIDS patients with drug eruptions, specimens from patients with AIDS and interface dermatitis demonstrated a greater degree of vacuolar change, the frequent occurrence of necrotic keratinocytes, often in clumps, and the absence of eosinophils and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the dermal infiltrates. Histologic and clinical features of our patients with AIDS and interface dermatitis are presented and contrasted with other interface dermatitides. Systemic and cutaneous immune abnormalities in patients with AIDS may be relevant to the pathogenesis of this interface process.

Frequency and anatomic distribution of lymphadenopathic Kaposi's sarcoma in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: an autopsy series.

Histologic material from 52 autopsies of persons who had died of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reviewed. The study group included 23 Haitians, 19 homosexual men, five intravenous drug abusers, two hemophiliacs (type A), and three persons at unknown risk. Nineteen of the patients (36.5 per cent) had typical Kaposi's sarcoma alone, but 49 (94.2 per cent) had the inflammatory variant of Kaposi's sarcoma as well as typical Kaposi's sarcoma. Inflammatory Kaposi's sarcoma was found in all risk groups studied. In all cases of typical Kaposi's sarcoma, histomorphologic transitions of inflammatory Kaposi's sarcoma to typical Kaposi's sarcoma were observed. Lymph nodes and spleen were the organs most commonly involved by both typical and inflammatory Kaposi's sarcoma. The findings indicate that Kaposi's sarcoma is more common and has a wider morphologic spectrum in AIDS than is generally appreciated.

Longevity of exercising obese hypertensive rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether daily running lengthens the life-span of animals dying prematurely due to cardiovascular disease. We used a strain of rat that is genetically hypertensive and obese and is reported to develop atherosclerosis (Exp. Mol. Pathol. 19: 53--60, 1973). These animals were divided into three groups consisting of runners exercised daily on treadmills from an early age life, food-restricted sedentary rats, and libitum eaters that were sedentary. This latter group had significantly higher average daily food intakes and body weights than either of the other two groups. The average life-span of both sedentary groups was significantly longer than the running group. Runners had a greater frequency of focal myocardial necrosis, but atherosclerosis was absent in all three groups. We speculate that daily running may have accentuated the development of factor s that may have contributed to the early death of runners.