Kidney damage relates to agonal bacteremia: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Agonal bacteremia, diagnosed with postmortem positive blood culture results, is considered a possible contributing factor to death. We hypothesized that some premortem organ damage, such as kidney damage, can enhance agonal bacteremia. METHODS: We performed a postmortem blood and alveolar fluid culture study in 30 cadavers and evaluated the relationship between blood culture results and clinical parameters, including organ damage (brain, heart, lung, kidney, liver and gastrointestinal tract). RESULTS: A total of 23 cases (76.7%) were positive for blood culture; the number of cultured species was one in 12 cases, two in 7 cases, and three in 4 cases. The ratio of agonal bacteremia was significantly higher in patients with heart damage (100%, n = 13) and those with kidney damage (end-stage kidney damage, acute kidney injury, obstructive kidney failure, or metastatic kidney tumours) (100%, n = 13). The mean number of cultured species was 0.67 ± 0.98 in heart or kidney damage, 1.40 ± 0.55 in heart damage only, 1.40 ± 0.55 in kidney damage only, and 2.00 ± 0.93 in heart and kidney damage. As the number of damaged organs increased (0 organs, no heart/kidney damage; 1 organ, heart or kidney damage; and 2 organs, heart and kidney damage), the mean number of cultured species increased significantly (p for trend = 0.001964). CONCLUSION: Premortem kidney damage relates to agonal bacteremia.

Using the DNA Integrity Number to Analyze DNA Quality in Specimens Collected from Liquid-Based Cytology after Fine-Needle Aspiration of Breast Tumors and Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer genome analysis using next-generation sequencing requires adequate and high-quality DNA samples. Genomic analyses were conventionally performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections rather than cytology samples such as cell block or smear specimens. Specimens collected from liquid-based cytology (LBC) have the potential to be sources of high-quality DNA suitable for genetic analysis even after long-term storage. METHODS: We collected breast tumor/lesion fractions from 92 residual LBC specimens using fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, including breast carcinoma (1 invasive carcinoma and 4 ductal carcinomas in situ), papillomatous lesion (5 intraductal papillomas), and fibroepithelial lesion (19 phyllodes tumors and 53 fibroadenomas) samples, and others (1 ductal adenoma, 1 hamartoma, 1 fibrocystic disease, and 7 unknown). DNA was extracted from all samples and subjected to DNA integrity number (DIN) score analysis. RESULTS: Average DIN score collected from 92 LBC specimens was significantly higher score. In addition, high-quality DNA with high DIN values (7.39 ± 0.80) was successfully extracted more than 12 months after storage of residual LBC specimens. CONCLUSION: Residual LBC specimens collected from FNA of the breast were verified to carry high-quality DNA and could serve as an alternate source for genetic analysis.

Perineurioma Diagnosed After Endoscopic Treatment of Suspected Gastric Adenocarcinoma of the Fundic Gland.

Perineurioma is a relatively rare tumor with an occasionally difficult differential diagnosis. A 63-year-old woman underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed a 15 mm, slightly faded, flat, and elevated lesion in the gastric body. Biopsy revealed a bundle-like proliferation of spindle-shaped cells; however, the diagnosis was unconfirmed. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed for diagnosis and treatment. Histopathological examination of the lesion revealed cell proliferation with short spindle-shaped and oval nuclei and little atypia in the lamina propria. Immunohistochemical examination indicated a perineurioma. Thus, when spindle-shaped cells are found on biopsy, it is necessary to consider the possibility of perineurioma.

Radiation-induced angiosarcoma of the breast: individual participant meta-analysis of Japanese population.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced angiosarcoma (RIAS) of the breast is a very rare and poor prognostic disease. According to previous studies, the efficacy of chemotherapy for RIAS is still controversial. However, no study has assessed the prognosis of RIAS and the prognostic impact of preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy in Japanese patients. Our study aimed to assess them in Japanese people using publication data with our three patients. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients diagnosed with RIAS, including 36 patients from 34 published case series, and three patients from our hospital were used for analysis. Disease-free survival (DFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed. RESULTS: Among the 39 patients, 36 patients (92.3%) underwent surgery. The median DFS and OS periods were 14 months (range 1-75 months) and 23 months (range 4-84 months), respectively. Chemotherapy with taxane-based regimen was administered in 13 cases (33.2%) pre- or post-operatively. DFS was significantly improved with chemotherapy in addition to surgery (p = 0.037). However, addition of chemotherapy to surgery did not improve DDFS (p = 0.09) and OS (p = 0.878). In multivariate analysis, age ≥ 70 years was an independent but poor prognostic factor of DFS. Additionally, a lack of chemotherapy showed a trend to be associated with worse DFS. There was no independent variable contributing to DDFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy may have reduced the recurrence rate of RIAS in Japanese patients but did not improve OS. Further data are needed to confirm the efficacy and proper regimen of chemotherapy.

Clinicopathological and ultrasound characteristics of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.

PURPOSE: BRCA1 and BRCA2 tumors exhibit different characteristics. This study aimed to assess and compare the ultrasound findings and pathologic features of BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancers. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the mass formation, vascularity, and elasticity in breast cancers of BRCA-positive Japanese women. METHODS: We identified patients with breast cancer harboring BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. After excluding patients who underwent chemotherapy or surgery before the ultrasound, we evaluated 89 cancers in BRCA1-positive and 83 in BRCA2-positive patients. The ultrasound images were reviewed by three radiologists in consensus. Imaging features, including vascularity and elasticity, were assessed. Pathological data, including tumor subtypes, were reviewed. RESULTS: Significant differences in tumor morphology, peripheral features, posterior echoes, echogenic foci, and vascularity were observed between BRCA1 and BRCA2 tumors. BRCA1 breast cancers tended to be posteriorly accentuating and hypervascular. In contrast, BRCA2 tumors were less likely to form masses. In cases where a tumor formed a mass, it tended to show posterior attenuation, indistinct margins, and echogenic foci. In pathological comparisons, BRCA1 cancers tended to be triple-negative subtypes. In contrast, BRCA2 cancers tended to be luminal or luminal-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 subtypes. CONCLUSION: In the surveillance of BRCA mutation carriers, radiologists should be aware that the morphological differences between tumors are quite different between BRCA1 and BRCA2 patients.

Difficult removal after bronchial filling of an endobronchial Watanabe spigot with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate for intractable pneumothorax: A case report.

A 52-year-old man developed a right pneumothorax during treatment for COVID-19. In a previous case report concerning this patient, his recovery was achieved through implanting four endobronchial Watanabe spigots (EWS) in the right B1 and B3 in two phases and spraying N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA). One year later, EWS removal was planned. He was intubated under bronchoscopic guidance, and the right upper lobe was observed. The right B1 and B3 inlets were found to be covered with granuloma. Despite the presence of a nylon thread for easy retrieval and partial debridement of the granulation, removal of the implanted EWS in the right B1 and B3 using grasping forceps, basket forceps, and two types of balloons under fluoroscopic guidance was challenging. NBCA spraying is a possible cause of foreign body granuloma formation. Therefore, careful consideration of the indications for the combined EWS-NBCA procedure is necessary.

Clinicopathological and imaging features of ductal carcinoma in situ in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.

BACKGROUND: BRCA1/2-associated invasive breast cancer has been extensively studied. However, there are few reports of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological and imaging findings of DCIS in patients with BRCA1/2 mutations. METHODS: This was a single-institution, retrospective study. We identified patients diagnosed with DCIS with BRCA mutations between September 2003 and December 2020. Clinicopathological data and mammography (MG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US) findings were reviewed. RESULTS: We identified 30 cancers in 28 patients; 7 (25.0%) patients had BRCA1 mutations, and 21 (75.0%) had BRCA2 mutations. The median patient age was 42 years. Screening was the most common reason for the detection of DCIS (50.0%), followed by occult cancer diagnosed by pathological examination after risk-reducing mastectomy (26.7%). The nuclear grade was most often 1 (46.7%), and 93.3% were estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive. The detection rates of MG, MRI, and US were 64.3%, 72.0%, and 64.0%, respectively. The most common imaging findings were calcification (100%) on MG, non-mass enhancement (88.9%) on MRI, and hypoechoic area (75.0%) on US. CONCLUSION: BRCA-associated DCIS was more strongly associated with BRCA2, and imaging features were similar to those of sporadic DCIS. Our results are helpful in informing surveillance strategies based on genotypes in women with BRCA mutations.

The location of unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy after COVID-19 vaccination compared with that of metastasis from breast cancer without vaccination.

PURPOSE: Unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy is known to occur after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination. Post-vaccination lymphadenopathy may mimic the metastatic lymph nodes in breast cancer, and it is challenging to distinguish between them. This study investigated whether the localization of axillary lymphadenopathy on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be used to distinguish reactive lymphadenopathy after COVID-19 vaccines from metastatic nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively examined preoperative MRI images of 684 axillae in 342 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery from June to October 2021. Lymphadenopathy was defined as cortical thickening or short axis ≥ 5 mm. The axilla was divided into ventral and dorsal parts on the axial plane using a perpendicular line extending from the most anterior margin of the muscle group, including the deltoid, latissimus dorsi, or teres major muscles, relative to a line along the lateral chest wall. We recorded the presence or absence of axillary lymphadenopathy in each area and the number of visible lymph nodes. RESULTS: Of 80 axillae, 41 and 39 were included in the vaccine and metastasis groups, respectively. The median time from the last vaccination to MRI was 19 days in the vaccine group. The number of visible axillary lymph nodes was significantly higher in the vaccine group (median, 15 nodes) than in the metastasis group (7 nodes) (P < 0.001). Dorsal lymphadenopathy was observed in 16 (39.0%) and two (5.1%) axillae in the vaccine and metastasis groups, respectively (P < 0.001). If the presence of both ventral and dorsal lymphadenopathy is considered indicative of vaccine-induced reaction, this finding has a sensitivity of 34.1%, specificity of 97.4%, and positive and negative predictive values of 93.3％ and 58.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of deep axillary lymphadenopathy may be an important factor for distinguishing post-vaccination lymphadenopathy from metastasis. The number of axillary lymph nodes may also help.

Peritoneal invasion of prostate cancer directly confirmed during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Introduction: Several studies have been published on direct rectal invasion in patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer, but few have directly confirmed intraoperative invasion of prostate cancer into the peritoneum. Case presentation: We report the case of a 73-year-old man with prostate cancer who exhibited peritoneal invasion during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. His prostate-specific antigen level fell to 0.38 ng/mL after surgery; he was therefore prescribed radiation and androgen-deprivation therapies that controlled the cancer for more than 1 year. Conclusions: We encountered a case showing direct peritoneal invasion of prostate cancer during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. If invasion of the seminal vesicle is suspected, the vesicorectal fossa should be examined during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Preoperative confirmation by diffusion magnetic resonance imaging of the peritoneum is also useful.

Three Types of Subepithelial Lesion-Like Gastric Cancer Including a New Entity of Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

Gastric subepithelial lesions (SEL) are usually found incidentally during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Most gastric SELs are benign lesions, such as leiomyoma and pancreatic rests. However, neoplastic lesions including neuroendocrine tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and certain types of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA), such as the recently WHO-classified fundic gland type adenocarcinoma, may be found. The lack of simple and established diagnostic methods for SEL remains a clinical challenge. Standard biopsy is suboptimal for diagnosis due to the subepithelial location of lesions and is therefore often omitted. Furthermore, guideline-based algorithmic approaches for diagnosing SEL also differ between Japan and the USA. In this case series, we describe three cases of gastric SEL that were subsequently diagnosed as GA. Case 1 was a fundic gland type (chief cell predominant type) adenocarcinoma; Case 2 was a poorly differentiated GA; Case 3 was an advanced GA, found after 4 serial years of endoscopic follow-up for SEL. While standard biopsy led to successful diagnosis in the first 2 cases, no standard biopsy was performed during surveillance in Case 3, making its diagnostic effectiveness unclear. The third case highlights the importance of longitudinal observation for endoscopic mucosal alterations that may suggest certain types of GA. Clinicians should be aware that standard biopsy may play an important role in the evaluation of malignant gastric SEL-like lesions. It is crucial to remain vigilant for surface changes in SEL and not to summarily omit standard biopsy.

Association between mammographic breast composition and breast cancer risk among Japanese women: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Mammographic breast composition is associated with breast cancer risk. However, evidence in a Japanese cohort investigating this association is scarce. Thus, we aimed to compare breast cancer risk between women with and without dense breasts. METHODS: All Japanese women who underwent breast cancer screening at a tertiary care academic hospital-affiliated preventive center at least twice with known baseline mammographic breast composition were included in this study. A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted among 24,863 women who had 125,566 screening opportunities between April 1, 2005, and March 31, 2015. All women were categorized into two groups based on their baseline breast composition: women with dense breasts (13,815) and women with non-dense breasts (11,048). We compared the demographic characteristics between the two groups. After calculating person-years, Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of developing breast cancer according to breast composition status. RESULTS: During the study period, 358 breast cancer cases were identified. The dense and non-dense groups differed significantly by age, body mass index, family history of breast cancer, physical activity, history of smoking and alcohol consumption, number of pregnancies, and number of deliveries. After adjusting for these factors, Cox proportional hazards analyses showed that women with dense breasts had a significantly higher HR for developing breast cancer than women without dense breasts. The association was even stronger in younger women (≤ 50 years old), but it did not achieve statistical significance in older women. CONCLUSION: Dense breasts at baseline are a risk factor for developing breast cancer in Japanese women. However, this association was only observed in women aged 50 years or younger at the time of entry into the screening program.

Focal xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the kidney cyst without pyelitis: a rare presentation mimicking kidney cancer.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is one of the most common granulomatous diseases of the kidney. XGP is subdivided into diffuse, segmental, and focal subtypes. Preoperative diagnosis of focal XGP on radiological imaging can be challenging, especially without involvement of the renal pelvis. Here, we report the case of a 61 year-old male with focal xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the kidney without pyelitis. The lesion presented as a mural nodule on the left renal cortical cyst, and kidney cancer was suspected on the preoperative image. The patient underwent a successful partial nephrectomy. Pathological examination revealed that the mural nodule displayed xanthogranulomatous inflammation and was clearly distinct from the renal pelvis. Thus, it should be considered that a mural nodule in a renal cortical cyst could be xanthogranulomatous inflammation.

Relationship Between Breast Density, Breast Cancer Subtypes, and Prognosis.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, Europe, and Asia, a consensus has been reached that there is a higher risk of breast cancer in high density breasts. However, there are some contrary reports that suggest the absence of an association between breast composition and breast cancer subtype; thus, there is conflicting evidence. The purpose of this study was to investigate trends in the incidence of breast cancer subtypes according to breast composition and analyze the survival rates in Japanese women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2007 and 2008, 1258 Japanese patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent mammography and obtained a pathological diagnosis in our institution were included in the study. We compared cancer subtypes with breast composition types (dense and non-dense breast), and classified them based on initial mammography findings. Information on 5- and 10-year survival rates was collected by chart review for patients with dense and nondense breasts. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson's chi-square test for breast composition and cancer subtype. The effect of breast composition on mortality was examined using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, and adjusted hazard ratios were calculated. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between breast cancer subtype and breast composition (P = .08). Five-year (log-rank test, P = .09) and 10-year (log-rank test, P = .31) survival rates were not significantly different between breast composition types. CONCLUSION: There was no significant association between breast composition and cancer subtypes. There was also no significant difference in the prognosis between patients with and without dense breasts.

MicroSEC filters sequence errors for formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples.

The clinical sequencing of tumors is usually performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples and results in many sequencing errors. We identified that most of these errors are detected in chimeric reads caused by single-strand DNA molecules with microhomology. During the end-repair step of library preparation, mutations are introduced by the mis-annealing of two single-strand DNA molecules comprising homologous sequences. The mutated bases are distributed unevenly near the ends in the individual reads. Our filtering pipeline, MicroSEC, focuses on the uneven distribution of mutations in each read and removes the sequencing errors in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples without over-eliminating the mutations detected also in fresh frozen samples. Amplicon-based sequencing using 97 mutations confirmed that the sensitivity and specificity of MicroSEC were 97% (95% confidence interval: 82-100%) and 96% (95% confidence interval: 88-99%), respectively. Our pipeline will increase the reliability of the clinical sequencing and advance the cancer research using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples.

Hereditary paraganglioma presenting with atypical symptoms: Case report.

RATIONALE: Paraganglioma (PGL), an extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma, is a rare tumor, especially in children. While hypersecretion of catecholamines causes the classic triad of headaches, palpitations, and profuse sweating, prompt diagnosis is still challenging. PATIENT CONCERNS: For 7 months, an 8-year-old boy complained of polyuria and weight loss, followed by proteinuria and headache for 1 month prior to admission. He was admitted to our hospital due to an afebrile seizure. DIAGNOSIS: His blood pressure remained markedly elevated even after cessation of the convulsion. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Abdominal computed tomography showed a mass lesion encasing the left renal artery, measuring 41 mm in length along its major axis. The plasma and urine levels of normetanephrine were elevated. Additionally, iodine-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy showed an abnormal uptake in the abdominal mass with no evidence of metastasis. Based on these findings, we tentatively diagnosed him with PGL. INTERVENTION: Substantial alpha- and beta-blocking procedures were performed, followed by a tumor resection and an extended left nephrectomy on day 31 of hospitalization. Pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of PGL. OUTCOME: The postoperative course was uneventful, and his blood pressure normalized without the use of antihypertensive agents. Genetic testing revealed a known SDHB germline mutation. The same mutation was also detected on his father and paternal grandfather without any history of hypertension or malignant tumor. LESSON: It remains challenging to diagnose pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL) promptly because PPGL can present with a variety of symptoms. Preceding symptoms of the presented case might be caused by PGL. Although PPGL is a rare disease, especially in children, it should be considered in differential diagnosis when various unexplained symptoms persist.