Thyroid Follicular Cell-derived Carcinomas in a Background of Multiple Adenomatous Nodules Leading to a Diagnosis of PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome in an Adult Patient With a Novel RECQL4 Mutation.

BACKGROUND: Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is a complex disorder. Carriers develop hamartomatous tumors, with an increased risk for developing malignant tumors in multiple organs. Surveillance to facilitate the early detection and treatment of malignancies is extremely important. CASE REPORT: A 31-year-old male presented with a 10 cm left lobe thyroid gland mass. After fine needle aspiration a left hemithyroidectomy was performed, which demonstrated a minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC, stage pT3a) and microscopic classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the background of about 50 separate adenomatous nodules (0.2-5 mm). Immunostaining showed loss of PTEN protein in the minimally invasive FTC and in all of the nodules tested, with uninvolved parenchyma serving as an internal control. Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Hereditary Cancer Panel, testing for 62 genes, was performed and showed germline mutations in PTEN and RecQ like helicase 4 (RECQL4) genes. Completion thyroidectomy subsequently performed demonstrated about 60 follicular cell-derived adenomatous nodules (0.3-10 mm). Genetic counseling and evaluation documented Cowden syndrome (CS) in the family. Thus, PHTS was confirmed. CONCLUSION: This report documents synchronous FTC and PTC in a background of multiple follicular adenomatous nodules with a novel RECQL4 mutation in an adult patient with PHTS. As such, documented the loss of PTEN protein in a thyroid gland affected by multiple adenomatous nodules aided in diagnosing PHTS.

Cytokine expression in the epidural space: a model of noncompressive disc herniation-induced inflammation.

STUDY DESIGN: Animal study. OBJECTIVE: Development of an animal model for the study of biochemical changes that occur in the epidural space after intervertebral disc herniation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although strong evidence for an inflammatory component exists, the biochemical processes underlying pain after disc herniation remain unknown. METHODS: Epidural lavage was performed in 48 rats after L5 dorsal root ganglion exposure at baseline and 3, 6, or 24 hours after placement of autologous nucleus pulposus (NP) (N = 15), saline (N = 15), or NP + an interferon-γ antibody (anti-IFN-γ; N = 18) directly onto the dorsal root ganglion. Multiplex assays quantifying interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IFN-γ, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were performed. NP (N = 7) was also analyzed for these cytokines by placing NP into saline and measuring the relative concentration. RESULTS: Cytokines measured low at baseline (0-100 pg/mL) in all groups. Compared with saline, NP application caused IL-6 elevation, peaking at T = 3 hours, that was prevented by anti-IFN-γ. NP induced elevation of TNF-α, peaking at T = 24 hours and was prevented by anti-IFN-γ. IFN-γ was elevated after NP at T = 3 hours and T = 24 hours. IL-1α was similar after saline versus NP. The concentrations of IL-1ß and IL-10 were elevated at T = 3 hours, 6 hours, and 24 hours in all groups without between-groups difference. The level of IL-4 peaked at T = 3 hours in the NP group and was different than saline and NP + anti-IFN-γ groups, but the time effect was insignificant. There was no change for GM-CSF. The concentration of cytokines measured in normal NP was less than 2 pg/mL for all cytokines except TNF-α. CONCLUSION: In this model of acute noncompressive disc herniation, NP caused the elevation of epidural IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ--all attenuated by IFN-γ blockade. IL-1ß and IL-10 were both significantly elevated by saline alone and their response was not prevented by IFN-γ blockade. This model may prove useful for the study of the biochemical processes by which NP induces inflammation-induced nerve root irritation and radiculopathic pain.