Accuracy of echogenic periportal enlargement image in ultrasonographic exams and histopathology in differential diagnosis of biliary atresia.

OBJECTIVES: To define the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the ultrasound triangular cord sign and hepatic histopathology, in isolation or in combination, for diagnostic differentiation between biliary atresia and intrahepatic cholestasis. METHODS: This was a retrospective study carried out between January 1990 and December 2004. Fifty-one cases of biliary atresia and 45 of intrahepatic cholestasis were analyzed. Histopathology was performed blind by a pathologist. The triangular cord sign was identified in ultrasound reports as the only diagnostic sign of biliary atresia. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated for the triangular cord sign and histology both in isolation and in combination. The gold standard for diagnosis of biliary atresia was the appearance of the extrahepatic biliary tree via laparotomy. RESULTS: The triangular cord sign alone had sensitivity of 49%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 72.5%. Histopathology compatible with extrahepatic biliary obstruction alone had 90.2% sensitivity, 84.6% specificity and 87.8% accuracy. The triangular cord sign and histopathology in isolation or combination resulted in sensitivity of 93.2%, specificity of 85.7% and accuracy of 90.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Finding the triangular cord sign on ultrasound is an indication for laparotomy. If the triangular cord sign is negative, liver biopsy is indicated; if histopathology reveals signs of biliary atresia, explorative laparotomy is indicated. In cases where the triangular cord sign is absent and histopathology indicates neonatal hepatitis or other intrahepatic cholestasis, clinical treatment or observation are recommended in accordance with the diagnosis.

Acurácia diagnóstica do espessamento ecogênico periportal à ultra-sonografia e da histopatologia no diagnóstico diferencial da atresia biliar / Accuracy of echogenic periportal enlargement image in ultrasonographic exams and histopathology in differential diagnosis of biliary atresia

OBJETIVOS: Definir a sensibilidade, especificidade e a acurácia do espessamento ecogênico periportal à ultra-sonografia e da histopatologia hepática, isolados ou em conjunto, na distinção diagnóstica entre atresia biliar e as colestases intra-hepáticas. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo retrospectivo realizado entre janeiro de 1990 e dezembro de 2004. Foram analisados 51 casos de atresia biliar e 45 com colestase intra-hepática. A histopatologia foi realizada por uma patologista de forma cega. O espessamento ecogênico periportal foi pesquisado na ultra-sonografia como único sinal diagnóstico de atresia biliar. Foram calculados os índices de sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia do espessamento ecogênico periportal e da histologia isoladamente ou associados. O padrão-ouro utilizado para o diagnóstico de atresia biliar foi o aspecto da via biliar extra-hepática à laparotomia. RESULTADOS: O espessamento ecogênico periportal revelou sensibilidade de 49 por cento, especificidade de 100 por cento e acurácia de 72,5 por cento. A histopatologia compatível com obstrução biliar extra-hepática conferiu sensibilidade de 90,2 por cento, especificidade de 84,6 por cento e acurácia de 87,8 por cento. O espessamento ecogênico periportal e a histopatologia isolados ou associados proporcionaram sensibilidade de 93,2 por cento, especificidade de 85,7 por cento e acurácia de 90,3 por cento. CONCLUSÕES: A evidência do espessamento ecogênico periportal na ultra-sonografia é indicação de laparotomia. Se o espessamento ecogênico periportal é negativo, está indicada a biopsia hepática; se a histopatologia revelar sinais de atresia biliar, impõe-se a laparotomia exploradora. Nos casos de espessamento ecogênico periportal negativo com histopatologia de hepatite neonatal ou de outras colestases intra-hepáticas, recomenda-se o acompanhamento ou o tratamento clínico conforme o diagnóstico.

OBJECTIVES: To define the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the ultrasound triangular cord sign and hepatic histopathology, in isolation or in combination, for diagnostic differentiation between biliary atresia and intrahepatic cholestasis. METHODS: This was a retrospective study carried out between January 1990 and December 2004. Fifty-one cases of biliary atresia and 45 of intrahepatic cholestasis were analyzed. Histopathology was performed blind by a pathologist. The triangular cord sign was identified in ultrasound reports as the only diagnostic sign of biliary atresia. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated for the triangular cord sign and histology both in isolation and in combination. The gold standard for diagnosis of biliary atresia was the appearance of the extrahepatic biliary tree via laparotomy. RESULTS: The triangular cord sign alone had sensitivity of 49 percent, specificity of 100 percent and accuracy of 72.5 percent. Histopathology compatible with extrahepatic biliary obstruction alone had 90.2 percent sensitivity, 84.6 percent specificity and 87.8 percent accuracy. The triangular cord sign and histopathology in isolation or combination resulted in sensitivity of 93.2 percent, specificity of 85.7 percent and accuracy of 90.3 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Finding the triangular cord sign on ultrasound is an indication for laparotomy. If the triangular cord sign is negative, liver biopsy is indicated; if histopathology reveals signs of biliary atresia, explorative laparotomy is indicated. In cases where the triangular cord sign is absent and histopathology indicates neonatal hepatitis or other intrahepatic cholestasis, clinical treatment or observation are recommended in accordance with the diagnosis.

[Cutaneous non-Langerhans cells histiocytoses as cause of central diabetes insipidus]. / Histiocitose cutânea não-Langerhans como causa de diabetes insípido central.

The histiocytoses are rare diseases caused by alterations in the monocyte-histiocytic series with several clinical findings. Among the cutaneous syndromes of non-Langerhans cells, xanthoma disseminatum is the only disease of this group that has been classically associated to the central diabetes insipidus (CDI). The case reported describes a 30-year-old man that two years after presenting with CDI developed non confluent disseminated cutaneous brown papular lesions throughout the body. The histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and electronic microscopy were compatible with the diagnosis of non-Langerhans histiocytoses, suggesting the diagnosis of juvenile xanthogranuloma. The endocrine-metabolic evaluation did not show other alterations besides CDI in a 10-year follow up. The magnetic resonance of hypophysis showed absence of the pituitary hyperintense sign (bright spot). The radiologic and scinthigraphic evaluation of the bones did not show the presence of osteolytic lesions. This case prints out the importance of skin examination in cases of CDI and its association with cutaneous non-Langerhans histiocytoses in a broader spectrum, rather then restricted to the cases of xanthoma disseminatum.

Histiocitose cutânea não-Langerhans como causa de diabetes insípido central / Cutaneous non-Langerhans cells histiocytoses as cause of central diabetes inspidus

As histiocitoses são doenças raras, resultantes de alterações na linhagem monocítica-histiocítica, com manifestações clínicas diversas. Entre as síndromes cutâneas de células não-Langerhans, o xantoma disseminado é a única entidade desse grupo classicamente associada ao diabetes insípido central (DIC). O caso clínico relatado refere-se a um paciente de 30 anos de idade que, dois anos após o diagnóstico de DIC, evoluiu com lesões cutâneas papulosas, eritêmato-acastanhadas, difusas, discretas e não confluentes. Os achados histológicos, imuno-histoquímicos e a microscopia eletrônica mostraram resultados compatíveis com a histiocitose de células não-Langerhans e sugestivos do xantogranuloma juvenil. A avaliação endócrino-metabólica não mostrou alterações durante o seguimento por 10 anos, com exceção do DIC. A ressonância magnética da hipófise demonstrou ausência do sinal hiperintenso (mancha brilhante) correspondente à neuro-hipófise. As radiografias e a cintilografia dos ossos não mostraram lesões osteolíticas. Este caso desperta a atenção para a importância do exame da pele nos casos de DIC e de sua associação com a histiocitose de células não-Langerhans de maneira mais ampla, e não restrita aos casos de xantoma disseminado.

The histiocytoses are rare diseases caused by alterations in the monocyte-histiocytic series with several clinical findings. Among the cutaneous syndromes of non-Langerhans cells, xanthoma disseminatum is the only disease of this group that has been classically associated to the central diabetes insipidus (CDI). The case reported describes a 30-year-old man that two years after presenting with CDI developed non confluent disseminated cutaneous brown papular lesions throughout the body. The histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and electronic microscopy were compatible with the diagnosis of non-Langerhans histiocytoses, suggesting the diagnosis of juvenile xanthogranuloma. The endocrine-metabolic evaluation did not show other alterations besides CDI in a 10-year follow up. The magnetic resonance of hypophysis showed absence of the pituitary hyperintense sign (bright spot). The radiologic and scinthigraphic evaluation of the bones did not show the presence of osteolytic lesions. This case prints out the importance of skin examination in cases of CDI and its association with cutaneous non-Langerhans histiocytoses in a broader spectrum, rather then restricted to the cases of xanthoma disseminatum.

Apoptosis in Helicobacter pylori gastritis is related to cagA status.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection increases gastric epithelial cell apoptosis; however, the influence of cagA status is still controversial. We aimed to investigate if cagA status is related to apoptosis in H. pylori gastritis at different anatomic sites of the gastric mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied by immunohistochemistry (streptavidin-biotin method) pro-apoptotic (Bax and Bak) and antiapoptotic (Bcl-2 and Bcl-x) proteins expression, scored from 0 to 4, in gastric biopsies, at the antrum (lesser and greater curvatures), incisura, and corpus (greater curvature) from 50 patients with H. pylori gastritis (22 males, 28 females, median age 40 years) and eight non-infected patients (6 males, median age 39.6 years). H. pylori and cagA status were determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Apoptotic proteins were expressed in a granular pattern, in the cytoplasm of foveolar cells; Bax and Bak expression was higher than Bcl-2 and Bcl-x in most cases and was significantly higher in patients infected by cagA-positive strains than in those infected by cagA-negative strains (p = .001). Bak expression was higher at the lesser curvature (antrum and incisura) than in the other regions (p = .002) and was correlated with atrophy. Anti-apoptotic proteins were significantly more expressed at the antral lesser curvature than in the other regions of the stomach (Bcl-2: p = .02; Bcl-x: p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Infection with cagA-positive strains is significantly associated with overexpression of pro-apoptotic proteins in the gastric mucosa, mainly at the antral lesser curvature, which may have a role on atrophy development. Anti-apoptotic proteins were also overexpressed at the lesser curvature, which may occur to keep epithelial cell turnover or might be related to malignant transformation.

Prostate adenocarcinoma manifesting as generalized lymphadenopathy.

Generalized lymphadenopathy is a rare manifestation of metastatic prostate cancer. Here, we report the case of a 65-year-old patient with supraclavicular, mediastinal, hilar, and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and pulmonary infiltration, which suggested the diagnosis of lymphoma. There were no urinary symptoms, and the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was only mildly increased with a normal free PSA. A biopsy of the supraclavicular lymph node was compatible with adenocarcinoma, whose prostatic origin was shown by immunohistochemical staining with PSA. The origin of the primary tumor was confirmed by directed prostate biopsy. We emphasize that a suspicion of prostate cancer in men with adenocarcinoma of undetermined origin is important for an adequate diagnostic and therapeutic approach.