Immunohistochemical study of melanocytic differentiation antigens in cutaneous malignant melanoma. A comparison of six commercial antibodies and one non-commercial antibody in nodular melanoma, superficially spreading melanoma and lentigo maligna melanoma.

In certain primary and metastatic malignant melanomas diagnostic problems may arise due to their cytologic features and/or absence of synthesis of melanin. As the "classic" combination of S-100 protein and HMB-45 may occasionally fail to stain cells of malignant melanoma, we have tested a series of commercially accessible antibodies which were so far not compared by other authors in the three most frequent subtypes of this tumor. In surgical specimens from 104 cutaneous malignant melanomas (40 nodular melanomas, 46 superficially spreading malignant melanomas and 18 lentigo maligna melanomas) the staining intensity and the proportion of neoplastic cells stained with antibodies to S-100 protein, HMB-45, NKI/C3, NKI/beteb, MART 1 (Melan A), KBA 62 and Mitf was semiquantitatively analysed. The use of this group of antibodies against melanoma-associated antigens revealed it to be a favourable supplement for the bioptical or cytological diagnosis of malignant melanoma in case the traditional/conventional combination of S-100 protein and HMB-45 antibody fails. According to the authors' experience the antibody against KBA 62 has shown to be the most effective antibody followed by the antibodies against MART-1 (Melan A) and NKI/C3.

[Pulmonary thromboembolism over a 25-year period in data from the Institute of Pathology of the P.J. Safarik Medical School in Kosice]. / Výskyt plúcnej trombembólie v materiáloch Ustavu patológie Lekárskej fakulty Univerzity P. J. Safárika v Kosiciach v odstupe stvrt'storocí.

Based on a review of archival autopsy protocols an analysis of the frequency of pulmonary thrombembolism in consecutive autopsy material is presented. The study interval for the analysis was oriented to the period between the years 1949-2000. Our analysis has shown a gradual progression of incidence of pulmonary thrombembolism, as demonstrated in relative figures. The applied preventive measures against the development of thrombosis during hospitalization have not substantially contributed to decreasing its frequency, what is not in accord with some recent observations from other countries.

Benign glomus tumor of the superior posterior mediastinum.

An unusual location of a benign glomus tumour, outside of the constantly located regions, e.g. in the subungual location or deeply sited in extremities, was diagnosed in a 56-year-old white female in her posterior upper mediastinum. The single similar case report was published before the era of electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry and single cases of atypical and malignant forms in this unusual location were published only recently. The tumour measuring 5 x 4 x 2 centimeters has caused cough and was associated with occasional righ-sided chest pain. Its rich vascular supply has caused intensive intraoperative bleeding. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient is free of neoplastic disease or symptoms six years after surgery. Numerous mast cells present within the tumour's interstices must be considered in relation to the possible pathogenesis of the up to now unexplained pain in glomus tumours.

[An uncommon localized form of retroperitoneal fibrosis]. / Neobvyklá lokalizovaná forma retroperitoneálnej fibrózy.

The authors describe an uncommon case of a localized form of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis in a 70-year-old patient. They considered the tumour in the right hypogastrium (20 x 18 x 10 cm) malignant. The result of histological examination was surprising--Ormond's disease. The process could not be removed without damaging the common iliac artery. Simple suture of the artery proved unsuitable. During the postoperative period occlusion of the artery developed which was successfully resolved by an aorto-femoral bypass. Half a year after surgery the patient did not suffer a relapse.

[Immunohistochemical analysis of renal angiomyolipoma]. / Imunohistochemická analýza angiomyolipómu oblicky.

Immunohistochemical analysis of 6 cases of renal angiomyolipoma not related to tuberous sclerosis proved the same rate of expression of HMB 45 and NKI/C3 as well in epithelioid smooth muscle cells of the tumours. Beyond this, an unspecific expression of alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin was found which has not been mentioned in the literature up to now.

Ovarian hemangioma.

A rare case report of a clinically asymptomatic hemangioma of the left ovary is described. This tumor was an additional and accidental finding in a biopsy specimen removed because of a medium-sized mucinous cystadenoma in a 32-year-old patient. Immunohistochemically the expressions of Factor VIII and smooth muscle actin and negativity of estrogen and progesterone receptors were found.

Actinomycosis of the middle ear.

Another case of actinomycosis of the ear is described in a nine-year-old boy, drawing attention to the increasing incidence of diseases of the ear considered to be rare. The patient presented with the clinical signs of chronic purulent otitis media, not responding to conservative treatment. After the diagnosis of actinomycosis was established the patient was treated by surgery and long-term antibiotic medication, responding favourably.

[Mesenteric venous thrombosis probably due to hereditary thrombophilia in an 18-year-old boy]. / Venózna mezenterická trombóza na podklade pravdepodobnej vrodenej trombofílie u 18 rocného chlapca.

The authors describe the case-history of an 18-year-old patient with an extensive venous mesenteric thrombosis. The case proved fatal despite repeated surgery as a result of relapsing gangrene of the small intestine with diffuse stercoral peritonitis. Thrombosis of the mesenteric veins is a rare disease and accounts only for 4 to 10% of all acute intestinal episodes. The cause of the disease is either idiopathic but more frequently it is associated with various types of coagulopathy. In this context the authors discuss etiological factors, symptoms, diagnosis as well as possible treatment of acute mesenteric venous thrombosis.

Intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma: a sporadic case.

A sporadic case of the intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma is described. The patient was a comparatively young 33-year-old woman employed as a senior biochemical scientific technologist for several years. The light microscopical pattern was that of a papillary-tubular adenocarcinoma with areas of more solid mucinous elements in the deeper parts of the neoplasm. The neoplasm had invaded the nasal septum and reached the left orbit invading the left ethmoidal sinus. The glands were lined by columnar cells with elongated spindle-shaped nuclei and the cells expressed cytokeratin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Chromogranin A, gastrin and serotonin but not neurone-specific enolase (NSE) nor synaptophysin. Neurosecretory granules were present. There was no history of wood dust inhalation and her exposure to chemicals is of some interest but had probably little or no role in the causation of this neoplasm.