Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia type II.

We report a rare case of essential mixed cryoglobulinemia type II with membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type I in which HCV was not found. Long-term history of palindromic rheumatism, skin leukocytoclastic vasculitis attacks and micro-normocytic anemia preceded the appearance of cryoglobulinemia. Cryoprecipitate consisted of monoclonal IgMk-RF and polyclonal IgG (essential mixed type II). The newly appreciated cryoglobulinemia was associated with Coombs positive hemolytic anemia. The MPGN in this case had a benign course and responded to complex simple therapies including prevention of exposure to cold, low antigen content diet, treatment of provoking factors such as UTI, and maximal dose of ACE inhibitor. Responsiveness of skin vasculitis to colchicine therapy was restored after a two-month colchicine withdrawal period and therefore corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy was postponed.

Influenza vaccination induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis and pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Influenza vaccination is a widely accepted practice, particularly among the elderly and high-risk individuals. Minor and transitory side effects following the vaccination are common, while systemic complications are infrequently reported. We describe here a case of a patient who presented to the emergency room with arthralgia, myalgias and purpura, following influenza vaccination. Necrotizing vasculitis associated with pauci-immune glomerulonephritis was observed on kidney biopsy. With increasing use of influenza vaccination, attention should be drawn to the possible expression of systemic adverse effects such as vasculitis and glomerulonephritis.

Late recurrence of combined hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatoblastoma in a child: case report and review of the literature.

We report on a case of late relapse of hepatocellular carcinoma in a child suffering from combined hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, stage IV. This is a rare event, as it has been accepted that a 5-year period free of any signs of disease in children suffering from malignant hepatic tumors is sufficient to classify such patients as survivors. In our patient, recurrence of the hepatocellular carcinoma component was diagnosed more than five years after the initial diagnosis. This case illustrates the need for more prolonged follow-ups for such children.

Hydrodynamical effects on spatial distribution of enteric bacteria in the Jordan River-Lake Kinneret contact zone.

The aim of this study was to determine under what hydrodynamic conditions the change in the number of enteric bacteria in the water of the River Jordan--Lake Kinneret contact zone was due to sedimentation and under what conditions the change was due to dilution. The data were then utilized to build a conceptual model explaining the distribution of biological pollutants (bacteria) in the river-lake contact zone of a shallow tropical lake. The study uses, as an example, the microbial communities of the River Jordan--Lake Kinneret contact zone. The changes in numbers of three groups of bacteria (fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) along the jet flow agree well with changes in the concentration of suspended particulate matter, caused by the sedimentation of particles.

Recurrent, self-limited, menstrual-associated bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia.

A 39-year-old woman presented with recurrent acute illness, characterized by high-grade fever, pleuritic chest pain, and unilateral nodular infiltrate on chest radiograph. During the follow-up period, there were six similar episodes, each starting 2 to 3 days prior to her menstrual period and resolving within 5 to 10 days. Persistent symptoms in the seventh episode led us to perform an open lung biopsy; the specimen showed histologic changes compatible with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing BOOP in association with a menstrual period. This exceptional case emphasizes the wide and unexpected spectrum of this disease.

Minimal change glomerulonephritis associated with hydatid disease.

A 63-year-old man presented to our department with dyspnea and peripheral edema. A cystic mass in the right upper abdomen, consistent with echinococcal disease was discovered. Proteinuria was also present, and a nephrotic syndrome was diagnosed. The kidney biopsy revealed minimal change glomerulonephritis. Treatment with the antiechinococcal drug albendazole induced complete remission of the nephrotic syndrome, suggesting an etiopathogenic role for a hydatid antigen in the development of an immune-mediated glomerulonephritis.

A comparative immunohistochemical study of MART-1 expression in Spitz nevi, ordinary melanocytic nevi, and malignant melanomas.

BACKGROUND: The histopathologic differential diagnosis of Spitz nevus (SN) from malignant melanoma (MM) may be difficult. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to elucidate the pattern of expression of a newly recognized melanocyte-specific melanosomal protein MART-1 in routinely processed specimens of SNs, MMs, and ordinary melanocytic nevi (MNs) and to see whether it can help to differentiate between them. METHODS: Twenty SN, 22 MM, and 27 ordinary MN were immunostained with anti-MART-1 monoclonal antibody (clone A103). RESULTS: All SNs, MNs, and MMs demonstrated cytoplasmic staining for MART-1 in some of their tumor cells, of which 17 of 20 (85%) and 24 of 27 (89%) of SN and MN, respectively, demonstrated positive stainings in more than half of their tumor cells, as compared with only 10 of 22 (45%) of the MM (P <.05). The majority of lesions in all 3 types of tumors showed a homogeneous mode of staining, although MM tended to show a more heterogeneous pattern. A consistent pattern of stratification of staining with progressive descent into the dermis was not demonstrated in these tumors. CONCLUSION: MART-1 does not differentiate between SN, MM, and ordinary MN in a consistent pattern, but it may be used as a marker for these tumors.

Fibrosarcoma of the trachea in a child: case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of nearly total obstruction of the trachea in a 15-month-old boy suffering from tracheal fibrosarcoma. The diagnosis was confirmed on histological examination of a removed part of the tumor, with subsequent successful complete resection of tracheal fibrosarcoma. Follow-up to the age of 13 years showed complete recovery with normalization of respiratory functions. The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this case are discussed.

The role of chemotherapy in childhood soft tissue sarcomas other than rhabdomyosarcomas: experience of the Northern Israel Oncology Center.

Forty-three children with nonrhabdomyosarcomatous soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS) were treated at the Northern Israel Oncology Center in Haifa, Israel, from 1971 to 1996. The male:female ratio was 1.5:1 and the median age of patient was 10 years (range, 3 months-18 years). The most common histopathologic diagnoses were fibrosarcoma (32.5%) and synovial sarcoma (16%). The sites of primary tumor were lower limb (35%), trunk (18%), upper limb (16%), head and neck (16%), and retroperitoneum (11%). By Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study classifications, 13 patients presented as group I, 15 patients as group II, 10 patients as group III, and 5 patients as group IV. Median follow-up time was 63 months (range, 6 months-18 years). The estimated survival after a 5-year period is 72% (SE +/- 17) for patients in group I, 75 +/- 15% in group II, 90 +/- 9% for patients in group III, and 40 +/- 21% for patients in group IV. Eleven patients relapsed; 4/6 who developed local relapse were cured and are alive with disease, while 4/5 who developed distant metastases are dead. For the 28 patients who underwent complete resection at diagnosis, the estimated survival after a 5-year period is 87 +/- 5% vs. 60 +/- 17% for the 15 patients who underwent partial excision or biopsy. Local radiotherapy was delivered after surgery to group III patients. Preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy was delivered to the patients of groups III and IV, and postoperative chemotherapy only to group II patients. Chemotherapy produced demonstrable gain in survival for group II and III patients but not for patients with metastases. The authors conclude that an aggressive surgical approach is needed in patients with NRSTS. Chemotherapy may help as a preoperative treatment in bulky disease or as a postoperative treatment for microscopic residual disease.

Metastatic spinal cord compression as initial presentation of follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Follicular thyroid carcinoma, initially presenting as spinal cord compression due to metastatic lesions, is a less reported event. We present two cases of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma that led to spinal cord compression. A thorough search of the literature revealed only five similar cases. We summarize the clinical characteristics of these cases, the therapeutic measures used, their outcome, and the prognosis.

Minimal-change nephropathy and malignant thymoma.

A 69-year-old woman presented with persistent dyspnea and continuous coughing and mediastinal mass. The mass was found to be a malignant thymoma and was resected incompletely. A full-blown nephrotic syndrome appeared 1 year after removal of the thymoma. Renal biopsy revealed minimal-change glomerulonephritis. There was no evidence of other autoimmune diseases or causes of the minimal-change glomerulonephritis.

Large liponecrotic pseudocyst formation following cheek augmentation by fat injection.

A case in which a growing cystic mass developed in the submandibular area, 6 months following fat injection to the cheek and mandibular area, is described. Histological examination revealed a liponecrotic pseudocyst. It is suggested that subcutaneous masses appearing in an area, which was previously injected with fat, should be excised. Diagnostic aspiration procedures may cause leakage of its oily content and possible further granulomatotic reactions and cysts.

Case report: late aggressive meningioma following prophylactic cranial irradiation for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The clinical, radiological and pathological findings in a 28-year-old female patient who developed aggressive meningioma 20 years after prophylatic cranial irradiation (PCI) for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are described here. Only four cases of late atypical/aggressive meningioma following PCI were detected in a thorough search of the literature. The high cure rate in childhood ALL, attributable to aggressive chemotherapy and PCI, is capable of inducing secondary brain tumour, including aggressive meningioma.

Spontaneous pneumothorax complicating chemotherapy for metastatic seminoma. A case report and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous pneumothorax complicating chemotherapy has been reported mainly in metastatic sarcoma, particularly of the osteogenic type. The main factor in the etiology of spontaneous pneumothorax could be related to tumor lysis and/or rapid rupture of chemosensitive peripheral or subpleural metastasis into the pleural cavity, thus leading to a bronchopleural fistula. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 49-year-old patient in whom spontaneous pneumothorax developed after successful chemotherapy for metastatic seminoma is described. On chest tube drainage, the lung reexpanded rapidly and the patient became clinically and radiographically symptom free. CONCLUSION: To the authors' knowledge, this is only the second case of spontaneous pneumothorax complicating chemotherapy-induced rapid regression of lung and mediastinal metastases in patients with seminoma. Spontaneous pneumothorax should be included in the spectrum of chemotherapy-related side effects in chemosensitive solid tumors with lung metastases.

Cardiac tamponade as the initial manifestation of primary pericardial mesothelioma.

Although cardiac tamponade is a known complication of malignancy, it is rarely the initial manifestation. We report a 46-year-old male who presented with malignant cardiac tamponade 6 months prior to the definitive diagnosis of primary pericardial mesothelioma. A thorough literature search has not revealed a similar care.