CD105 (endoglin) expression as a prognostic marker of angiogenesis in squamous cell cervical cancer treated with radical radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Increased levels of endoglin may represent a new reagent of active neovascularization and angiogenesis process in various cancer types. The prognostic value of tumor CD105 (endoglin) expression in cervical squamous cell cancer (CSCC) patients treated with radical radiotherapy (RT) ± chemotherapy was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CD105 (endoglin) expression was assessed by immunohistochemical methods in seventy patients, who were treated with radical RT ± chemotherapy for CSCC. The prognostic effects of CD105 on patient and treatment characteristics, local-regional control, and survival were assessed. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 24 (5-99) months for the whole cohort. The median CD105 microvessel density was 55.5 (range; 12-136). Age (≤61 vs. >61 years; P = 0.015), lymph node metastasis status (absent vs. present; P = 0.028), International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage (Ib-IIa vs. IIb-IVa; P = 0.036), cycles of concurrent chemotherapy (1-3 vs. 4-6 cycles; P = 0.001), and hemoglobin levels (≤10 g/dL vs. >10 g/dL; P = 0.006) appeared to associate significantly with overall survival on univariate analysis. DISCUSSION: No correlation was identified between the tumor CD105 (endoglin) expression and survival in CSCC patients treated with radical RT ± chemotherapy.

Retro-orbital, Breast, Cardiac, Skin, and Subcutaneous Metastases of Neuroendocrine Tumor From a Tail Gut Cyst on 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT Imaging.

Tail gut cysts are rare congenital lesions developing from postanal primitive gut remnants. They are mostly benign but carry a potential of malignant transformation, such as adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumor, adenosquamous carcinoma, and pseudomyxoma peritonei. We present a 39-year-old woman with a neuroendocrine tumor arising within a tail gut cyst. She underwent complete resection in 2011. After 4 years, she was admitted with breast nodules, left proptosis, and gaze difficulties. Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT demonstrated extensive metastases including pelvic, lymph node, adrenal gland, bone, retro-orbital, cardiac, breast, skin, and subcutaneous metastases.

Prognostic Significance of CD24 in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

The role of cancer stem cells in the initiation and progression of cancer has become a well-studied area of emerging research, and stem cells with different surface markers have been identified in various types of cancer. CD24 is a membrane protein that acts as the ligand for P-selectin and has been defined as a stem cell marker of colonic cancer. The immunohistochemical expression of CD24 is associated with worse patient outcomes in small cell lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, and colon cancer. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to determine CD24 expression in clear cell, papillary and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and investigated its relationship with other clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. A total of 108 cases of clear cell, 12 papillary and 13 choromophobe renal cell carcinoma were examined. Clinicopathological features including age, gender, vascular invasion, tumor necrosis, and T stage were recorded. Clinical stage and overall survival and disease-free survival times were recorded. The immunohistochemical expression of CD24 was classified as low or high based on the percentage and intensity of positive staining. CD24 expression was associated with both tumor grade and recurrence rates. The survival analysis revealed that patients with high CD24 expression exhibited significantly lower overall and disease-free survival. Increased expression of CD24 is related to the prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. This is the first study identifying a strong association between CD24 expression levels and survival. Thus, CD24 expression may aid in predicting prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Gonadoblastoma and Papillary Tubal Hyperplasia in Ovotesticular Disorder of Sexual Development.

Ovotesticular disorder of sexual development (DSD), formerly known as true hermaphroditism, is a rare form of DSD in which both testicular and ovarian tissues are present in the same individual either in a single gonad (ovotestis) or in opposite gonads with a testis and an ovary on each side. The diagnosis of ovotesticular DSD is based solely on the presence of ovarian and testicular tissue in the gonad and not on the characteristics of the internal and external genitalia, even if ambiguous. Herein, we report two patients with ovotesticular DSD-one presenting with ambiguous genitalia on the third day after birth and the other with short stature and primary amenorrhea in adolescence. Clinical and histopathological investigation revealed a sex-determining region on the Y chromosome (SRY)-positive 46,XX karyotype and bilateral ovotestes in case 1 and a 46,XY karyotype with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and a streak gonad in one ovotestis with dysgerminoma, gonadoblastoma, and papillary tubal hyperplasia in the contralateral ovotestis in case 2. Laparoscopic examination and gonadal biopsy for histopathological diagnosis remain the cornerstones for a diagnosis of ovotesticular DSD. Moreover, SRY positivity in a 46,XX patient, a 46,XY karyotype, an intra-abdominal gonad, and the age of patient at the time of diagnosis are predictive risk factors for the development of gonadoblastoma and/or dysgerminoma in ovotesticular DSD.

Amelanotic malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix diagnosed by cervical smear.

The melanocytic cells of the cervical epithelium are capable of forming the complete spectrum of melanocytic lesions, from benign lentigines to melanoma. Primary malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix is a rare neoplasm with aggressive behavior. The absence of melanin pigment can lead to misdiagnosis as carcinomas, sarcomas, or lymphoma. Immunohistochemical studies should be used for confirmation. In order to consent the cervix as a primary site, exclusion of any other probable primary sites of melanoma is needed. Here, we present a 61-year-old female patient with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. After cervical smear, diagnosis was confirmed by cervical punch biopsy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:535-537. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Congenital hyperinsulinism presenting with different clinical, biochemical and molecular genetic spectra.

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a common cause of hypoglycemia in infants. We report three cases of CHI with differing clinical, biochemical, and molecular genetic spectra. One patient was unresponsive to medical treatment and died after subtotal pancreatectomy because of complications due to the surgery. Two patients have been followed successfully with medical treatment. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of CHI are essential to prevent morbidity and mortality.

Ruptured granulosa cell tumor of the ovary as a cause of acute abdomen in postmenopausal woman.

Acute abdomen with hemoperitoneum is a very rare entity in postmenopausal women due to gynecologic conditions. A 54-year-old, postmenopausal woman was brought to emergency department with severe abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed acute abdomen findings with 15 cm pelvic mass on the right adnexal region. Immediate exploratory laparotomy was performed. During laparotomy 1000 cc of bloodstained fluid, ruptured and actively bleeding large mass arising from right ovary was observed. Right salpingo-oopherectomy was performed in emergency conditions, and pathology report revealed an adult type of granulosa cell tumor. After this result, staging surgery was performed and patient was diagnosed as granulosa cell tumor stage 1 c. Cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin chemotherapy was given. Clinicians should be aware of granulosa cell tumors which may occur at any age and prone to rupture. Frozen section will be helpful in order to avoid incomplete surgeries especially in postmenopausal women presented with intra-abdominal bleeding.

Peritoneal tuberculosis mimicking ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics of 20 patients diagnosed as tuberculous peritonitis (TBP) mimicking ovarian cancer during a 10-year period at a single center. STUDY DESIGN: Among 612 operations for ovarian malignancy we retrospectively reviewed the surgical and pathological reports of 20 patients suspected preoperatively as having ovarian malignancy but whose pathological results revealed TBP, between 2000 and 2011 in a university clinic. Demographic characteristics, physical and pelvic examination, laboratory investigations and radiological imaging of the patients were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Diagnostic laparotomy, laparoscopy and ultrasound guided tru-cut biopsy were performed in 11, 2 and 7 of the 20 patients, respectively. The mean age of the patients was 37.5 ± 17.3 years (range 16-70 years). The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (n=14%, 70%) and abdominal distension (n=13%, 65%). Serum CA 125 was elevated in 16 (80%) cases and the average CA 125 level was 289 ± 186.2 IU/ml. During ultrasonographic imaging and CT scans, ascites and a pelvic mass were detected in 19 (85%) and 12 (60%) patients respectively. TBP was suspected in 7 (35%) patients and ultrasound guided tru-cut biopsy was preferred as a first-line approach. Surgery was performed in 11 patients (55%) and during exploration widespread miliary nodules (n=9%, 81%), widespread adhesion (n=5%, 45%), adnexal mass (n=8%, 72%) and caseous necrotic substance (n=4%, 36%) were observed. Patients underwent unilateral (n=3% 27%) or bilateral (n=4%, 36%) salpingo-oophorectomy in seven (63%) cases. CONCLUSION: Since ovarian cancer is a serious condition and preoperative diagnosis of TBP is difficult, laparotomy is usually mandatory to distinguish these two entities. Ultrasound guided tru-cut biopsy is useful in selected patients and frozen section analysis avoids hazardous radical surgery at operation.

Toxoplasmic hepatitis in an immunocompetent patient.

Acquired toxoplasmosis is more frequently an unrecognized disease. Immunocompetent adults and adolescents with primary infection are generally asymptomatic, or symptoms observed may include malaise, fever, and lymphadenopathy. In contrast, immunocompromised patients may experience severe manifestation including encephalitis and multi system organ failure. We report a case of toxoplasmic hepatitis presenting with hepatomegaly in an immunocompetent patient.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis with giant cell tumor-like features: case report with immunohistochemical findings.

Sarcomatoid transitional cell carcinoma is a rare entity, in which a malignant, overtly epithelial component coexists with areas having a sarcoma-like appearance. Histological distinction of sarcomatoid carcinomas from carcinosarcomas is often difficult and immunohistochemistry is a helpful diagnostic adjunct in the correct diagnosis. In the present report, we describe an uncommon case of sarcomatoid transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis, associated with giant cell tumor-like features. Immunoperoxidase staining for cytokeratin was positive in spindle cell component, indicating an epithelial origin. The carcinomatous component showed a diffuse membranous reactivity for E-cadherin, whereas the reactivity was sporadic and weaker in the sarcomatoid component, suggesting that the decrease of E-cadherin expression might be associated with the acquisition of sarcomatous morphology. Osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells were positive for CD68 and negative for p53 oncoprotein, suggesting that they represent a non-neoplastic component that is reactively induced in the tumor stroma.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis with transformation to acute leukemia showing 45,X, t(8; 21), 5q-, -Y karyotype.

A 31 -year-old man was admitted to hospital with onset of difficulty in walking and urinary incontinence, leading to the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) which was replacing a thoracic vertebra. Four months after the completion of radiation therapy, he was referred to our department with persistent fever and severe pyogenic ulceration mainly affecting the right-hip. A diagnosis of acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) was made. Cytogenetic studies showed 45,X, t(8; 21), 5q-, -Y We report this case because, development of acute leukemia after LCH is rare and the literature searched for any cytogenetic study in these kind of cases yielded no data.