Development and morphology of teratocytes in Encarsia berlesei and Encarsia citrina: first record for Chalcidoidea.

In several species of hymenopteran parasitoids of the superfamilies of Ichneumonoidea and Platygastroidea, the membrane enveloping the parasitoid embryo dissociates at hatching into a number of cells, called teratocytes, which autonomously develop in the host haemolymph. In this work we report for Encarsia berlesei and Encarsia citrina (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), the dissociation of the extraembryonic membrane into cells whose morphological and embryological features correspond to those of teratocytes. In E. berlesei the membrane dissociated at hatching into 4-9 larger cells (100 microm diameter) and about 10 smaller cells (60 microm), which scarcely doubled their size during maturation. In E. citrina the membrane dissociated into five large cells (250 microm) which did not grow appreciably. Ultrastructural investigation of the dissociated cells in E. berlesei revealed that their surface was covered by microvilli, whose density and length increased from the egg stage to the 12 h following hatching. During the same period, rough endoplasmic reticulum evolved from a parallel profile to that of the cisternal type, while abundant vesicles represented the dominant cytological feature. The ploidy level of these cells ranged between 8c and 140c at hatching, but increased to 40c-350c at maturation. These findings provide the first clear evidences for the presence of teratocytes in the superfamily Chalcidoidea.

Quantitative assessment of oxyphilic cell lesions of the thyroid gland on fine needle aspiration samples.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible contribution by a multiparametric quantitative approach to the cytologic diagnosis of oxyphilic cell (OC) thyroid lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Ten cases of chronic lymphocytic (Hashimoto) thyroiditis and 10 nodular goiters containing oxyphilic cells plus 20 cases of tumors subsequently classified as oxyphilic cell adenomas (10 cases) or oxyphilic cell well-differentiated carcinomas (10 cases) were evaluated. The study was performed on May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained smears for planimetric measurements. The same smears were destained and Feulgen restained for densitometric measurements. The latter were performed using static cytometry equipment measuring 100 and 20-30 lymphocytes per case for the determination of integrated optical density (IOD). The following parameters were considered: nuclear area, perimeter, maximum diameter, form ELL, form PE, IOD, 5c exceeding rate (5cER) and visual classification of histograms as euploid, polyploid and aneuploid. RESULTS: Mean nuclear area of carcinomas was smaller than that of adenomas, goiter and thyroiditis. Nuclear area was larger in adenomas than in other benign lesions and carcinomas. All the other planimetric parameters were similar in the lesions examined. Four carcinomas and three adenomas were aneuploid, and all the rest were euploid. All the cases of thyroiditis and goiter were euploid or polyploid; four thyroiditis cases showed polyploid histograms and 5cER values > 1. CONCLUSION: Morphometric and densitometric procedures have a limited role in the discrimination of OC lesions, but small nuclear area values may be useful in distinguishing OC carcinoma from other lesions. The role of densitometry seems even more limited because aneuploid histograms may be found among adenomas and carcinomas. Further studies are needed to explain polyploidy and 5cER > 1 in Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Retrospective evaluation of DNA ploidy of hepatocarcinoma on cytologic samples.

DNA ploidy was evaluated by image cytometry in a series of 84 hepatocellular carcinomas diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. In the series were included eight cases originally diagnosed as suspect and reclassified as well-differentiated hepatocarcinoma. The study was retrospectively performed on Papanicolaou-destained, Feulgen-restained smears. The 5c exceeding rate and the visual interpretation of the corresponding histograms were evaluated and compared with size of the tumors, serum alpha-fetoprotein values, hepatic functional staging, and patient survival. Sixty-eight cases were aneuploid and 16 euploid (9 diploid and 7 polyploid). Four of the eight cytologically suspect cases were aneuploid. Statistical analysis showed an association between size and cytologic grading, 5c exceeding rate and cytologic grading, and between aneuploidy and multiple tumors; in a Cox multivariate DNA content analysis, aneuploidy and multiple tumors were the two prognostically significant variables. DNA ploidy evaluation by static cytometry of hepatic tumors may be useful in the diagnosis on cytologic samples and could represent an independent prognostic parameter in predicting the survival outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

[The role of morphometry in the cytology of pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary glands]. / Il ruolo della morfometria nella citologia degli adenomi pleomorfi delle ghiandole salivari.

A morphometric analysis was performed on cytologic smears (FNAB) of 5 cases of pleomorphic adenoma that recurred after the first diagnosis and on 5 ordinary pleomorphic adenoma. The considered parameters were as follows: nuclear area, perimeter, maximum diameter, feret x, feret y, F shaped and D circle. A statistical analysis was performed between the two groups for all the considered parameters using a two-sided Student's t-test for independent samples. The test showed significant differences of the parameter nuclear area. The authors conclude that a morphometric assessment may bring a significant contribution in the knowledge and prediction of the outcome of pleomorphic adenoma.

[The quantitative assessment of DNA in potentially cancerous cases of oral lichen]. / La valutazione quantitativa del DNA nei casi di lichen del cavo orale potenzialmente cancerosi.

The increased prevalence of all variants of oral lichen, both as a result of increasing frequency and improved knowledge of the pathologist, coupled with its greater trend to malignant transformation has focused the attention of researchers on the development of new technology that could help in the early detection of the precancerous lesion. DNA cytometric detection can be useful to detect the precancerous lesion when clinical and histological findings of the transformation are still absent. The early diagnosis of such lesions entitles to use a more aggressive treatment, both medical and surgical.

Evolution of DNA content in small and well-differentiated hepatocarcinoma.

DNA ploidy of 10 well-differentiated hepatocarcinomas was evaluated by densitometry on smears obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) with ultrasound guidance. Because of diagnostic difficulties or an increase in tumor size, FNAB was repeated once in six cases and twice in four. All the material collected was then analyzed to study the variation of DNA content over time in these neoplasms. The study was performed on Feulgen-stained slides using an IBAS image analyzer system. DNA ploidy was evaluated by visual interpretation of the corresponding histograms and by calculating the 5c exceeding rate (5cER), 2c deviation index (2cDI) and DNA malignancy grade (DNA-MG). In the first samples seven cases were euploid (four diploid and three polyploid), with 5cER < 5; three cases were aneuploid, with 5cER > 5. In the second samples, taken after four or six weeks, eight cases became aneuploid, with 5cER > 5, and two cases were polyploid, with 5cER > 5. Four cases in which a third FNAB was performed resulted in aneuploidy, with 5cER > 5. A progressive increase in aneuploidy, 5cER and DNA-MG values was observed in six cases in the second FNAB and in one case in the third FNAB along with the increasing size of the nodules. In only one case we observed a paradoxical reduction in the 5cER in the third FNAB; the corresponding histogram remained aneuploid. Limitations could have occurred because of sampling small nodules under ultrasound guidance and because of the relatively small number of cells measured. DNA evaluation seems to be useful in the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma and in the study of its biologic features.

Comparative morphometric analysis of aggressive and ordinary basal cell carcinoma of the skin.

A morphometric analysis was performed on histologic sections of 11 cases of aggressive basal cell carcinoma that recurred and/or metastasized after the first diagnosis (BCC2) and on 11 ordinary basal cell carcinomas (BCC1). The considered parameters were as follows: nuclear area, perimeter, maximum diameter, feret x, feret y, form perimeter, and form area. The results show numeric differences between the two groups for the first five parameters. A statistical analysis was performed between BCC1 and BCC2 for all the considered parameters using a two-sided t test for independent samples. The test showed significant differences between the first five parameters except for the two form factors. A multivariate analysis was performed using area and perimeter values of the compared groups that amplified the discrimination threshold between the two groups. The authors conclude that a morphometric assessment may bring significant contribution in the knowledge and in the outcome prediction of basal cell carcinoma.

A morphometric approach to the grading of chondroid tumours on fine-needle smears.

A morphometric study was performed on 600 nuclei from 6 benign chondroid tumours (BCL) (3 enchondromas and 3 exostoses), 600 nuclei from 6 well-differentiated chondrosarcomas (WDC) and 200 nuclei from moderately-differentiated chondrosarcomas (MDC) obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy. The parameters considered were nuclear area, perimeter and maximum diameter. Moving across the three groups of lesions the nuclei appeared progressively larger. A statistical analysis was performed on the three groups. Significant differences between the means of all the parameters considered were observed. The authors suggest that morphometric analysis may be a possible step in the cytologic diagnosis and grading of chondroid tumours.

The role of morphometry in the cytology of well-differentiated hepatocarcinoma and cirrhosis with atypia.

A morphometric study was performed on 200 nuclei per case in six well-differentiated hepatocarcinomas and in six cirrhoses with cytologic atypia, using samples obtained by fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the liver. The parameters measured were the nuclear area, the nuclear perimeter and the maximum nuclear diameter. The nuclei of well-differentiated hepatocarcinomas could be distinguished from those of cirrhoses on the basis of the larger size and greater anisonucleosis of the former. A statistical analysis (using a two-sided t-test) of the means of the parameters showed significant differences between the two diagnostic groups. These results suggest that morphometric analysis can help in the differential diagnosis between well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis with cytologic atypia in FNA biopsy samples.

Malignancy-associated cellular markers (MAC) in oral and bronchial epithelial cells in sputum specimens: possible morphologic marker for high-risk groups (asbestos-exposed workers).

To verify a possible role of malignancy-associated cellular markers (MAC) in high-risk groups, the authors reviewed a total of 291 consecutive sputum specimens from 97 workers exposed to asbestos. The asbestos workers were matched according to smoking habits and cellular changes. Twelve subjects (12.3%) had MAC in epithelial cells; eight were smokers, four nonsmokers. Among MAC+ smokers, three sputum specimens contained cells of squamous metaplasia and one had cells from carcinoma in situ. Two MAC+ nonsmokers had cells of squamous metaplasia, too. In addition, MAC+ cells were also identified in four inflammatory samples, belonging either to smokers or nonsmokers. Two MAC+ subjects had a negative sputum specimen. In keeping with these results, the authors believe that MAC evaluation in sputum specimens might be of help in the oncologic follow-up of asbestos-exposed workers.