Immunophenotypic characterization of the cell infiltrate in five cases of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease).

Little is known about the nature of the large intrasinusoidal cells exhibiting cytophagocytosis, which are the histologic hallmark of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) (Rosai-Dorfman disease). Using a broad panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, we analyzed the immunophenotype of the cell infiltrates in seven lymph node biopsy specimens from five cases of SHML. The SHML cells constantly expressed the S-100 protein, concanavalin agglutinin and peanut agglutinin lectins, and monocyte-macrophage-associated antigens CD 11c, CD 14, CD 33, CD 68, and LN 5. Labeling with other antimacrophage antibodies was extremely variable, with some (MAC 387, lysozyme) restricted to clusters of SHML cells and others (CD11b, CD 36, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin) staining only scattered cells. The CD 1a antigen was found on some cells in only one case, whereas HLA-DR and the HLA-DR-associated invariant chains were absent. The heterogeneity of SHML cell marker expression might be related to the local content of factors (eg, cytokines) capable of modulating the phenotype of monocytes and derived cells. All cases presented with huge amounts of medium-sized mononuclear cells accumulated in the sinuses and intersinusoidal tissue. These cells expressed the S-100-/CD 11b+/CD 11c+/CD 14+/CD 16+/CD 33+/CD 36+/lysozyme+/MAC 387+/HLA-DR+ phenotype. These recently immigrated monocytes might represent the immediate precursors of SHML cells.

[Secondary varicocele as a clinical manifestation of primitive retroperitoneal tumor]. / Varicocele secondario come unica manifestazione clinica di tumore retroperitoneale primitivo.

The retroperitoneal primitive tumors are rare and the majority are malignant. Frequently the preoperative diagnosis is difficult because they show many clinical symptoms depending on the organs involved. A case of primitive retroperitoneal tumor with left varicocele syndrome as a first clinical manifestation is described.

Static cytometry of DNA in breast lump with reference to grading.

Fresh smears of 400 consecutive cases of breast lumps stained with Feulgen stain were measured with densitometric technique in static cytometry. A correlation was observed between DNA content expressed by the DNA index and histologic grading of malignant lesions; relatively high values were observed in the group of "hyperplasias", which were similar to G1. Values of DNA content in different categories: benign, hyperplastic (nodular and sclerosing adenosis, epitheliosis . . .) and all malignant types variously graded in G1, G2 and G3, show broad areas of overlapping, suggesting that the parameter is not always discriminating between benign, hyperplastic and malignant, but it can identify different amounts of DNA (high and low degrees) within a homogeneous category. Correlation between number of hypertetraploid nuclei (4c) and histologic grading was also evident. Therefore, fresh smears, in relation to DNA content and to the percentage of hypertetraploid elements allow a better definition of "high and low degree" lesions in a short time with possible prognostic involvement as regards tumoral progression.

[DNA index of colorectal carcinoma and follow-up]. / DNA index del carcinoma colon-rettale e follow-up.

In relation to DNA index we have studied 18 cases of differently evoluted carcinoma of the colon, some incoherently (8) other in agreement (10) with staging. Static and flow cytometric techniques have been employed, the first by means of densitometric study on paraffin sections with the Feulgen method, the second based on application of Hedley method on paraffin included material. DNA content, pressed by the DNA index, is inversely proportional to survival with similar results in both techniques, from which the possible prognostic significance is argued.