Defining lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer by the proportion of lymphocyte-rich stroma and its significance in routine histopathological diagnosis.

Lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC) defined by the density of stromal lymphocytes shows favorable behavior. However, considerable distribution heterogeneity of lymphocytes is a major problem. The present study defined LPBC by the proportion of lymphocyte-rich stroma with the cut-off values of 30, 50, and 75%, and clinicopathologically analyzed mainly LPBC (area > 30%) defined by the cut-off value of 30%. LPBCs (area > 30%), 39 cases in total, were composed mainly of triple-negative and HER2(+) /ER(-) subtypes, without any luminal A-like subtype. LPBCs were composed predominantly of histological grade 3 tumors, without any grade 1 lesions. Multivariate analyses on 477 consecutive tumors revealed that ER-negativity and grade 3 status associated significantly with LPBC. LPBC (area > 30%) showed better disease-free survival than grade-matched controls, and it was a good indicator of complete pathological remission after pre-operative chemotherapy. Patients with LPBC with the cut-off value of 50% and that of 75% showed 100% disease-free survival. These results demonstrated the validity of our definition of LPBC. Our data also suggest that de-differentiated cancers without TILs could be regarded as high-grade cancer without lymphocyte-mediated responses. In conclusion, the definition of LPBC by the proportion of lymphoid stroma is useful for prognostication of high grade breast cancer in routine diagnosis.

Bronchial artery aneurysm treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Bronchial artery aneurysms (BAA) are a rarely noted. Asymptomatic cases of BAA are very rare. Most patients are correctly diagnosed only after BAA ruptures. The conventional treatment includes aneurysm resection through thoracotomy or transcatheter arterial embolization. In the present report, we describe a case of an asymptomatic BAA treated using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and careful evaluation of the vessels by three-dimensional computed tomography.

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations: effect on volume doubling time of non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the volume doubling time (VDT) on serial computed tomography (CT) of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation with that of NSCLC without the mutation. METHODS: One hundred and two pathologically proven NSCLCs, including 69 patients with lung adenocarcinoma, were reviewed with helical CT. Each tumor underwent at least two CT scans. The VDT was calculated using a modified Schwartz formula. EGFR mutations at exons 18-21 were determined by common fragment analysis and Cycleave method. RESULT: The median VDT of all the patients was 188 days. EGFR mutations were noted in 35 of the 102 patients. The VDT in the 35 patients with EGFR mutations (median 676 days) was longer than that in the 67 patients without EGFR mutations (median 139 days) (p <0.001). By histology subtype, the VDT of adenocarcinoma (305 days) was longer than that of squamous cell carcinoma (81 days) and other types (90 days; p <0.001). CONCLUSION: In NSCLC patients, positive EGFR mutation status may be associated with longer VDT, which seemed to have a slowly progressive and less-aggressive character. More accurate evaluation of VDT may be helpful for understanding the natural history of EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC and treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Left anomalous brachiocephalic vein in a patient with right lung cancer.

The left anomalous brachiocephalic vein is a rare anomaly without congenital heart disease. It is important to recognize this anomalous vein especially in patients with lung cancer because misinterpretation as a superior mediastinal lymph node enlargement may cause serious complications. We report a case of a 62-year-old lung cancer patient with left anomalous brachiocephalic vein, who underwent surgical treatment safely under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery after confirmation of this anomaly on contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scan.

A case of intestinal obstruction caused by prominent kyphosis resulting in compression of the intestine by the costal arch.

An 85-year-old woman with no history of abdominal surgery complained of abdominal pain and vomiting and was referred to us with a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction a few days later. Upon admission to our facility, she presented with marked abdominal swelling and prominent kyphosis. Because of the kyphosis, most of the dilated bowel was compressing her thoracic cavity. No obvious strangulation or free air was observed via abdominal computed tomography imaging. We attempted decompression using a nasogastric tube, but the symptoms persisted. Surgery was performed 2 days after admission. The origin of the obstruction was a compression of the ileocecal region by the costal arch. The bowel was discolored, and thus surgically excised. There were no major postsurgical complications other than a mild wound infection. Until now, there have been no reports of advanced kyphosis inducing ileus, but there are concerns of an increase in similar cases as society continues to age.

Malignant phyllodes tumor composed almost exclusively of a fibrosarcomatous component: a case report and review of malignant phyllodes tumors with metastases.

Here we present a case of malignant phyllodes tumor which was composed almost exclusively of a fibrosarcomatous component. A 52-year-old Japanese female noted a rapid increase of her right breast tumor. On admission, multiple lung metastases were detected by imaging. Right simple mastectomy was performed. The tumor, 10 x 10 cm in the largest dimension, had somewhat of a pushing margin, and showed a flesh-like appearance with marked necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor showed proliferation of atypical ovoid- or spindle-shaped cells in a myxoid matrix. Multiple sectioning revealed that the tumor had only focal occurrence of elongated tubular structures, and the occurrence of a small component of benign phyllodes tumor, leading to the aforementioned final diagnosis. Spindle cell carcinoma was excluded on the basis of the HE findings and the lack of immunoreactivity for cytokeratin when using a broad spectrum antibody mixture. Although the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy, no responsiveness was obtained. The patient died 4 months following surgery. We reviewed 15 malignant phyllodes tumors with metastases reported in Japan. The estimated 2.2-year survival rate following detection of metastasis was 11%, thus confirming the aggressiveness of the disease.