Tumor thickness as a novel risk factor for lymph node metastasis by superficial squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck.

Narrow-band imaging combined with magnified endoscopy has enabled the detection of superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SSCCHN) that has been resected with minimally invasive treatment, preserving vocalization and swallowing functions. However, risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) must be identified, as some patients with LNM have a poor prognosis. From an initial 599 patients with 700 lesions who underwent trans-oral surgery in 27 Japanese hospitals (a nationwide registration survey), we enrolled 541 patients with 633 SSCCHNs, as indicated by central pathological diagnoses. All pathological specimens for each patient were examined using 20 pathological factors that are thought to affect the LNM of SSCCHN. In all, 24 (4.4%) of the 568 SSCCHNs exhibited LNM, and all 24 had at least one solitary nest of epithelial neoplastic cells present in the stroma, clearly separated from the intraepithelial carcinoma. Multivariate analysis also showed that tumor thickness (p = 0.0132, RR: 7.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.54-40.02), and an INFc pattern classified as infiltrating growth (INF) with unclear boundaries between tumor and non-tumor tissues (p = 0.0003, RR: 14.47, 3.46-60.46), and tumor budding (p = 0.0019, RR: 4.35, CI: 1.72-11.01) were significantly associated with LNM. Solitary nests may be indicative of LNM. In addition, tumor thickness was revealed to be a risk factor for LNM in SSCCHNs using pT factors that do not include an invasion depth element because of the anatomical absence of the muscularis mucosae.

A rare case of intradural and extramedullary epidermoid cyst after repetitive epidural anesthesia: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Spinal epidermoid cysts are benign tumors, which are rarely seen as an intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumor in the conus medullaris region. Acquired spinal epidermoid cysts are mostly caused by iatrogenic procedures, such as lumbar puncture, and the majority of acquired spinal epidermoid cysts have been reported below the L1 level, because lumbar puncture is usually performed around the iliac crest. Here, we report an extremely rare case of an epidermoid cyst that occurred as an intradural and extramedullary spinal cord tumor attached to the conus medullaris after repetitive epidural anesthesia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old female presented with a low back pain and left sciatica. Although the patient had experienced occasional mild low back pain for several years, her low back pain markedly worsened 2 months before her visit, as well as newly developed left sciatica resulting in intermittent claudication. She had a history of several abdominal surgeries. All abdominal procedures were performed under general anesthesia with epidural anesthesia in her thoracolumbar spine. Magnetic resonance imaging of her lumbar spine demonstrated an intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumor at the T12-L1 level. Because her symptoms deteriorated, the tumor excision was performed using microscopy. Histological examination of the specimens demonstrated that the cyst walls lined with stratified squamous keratinizing epithelium surrounded by the outer layer of collagenous tissue with the absence of skin adnexa. A diagnosis of epidermoid cysts was confirmed. Her MRI showed complete resection of the tumor, and there was no recurrence at 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this case report, epidermoid cells might be contaminated into the spinal canal during repetitive epidural anesthesia. The patient was successfully treated by complete resection, and there was no recurrence at 2-year follow-up with a good clinical outcome. However, long-term follow-up is required for a potential risk of tumor recurrence.

Successful resolution of a hemorrhagic pancreatic pseudocyst ruptured into the stomach complicating obstructive pancreatitis due to pancreatic cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hematemesis is uncommon as an initial presenting symptom in pancreatic cancer. We present herein a case of a pseudoaneurysm that ruptured and fistulized into the stomach. The pseudoaneurysm was secondary to a pancreatic pseudocyst complicating obstructive pancreatitis due to pancreatic cancer. The patient was successfully treated using trans-arterial embolization followed by curative surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old man presented to the emergency room with hematemesis. Laboratory examinations revealed a low level of hemoglobin (5.0 g/dl). The patient had presented to another hospital due to hematemesis 1 month before presenting to our hospital. A low-density mass in the pancreatic body with dilatation of the distal main pancreatic duct and a pseudocyst in the pancreatic tail had been observed by radiology at the previous hospital. Further investigation had been planned. Abdominal computed tomography on admission to our hospital demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm in close contact with the wall of the pseudocyst of the pancreatic tail, compressing the stomach. The pseudoaneurysm had not been detected by abdominal computed tomography at the previous hospital. Emergency selective angiography revealed that the pseudoaneurysm arose from the left gastroepiploic artery branching from the splenic artery. Trans-arterial embolization of the left gastroepiploic artery through the splenic artery was successfully performed. Elective distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy with regional lymph node dissection combined with partial resection of the stomach was performed 3 weeks after coil embolization. Pathological examination revealed a moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma in the pancreatic body with regional lymph node metastasis and revealed the pseudoaneurysm rupturing into the pancreatic pseudocyst. The patient has experienced no tumor recurrence or metastasis during 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous rupture of a pseudoaneurysm is a rare and potentially lethal complication of a pancreatic pseudocyst. Most affected patients have a history of alcoholism and suffer from acute or chronic pancreatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a hemorrhagic pancreatic pseudocyst complicating obstructive pancreatitis due to pancreatic cancer.

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Adenosquamous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater is extremely rare, and its clinicopathological features are limited and described in few previous case reports. Here, we report curative resection of adenosquamous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater at an early stage. CASE PRESENTATION: An 81-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for investigation of the frequent elevation of hepatic and biliary enzymes and dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Preoperative examinations revealed an exposed reddish tumor in the ampulla of Vater, which was diagnosed on biopsy to be adenocarcinoma with squamous cell carcinoma component. Pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with regional lymph node dissection was performed. Pathological examinations revealed the presence of two malignant components in the lesion, including poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, without invasion beyond the sphincter of Oddi or into the duodenal submucosa. These squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma components in the tumor comprised approximately 30 and 70% of the lesion, respectively. No metastasis into regional lymph nodes was observed, and the patient experienced no tumor recurrence or metastasis until 20 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: We identified only six reported cases of adenosquamous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater in the English literature, and all of these patients died of recurrence within 14 months after surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of adenosquamous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater that was curatively resected at an early stage. Although more number of studies on clinicopathological findings are required to determine the appropriate surgical indication, we suggest that surgery remains the mainstay therapy for adenosquamous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater detected at an early stage.

[A Case of Advanced Esophageal Cancer and Tongue Cancer Treated with Induction DCF Chemotherapy Followed by Radical Surgery].

A man in his 60s was admitted for the treatment of advanced cervical esophageal cancer with metastasis to the lymph nodes and advanced tongue cancer with metastasis to the lymph nodes. Esophageal cancer was suspected to have invaded the trachea. The tongue cancer was located on the left side and had invaded beyond the median line of the tongue. Both cancers were pathologically diagnosed as squamous cell carcinomas. Therefore, it was determined that pharyngo-laryngo- esophagectomy and total glossectomy were required prior to the treatment. However, after 2 courses of docetaxel/cisplatin/ 5-FU combined induction chemotherapy, both cancers remarkably decreased; consequently, an esophagectomy to preserve laryngeal function and partial glossectomy could be performed simultaneously. The patient is well without recurrence 1 year post-surgery.

Development of squamous neoplasia in esophageal iodine-unstained lesions and the alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase genotypes of Japanese alcoholic men.

We investigated the development of esophageal neoplasia in biopsy specimens of the distinct iodine-unstained lesions (DIULs) ≥ 5 mm detected in 280 of 2,115 Japanese alcoholic men who underwent screening by esophageal iodine staining. Low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) was diagnosed in 155 of them, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) in 57, and invasive SCC in 35. The size of the DIULs increased with the degree of neoplasia. Most LGINs were flat and were missed before iodine staining. Some DIULs became a light pink color (PC) about 2 min after staining, and 2.6, 56.1 and 96.0% of the LGIN, HGIN and invasive SCC lesions, respectively, were PC-sign-positive. Multiple DIULs of any size markedly increased the risk of LGIN [adjusted OR (95%CI) = 10.1 (7.12-14.5)], HGIN [27.9 (14.6-53.4)] and invasive SCC [21.6 (10.1-46.4)], and were strongly associated with the presence vs. absence of DIULs ≥ 5 mm [13.3 (9.21-19.1)], inactive heterozygous aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2*1/*2) vs. ALDH2*1/*1 [2.60 (1.79-3.78)], and less-active alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B*1/*1) vs. ADH1B*2 allele [2.61 (1.87-3.64)]. The combination of ALDH2*1/*2 and ADH1B*1/*1 synergistically increased the risk of LGIN [4.53 (2.17-9.47)], HGIN [10.4 (4.34-24.7)] and invasive SCC [21.7 (7.96-59.3)]. Esophageal neoplasia developed at earlier ages in those with ALDH2*1/*2. Biopsy-proven HGIN was diagnosed as invasive SCC in 15 (39.5%) of 38 patients after endoscopic mucosectomy or surgery. In conclusion, large size, non-flat appearance, positive PC sign and multiplicity of DIULs and ALDH2*1/*2 and ADH1B*1/*1 were associated with development of esophageal neoplasia in Japanese alcoholics. Biopsy-proven HGIN should be totally resected for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Histopathological predictors of regional lymph node metastasis at the invasive front in early colorectal cancer.

AIMS: In early colorectal cancer (ECC), prediction of lymph node (LN) metastasis is vital for the decision of additional surgical treatment after endoscopic mucosal/submucosal resection. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between LN metastasis and comprehensive histopathological findings including the cancer microenvironment in ECC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using 111 ECC cases, including 36 cases with LN metastasis, histopathological observations and immunohistochemistry for lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1), von Willebrand factor, matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), CXC chemokine ligand-12 (CXCL12) and angiopoietin-like-4 (ANGPTL4) were conducted. Relationships between LN metastasis and growth pattern, status of muscularis mucosae, depth of cancer invasion, overall histopathological type, histopathological type at the invasive front, tumour budding, neutrophil infiltration in cancer cells (NIC), fibrotic cancer-stroma type, Crohn's-like lymphoid reaction, microscopic abscess formation and lymphatic invasion were determined. In addition, the expression of MMP-7, CXCL12 and ANGPTL4 in cancer cells at the invasive front were also considered in the context of LN metastasis. By multivariate analysis, lymphatic invasion, NIC and MMP-7 expression at the invasive front were independent predictors of LN metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: LN metastasis is regulated not only by the characteristics of cancer cells but also by microenvironmental factors of lymphatics and neutrophils, especially at the invasive front.

Anatomic properties of myocardial bridge predisposing to myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: A myocardial bridge (MB) that partially covers the course of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) sometimes causes myocardial ischemia, primarily because of hemodynamic deterioration, but without atherosclerosis. However, the mechanism of occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) as a result of an MB in patients with spontaneously developing atherosclerosis is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred consecutive autopsied MI hearts either with MBs [MI(+)MB(+) group; n=46] or without MBs (n=54) were obtained, as were 200 normal hearts, 100 with MBs [MI(-)MB(+) group] and 100 without MBs. By microscopy on LADs that were consecutively cross-sectioned at 5-mm intervals, the extent and distribution of LAD atherosclerosis were investigated histomorphometrically in conjunction with the anatomic properties of the MB, such as its thickness, length, and location and the MB muscle index (MB thickness multiplied by MB length), according to MI and MB status. In the MI(+)MB(+) group, the MB showed a significantly greater thickness and greater MB muscle index (P<0.05) than in the MI(-)MB(+) group. The intima-media ratio (intimal area/medial area) within 1.0 cm of the left coronary ostium was also greater (P<0.05) in the MI(+)MB(+) group than in the other groups. In addition, in the MI(+)MB(+) group, the location of the segment that exhibited the greatest intima-media ratio in the LAD proximal to the MB correlated significantly (P<0.001) with the location of the MB entrance, and furthermore, atherosclerosis progression in the LAD proximal to the MB was largest at 2.0 cm from the MB entrance. CONCLUSIONS: In the proximal LAD with an MB, MB muscle index is associated with a shift of coronary disease more proximally, an effect that may increase the risk of MI.

Successful endoscopic submucosal dissection for mucosal cancer of the duodenum.

We report a case of mucosal duodenal cancer in a 62-year-old woman, which was successfully removed en bloc by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The patient underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at our hospital, which revealed an elevated flat mucosal lesion (type IIa) measuring 10 mm in diameter in the second portion of the duodenum. Histopathological examination of a biopsy specimen revealed features suggestive of a tubulovillous adenoma with severe atypia. As the findings suggested that the lesion had an adenocarcinoma component but was confined to the mucosal layer, we decided to carry out ESD and successfully removed the tumor in one piece. The resected tumor was 20 x 15 mm in size. Histopathological examination revealed that the lesion was a well-differentiated mucosal adenocarcinoma with no lymphovascular invasion. Mucosal duodenal cancer is extremely rare, and ESD of a lesion in the duodenum requires a high level of skill. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report of successful ESD carried out in a case of mucosal duodenal cancer.

[Urinary bladder metastasis of prostate cancer : a case report].

A 62-year-old man was referred to our outpatient clinic because of his elevated serum prostatic specific antigen level. The transrectal ultrasonography guided biopsy of the prostate revealed prostate cancer. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone scintigraphy showed multiple metastases to his bones and lymph nodes. The MRI incidentally revealed a solitary tumor at the right lateral wall of the urinary bladder. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was performed, and histopathological examination showed the bladder tumor composed of not urothelial carcinoma but metastatic adenocarcinoma from prostate cancer.

Borderline cases between benignancy and malignancy of the duodenum diagnosed successfully by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

OBJECTIVE. Due to advances in endoscopic equipment, primary duodenal tumors are found more frequently than in the past. We performed endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to diagnose and treat four non-ampullary duodenal tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS. During endoscopic treatment, marks were placed around the circumference of the tumor and sufficient amounts of physiological saline with epinephrine were injected into the submucosal layer to elevate the lesion. An incision was made around the lesion using a long-type needle knife and the isolated lesion was resected completely "en bloc". In this procedure, a cylindrical transparent hood was attached to the endoscopy apparatus to allow for satisfactory visualization of the procedure. RESULTS. The mean age of the patients was 69 years. The patients consisted of two males and two females. Gross examination showed three flat, elevated lesions and one polypoid lesion. Tumor size ranged from 10 to 31 mm in maximum diameter. Histological examination revealed two cases of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas and two cases of tubular adenomas with severe atypia. Procedure-related complications consisting of perforation occurred in two cases and were resolved under close postoperative observation including antibiotics, use of a nasogastric tube and nil per oral feeding status. The mean follow-up period was 18 months and none of the patients experienced tumor recurrence after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS. Since tissue obtained from endoscopic biopsies can sometimes prove difficult for definitive histological diagnosis, ESD may play an important role in the management of cases appearing to border on malignancy. In addition, ESD allows for minimally invasive treatment without sacrificing the possibility of cure for duodenal carcinoma.

[Torsion of a testicular cancer in cryptorchidism prolapsing out of the inguinal canal: a case report].

A 47-year-old man visited our hospital suffering from intensive pain of the swelling mass in his left inguinal region. He had never recognized the left testis in his scrotum, and felt the left inguinal mass growing slowly since a year ago. Computed tomography and Doppler uitrasonography revealed a mass approximately 5 cm in diameter separating from intestines in the abdominal cavity and not supplied sufficient blood flow. We suspected that the mass was a testicular cancer in cryptorchidism with testicular torsion and performed orchiectomy. At the time of the operation, the mass and the spermatic cord were twisted and prolapsed out of the aponeurosis of external abdominal oblique muscle. Histopathologically, malignant degeneration was demonstrated in the undescended testis, and the cell type was seminoma. We definitely diagnosed the mass as torsion of a testicular cancer in cryptorchidism prolapsing out of the inguinal canal.

[Prostatic retention cyst around the bladder neck: a case report].

We report a case of a prostatic retention cyst around the bladder neck causing prostatitis-like symptoms. A 34-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of a cystic lesion in his prostate and prostatitis-like symptoms such as pollakisuria, dysuria and pain on urination. Blood examination and urinalysis showed neither systemic inflammation nor urinary tract infection. Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cystoscope revealed a projecting prostatic cyst which occupied the bladder outlet and seemed to cause the prostatitis-like symptoms. Transurethral resection of the cyst was performed and the symptoms were markedly improved. Histopathologically, the cyst was retention cyst of the prostate.

[Pheochromocytoma with chronic renal failure: a case report].

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting tumor which provokes various symptoms such as episodic headache, sweating and tachycardia. Meanwhile patients with hemodialysis have similar symptoms. Additionally patients with chronic renal failure often can not take the 24-hour urine collection test. Therefore it is said to be difficult to diagnose pheochromocytoma in patients with end stage renal disease. We present herein a case of a woman with hemodialysis discovered to have a pheochromocytoma. A 48-year-old female was admitted to our hospital due to paroxysmal hypertension during hemodialysis. Plasma dopamine and noradrenaline were slightly elevated. Computerized tomography revealed a 2 cm round mass at left adrenal gland. 131I-MIBG scintiscan detected that tumor at the same lesion. Under the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, she had taken alpha-adrenergic blocking agent for 4 weeks and left adrenalectomy was successfully performed.

[Gastric metastasis from renal cell carcinoma 20 months after radical nephrectomy: a case report].

Metastatic lesions from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) commonly occur in the lung and bone, gastric metastasis has rarely been reported in the literature. We present herein a case of a man with gastric metastasis from RCC. A 49-year-old male was admitted to our hospital complaining of dyspnea on exercise. He had undergone right radical nephrectomy due to RCC two years ago (T3a NO MI), followed by postoperative immunotherapy with interferon-alpha and interleukin 2. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a solitary polypoid lesion about 20 mm in diameter in the greater curvature of the middle gastric body. Endoscopic needle biopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Partial gastrectomy was performed and histologic examination of the resected specimen confirmed diagnosis of clear cell renal carcinoma. Metastasis of any cancer to the stomach is quite uncommon. In particular, gastric metastasis from RCC is extremely rare. To our knowledge, this is the 15th case of gastric metastasis from RCC reported in Japan.

Primary invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the stomach.

Reported herein is the case of a 74-year-old man with an unusual gastric carcinoma that developed at the lesser curvature of the stomach. The tumor consisted of small clusters of carcinoma cells surrounded by clear spaces, with histopathology similar to invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast. The carcinoma cells, which had downregulation of E-cadherin expression, invaded the subserous tissue and metastasized to the perigastric lymph nodes. IMPC, an unusual subtype of invasive breast carcinoma, is known to have frequent lymph node metastases, resulting in a poor clinical outcome. Although IMPC has been reported in breast, urinary bladder, ureter, lung, salivary gland and colon, to the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first report of IMPC arising in the stomach. Presented here are the clinicopathological features of primary IMPC of the stomach.

p53 Protein accumulation, cancer multiplicity, and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 genotype in Japanese alcoholic men with early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Synchronous multiple intra-esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) or oropharyngolaryngeal SCCs are common in alcoholics with esophageal SCC, and more frequently found in those with inactive heterozygous aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2). p53 alterations have been suspected as key molecular events in such multifocal esophageal carcinogenesis. We studied 95 Japanese alcoholic men with Tis and mucosal invasive esophageal SCC and found very high levels of p53 protein accumulation occurring in early esophageal SCC. Synchronous cancer multiplicity in the upper aerodigestive tract was found in 40 patients. p53 expression was not correlated with either cancer multiplicity or ALDH2 genotype. The risk for cancer multiplicity was associated with inactive heterozygous ALDH2 alone (OR=4.22) among the risk factors investigated, which also included smoking, less-active alcohol dehydrogenase-1B, and macrocytosis, enhancing the validity of the link between acetaldehyde exposure and cancer multiplicity.