Study of cutaneous cell carcinomas ex vivo using ultrasound biomicroscopic images.

BACKGROUND: The ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) technique generates high-resolution echographic images using acoustic frequencies between 20 and 200 MHz. In dermatology, it enables non-invasive visualization of cutaneous structures. In this sense, several studies are being conducted for the measurement of cutaneous tumor sizes and for the evaluation of their response to therapeutic procedures. The present work was conducted to analyze the ability of UBM to identify diverse histological structures associated with cutaneous carcinomas ex vivo regarding the evaluation of the technique as a diagnostic tool that could, eventually, improve the patient's healthcare protocol. METHODS: Ex vivo human tissue samples, corresponding to basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma cases, were studied. The ultrasonic system operated with a center frequency of 45MHz and the histological structures were identified by comparison with the light microscopy images. RESULTS: The histological components present in the tumors were identified by variations in the echogenicity level for several of the studied cases and particular characteristics were observed for the different tumor types. CONCLUSION: The possibility of differentiating the histological components associated with cutaneous carcinomas indicates the potential use of UBM for diagnostic applications. However, a larger number of specimens must be studied.

Mycobacterial spindle cell pseudotumor of the appendix vermiformis in a patient with aids.

Mycobacterial pseudotumor (MP) is a rare pathologic presentation of both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease, hitherto reported to occur only in immunosuppressed patients with or without human immunodeficiency virus infection. This lesion shares close pathologic resemblance to certain mesenchymal neoplasms, particularly Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), from which it must be properly differentiated due to distinct prognosis and therapy. We report a case of MP obliterating the lumen of the appendix vermiformis in a 34-year-old patient who died of complications of AIDS at our hospital in Rio de Janeiro. A total of 24 cases of MP (including our patient) have been described in the literature. MP has been found especially in lymph nodes, but extranodal lesions have been described in the skin, spleen, lung, bone marrow, brain and, in our patient, the appendix vermiformis. We offer a review of the other 23 published case reports of MP in both HIV-infected and uninfected patients and discuss the pathologic features that differentiate MP from KS.

[Alcohol and stroke: a controversial association]. / Alcohol e ictus isquémico: asociación controvertida.

OBJECTIVE: Although an increasing quantity of information concerning risk factors for stroke have been developed lately, the relationship between alcohol consumption and cerebral ischemic infarction, unlike at coronary sites, remains unclear. This review highlights the main pathogenic mechanisms of alcohol in the development of ischemic stroke, as it intends to be an update of this possible association. DEVELOPMENT: A critical literature review has been performed regarding this association to study its pathogenic mechanisms and the possible confounding factors present in the current design of epidemiological reports. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increasing evidence about the effect of light to moderate alcohol consumption and prevention of ischemic stroke. On the other hand it seems that heavy drinking, and particularly binge drinkers, are exposed to a higher risk for cardioembolic stroke. The growing incidence of acute heavy alcohol consumption highlights the necessity of considering a cardioembolic source when managing ischemic stroke, specially in young adults.

Tumor de Brenner. / Brenner's tumor

Os autores apresentam quatro casos de tumor de Brenner. Mostram o quadro clinico, apontando as principais alteracoes endocrinologicas. Relatam as varias teorias histogeneticas e descrevem os aspectos anatomopatologicos mais salientes

Estruma carcinoide. / Strumal carcinoid

Os autores apresentam caso de estruma carcinoide, fazendo referencia a classificacao histogenetica dos tumores de celulas germinativas, ao lado de consideracoes a proposito da origem teratomatosa da neoplasia a partir de celulas endodermicas primitivas. Ha, ainda, pequeno relato clinico da paciente, que nao apresentou sinais de sindrome endocrina

Prenhez tubaria bilateral dizigotica. / Tubal bilateral dizigotic pregnancy

Os autores apresentam caso de gravidez tubaria, bilateral, dizigotica, tecendo consideracoes a respeito da etiopatogenia, da sintomatologia e dos aspectos anatomo-patologicos. Relatam os casos encontrados na literatura, comentando as principais localizacoes insolitas de gestacoes ectopicas e finalizam com o quadro clinico e a conduta terapeutica adotada