Malignant catarrhal fever-like lesions associated with ovine herpesvirus-2 infection in young calves (Bos indicus): a case report

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Conventional and Doppler ultrasound for the differentiation of benign and malignant canine mammary tumours

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

An unusual case of malignant cystosarcoma phyllodes of the breast

A unusually large tumor of the left breast diagnosed as a cystosarcoma phyllodes with multiple malignant sarcomatous changes of the stroma, consisting of liposarcoma, myxoid fibrosarcoma, anaplastic, and giant cell sarcoma is described. The weight of 6200 g (13.5 lb) seems to be the largest so far presented in the literature reviewed by the authors. © 1986.

Simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigens (T, sialosyl T, Tn and sialosyl-Tn) in breast carcinogenesis

Immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigens (Tn, sialyl-Tn and T) was performed in a series of 43 cases of intraductal hyperplasia without atypia, 9 cases of intraductal hyperplasia with atypia, 54 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 26 cases of invasive breast carcinoma. We also studied 36 cases of isolated breast normal epithelium, 20 cases of 'normal' breast epithelium adjacent to neoplasms and 14 cases of apocrine metaplasia. All antigens were detected in different frequencies in normal, hyperplastic, metaplastic and neoplastic breast epithelium. Tn and sialyl-Tn are expressed more frequently in malignant than in benign breast epithelium; while Tn expression increases from normal to invasive carcinomas, sialyl-Tn increases until DCIS and drops in invasive carcinomas, suggesting that either there is a failure of a proportion of DCIS to progress to invasive carcinoma or loss of expression of sialyl-Tn when some carcinomas become invasive. The high frequency of Tn and sialyl-Tn expression in breast intraductal proliferations probably reflects incomplete glycosylation in these lesions, which is a well-known tumour-associated phenomenon and supports the assumption that such lesions are putative precursors of breast cancer. T antigen was expressed in all groups studied, but its prevalence differed significantly between normal and neoplastic epithelium. The expression of these antigens in epithelium adjacent to carcinomas is similar to that found in isolated normal breast epithelium, whereas apocrine metaplasia has a pattern of simple mucin-type glycosylation that is specific and distinct from that of the normal breast epithelium, with a high frequency of marked expression of Tn and sialyl-Tn. The similarity of the pattern of expression of simple mucin-type antigens in metaplasia and malignant neoplasia reduces the usefulness of these markers from a diagnostic standpoint.

Potentially malignant epithelial oral lesions: Discrepancies between clinical and histological diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the discrepancy index between the clinical and histological diagnosis and the prevalence of epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma in 45 patients with potentially malignant epithelial oral lesions (PMEL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We submitted 45 patients with PMEL to clinical examination and obtained a biopsy from each. The results of histological diagnosis were compared to the clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: Clinical diagnosis showed that the most common PMEL was leukoplakia followed by lichen planus and by actinic cheilitis associated with leukoplakia. The most common site was the buccal mucosa. Histological diagnosis revealed that 46.7% of the PMEL were lichen planus. The discrepancy index between clinical and histological diagnosis was 24.4%. The higher discrepancy index occurred among leukoplakias. The prevalence of epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma was 17.8%. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that all PMEL should be submitted to a microscopic analysis because the discrepancy between clinical and histological diagnosis was present in a quarter of these lesions. Otherwise, the epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma were more frequent in the leukoplakias.

Malignant transformation of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: Case report

We report a case of a pleomorphic xantoastrocytoma which manifested itself as a cystic isodense lesion in the right fronto-temporal lobe in a 26 year-old woman. It appeared as a soft yellow tumor with cystic cavities on surgery. Five months after this surgery, the patient was submitted to a new operation, which revealed a friable tumor, easily differentiated from the normal parenchyma, with cystic components. The histopathological examination demonstrated pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma with malignant transformation. Histologically, the tumor at first procedure was composed of pleomorphic astrocytes with multinucleated and foamy cells. A rare case of malignant transformation in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is presented, discussed and illustrated in this paper.

Nuclear phenotypes and morphometry of human secretory prostate cells: A comparative study of benign and malignant lesions in Brazilian patients

Prostatic lesions in Brazilian patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, 26 cases) or adenocarcinoma (AC, 25 cases) were compared by qualitative microscopy and morphometric analysis. In 12 cases of BPH, prostate regions with no histological alterations were considered as controls (Ct). Archival material consisted of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens obtained from prostatic transurethral resection and radical prostatectomy. Haematoxylin/eosin (HE)-stained sections were used to estimate the nuclear areas, perimeters and form factor values. HE-stained sections from AC specimens were also used for Gleason grading. BPH, AC and Ct could be discriminated by their nuclear areas and nuclear perimeters, but not by the nuclear form factor parameter. No significant differences were found when the AC data were compared using the combined version or the predominant grade version of the Gleason score (p = 0.8380 for nuclear area; p = 0.6076 for nuclear perimeter; p = 0.9202 for nuclear form factor; n = 200 nuclei per patient). This finding indicates that there is extensive heterogeneity in the size and shape of the nucleus in AC cells. These results also show that although the nuclear morphometry served to discriminate BPH and AC from each other and from Ct, it was not sufficient to correlate AC lesions with their respective Gleason scores in the human population analyzed.

p16INK4A immunohistochemical overexpression in premalignant and malignant oral lesions infected with human papillomavirus

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is believed to promote the oncogenic process, and the correlation between viral oncoproteins and dysfunction of p16 INK4A tumor suppressor protein in oral lesions is controversial. To test the hypothesis that anogenital HPV types participate in disruption of the regulation of p16INK4A suppressor protein in oral lesions, we analyzed 46 oral biopsy specimens for the presence of HPV 6/11 and 16/18 by in situ hybridization (ISH) and for p16INK4A expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Eighteen (39%) of the 46 oral lesions were HPV-positive and 28 (61%) were HPV-negative. HPV 6/11 DNA was found in 5 (11%) and HPV 16/18 in 13 (28%) of 46 biopsies. Nine of the 18 HPV-positive oral lesions (50%), assessed by catalyzed signal amplification coupled to ISH (CSA-ISH), gave high-intensity p16INK4A immunostaining. Focal and diffuse patterns were observed in 11/13 (77%) lesions with HPV 16/18, focal immunopositivity in 3/5 (80%) with HPV 6/11, and negative or sporadic p16-labeling in 18/28 (64%) without the presence of HPV DNA. These results showed a strong association between overexpression of p16 protein and malignant oral lesions, mainly those infected by HPV 16/18. We can conclude that high-risk HPV types are associated with p16 overexpression, and p16 may serve as a biomarker in oral cancer related to high-risk HPV infection.

Immunocytochemical study of Ki-67 as a prognostic marker in canine mammary neoplasia

Background: Canine mammary tumors are challenging for clinicians and pathologists because of complex histologic classification, low specificity of cytologic diagnosis, and unpredictable biological behavior. In histologic specimens, expression of tumor proliferation marker Ki-67, a nuclear nonhistone protein, has been shown to have prognostic value for canine mammary tumors and to correlate with malignancy and low survival rates. Objective: The objective of this study was to measure the proliferation index of canine mammary tumors by immunochemical detection of Ki-67 in cytologic specimens and to determine its relationship to clinical and pathologic variables and patient outcome. Methods: Spontaneous mammary tumors from 31 female dogs were surgically excised. Imprint specimens for cytologic evaluation were wet-fixed in ethanol; histologic specimens were prepared routinely. Immunostaining was performed with the PH 177 monoclonal antibody against Ki-67; proliferation index was graded from negative to +++. Dogs were followed for 18 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine correlations between immunocytochemical results, tumor and clinical variables, and patient outcome. Results: Ki-67 proliferation indices in cytologic specimens were significantly lower for nonmalignant tumors than for malignant tumors. High index values of Ki-67 were positively correlated with metastasis, death from neoplasia, low disease-free survival rates, and low overall survival rate. With the exception of 4 specimens for which cellularity was insufficient, positive expression of Ki-67 in cytologic specimens correlated with that of histologic specimens. Conclusions: The prognostic value of the Ki-67 index in canine mammary tumors by using wet-fixed cytology imprint specimens was similar to that observed previously for histologic specimens. Immunocytochemical detection of Ki-67 could improve the accuracy and value of cytology by providing safe and rapid information about malignancy and patient outcome. © 2004 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

Rhabdomyomatous carcinoma of the thymus

Myoid cells have been described in the thymus in association with a variety of benign and malignant conditions. The presence of a benign rhabdomyomatous component in a malignant primary thymic epithelial neoplasm, however, is extremely rare. A case of poorly differentiated carcinoma of the thymus arising in the posterior mediastinum containing a prominent rhabdomyomatous component is described. The patient, a 70-year-old woman, was seen for a large posterior mediastinal mass. An open chest biopsy revealed an extensively necrotic tumor composed of islands of atypical cells with vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli with numerous mitotic figures admixed with abortive glandular structures. Interspersed with the malignant epithelial components were islands of large cells containing brightly eosinophilic cytoplasm and small, round, excentrically placed nuclei. Immunohistochemical studies showed strong positivity of the epithelial cells for cytokeratin and strong positivity of the myoid cells for pan-actin, desmin, and myogenin. The possible relationship of the rhabdomyomatous component of this tumor with the myoid cells of the thymus is discussed.

Single testicular metastasis mimicking primary testicular neoplasm: A rare manifestation of prostate cancer

The incidence of secondary testicular tumors ranges from 0.02 to 2.5% among autopsies in general. With the exception of leukemias and lymphomas, prostate cancer is the most common primary site. It is diagnosed in autopsies or incidentally, following therapeutic orchiectomies in more advanced stages of the disease. In the present report, we show a case of testicular metastasis derived from prostate neoplasm whose clinical presentation as a single metastasis was similar to a primary testicular neoplasm. The diagnosis was evidenced after orchiectomy by histological examination and immunohistochemical tests.

Granular cell tumour (Abrikossoff's tumour): Case series

This case series describes three unreported cases of an uncommon benign neoplasm named Abrikossoff's tumour or granular cell tumour (GCT). This mesenchymal neoplasm apparently arises from neural or Schwann cell origin with benign and malignant forms. All cases presented here were unique nodules on oral mucosa, coming out from the connective tissue, and occurring in women with age ranging from 30 to 42 years. The histological aspects of the GCT showed large granular cells arranged in groups and nests of connective tissue separating pseudoepitheliomatous overlying surface. This feature can possibly be misunderstood with squamous cell carcinoma. The differentiation between malignant and benign GCT is evaluated by the presence of metastases which is considered the only reliable criterion for malignancy. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Familial malignant osteopetrosis in children: A case report

The clinical, radiological, pathological and laboratory findings of two brothers with autosomal recessive malignant osteopetrosis are presented. Our findings are similar to characteristics previously reported in the literature about patients with osteopetrosis. The 6-year-old male patient was pale and had petechiae on his arms and legs. He also had macrocephalia, splenomegaly, severe pancytopenia, genu valgus, hypocalcemia, amaurosis, cessation of physical development, generalized bone sclerosis and recurrent infections with a history of multiple incidences of acute otitis media. Generalized bone sclerosis and irregular sclerosis of the maxilla and mandible were seen on radiographs. The oral mucosa was apparently normal but permanent tooth eruption was delayed although there was early loss of deciduous teeth. The recommended treatment was blood transfusion and therapy with antibiotics when necessary; a bone marrow transplant was not possible due to lack of a compatible donor.

Human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus infection, p53 expression, and cellular proliferation in laryngeal carcinoma

Laryngeal carcinomas are aggressive neoplasms with controversial association with the human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). So far, the impairment of p53 protein function and its impact on cellular proliferation has not been studied adequately in these tumors. In this work, molecular biologic techniques were used to assess the frequency of HPV and EBV in 110 squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx. In addition, accumulation of p53 and Ki-67 cell proliferation antigen expression in malignant cells was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. High-grade HPV was found in 37.3% of cases, and none had demonstrable EBV infection. Accumulation of p53 was found in 78.2% of the cases, and it was related to a high Ki-67 labeling index and higher histologic grade. The results demonstrate association of HPV with more than one third of laryngeal carcinomas studied, mainly glottic tumors. Tumors with increased cell proliferation were more frequently high grade, with p53 accumulation and lymph node metastasis. © American Society for Clinical Pathology.