Cartilaginous metaplasia of varicose veins: a case report

Cartilaginous metaplasia of superficial veins was found in a 64-year-old woman who underwent surgery for varicose veins. At operation, some varicose veins of the medial thigh were semi-rigid and fibroelastic to the touch. Histology revealed that half the lumen was occupied by chondroid tissue. The other half was obliterated by fibrous tissue, typical of post-thrombotic involution. Possible causes of cartilaginous metaplasia are briefly discussed

The pathologists’ eyes on foregut: histopathological relations in the experimental and routine diagnostics

SUMMARY I. The study aimed to investigate the incidence of duodeno-gastroesophageal reflux-induced malignoma formation in a series of duodeno-esophageal anastomosis operations in rats. This surgical method provided a model for the reflux-induced esophageal pathologies, without carcinogen administration. 30 weeks of duodeno-gastroesophageal reflux disease significantly increased the risk of the development of BE, and reflux-induced EAC formation was evident in 4 animals. In one of these particular cases, a superficial squamous cell cancer was noted in close vicinity to the adenocarcinoma formation. The results of the applied rat model afford evidence of the simultaneous activation of more than one possible carcinogenetic pathway in experimental GERD. Synchronous neoplasm formation with different growth pattern characteristics is a rarity in humans, and this phenomenon suggests that the presented model is a suitable means of mimicking the whole spectrum of human GERD pathology. II/1. The study aimed to carry out standardized histopathological analysis focusing not only on SIM but also on the presence of additional glands in the metaplastic process at 826 consecutive patients. According to standardized histopathological dataset the cases were classified and recorded by computerized method. The obtained data proved that 1) pure SIM is very rare in the Hungarian population, 2) cardiac and superficial mucous glands are good predictors for SIM, 3) pancreatic acinar and fundic metaplasias carry less severe metaplastic process, and 4) superficial mucous glands can be responsible for creating foregut-derived tissues and thus can be the origin of BE. II/2. The study aimed to assess the value of forceps biopsy sampling in establishing the correct diagnosis revealed by EMR as well as to evaluate the efficacy of this method. Fifty-six subjects with sessile gastric polyps of epithelial origin, at least 0.5 cm in diameter, and not associated with polyposis syndromes, were included. The obtained data showed that forceps biopsy is not fully representative of the entire lesion, and a simple biopsy may therefore lead to a faulty differentiation between the neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. EMR proposes diagnostic and staging advantage in assessing patients with EGC as compared to forceps biopsy, because it provides more intact mucosa and submucosa for histological analysis. Sessile gastric polyps should be fully resected by EMR for a final diagnosis and (depending on the lesion size and type) possibly definitive treatment

Recurrence of intestinal metaplasia and early neoplasia after endoscopic eradication therapy for Barrett’s esophagus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Conflicting data exist with regard to recurrence rates of intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia after achieving complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) in Barrett’s esophagus (BE) patients. Aim (i) To determine the incidence of recurrent IM and dysplasia achieving CE-IM and (ii) to compare recurrence rates between treatment modalities [radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with or without endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) vs stepwise complete EMR (SRER)]. Methods A systematic search was performed for studies reporting on outcomes and estimates of recurrence rates after achieving CE-IM. Pooled incidence [per 100-patient-years (PY)] and risk ratios with 95 %CI were obtained. Heterogeneity was measured using the I 2 statistic. Subgroup analyses, decided a priori, were performed to explore heterogeneity in results. Results A total of 39 studies were identified (25-RFA, 13-SRER, and 2 combined). The pooled incidence of any recurrence was 7.5 (95 %CI 6.1 – 9.0)/100 PY with a pooled incidence of IM recurrence rate of 4.8 (95 %CI 3.8 – 5.9)/100 PY, and dysplasia recurrence rate of 2.0 (95 %CI 1.5 – 2.5)/100 PY. Compared to the SRER group, the RFA group had significantly higher overall [8.6 (6.7 – 10.5)/100 PY vs. 5.1 (3.1 – 7)/100 PY, P = 0.01] and IM recurrence rates [5.8 (4.3 – 7.3)/100 PY vs. 3.1 (1.7 – 4)/100 PY, P &lt; 0.01] with no difference in recurrence rates of dysplasia. Significant heterogeneity between studies was identified. The majority of recurrences were amenable to repeat endoscopic eradication therapy (EET). Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that the incidence rates of overall, IM, and dysplasia recurrence rates post-EET are not inconsiderable and reinforce the importance of close surveillance after achieving CE-IM.</jats:p

Immunophenotype of Atypical Polypoid Adenomyoma of the Uterus: Diagnostic Value and Insight on Pathogenesis

Atypical polypoid adenomyoma (APA) is a rare uterine lesion constituted by atypical endometrioid glands, squamous morules, and myofibromatous stroma. We aimed to assess the immunophenotype of the 3 components of APA, with regard to its pathogenesis and its differential diagnosis. A systematic review was performed by searching electronic databases from their inception to January 2019 for immunohistochemical studies of APA. Thirteen studies with 145 APA cases were included. APA glands appeared analogous to atypical endometrial hyperplasia (endometrioid cytokeratins pattern, Ki67≤50%, common PTEN loss, and occasional mismatch repair deficiency); the prominent expression of hormone receptors and nuclear β-catenin suggest that APA may be a precursor of "copy number-low," CTNNB1-mutant endometrial cancers. Morules appeared as a peculiar type of hyperdifferentiation (low KI67, nuclear β-catenin+, CD10+, CDX2+, SATB2+, p63-, and p40-), analogous to morular metaplasia in other lesions and distinguishable immunohistochemically from both conventional squamous metaplasia and solid cancer growth. Stroma immunphenotype (low Ki67, α-smooth-muscle-actin+, h-caldesmon-, CD10-, or weak and patchy) suggested a derivation from a metaplasia of normal endometrial stroma. It was similar to that of nonatypical adenomyoma, and different from adenosarcoma (Ki67 increase and CD10+ in periglandular stroma) and myoinvasive endometrioid carcinoma (h-caldesmon+ in myometrium and periglandular fringe-like CD10 pattern)

Metaplastic Carcinoma of the Left Breast with Extensive Chondroid Differentiation

Metaplastic breast carcinoma is very rare neoplasm which contains mixture of carcinomatous (epithelial) and sarcomatous (mesenchymal) elements in variable proportion. Metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation is even rarer. We report a case of metaplastic carcinoma with extensive chondroid differentiation as there is paucity of information regarding pathological features and clinical outcomes for these rare tumors. Tumor had characteristic definite areas of classic infiltrating duct carcinoma with abundant chondromyxoid matrix, focal areas of chondrosarcoma and cartilagenous metaplasia. Tumour cells were immunoreactive for S-100, ER, and PR. When pathologist encounter breast tumor with chondroid differentiation, careful gross sampling, histopathology and immunoreactivity for mesenchymal and epithelial component are most useful to differentiate metaplastic carcinoma from malignant phylloides tumors and malignant adenomyoepithelioma

The detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by electrical impedance spectroscopy: The effects of acetic acid and tissue homogeneity

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of an electrical impedance probe (Epitheliometer) in the diagnosis of high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in women referred with cervical smear abnormalities and to assess the effect of acetic acid (AA) and tissue boundaries on the measurements. Methods. A prospective observational study was undertaken in the colposcopy clinic. One hundred and sixty-five women, either with a clinical indication or abnormal cervical cytology, were recruited into the study. A pencil type probe was used to record impedance spectra from 12 points on the cervix before and after the application of 5% AA. Spectra were also recorded from tissue boundaries. Colposcopic examinations, including probe positioning, were video recorded to allow for correlations between histopathological diagnosis of colposcopically directed biopsies, colposcopic impression and the diagnosis based on impedance measurements. Results. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were derived. The areas under the curves (AUCs) to discriminate original squamous from high grade CIN were 0.80 (pre AA) and 0.79 (post AA). Comparison of these curves showed no significant difference, indicating that application of AA does not produce a large change in spectra. The probe Could distinguish tissue boundaries from homogeneous tissue points. Conclusion. The Epitheliometer has the potential to be used as an adjunct to colposcopy in the diagnosis of high grade CIN. It has the advantage of real time results, decreasing the need for diagnostic cervical biopsies, and facilitates a wider use of the 'see and treat' policy without the risk of overtreatment. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Risk factors in gastric cancer

STATE OF THE ART: Gastric cancer (GC) is still a major health problem worldwide due to its frequency, poor prognosis and limited treatment options. At present prevention is likely to be the most effective means of reducing the incidence and mortality from this disease. The most important etiological factors implicated in gastric carcinogenesis are diet and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. High intake of salted, pickled or smoked foods, as well as dried fish and meat and refined carbohydrates significantly increased the risk of developing GC while fibers, fresh vegetables and fruit were found to be inversely associated with GC risk. Epidemiological investigations (retrospective, case-control and prospective) and several meta-analyses have demonstrated that concurrent or previous H. pylori infection is associated with an increased risk of GC in respect to uninfected people. H. pylori colonizes gastric mucosa where it induces a complex inflammatory and immune reaction that on time leads to a severe mucosal damage i.e., atrophy, intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia. The risk of GC is closely related to the grade and extension of gastric atrophy, IM and dysplasia. PERSPECTIVES AND CONCLUSIONS: Today a plausible program for GC prevention means: (1) a correct dietary habit since childhood increasing vegetables and fruit intake, (2) a decrease of H. pylori spread improving family and community sanitation and hygiene, (3) a search and treat H. pylori strategy in offspring of GC, (4) a search and treat H. pylori strategy in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia (IM), (5) a careful endoscopic and histologic follow-up if precancerous lesions persist irrespective of H. pylori eradication