Pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with concomitant heterotopic pancreatic cystic neoplasia of the stomach: a case report and review of the literature

A 60-year-old Caucasian male underwent a total pancreatectomy for a mixed type pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) arising in the main and secondary pancreatic ducts. During surgery, a subserosal polypoid mass was noted at the greater curvature of the gastric antrum and was enucleated. This mass was proven to be heterotopic pancreatic tissue with cystic neoplasia of the IPMN histologic subtype. Through an extensive search of the literature, we found that this is the first case ever reported with simultaneous existence of IPMN changes, in the main and secondary ducts of the orthotopic pancreas and in the heterotopic pancreatic tissue of the gastric wall

Molecular profiling and genomic microarrays in prostate cancer

In the present review article a global approach regarding the usefulness of genomic microarrays in prostate cancer management, is attempted. Cancer is a multistep process of mutations in key regulatory genes and epigenetic alterations that result in loss of balanced gene expression. A complete knowledge of the interaction between the genetic variability of the neoformation (tumor profiling) and the genetic variability of the host (inherited genome profiling), will be able to determine the better strategy against the cancer and the less toxicity for the patient. Alterations in the sequence of the hormone binding domain of the androgen receptor as well as mutations in some genes, determine radioresistance and resistance or sensitivity to some chemotherapeutic drugs. New therapies using monoclonal antibodies directed against specific extracellular binding domains of some receptors are based on molecular alterations observed in tumors.В обзоре обсуждается целесообразность применения геномных микрочипов для выявления рака предстательной железы. Рак является многоэтапным процессом мутаций в ключевых регуляторных генах и эпигенетических изменений, приводящих к утрате сбалансированной экспрессии генов. Фундаментальные знания о взаимосвязи между генетической вариабельностью опухолевых клеток (молекулярном профиле опухоли) и генетической вариабельностью хозяина (наследуемый геномный профиль) позволит выбрать наилучшую стратегию противоопухолевой терапии при низкой токсичности таковой. Изменения последовательности гормонсвязывающего домена рецептора андрогена наряду с мутациями некоторых генов определяют устойчивость к лучевой терапии и устойчивость или чувствительность к ряду химиопрепаратов. Новые виды терапии с использованием моноклональных антител против специфичных внеклеточных связывающих доменов ряда рецепторов основаны на данных о молекулярных особенностях новообразований

Primary localized laryngeal amyloidosis presenting with hoarseness and dysphagia: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Primary localized laryngeal amyloidosis is an extremely rare condition. It usually presents with hoarseness, pain and/or difficulty in breathing.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 23-year-old woman with primary localized laryngeal amyloidosis who presented with hoarseness and dysphagia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A search of PubMed shows that dysphagia in patients with laryngeal amyloidosis has been reported only once, although this symptom is relatively common in other conditions presenting with laryngeal mass. There were no signs of any systemic disease in our patient and diagnosis was established histopathologically. She was treated surgically by microlaryngoscopy under general anesthesia and the mass was excised using a CO₂ laser technology method.</p

Pulmonary miliary tuberculosis complicated with tuberculous spondylitis; an extraordinary rare association: a case report

In the last decade a significant rise in the prevalence of tuberculosis as well as in its extrapulmonary manifestations is detected worldwide. The central nervous system, the genitourinary tract, the organs of the abdomen and the skeletal system, are common sites of infection. Misdiagnosis and delay in treatment are common events. Herein, we present a case of a 78-year-old man non-smoker, with miliary tuberculosis complicated with tuberculous spondylitis. The patient presented with anemia and a left shoulder pain, accompanied by rigor and fever 37.5°C-38°C of one month duration. This entity is extremely rare, since only two similar cases have been reported in the English literature according to PubMed search

Arteriovenous Malformation of the Pancreas

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a very rare and mostly congenital lesion, with less than 80 cases described in the English-published literature. It is defined as a tumorous vascular abnormality that is constructed between an anomalous bypass anastomosis of the arterial and venous networks within the pancreas. It represents about 5% of all arteriovenous malformations found in the gastrointestinal tract. Herein, we present a 64-year-old patient with symptomatic PAVM involving the body and tail of the organ, which was successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization. The disease spectrum and review of the literature are also presented

E-cadherin adhesion molecule and syndecan-1 expression in various thyroid pathologies

Cadherins and syndecans are transmembrane glycoproteins implicated in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. Impairment of cadherin and syndecan mediated adhesion is likely to constitute one of the main factors leading to the reduced cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion characteristics of tumor cells and play a pivotal role in the acquisition of invasive and metastatic proprieties by neoplastic epithelial cells. Aim: To elucidate the role and alterations of syndecan-1 expression in comparison with those of E-cadherin in normal and pathological thyroid glands (TG). Methods: A total of 55 TG carcinomas, 40 TG adenomas, 40 cases of hyperplastic TG disorders and 20 cases of normal TG autopsy samples, were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The staining intensity, and localization of syndecan-1 and E-cadherin in sequential sections were examined, and semi-quantified. Results: Immunostaining of syndecan-1 and E-cadherin was strong in normal follicular TG epithelial cells, and located mainly in basolateral membrane. No significant change was seen in either molecule in hyperplastic TG disorders compared with TG adenomas. A significant reduction in expression of both syndecan-1 and E-cadherin was seen in well-differentiated TG carcinomas as compared with normal TG epithelium (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.032, respectively). Similarly, there was a significant reduction of both molecules expression in poorly differentiated and anaplastic TG carcinomas compared to well differentiated tumors (syndecan-1: p = 0.0037; and E-cadherin: p = 0.075). Conclusion: Decreased E-cadherin and syndecan-1 expression along with decreasing cellular differentiation may be involved in the complex mechanism of progression of TG pathology.Кадгерины и синдеканы — это трансмембранные гликопротеины, участвующие в межклеточной адгезии и адгезии клеток к матриксу. Изменения экспрессии этих молекул играют главную роль в приобретении инвазивного и метастатического потенциала злокачественно трансформированными эпителиальными клетками. Цель: оценка роли экспрессии синдекана-1 и Е-кадгерина в ткани щитовидной железы в норме и при патологии. Методы: образцы ткани для иммуногистохимического исследования взяли у 55 больных раком щитовидной железы (ЩЖ), 40 пациентов — с аденомой ЩЖ, 40 — с гиперпластическими процессами ЩЖ, контролем служили 20 образцов неизмененной ткани ЩЖ (аутопсия). Результаты: экспрессия синдекана-1 и Е-кадгерина в нормальных фолликулярных эпителиальных клетках ЩЖ выражена интенсивно, с преимущественной локализацией в базолатеральной мембране. Не отмечали существенных различий в экспрессии обеих молекул при гиперпластических процессах по сравнению с аденомами ЩЖ. Однако таковая значительно снижена в образцах высокодифференцированной карциномы по сравнению с нормальным эпителием ЩЖ (p = 0,0001 и p = 0,032 соответственно), а также при низкодифференцированном и анапластическом раке по сравнению с высокодифференцированными опухолями ЩЖ (p = 0,0037 для синдекана-1 и p = 0,075 для Е-кадгерина). Выводы: снижение экспрессии синдекана-1 и Е-кадгерина, сопровождающееся снижением способности клеток к дифференциации, может быть частью механизма прогрессирования заболеваний ЩЖ

Massive Uterine Leiomyoma in a Patient with Friedreich's Ataxia: Is There a Possible Association?

A possible association between Friedreich's ataxia (FA) and neoplastic development has been recognized. FA patients have low frataxin levels and insufficient response to oxidative stress. In these patients fibroblasts are characterized by a high rate of mutations. Herein, a case of a 39-year-old woman with FA tetraplegia, who was admitted in our department with intestinal obstruction due to a huge uterine tumor, is described. An abdominal CT revealed a huge intra-abdominal mass originating from the right cornu of the uterus. Tumor excision and adhesionlysis were performed. The histological examination of the tumor revealed a leiomyoma. FA patients seem to present with a variety of neoplasms uncommon for their young age. This is the first report of a leiomyoma originating from the genital system in a female patient with FA tetraplegia. Therefore it is important to identify neoplasms at an early stage in patients with FA and start immediate therapy