Simultaneous Epstein Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infection Accompanied by Leiomyomatous Change in a Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma in a Patient With Long-Term Corticosteroid Treatment

Patient. A 59-year-old woman presented with a large tumour of the abdominal wall. She had been taking corticosteroids for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for 15 years. On CT scan the tumour had the characteristics of lipomatous tissue with a dense core

The Relation Between Histological, Tumor-Biological and Clinical Parameters in Deep and Superficial Leiomyosarcoma and Leiomyoma

Purpose: Leiomyosarcomas (LMS) of deep and superficial tissues were examined to identify prognostic markers explaining their different biological behaviour and to define differences between cutaneous and subcutaneous LMS. LMS and leiomyomas (LM) of the skin were compared to and consistent differences that could aid in the (sometimes difficult) diagnosis

No cytogenetic evidence for involvement of gene(s) at 2p16 in sporadic cardiac myxomas: cytogenetic changes in ten sporadic cardiac myxomas

Cardiac myxomas are significant causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Their genetic background is presently unknown. Recently, linkage analysis in cardiac myxomas of Carney complex patients has indicated that 2p16 and 17q2 might carry genes responsible for the development of hereditary cardiac myxomas. Less is known about sporadic cardiac myxomas. To date, cytogenetic analysis has been performed on 13 sporadic cases, and no specific rearrangement has been deduced. We studied 15 sporadic cardiac myxomas and reviewed the literature. Ten of the present cases revealed abnormal karyotypes with clonal and nonclonal rearrangements including dicentric chromosomes and telomeric associations. No cytogenetic evidence was found for a role of 2p16 in the development of sporadic cases. Region 17q2 was involved in structural rearrangements, but to a lesser extent than other regions. Structural rearrangements involving regions 12p1 and 17p1 are more frequently present and might therefore harbor genes important for the development of sporadic cardiac myxomas. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved

Feasibility and efficacy of external beam radiotherapy after hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with TNF-alpha and melphalan for limb-saving treatment in locally advanced extremity soft-tissue sarcoma

Purpose: Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and melphalan is associated with a dramatic antitumor effect in locally advanced extremity soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy after HILP with TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and melphalan and delayed surgical resection. Methods and Materials: Between 1991 and 1995, 34 patients-16 males and 18 females, median age 50 (range 18-80) years-underwent HILP for locally advanced extremity STS. Resection of the residual tumor mass was performed in most patients after 6-8 weeks. Fifteen patients with histopathological viable tumor after resection received adjuvent 60-70 Gy external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) (44%, HILP + EBRT group). Nineteen patients received HILP without adjuvent EBRT (56%, HILP-only group). Five patients in the HILP-only group had also distant metastases (15%) and received HILP as a palliative treatment. Treatment morbidity, local recurrences, and regional and distant metastases ere scored. Results: During a median follow-up of 34 months (range 8-54), Limb salvage was achieved in 29 patients (85%): 14 patients after HILP + EBRT and 15 patients after HILP only. None of the patients from the HILP + EBRT group developed local recurrences; however, five patients from the HILP-only did (26%) (p <0.05). Regional metastases were observed in one patient from the HILP + EBRT group (7%) and in two patients from the HILP-only group who were treated with curative intent (14%). Distant metastases occurred in four patients after HILP + EBRT (27%) and in four patients after HILP only with curative intent (29%). The mean morbidity (subjective, objective, medical management, and analytical evaluation) score in both groups was, respectively, 0.33 for skin and subcutaneous tissue and for muscle and soft tissue, 0.33 (HILP + EBRT group) and 0.33 (HILP-only group). Conclusion: Adjuvent EBRT after HILP with TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and melphalan and delayed tumor resection of locally advanced extremity STS is feasible and may increase local tumor control without increasing treatment morbidity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc