Meningioangiomatosis is a rare benign hamartomatous lesion. We describe a case of meningioangiomatosis in an 18-year-old boy with a 15 year history of seizures. Computed tomography reveals an irregular calcification density along the right temporal gyrus. Microscopically, irregularly branched blood vessels, surrounded by a concentric arrangement of proliferating spindle cells, are extending into the gray matter from the meningeal surface. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical examination failed to demonstrate features of meningothelial cell origin in this case. This is the first case of meningioangiomatosis published in Korea along with immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies. The pathogenesis and previous reports of this lesion will be discussed.
Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms/*pathology/radiography/ultrastructure ; Hemangioma/*pathology/radiography/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron

To explore the clinical value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating benign and malignant focal liver lesions (FLLs) with SonoVue, CEUS was used to examine 113 patients with focal liver lesions (FLLs) in our hospital during July 2005 to December 2006. All the patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) or contrast-enhanced MRI (CEMRI). Except for patients with focal fatty sparings (n=18) and with hemangiomas (n=8), all the patients were confirmed by operation or ultrasonic-guided liver puncture biopsy. A sulfur hexafluoride gas-based contrast agent was used with a MI of 0.15 to 0.17. Forty-eight cases of malignant FLLs, including 30 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 2 cholangiocarcinomas and 16 metastatic tumors, were detected. Seventy-eight cases of benign FLLs, including 33 hemangiomas, 9 focal nodular hyperplasias (FNHs), 19 focal fatty sparings, 5 abscesses, 7 regenerative nodules and 2 inflammatory pseudo-tumor, were involved. The contrast pattern of benign and malignant FLLs was quite different. CEUS has higher specificity and sensitivity than conventional ultrasound in differentiating benign and malignant FLLs.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*ultrasonography ; Contrast Media/*diagnostic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioma/ultrastructure ; Image Enhancement/*methods ; Liver Diseases/*ultrasonography ; Liver Neoplasms/*ultrastructure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult

Apoproteins ; analysis ; Epithelium ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Lung ; chemistry ; pathology ; Nuclear Proteins ; analysis ; Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma ; chemistry ; pathology ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins ; analysis ; Secretory Component ; analysis ; Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1 ; Transcription Factors ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo establish an immortalized human infancy hemangioma-derived endothelial cell line (HemEC) and animal model of human infancy hemangioma.

METHODSHemangioma-derived endothelial cells from specimen of human infancy hemangioma were cultured in vitro and monocloed, and then its growth curve was made, karyomorphism of chromosome analyzed, morphologic characteristics observe, factor VIII related antigen identified by immunohistochemical method.Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) was detected by flow cytometry. HemEC were inoculated subcutaneously in athymic mouse to establish animal model of infancy hemangioma. The animal model was observed closely and its pathological characteristic was also studied.

RESULTSThe cultural cells grew active, and immortalized spontaneously when they were subcultured on sixteenth generation. This cell line was cultivated for more than 70 times within one year and in good condition after freezing and resuscitating once and again, and had the morphologic character of HemEC. The cell population doubling time was 22 h. Factor VIII and VEGFR-2 were expressed positively. Karyo type analysis of the cell line showed abnormal diploid with the modal chromosomal number varying between diploid and triploid. The cell line was then named XPTS-1. The animal model of infancy hemangioma was successfully established and its character of histopathology was similar with that of infancy hemangioma.

CONCLUSIONSThe cell line of HemEC was successfully established and immortalized spontaneously, and had the morphologic and biological character of HemEC. The animal model of infancy hemangioma was successfully established and showed the character of histopathology similar with that of infancy hemangioma.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Factor VIII ; metabolism ; Female ; Hemangioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of apoptosis and their regulatory genes, Bcl-2, Bax in hemangioma and vascular malformations.

METHODSThe specimens were taken from 68 cases of strawberry hemangioma or vascular malformations and 11 cases of normal skin. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Ki-67 in endothelial cells were investigated by immunohistochemical S-P method. The apoptosis index (AI) in endothelial cells was investigated by TUNEL method.

RESULTSKi-67 was positive in all the proliferating strawberry hemangioma, negative in the other groups. The expression of Bax was significantly higher in strawberry hemangioma than in vascular malformations and normal skin (P < 0.01). Bcl-2 was negative in all groups. The AI in endothelial cells of strawberry hemangioma was significantly higher than that of vascular malformations and normal skin. There were no statistically significant differences between the proliferating and involution strawberry hemangioma. There were no statistically significant differences between various types of vascular malformations and normal skin. With the increasing of the expression of Bax in strawberry hemangioma, the AI increased.

CONCLUSIONThese findings clearly demonstrate a much higher apoptotic activity in strawberry hemangioma than in vascular malformations and normal skin and suggest that apoptosis might be a cause of spontaneous involution of strawberry hemangioma and might not be a cause of the pathogenesis of vascular malformation. Bcl-2, Bax might play an important regulatory role in apoptosis in endothelial cells of strawberry hemangioma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Apoptosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endothelial Cells ; chemistry ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein