Erythema multiforme(EM) is an acute, self-limited eruption of the skin and mucous membrane, characterized by distinctive target lesions. Although a wide range of factors have been implicated as precipitating EM, the pathogenesis is unknown. Recently, several studies on EM have been reportecl, showing the presence of immune complexes in patient with EM, and these authors suggested that such complexes may be cf immunopathogenic significance. The atudy was undertaken to irivestigate the pathogenesis of EM. In ten patients with EM, we performed serological study and direct immunofluorescence study. The reaults obtained were as follows. 1) There was no signifir.ant abnormality in CBC, urinalysis, chest PA, stool, and serology including ASO, CH, Ig quantitation, VDRL, HBsAg, ANA, RF, and cryoglobul in. 2 In direct immunofluorescence study, 4 biopsies showed IgM deposits in the su!erficial blood vessels, 4 demonstrated C, 2 showed IgG deposition and 2 biopsies showed fibrin deposition. All biopsies were negative for lgA. Additionally 1 biopsy demonstrated IgM depnsition along the dermoepidermal junction, and 1 showed both IgG and fihrin deposition. This study supports the view that deposition of immune complexes may play a role in the pathogenesis of EM.
Biopsy

No abstract available.
Biopsy

BACKGROUND: JL1 is a novel antigen that has been reported to be expressed exclusively in immature CD4 CD8 double positive T-cells in the thymic cortex. Thymomas are often infiltrated with lymphocytes that are mostly immature T-cells. METHODS: We evaluated 67 cases of surgically resected thymomas and reviewed their histological, surgical, and clinical findings. Representative sections were immunostained using anti-JL1 monoclonal antibody and the immunostaining score was evaluated in each case. RESULTS: JL1 was strongly positive in immature T cells infiltrated in various subtypes of thymomas. The mean value of the immunostaining score was 0 for type A, 0.24 for the A areas of type AB, 2.71 for the B areas of type AB, 3 for type B1, 1.87 for type B2, 0.67 for type B3, and 0.13 for type C. The immunostaining score correlated with the histological subtypes according to the WHO classification, and stages according to the modified Masaoka system. CONCLUSION: JL1 was specifically detected in immature thymocytes in thymomas. Therefore, JL1 immunostaining can be useful for subtyping thymomas. JL1 can also serve as an adjunctive marker to diagnose thymomas in small biopsy specimens.
Biopsy

Gastric mucosa shows continuous changes in surface epithelium as well as inflammatory reaction by various substances from the outside and their metabolic products. Gastric mucosal lesions are proven to be associated with bacterial infection by the discovery of Heliobacter pylori(H. pylori) and many studies about histopathologic changes of gastric mucosa associated H. pylori infection has been advanced. It is known that H. pylori associated gastritis displays surface foveolar epithelial changes, such as cytoplasmic vacuolation, mucin loss, juxtaluminal cytoplasm erosion, epithelial denudation, and mucosal irregularity. There have been many studies that H. pylori infection is associated with intestinal metaplasia, gastric dysplasia, and carcinoma. Also chronic H. pylori infection with its induction of gastric lymphoid follicle has been implicated as a precursor of gastric lymphoma of the unique B-cell type that arises from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT). However, these gastric mucosal changes are also observed in gastritis with other causes. In this study, we aimed to define specific histopathiologic findings associated with H. pylori infection. A total of 463 gastric biopsy specimens were reviewed. They were Helicobacter-associated gastritis and were divided as many (MH), a few (AH), and no (NH), according to the number of H. pylori. 210 (MH), 131 (AH), and 122 (NH) biopsy specimens were included. Lymphocytes, plasma cells in lamina propria, eosinophils and neutrophils in surface epithelium and crypt as well as lamina propria were graded from 0 to 3. Surface epithelial changes including cytoplasmic vacuolation, mucin loss, juxtaluminal erosion, epithelial denudation and mucosal irregrarity were observed in 200 of 210 cases(95%) in MH group, 34 of 131 cases(26%) in AH group, and 6 of 122 cases(5%) in NH group. This result indicates there is significant difference in surface epithelial changes according to the number of H. pylori(p<0.001). Severity of eosinophil, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and plasma cell infiltration is increased in proportion to the number of H. pylori. Especially, neutrophilic infiltration is not identified in 95 of 122 cases(78%) in NH group, whereas MH group shows severe infitration (grade 3) in 127 of 210 cases(61%), and no (grade 0) in 11 of 210 cases(5%). This data well explains that the severity of neutrophil infiltration is associated with, the degree of H. pylori infection in chronic active gastritis, with statistical significance. The prevalence of lymphoid follicle formation was 17 of 120 cases(14%) in NH group, 24 of 131 cases(18%) in AH group, and 52 of 210 cases(25%) in MH group. This shows that lymphoid follicle formation correlates with the number of H. pylori, but without statistical significance. The prevalence of intestinal metaplasia in NH, AH, and MH was 43 of 122 cases(35%), 46 of 131 cases(35%), and 69 of 210 cases(33%), showing no association between intestinal metaplasia and H. pylori. In summary, H. pylori associated gastritis dispays characteristic histopathological changes in gastric mucosa, in which surface epithelial changes and various inflammatory infiltrates are increased in proportion to the number of H. pylori. Especially vacuolization of surface foveolar epithelium, cryptitis, and crypt abscess are specific findings of H. pylori associated gastritis.
Biopsy

The prognosis of transitional cell carcinoma(TCC) of the urinary bladder is related to histopathologic parameters, among which the clinical stage and histopathologic grade are most important prognostic determiantors. Recently the immunohistochemical assessment of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and nucleolar organizer region number(AgNORs) can obtain the PCNA, and AgNORs stainings were studied in 55 the sequential biopsies of 22 recurrent TCCs of the urinary bladder. 6 cases showed the increased changes of grade, of which 5 cases was independently to the change of grade. The AgNORs in 18 cases showed increase in 10 cases. The comparison between PCNA count and AgNORs score according to grade was performed in the changes between grade II and III, both PCNA count and AgNORs score were increased with in crease of grade. However, The change of the PCNA count was stastically significant, but not AgNORs score.
Biopsy

Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy is a relatively rare glomerular disease characterized by the accumulation of spiraled frayed collagen fibrils in mesangial and subendothelial areas. Clinically, patients with the disease usually present with moderate proteinuria and edema. They tend to have hypertension and their renal function deteriorates slowly. We report the case of a patient with collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy who also had Takayasus arteritis and presented with hypertension, proteinuria and dyspnea on exertion. Electron microscopy of the renal biopsy revealed massive accumulation of peculiar collagen fibers and immunohistology using monoclonal antibodies to collagen type III revealed positive stain in glomerular tufts.
Biopsy

Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy is a relatively rare glomerular disease characterized by the accumulation of spiraled frayed collagen fibrils in mesangial and subendothelial areas. Clinically, patients with the disease usually present with moderate proteinuria and edema. They tend to have hypertension and their renal function deteriorates slowly. We report the case of a patient with collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy who also had Takayasus arteritis and presented with hypertension, proteinuria and dyspnea on exertion. Electron microscopy of the renal biopsy revealed massive accumulation of peculiar collagen fibers and immunohistology using monoclonal antibodies to collagen type III revealed positive stain in glomerular tufts.
Biopsy

A computer program using automatic coding of the diagnosis has been used for report printing as well as data storage and retrieval system at the Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital. Previous surgical pathology files were also computerized by the automatic coding system using personal computer, and 100,000 cases of surgical pathology data during 7 years were computerized at present. The cpmputerized surgical files were counted and listed according to topograph and morphologic diagnosis. It is available to print out the list of a specific diagnosis or to copy the records to a floppy diskette. Collection of cases in surgical pathology files using cpmputerized automatic coding system becomes much convenient and accurate than using stored file cards or log books. In addition, previous biopsy records of the patient are automatically searched during the routine work so that understanding of a patient as a whole is possible through the informations about previous pathologic diagnosis. We confirm that automatic coding methods is the most practical and economic method for computerization of the surgical pathology records.
Biopsy

A computer program using automatic coding of the diagnosis has been used for report printing as well as data storage and retrieval system at the Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital. Previous surgical pathology files were also computerized by the automatic coding system using personal computer, and 100,000 cases of surgical pathology data during 7 years were computerized at present. The cpmputerized surgical files were counted and listed according to topograph and morphologic diagnosis. It is available to print out the list of a specific diagnosis or to copy the records to a floppy diskette. Collection of cases in surgical pathology files using cpmputerized automatic coding system becomes much convenient and accurate than using stored file cards or log books. In addition, previous biopsy records of the patient are automatically searched during the routine work so that understanding of a patient as a whole is possible through the informations about previous pathologic diagnosis. We confirm that automatic coding methods is the most practical and economic method for computerization of the surgical pathology records.
Biopsy

No abstract available.
Biopsy