The current classification of pituitary adenomas is based on cell type, largely ascertained by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. In an application of immunohistochemistry, pathologists have some problems in judging the results. An immunostaining result does not always correspond with a serum hormone level. It is also difficult to determine the nature of a tumor when a few cells are positive. We performed the immunohistochemical stains on 34 pituitary adenomas using polyclonal antibodies to six pituitary hormones [PRL (prolactin), GH (growth hormone), ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)] and compared with serum hormone level. The serum hormone level was increased in 14 cases (41.2%) of PRL, 7 cases (20.6%) of PRL & GH, 6 pleurihormonal cases (17.6%), 4 nonfunctioning cases (11.8%), 2 cases (5.9%) of FSH, and 1 case (2.9%) of GH. The most common immunohistochemical type of pituitary adenoma was 10 prolactinoma cases (38.5%), followed by 7 pleurihormonal cases (26.9%), 4 null cell cases (15.4%), 3 cases of mixed PRL & GH (11.5%), 1 case of ACTH (3.8%) and 1 FSH & LH case (3.8%). The corresponding rates of the serum hormone level and immunostaining results were 94.1% in GH, 88.9% in TSH, 85.7% in LH, 82.4% in ACTH, 66.7% FSH, and 61.8% in PRL. In the immunostaining for FSH, 12 cases showed less than 5% positivity and most of them exhibited the normal serum hormone level. In conclusion, the most common elevated serum hormone and immunohistochemical type of pituitary adenoma was prolactinoma. The corresponding rate of the serum hormone level and immunostaining result was the highest in GH cell adenoma and was the lowest in prolactinoma. The cells showing less than 5% positivity seem to be entrapped normal cells.
Adenoma ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Antibodies ; Classification ; Coloring Agents* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Lymphocytes, Null ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pituitary Hormones ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Prolactinoma

Ectopic thymus results from the aberrant migration of thymic tissue and is mostly present in the mediastinum, the base of the skull, the tracheal bifurcation and the cervical region. We report the first case of intraabdominal heterotopic thymus incidentally detected and attached to the liver without associated anomalies. This fetus was sent to the Department without any clinical information. The fetus was small for gestational age, but had no external abnormalities. Each organ showed normal development except for the liver. The liver weighed 6 gm(normal 17.064+/-4.143 gm). Gray white heterotopic thymus was attached to the superior surface of the liver in the subdiaphragmatic area. It measured 1.1x0.6x0.5 cm. There was no diaphragmatic defect. The cervical thymic tissue near the thyroid was small and measured 0.2 gm(normal 0.927+/-0.485 gm). There was no thymic tissue in the anterior superior mediastinum. The histologic features of the heterotopic thymus were identical to the orthotopic thymus showing features appropriate for the gestational age. The origin of this subdiaphragmatic heterotopic thymus is speculated.

We performed a histopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 23 cases of surgically resected large cell undifferentiated carcinoma(LCUC) of the lung. The relative incidence of LCUC was 7.6% among the total resected cases of primary lung cancer over 7 years(1987-1993). The mean age of the patients was 56 years and 21 cases were male. The mean size of the mass was 5 cm and 11 cases were located peripherally. According to the histologic features, LCUC could be divided into three groups: squamous cell carcinoma-like(6 cases), adenocarcinoma-like(13 cases), and small cell carcinoma-like(4 cases) groups. The histologic differences were related to the variations of the immunohistochemical properties, but there were no differences in prognosis among these groups. Immunoreactivity to cytokeratin(CAM 5.2) was demonstrated in 22/23(96%). Carcinoembryonic antigen was positive in 13/23(57%). Neuron specific enolase and chromogranin were positive in 11/23(48%) and 5/23(22%), respectively. Vimentin was seen in 11/23(48%). From these observations, we could subclassify them by their immunologic phenotypes; exocrine features in 6/23(26%), neuroendocrine(NE) features in 4/23(17%), both exocrine and NE phenotypes in 7/23(30%), and 6 cases(26%) showed neither phenotype. The group with NE features showed a worse prognosis(P<0.05) and immunoreactivity for vimentin was also related to a worse prognosis(P<0.05). These findings imply that the immunohistochemical properties of LCUC are closely related to the histopathologic features. The groups, subdivided by histology and immunoreactivity, showed no prognostic difference except for the NE differentiation and reaction for vimentin.
Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Child* ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Humans

Decubitus ulcer is often seen in the skin and underlying tissue of debilitated or immobilized patients as the result of prolonged pressure and impaired circulation. It manifests chiefly as an ulcer over bony prominences, but tumefaction is an extremely unusual presentation. A 53-year old male, a paralytic of the lower extremity for 18 years, developed a recurrent decubital ulcer despite repeated surgical repair, from which a rapidly growing, large fungating mass grew within a month. The last resected mass was bosselated and measured 15x9x3 cm with a major area of cicatrix-like induration, interdigitated with skeletal muscle bundles at the central area. Microscopically, the mass was composed of an upper half of active granulation tissue layer and a deeper half of dense, poorly cellular, fibrocollagenous bundles admixed with florid proliferation of atypical fibroblasts, but the absence of mitosis and the multifocal admixture of active inflammatory process-granulation tissue formation seemed to help exclude genuine fibromatosis, nodular fasciitis or proliferative myositis. We assume that this rapidly growing pseudofibromatosis is an additional manifestation of a prolonged decubitus ulcer, possibly related to the modified reparative process of decubitus ulcer following repeated excisions, for which we propose a term of decubitoma.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling is critical for regulating metabolic homeostasis in mammals. In particular, transcriptional regulation by cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and its coactivator, CREB-regulated transcription coactivator (CRTC), is essential for controlling the expression of critical enzymes in the metabolic process, leading to more chronic changes in metabolic flux. Among the CRTC isoforms, CRTC2 is predominantly expressed in peripheral tissues and has been shown to be associated with various metabolic pathways in tissue-specific manners. While initial reports showed the physiological role of CRTC2 in regulating gluconeogenesis in the liver, recent studies have further delineated the role of this transcriptional coactivator in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in various tissues, including the liver, pancreatic islets, endocrine tissues of the small intestines, and adipose tissues. In this review, we discuss recent studies that have utilized knockout mouse models to delineate the role of CRTC2 in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis.

There had been a continuous evolution of lymphoma classification and recently a Revised European-American Lymphoma Classification was proposed by the International Lymphoma Study Group. This new classification often requires information on immunophenotypic and molecular biologic markers in addition to the usual histologic findings. Recent advances in the production of commercially available monoclonal antibodies reactive on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues provide us a great help to classify the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We have analyzed 31 low grade B-cell lymphomas by the schemes proposed by the International Lymphoma Study Group using antibodies to CD3, CD5, CD20, CD23, CD43, cyclin D1, and bcl-2 protein, and have analyzed the immunophenotypic features. Among 31 low grade B-cell lymphomas, 8 small lymphocytic lymphomas, 5 mantle cell lymphomas, 7 follicle center lymphomas (2 grade I, 3 grade II, and 2 grade III), and 11 marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (all of which were extranodal) were identified. Among 8 small lymphocytic lymphomas, 5 cases were positive for CD5; 6 cases were positive for CD23; 7 cases were positive for CD43; all 8 cases were negative for cyclin D1; and 7 cases were positive for bcl-2. Among 5 mantle cell lymphomas, 4 cases were positive for CD5 and CD43; all five cases were negative for CD23; 4 cases were positive for cyclin D1 and bcl-2. All 7 follicle center lymphomas were negative for CD5, CD43 and cyclin D1 and 2 cases were positive for CD23; and 6 cases were positive for bcl-2. All marginal zone B-cell lymphomas were negative for CD5, CD23 and cyclin D1; 3 cases were positive for CD43 and 9 cases were positive for bcl-2. Diagnostic utility for CD5 antigen detection on paraffin embedded tissue has a limitation due to weak antigen expression in tumor cells of B-cell lymphomas; however, still be useful in differentiating small lymphocytic lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma from other B-cell lymphomas when applied in conjunction with CD43. CD23, CD43, and cyclin D1 appear to be of great help in differentiating subgroups of low grade B-cell lymphomas. Bcl-2, as known, is found to be useful to rule out reactive follicular hyperplasia.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, CD5 ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Biomarkers ; Classification ; Cyclin D1 ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry* ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Paraffin*

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is a rare clinical entity characterized by exomphalos, macroglossia, macrosomia, and renal hyperplasia/dysplasia. Although its entity is established, its etiology and obligatory features have not been settled. We report an autopsy case with the unusual involvement of the salivary gland. This infant was born to a 37-year-old mother as a normal full-term spontaneous delivery. At 11 days of age she developed with purulent eye discharge and weak sucking, and died suddenly. At autopsy the baby weighed 2,630 gm and the head circumference was 35 cm. She showed thick and prominent skin folds, bilateral aural fissures, macroglossia, hepatomegaly, cardiomegaly, dysmorphic kidneys, and nesidioblastosis. Both kidneys showed dysplastic tubules and hyperplastic cortical tissue enclosing the medulla. In this case there were characteristic findings in major and minor salivary glands with both acinar and ductal hyperplasia, and hypertrophy of mammary glands. Besides, she had generalized depletion of subcutaneous fat, immature buccal fat, patent ductus arteriosus, hyperlobation of the right lung, two accessory spleens, and hyperplasia of basophils and chromophobes in the pituitary gland. The lungs showed diffuse interstitial pneumonia and multiple fibrin thrombi. There were no adrenal cytomegaly, umbilical hernia and exophthalmos.
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Humans

A 68-year-old man was refered for evaluation and treatment of advanced esophageal cancer. He complained of substernal dysphagia for solid and liquid foods. He did not remember episodes about ingesting something that correlated with symptoms. The single-contrast esophagogram revealed subtotal obstruction of the cervical esophagus with barium outlining the polypoid-filling defect irregularly. After 18 hours later, the patient underwent endoscopic examination and at the direct esophagoscopic finding, the food materials mainly consisted of packed rice was filled in the cervical esophagus. After saline irrigation, a fish bone, which was about 50X9 mm, and looked like a knife was lodged just distal to the impacted food materials. The fish bone was removed successfully from the esophagus. The patient experienced dramatic relief of symptoms shortly after procedure.
Aged ; Barium ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagus ; Humans

Granuloma is a chronic inflammatory process associated with non-infectious agents or infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. It is well known that AFB staining, which has been used to determine the etiology of the granulomatous inflammation, lacks both sensitivity and specificity. Due to the slow growth rate of most pathogenic mycobacteria, culturing of organisms can take up to eight weeks. It is not uncommon for specific therapy to be delayed, or for an inappropriate treatment be given to patients without mycobacterial infections or with infections caused by atypical mycobacteria. Determination of the causative agent in Papanicolaou stained cytology specimens gives pathologists even more difficulties when only necrotic material has been aspirated from the center of the granuloma. In recent years, the use of a polymerase chain reaction for the amplification of DNA has appeared promising in terms of speed, efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity. Since a polymerase chain reaction permits the sensitive genetic analysis of small amounts of tissue, it is ideally suited to the genetic analysis of cytologic specimens. A polymerase chain reaction is easily performed on unfixed and unstained cells, however, an analysis of ethanol fixed and Papanicolaou-stained archival smears has also been described. We have recently established a method to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis organism by a nested polymerase chain reaction with primers in the insertion sequence IS 6110, using cellular digests of ethanol-fixed and Papanicolaou-stained archival specimens aspirated from the lymph nodes, lungs, thyroid, etc. Inhibitors present in Papanicolaou stained material was removed by destaining the slides with 0.5% HCl solution for 10-30 minutes. Eight out of ten cases which have shown the epithelioid granulomas revealed a positive reaction and four out of ten cases which have shown lymphohistiocytic cells in a necrotic background without any evidence of granuloma revealed a positive reaction. This study showed that it was possible to employ a polymerase chain reaction to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Papanicolaou stained archival cytology specimens.
Communicable Diseases ; DNA* ; Ethanol ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland ; Tuberculosis