The authors have made a CD-ROM titled 'Atlas of Pathology (AP)' for medical students to understand histopathologic findings with ease. We used a 35 mm film scanner to convert an existing file into digital images. A pathologist and two professional programmers collaborated to create the program 'AtlasMaster 1.0' based on (IBM) PC for organization of previously captured digital images. Minimum system requirement for the 'AP' was Pentium II 166 MHz, 32 MB RAM, Windows 95 or 98, 800 600 resolution, 16-bit color, 20 speed CD-ROM drive. The 'AP' was composed of a execution file (Pathology_Atlas.exe), a DB file (pathology.mdb), and reference files (*.bmp, *.jpg, *.txt). The DB file contained fields for chapter, section, disease entity, and information for location of reference files. About 1,000 color images for various kinds of gross and microscopic pictures were stored in the CD-ROM and those were classified according to the chapters, sections, and disease entities. The 'AP' was easy to manipulate, and had advantages of self-learning for students. It could be applied to other fields in which many images were dealt with, such as histology, radiology, endoscopy, dermatology, and plastic surgery. The 'AP' was handy and very useful for medical students to study pathology and it would be a powerful self-learning tool.
CD-ROM* ; Dermatology ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Pathology ; Students, Medical* ; Surgery, Plastic

The evaluation of the proliferative potential of malignant neoplasm is of major interest for predicting their biological behavior. MIB-1, a monoclonal antibody against the Ki-67 antigen, is a marker of cell proliferation, which is widely applied to human cancers recently. To assess the growth potential of uterine endometrial carcinoma, we performed immunohistochemical staining of MIB-1 in 34 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma (endometroid type) from the paraffin sections. We evaluated its correlation with p53 overexpression and known prognostic factors including FIGO grade, nuclear grade, myometrial invasion, and estrogen and progesterone receptors. As a result, the MIB-1 labelling index was significantly correlated with FIGO grade, nuclear grade and myometrial invasion (p<0.05) and there was no significant correlation between MIB-1, ER or PR status. The expression of p53 protein showed significant correlation with FIGO grade and nuclear grade (p<0.05) and there was no significant correlation among p53 protein, myometrial invasion, ER and PR status. The MIB-1 labelling index revealed striking difference between p53 positive and p53 negative group (p<0.05). We concluded that MIB-1 labelling index is associated with poor prognostic parameter in endometrial adenocarcinoma, and may be a useful marker for predicting tumor of high grade and deep myometrial invasion, if MIB-1 labelling index is more than 50% and is accompanied by p53 overexpression.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Cell Proliferation ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Paraffin ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Strikes, Employee

Castleman disease is a benign disorder, usually occurring within mediastinum, characterized by proliferation of lymphold tissue. The authors report a rare case of Castleman disease originating from mesenteric root. The tumor was highly vascular, proved by dynamic CT examination and splanchnic angiography.
Angiography ; Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia* ; Mediastinum

Primary cutaneous meningiomas are extremely rare tumors found in the cutis or subcutis, and generally have a benign course. The tend to be located on the scalp, face, neck. or paravertebral area. The primary cutaneous meningioma bears similarities to developmental defects and probably originates from arachnoid cell rests in the skin, although diverse groups of cutaneous meningiomas seem to arise from several different sources. A case of primary cutaneous meningioma occuring in the scalp of left parietal area of a 27-year-old female is presented. Clinically the lesion appeared as indolent, slow growing cutaneous mass and has no connection with underlying brain tissue, as determined by examination of the roentgenographs. The definite diagnosis was made after pathological examination. Microscopically the tumor is composed of sheets and nests of meningothelial cells. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies reveal the typical findings of meningioma.
Female ; Humans ; Meningioma

The mixed gangliocytoma-pituitary adenoma is a very rare intracranial neoplasm, and it is frequently associated with endocrine symptoms; acromegaly, Cushing's disease, galactorrhea and amenorrhea. Morphologically it shows a mixture of gangliocytoma and pituitary adenoma in various proportions. In the area of gangliocytoma, there is no neoplastic glial component. The portion of pituitary adenoma consists mainly of chromophobe cells. There are three hypotheses in its histogenesis. We report a case of a 41 year-old lady presented with acromegaly and amenorrhea existing for 3 years. On magnetic resonance image, there is a dumbell-shaped mass in the sellar region. Histologically it showed typical features of mixed gangliocytoma-pituitary adenoma. This case is presented in the view of its rarity and interesting possible histogeneses.
Acromegaly ; Adenoma* ; Adult ; Amenorrhea ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; Ganglioneuroma ; Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Pregnancy

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma is a recently defined unusual variant of invasive breast carcinoma characterized by the formation of micropapillae within clear spaces separated by delicate fibrocollagenous stroma. This study was designed to examine clinicopathologic features of invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast. Sixteen cases of invasive micropapillary carcinoma were retrieved from the files of the Department of Pathology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine. We evaluated their clinicopathologic findings including patients' age, tumor size, nuclear grade, vascular invasion, axillary lymph node status, presence of extensive intraductal carcinoma, estrogen and progesterone receptors, p53, c-erbB-2, MIB-1 labelling index and follow-up data and compared this results with those of 292 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified. The incidence of invasive micropapillary carcinoma was 4.2% of all invasive breast carcinoma, and the mean age of the patients was 46 years. Nine cases were pure form (over 75% of micropapillary growth pattern in the tumor) and seven cases were mixed form. The results of clinicopathologic findings, except vascular invasion and axillary lymph node status, of the 16 cases of invasive micropapillary carcinoma were not different from those of the 292 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (p>0.05). However, the rate of vascular invasion and axillary lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in invasive micropapillary carcinoma (p <0.05). Of 16 cases, five cases had distant metastasis during follow-up period, and one patient died of cancer. Although the mechanism of higher vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis in micropapillary growth pattern could not be determined, we propose that invasive micropapillary carcinoma should be recognized as a separate entity with increased risks of vascular invasion and axillary lymph node metastsis.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Estrogens ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Receptors, Progesterone

Carcinosarcoma of the esophagus is a rare neoplasm composed of both carcinoma and spindle sarcomatous area. Usually the carcinoma component is a squamous cell carcinoma but rarely adenocarcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma is found. The histogenesis of the sarcomatous component is still unknown. A case of ulcerated polypoid lesion with a stalk in esophagus was reported. Microscopically it was composed of spindle shaped cells interminled with squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma nests. No distinct transition between spindle shaped cells and carcinoma are was observed. Immunoreactivity to cytokeratin was observed in both carcinomatous and spindle cell component, but electron microscopic examination failed to demonstrated desmosome or tonofilaments in spindle cells. Undifferentiated small cell nests were reactive to neuron specific enolase and contained membrane bounded secretory granule in electron microscopy.
Adenocarcinoma

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a higher prevalence of vascular calcification (VC) and cardiovascular disease. VC in CKD patients showed different pathophysiological features from those of the general population. The pathogenesis of VC in CKD is a highly organized process, and prior studies have suggested that patients with CKD have their own specific contributors to the phenotypic change of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), including uremic toxins, CKD-mineral and bone disease (CKD-MBD), inflammation, and oxidative stress. For the diagnosis and monitoring of VC in CKD, several imaging modalities, including plain radiography, ultrasound, and computed tomography have been utilized. VC in CKD patients has distinct clinical features and implications. CKD patients revealed a more intense and more prevalent calcification on the intimal and medial layers, whereas intimal calcification is predominantly observed in the general population. While a higher VC score is clearly associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events, a greater VC score in CKD patients does not fully reflect the burden of atherosclerosis, because they have more calcification at equal volumes of atheromatous plaques. The primary goal of VC treatment in CKD is the prevention of VC progression, and the main management is to control the biochemical components of CKD-MBD. Cinacalcet and non-calcium-containing phosphate binders are the mainstay of VC prevention in CKD-MBD management. VC in patients with CKD is an ongoing area of research and is expected to advance soon.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics on translocation of intrauterine device and the methods of removal. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 77 cases of translocation of intrauterine device from June 1994 to December 2002. RESULTS: Among 77 cases undergoing removal of intrauterine device, 17 cases (22.1%) were translocted intraperitoneally. Fifteen cases were removed by laparoscopy, 2 cases were by laparotomy and there was no specific postoperative complication. The incidence of intraperitoneal translocation was not related to the type of IUD. Between intrauterine and extrauterine translocation, the incidence of symptoms were not different, but low abdominal pain were slightly increased in extrauterine (35.3%) than intrauterine (10.0%) group. The time lapse after insertion of IUD was ranged from 1 month to 35 year, the mean duration was 9.39 year, that was not related to the incidence of intraperitoneal translocation. In the cases of extrauterine translocation, the mean hospital day was significantly increased (p=0.001), the mean duration was 2.5 day (1-7 day), compaired with 0.7 day (0-6 day) of the cases of not translocated. CONCLUSION: As the type of IUD or symptoms, it is difficult to anticipate the possibility of the intraperitoneal translocation of IUD. But, in cases of extrauterine translocation of intrauterine device, the incidence of low abdominal pain was slightly increased, and ring type IUD was rarely extrauterne translocated. So, it is necessary to further study what factors contribute the extrauterine translocation of IUD.
Abdominal Pain ; Incidence ; Intrauterine Devices* ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate prognostic significance of Rb and p53 protein immunostaining in renal cell carcinoma. We investigated correlations between Rb, p53 immunostaining and nuclear grade and stage as prognostic factors of renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects of this study were sixty-nine cases of renal cell carcinoma. We used indirect immunohistochemical methods in the formalin-fixed paraffin- embedded tissue (Rb: Pharmingen, USA; p53: Novocastra, UK). In staging and nuclear grading of the renal cell carcinoma, the American Joint Commitee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system and Fuhrmans grading system were applied respectively. RESULTS: According to Fuhrmans grading system, four cases were classified grade I, 15 cases were classified grade II, 13 cases were classified grade III, and 37 cases were classified grade IV. By AJCC TNM staging system, 29 cases were grouped stage I, 20 cases were grouped stage II, 15 cases were grouped stage III and five cases were grouped stage IV. In 55 cases (79% of all cases), Rb protein was expressed. Expression of Rb protein did not correlate with nuclear grade nor tumor stage. p53 protein was expressed in 17 cases (24% of all cases). p53 protein expression was frequently detected in high nuclear grade group (p < 0.05), but was not correlated with tumor stage. CONCLUSION: Expression of Rb protein was not conelated with nuclear grade and stage. And expression of p53 protein was not correlated with stage, but it is correlated with nuclear grade. Thus immunohistochemical examinstion of p53 could be a histological prognostic factor.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Joints ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retinoblastoma Protein