The differential diagnosis between Spitz nevus and malignant melanoma is difficult due to similar histologic findings. To obtain the useful aids for the differential diagnosis between two diseases, we studied 13 cases of Spitz nevus, 8 benign nevi of compound and intradermal, and 9 melanomas of primary and metastatic, using the immunohistochemical stain for S-100 protein, HMB.45 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA). The staining pattern and intensity of S-100 protein showed homogenously strong positive reactivity in all cases. The frequency of HMB.45 positive cell in Spitz nevus was significantly lower than that in melanoma. When compared with the usual compound and intradermal nevi, Spitz nevi showed more significantly positive reaction in the dermal component of nevus cells. The expression of PCNA was higher in melanoma than in Spitz nevus. The immunohistochemical stains for HMB.45 and PCNA are considered as a useful methods for differentiation between Spitz nevus and melanoma, while stain for S-100 protein is not helpful.
Diagnosis, Differential

We report 4 cases of malignant thymoma which were composed of 2 cases of invasive thymoma and 2 cases of thymic carcinoma. The cytologic findings of invasive thymoma were similar to those of benign thymoma. The distinctive cytologic features of thymic carcinoma were necrotic background, irregular clusters and individually scattered arrangement of anaplastic epithelial cells, and some scattered mature small lymphocytes. These findings may be found in the Hodgkin'slymphoma, seminoma, and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma of the. lung. But, the feature of irregular clustering of anaplastic epithelial cell having scanty cytoplasm was different from Hodgkin'slymphoma and seminoma. Clinical and radiologic findings as well as cytologic finding were helpful in differential diagnosis of thymic carcinoma from metastatic carcinoma.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelial Cells ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Seminoma ; Thymoma*

We investigated the role of the tumor suppressor genes in the germ cell tumor. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) for p53 mutation were done in 46 cases of the germ cell tumor with paraffin embedded tissue. The immunohistochemical staining for Rb protein was also performed in the same specimens. The following results were obtained. The overexpression of the p53 protein was detected in 7 of 46 cases (15%). p53 mutation by PCR-SSCP was detected in 1 of 46 cases (2.2%). Expression of Rb protein was negative in 19 cases (41%). These results suggest that p53 mutation does not play an important role in the initiation and progression of germ cell tumors.
Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Germ Cells* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Paraffin ; Retinoblastoma Protein*

No abstract available.
Autopsy* ; Endocarditis* ; Thromboembolism

To evaluate the prognostic predictor and clinicopathologic characteristics of the gastrointestinal (GI) mesenchymal neoplasm, we examined 75 cases of GI mesenchymal tumors surgically resected during 8 years from 1983 to 1990. Various histological parameters referrable to the prognosis, including the Ag-NORs count, were analysed. Fifty cases were followed-up for 1 to 7 years. Sixteen out of these fifty cases died during this period. The location of tumor was the stomach in 33 cases, the small intestine in 31 cases and the large intestine in 11 cases, and the tumor size was variable from 2 to 35 cm in diameter. The GI mesenchymal neoplasm appeared as an extraluminal mass in 50 cases, an intramural mass in 17 cases, and an intraluminal mass in 8 cases. Each tumor was composed of spindle or epithelioid cells, the former cell type being more common than the latter (45 vs 30 cases). Mitotic count of the tumor showed the best correlationship with the survival of patients(p<0.05), although the tumor size and necrosis appeared to have some values. The Ag-NORs count was variable and was not significantly correlated with the patient's prognosis(p>0.05). These results indicate that the mitotic count is the most valuable pathological predictor for the prognosis in GI mesenchymal neoplasms.

E-cadherin is a calcium-dependent epithelial adhesion molecule which plays a role in the initial step of invasion of cancer cells. The step that follows the migration of separated tumor cells is a proteolytic lysis of basement membrane and extracellular matrix by protease of epithelial and endothelial cells such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be an endothelial cell-specific powerful mitogen as well as a vascular permeability factor. This study is aimed to evaluate the correlation between expression of these factors and pathologic or clinical variables and the roles and prognostic significance of those factors in squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Immunohistochemical stains were performed for E-cadherin, MMP-2, and VEGF in surgically resected specimens from 90 patients with squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Mean age of the patients was 59.7 years. Histologic type was categorized into 56 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 34 cases of adenocarcinoma. Mean survival period of the 35 patients was 54 months. The immunohistochemical stains for E-cadherin, MMP-2, and VEGF revealed positive reaction in 67 cases (74.4%), 43 cases (47.8%), and 34 cases (37.8%), respectively. The expression of E-cadherin was higher in adenocarcinoma (82.4%) than in squamous cell carcinoma (69.6%). MMP-2 was expressed in the tumor cells, especially those invading into the surrounding stroma. The expression of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with the survival rate (p<0.05). The expression of VEGF in the tumor cells was significantly higher in cases with lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). In conclusion, these findings suggest that the expression of MMP-2 and VEGF predict poor prognosis of patients with squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung and that VEGF may play a role in tumor metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Basement Membrane ; Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Coloring Agents ; Endothelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

A case of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma resembling ovarian sex-cord tumor in the uterus of a 43-year-old woman is described. This tumor belongs to the group II category of uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex-cord tumor described by Clement and Scully, and the epithelial-like elements show prominent smooth muscle differentiation, proved by immunoreactivity for desmin and actin. The patient did not receive any adjuvant therapy; she is alive and well without recurrence 8 months postoperatively.
Female ; Humans

We report a case of primary cardiac angiosarcoma in a 35 year-old woman. She presented with dyspnea, facial edema and neck vein distension during 1 month. The oval round large mass(8x4 cm) filling the right atrium infiltrated into the entire thickness of the lateral wall and extended to the vena cava and ventricle. The interatrial septum and pericardium seemed to be intact. Despite the surgical excision and adjuvant chemo-and radiotherapy, the patient died 8 months later due to tumor recurrence. The histologic findings of tumor varied from benign looking capillary proliferation mimicking granulation tissue to sarcoma composed of spindle cells. But anastomosing vascular channels lined by anaplastic polygonal cells and intracytoplasmic lumen containing red blood cells were characteristic findings. These tumor cells showed positive reaction to endothelial cell antigen and factor VIII-related antigen. The intercellular junctional complex and vascular channels formed by cytoplasmic process of tumor cells were identified by the ultrastructural study.
Female ; Humans

Brunner's gland adenoma(or Brunneroma) is clinically relevant tumor-like lesion of the duodenum which is composed of submucosal Brunner's gland tissue. Since the first case by autopsy was described by Cruveihier in l935, there have been less than 190 reports in the world literature, Brunner's gland adenoma is an extremely rare entity that accounts for only 10.6% of benign duodenal tumors, which are themselves relatively rare representing 0.008% of all surgical and autopsy specimens. The clinical manifestation of this tumor are non-specific gastrointestinal complaints, such as bloating or epigastric pain, and tumor often gives rise to melena or obstruction, It is postulated that this tumor are hamartomas rather than true neoplasm. However, they undergo rarely malignant transformation. We report on a case of a large pedunculated Brunner's gland adenoma, which was successfully polypectomized.
Adenoma* ; Autopsy ; Duodenum ; Hamartoma ; Melena

Brunner's gland adenoma(or Brunneroma) is clinically relevant tumor-like lesion of the duodenum which is composed of submucosal Brunner's gland tissue. Since the first case by autopsy was described by Cruveihier in l935, there have been less than 190 reports in the world literature, Brunner's gland adenoma is an extremely rare entity that accounts for only 10.6% of benign duodenal tumors, which are themselves relatively rare representing 0.008% of all surgical and autopsy specimens. The clinical manifestation of this tumor are non-specific gastrointestinal complaints, such as bloating or epigastric pain, and tumor often gives rise to melena or obstruction, It is postulated that this tumor are hamartomas rather than true neoplasm. However, they undergo rarely malignant transformation. We report on a case of a large pedunculated Brunner's gland adenoma, which was successfully polypectomized.
Adenoma* ; Autopsy ; Duodenum ; Hamartoma ; Melena