PURPOSE: There is evidence supporting the concept of tumor progression from pulmonary adenocarcinoma in situ (formerly bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, BAC) to adenocarcinoma with varying degrees of invasion. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) in tumor invasiveness in lung adenocarcinoma, and to determine the potential relationships between its expression and immunophenotypes of cell adhesion molecules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumor samples from adenocarcinoma in situ (n=13), minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (formerly BAC with < or =5 mm invasion, n=2), and lepidic predominant invasive adenocarcinoma (formerly mixed adenocarcinoma showing non-mucinous BAC features with >5 mm invasion, n=25) were examined for the expression of TGFbeta1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and H-cadherin proteins using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Of a total of 40 cases, 25 (63%) were positive for TGFbeta1. The frequency of immunoreactivity in patients with adenocarcinoma in situ, minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, and lepidic predominant invasive adenocarcinoma was 23% (3/13), 50% (1/2), and 84% (21/25), respectively (p=0.001). TGFbeta1 correlated with T classification (p=0.006) and stage (p=0.001). Loss of E-cadherin expression was more frequently observed in invasive adenocarcinomas than in adenocarcinomas in situ (p=0.034). E-cadherin expression inversely correlated with T classification (p=0.009). TGFbeta1 expression showed a statistically significant correlation with H-cadherin expression (p=0.040), but not with E-cadherin expression (p=0.752). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TGFbeta1 and E-cadherin may play an important role in invasive progression of lung adenocarcinoma through regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar ; Cadherins ; Cell Adhesion ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Proteins ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in order to investigate the significance of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) and E-cadherin proteins in tumor progression of lung adenocarcinoma and to evaluate their differential expression in association with morphologic characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 65 pulmonary adenocarcinomas were reclassified according to the new classification system proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, American Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory Society. Tumor samples from 20 adenocarcinomas in situ (AIS, formerly bronchioloalveolar carcinoma [BAC]), 9 minimally invasive adenocarcinomas (MIA, formerly BAC with < or = 5 mm invasion), 17 lepidic predominant adenocarcinomas (LPA, formerly mixed adenocarcinoma showing nonmucinous BAC features with >5 mm invasion), and 19 invasive adenocarcinomas with no BAC features were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of TGFbeta1 and E-cadherin proteins. RESULTS: TGFbeta1 expression was detected in 46% (21/46) of noninvasive elements and 87% (39/45) of invasive elements (p=0.001). E-Cadherin expression was less frequent in invasive components than in noninvasive components (38% vs. 65%, p=0.009). Negative correlation was identified between TGFbeta1 expression and E-cadherin expression in noninvasive elements (p=0.022). More importantly, significantly higher frequency of TGFbeta1 expression was observed in noninvasive components of LPA (14/17, 82%), compared with those of either AIS (5/20, 25%) or MIA (2/9, 22%) (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate involvement of both TGFbeta1 and E-cadherin proteins in tumor progression of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. It is noteworthy that TGFbeta1 up-regulation precedes alveolar destruction by invasion of tumor cells. TGFbeta1 may thus have the potential to improve lung adenocarcinoma diagnostics and therapeutics.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar ; Cadherins ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Proteins ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Up-Regulation

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease is a rare multisystemic granulomatous autoimmune disorder affecting pigmented tissues such as the choroid, meninges, inner ear, and the skin. Neurologic symptoms are usually mild. Clinical manifestations include generalized muscle weakness, headache, meningismus, vertigo, decreased visual acuity, hearing loss and mental changes ranging from mild confusion to psychosis, hemiparesis, dysarthria, and aphasia. Seizures are very rare. We describe a case of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and software-fused PET-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease with seizure.
Aphasia ; Choroid ; Dysarthria ; Ear, Inner ; Headache ; Hearing Loss ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meninges ; Meningism ; Muscle Weakness ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paresis ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Psychotic Disorders ; Seizures ; Skin ; Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome ; Vertigo ; Visual Acuity

We report two cases of giant cell tumor arising from the rib and their F-18 FDG PET/CT findings. The two patients complained of chest wall pain, and large lobulated soft tissue masses with intense FDG uptake were seen on F-18 FDG PET/CT. A malignant tumor such as osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma was suspected due to the large size of the mass, bony destruction, and intense FDG uptake. En bloc resection was performed and final pathologic results revealed giant cell tumor of the rib. Giant cell tumor of the rib is very rare, and larger lesions with high FDG uptake can be misdiagnosed as an intrathoracic malignancy arising from the rib, pleura, or chest wall.
Chondrosarcoma ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; Pleura ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Ribs ; Thoracic Wall

PURPOSE: Mutation-specific antibodies have recently been developed for identification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations by immunohistochemistry (IHC). This study was designed to investigate whether the type of specimen (biopsy vs. resection) would make a difference in determining mutation status by IHC, and to evaluate whether biopsies are suitable for detection of mutant EGFR protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IHC was performed using mutation-specific antibodies for E746-A750 deletion (DEL) and L858R point mutation (L858R) in biopsies and tissue microarrays of resected tumors from 154 patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Results were then compared with DNA sequencing data. RESULTS: Molecular-based assays detected EGFR mutations in 62 patients (40.3%), including 14 (9.1%) with DEL, and 31 (20.1%) with L858R. IHC with two mutation-specific antibodies showed a homogeneous staining pattern, and correctly identified EGFR mutation status in 89% (137/154). Overall (biopsy/resection) sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 75.6% (78.3%/72.7%), 94.5% (90.9%/96.3%), 85% (78.3%/88.9%), and 90.4% (90.9%/89.7%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that IHC using EGFR mutation-specific antibodies is useful for detection of EGFR mutations with high specificity and good sensitivity not only for resection specimens but also for biopsy materials. Therefore, IHC using EGFR mutation-specific antibodies may preclude a second biopsy procedure to obtain additional tissues for identification of EGFR mutations by molecular assays in biopsies from advanced cancer, particularly when tumor cells in the samples are limited.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Antibodies* ; Biopsy* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry* ; Lung ; Point Mutation ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

PURPOSE: Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) comprises 75-85% of all lung cancers, and approximately 25% of all NSCLC patients develop brain metastasis. There are no reliable markers for predicting in which patients this metastasis will occur. DCUN1D1, also known as squamous cell carcinoma-related oncogene, is associated with tumor progression and poor outcomes in NSCLC. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of DCUN1D1 expression in cases of brain metastasis due to NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary tumor samples from a total of 71 cases of NSCLC, either with (n=40) or without (n=31) brain metastasis, were evaluated for DCUN1D1 expression by immunohistochemistry analysis. RESULTS: DCUN1D1 expression was detected in 16 patients (23%) and tended to correlate with T classification (15% of T1-2 tumors vs. 30% of T3-4 tumors, p=0.083). DCUN1D1 expression was significantly associated with tumor stage. It was observed in none of the patients with stage I disease, 10% of those with stage II disease, and 29% with stage III disease (p=0.009). In addition, 14 of 16 DCUN1D1-positive patients resulted in brain metastasis (p=0.01). The odds ratio of brain metastasis for patients with DCUN1D1 expression was 3.112 (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: DCUN1D1 expression may play a role in tumor progression and development of brain metastasis in patients with NSCLC. Evaluation of DCUN1D1 expression may provide assistance in identifying those patients who are at higher risk for brain metastasis.
Brain ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Odds Ratio ; Oncogenes

We herein present a case of a 29-year-old man with clear rhinorrhea, which persisted for 8 years following a myringotomy. After cotton pledgets were placed in several different regions of the nasal cavity, cisternography using Tc-99m DTPA was performed to measure the radioactivity of each pledget. Cisternography showed subtle uptake in the nasal cavity. However, intense uptake was detected in the pledget placed in the right eustachian tube orifice, where the pledget:serum count ratio was 10.3:1. The patient underwent duroplasty and cranioplasty, and the rhinorrhea resolved.
Adult ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Eustachian Tube ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Pentetic Acid ; Radioactivity ; Radionuclide Imaging