A primary intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor is very rare, with only 24 cases having been reported in the literature. In general this type of tumor is treated with surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy; however, the prognosis still remains poor. The case of a primary intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor, at the conus medullaris in a 17 year old male patient is presented. He had sufferred from paraparesis, urinary difficulty and lower back pain of 1 month duration. A thoracolumbar MRI demonstrated a 2x2x8cm isointense intraspinal mass, on T1-weighted images, with strong contrast enhancement from the T11 to L2 level. There was no clinical or radiological evidence for the existence of an intracranial tumor. A histological examination revealed a small round cell tumor and immunohistochemical characteristics of PNET. The clinical, radiological and pathological features are discussed with a review of the literatures.
Adolescent ; Human ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive/*pathology/therapy ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms/*pathology/therapy ; Thoracic Vertebrae

To investigate the role of spinal interleukin-6-Janus kinase 2 (IL-6-JAK2) signaling transduction pathway in regulating astrocytes activation during the maintenance of bone cancer pain (BCP).
 Methods: NCTC 2472 fibrosarcoma cells were injected into the femur marrow cavity in C3H/HeNCrlVr male mice to establish BCP model and they were replaced by the equal volume of α-MEM in the sham model. The paw withdrawal latency (PWL) was measured after inoculation of tumor cells. The lumbar enlargement of spinal cord (L3-L5) was isolated, and Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of spinal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and JAK2 mRNA and protein, respectively. The expression level of spinal GFAP mRNA indirectly reflect astrocytes activation level. Pain behaviors and spinal cord GFAP mRNA and protein expression were observed at the given time points after intrathecal administration of JAK2 antagonist AG-490.
 Results: The PWL at 10, 14, 21 d after operation in BCP model group were significantly shorter than that in the sham group (P<0.05); the spinal GFAP and JAK2 mRNA and protein levels were higher in the BCP model group in comparison to mice in the sham group (P<0.05); intrathecal injection of JAK2 agonist AG-490 (30 or 90 nmol) significantly alleviated PWL, and downregulated the expression of spinal GFAP mRNA and protein (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: The IL-6-JAK2 signaling pathway plays an important role in maintaining the BCP by regulating the expression of GFAP in the spinal cord. Intrathecal injection of AG-490 can reduce the BCP, and inhibit the activation of IL-6-JAK2 signaling pathway, which may be one of the mechanisms for spinal astrocyte activation.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; pathology ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; Hyperalgesia ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; cytology ; pathology ; Tyrphostins ; administration & dosage

Spinal cord injury is a difficult medical problem and current therapeutic methods could not obtain satisfactory results. Recent 20 years, stem cell technology developed rapidly, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells were used for treating neurological disease and nerve injury of animal models and the clinical results were confirmed. It provided a new prospect for the treatment of nerve injury at the cellular level. However,due to technical and ethical problems, it is difficult to obtain the appropriate cells that can be applied to the human being. Recently, induced pluripotent stem cells were developed as a new method for the treatment of spinal cord injuries by the autologous transplantation. Starting from this work, the purpose of this review is to assess the differentiate ability of induced pluripotent stem cells into neurocyte and review the latest developments in this area.
Humans ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; transplantation ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; pathology ; therapy ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods

BACKGROUNDPrimary intraspinal hemangiopericytoma is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Surgery is the main therapeutic procedure for this lesion. This clinical research was undertaken to analyze the pathological characteristics, clinical course, and the choice of treatment for this lesion.

METHODSTwenty-three patients with primary intraspinal hemangiopericytomas were treated from 1987 to 2004. The clinical and imaging features, pathological findings, therapeutic procedures, and prognosis were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSPrimary intraspinal hemangiopericytoma is more likely to attack middle-aged persons. The tumor mainly manifests as muscle weakness and sensor abnormalities. Microscopic examination showed slit-like vascular spaces and oral- or spindle-shaped cells with slightly acidic cytoplasm and oral nuclei. Tumors were subtotally resected in 11 patients, subtotally resected with postoperative radiotherapy in 4, totally resected in 5, and totally resected with postoperative radiotherapy in 3. Two patients were given spinal stabilization after total resection. Recurrence and metastatic rates were 50% and 0 in intradural patients. They were 73% and 27% in extradural patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe tumor should be resected en bloc with the neighboring dural mater to reduce recurrence and metastasis. Patients with subtotal resection need adjuvant radiotherapy. Patients with evident spinal involvement may benefit from spinal stabilization. The prognosis of the lesion arising from the dural mater is better.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangiopericytoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy

Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Spinal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracoscopy ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features and prognosis of bone metastases in colorectal cancer patients.

METHODSThe clinical data of 104 cases of colorectal cancer with bone metastasis were collected and retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSAmong all the 104 patients included, 45 (43.3%) patients had multiple bone metastases, and 59 (56.7%) patients had single bone metastasis. Pelvis (46.1%) was the most common site, followed by thoracic vertebrae (41.3%), lumbar vertebrae (40.4%), sacral vertebrae (29.8%) and ribs (29.8%). One hundred and two patients (98.1%) were complicated with other organ metastases. The median time from colorectal cancer diagnosis to bone metastasis was 16 months, and the median time from bone metastasis to first skeletal-related events (SREs) was 1 month. The most common skeletal-related events (SREs) were the need for radiotherapy (44.2%), severe bone pain (15.4%) and pathologic fracture (9.6%). The median survival time of patients with bone metastases was 10.0 months, and 8.5 months for patients with SREs. ECOG score, systemic chemotherapy and bisphosphonate therapy were prognostic factors by univariate analysis (all P < 0.05). ECOG score and systemic chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors by Cox multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONSBone metastasis in colorectal cancer patients has a poor prognosis and the use of chemotherapy and bisphosphonates may have a benefit for their survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Diphosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Bone ; etiology ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; etiology ; Pelvic Bones ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribs ; pathology ; Sacrum ; pathology ; Spinal Cord Compression ; etiology ; Spinal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; pathology ; Young Adult

Choroid plexus tumors are uncommon brain tumors that primarily occur in children. Most of these tumors originate from the intraventricular area, and the most common clinicalpresentation is increased intracranial pressure. Dissemination through the cerebrospinal fluid space is the inevitable natural course of the disease. Here, we present 2 rare cases of adult choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC), each with distinct clinical presentation and progression. The first case was a 40-year-old male who presented with multiple intraventricular masses. After surgical biopsy, radiation and intrathecal chemotherapy failed to elicit any response. The patient progressed with spinal cord dissemination and expired 1 year later. The second case presented with visual disturbance, and brain MRI revealed a large ovoid juxtaventricular mass with peritumoral edema. This 49-year-old female patient underwent craniotomy for what was thought to be a high-grade glioma; however, the mass was connected to the choroid plexus at the operative field. Her pathology specimen was diagnosed as CPC, and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy was administered. She has now been free of recurrence for 10 months. The description of the presentation and progression of these rare adult-onset CPC provides insight for the diagnosis and treatment of other rare instances of choroid plexus tumors.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child ; Choroid Plexus Neoplasms ; Choroid Plexus ; Choroid ; Craniotomy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Edema ; Female ; Fourth Ventricle ; Glioma ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Spinal Cord

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been used widely to treat patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. However, this method can induce various adverse events caused by necrosis of the tumor itself or damage to nontumor tissues. In particular, neurologic side effects such as cerebral infarction and paraplegia, although rare, may cause severe sequelae and permanent disability. Detailed information regarding the treatment process and prognosis associated with this procedure is not yet available. We experienced a case of paraplegia that occurred after conducting TACE through the intercostal artery to treat hepatocellular carcinoma that had metastasized to the rib. In this case, TACE was attempted to relieve severe bone pain, which had persisted even after palliative radiotherapy. A sudden impairment of sensory and motor functions after TACE developed in the trunk below the level of the sternum and in both lower extremities. The patient subsequently received steroid pulse therapy along with supportive care and continuous rehabilitation. At the time of discharge the patient had recovered sufficiently to enable him to walk by himself, although some paresthesia and spasticity remained.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms/radiography/secondary ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/pathology/*therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/*adverse effects ; Hepatitis B/complications/drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/secondary ; Spinal Cord Injuries/*etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Germ cell tumors have variable clinical characteristics according to the age, sex, primary site, and pathologic diagnosis. To provide the therapeutic principle, the clinical characteristics, response to the treatment, and prognostic factors were analyzed. METHODS: Medical records of 57 children who were diagnosed as malignant germ cell tumor in Seoul National University Children's Hospital from January 1986 till June 1996 were reviewed. RESULTS: 1) Fifty seven cases (male : 22, female : 43, true hermaphrodite : 1) were analyzed. The age of diagnosis was between 2 months and 15 years and median age was 4 year 7 month. 2) The primary sites were sacrococcygeal area (28%), intracranial area (25%), ovary (18%), testis (11%), retroperitoneum (7%), and mediastinum (4%) in order of frequency. Another cases were in liver, spinal cord, skull base, tongue, and ovary & testis in hermaphrodite. 3) Pathologic diagnosis was possible in 53 cases. Mixed germ cell tumor (37%), endodermal sinus tumor (23%), germinoma (13%), immature teratoma (8%), embryonal carcinoma (4%), and choriocarcinoma (2%) were included in order of frequency. 4) The stage by CCG/POG classification revealed that 6% of stage I, 19% of stage II, 43% of stage III, and 32% of stage IV in 53 cases. 5) After the initial surgery or needle biopsy, radiation therapy was done in the intracranial tumor with EP induction or modified CCG 8891, etc. and cis-VAB, EP, VAB-3, VAC, or CCG 8891, etc. was done in the extracranial tumor with/without radiation therapy. 6) The response rate revealed that 71% of complete response, 22% of partial response, and 7% of progressive disease in 45 cases. 7) The response rate was related to the primary site but not pathology and stage. All the gonadal tumors had complete response. 8) The 5 year-survival rate of all malignant germ cell tumors was 73%. Stage 4 or sacrococcygeal tumor had poor survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: Stage 4 and sacrococcygeal area were thought as the poor prognostic factors affecting survival. Survival rate of tumors at sacrococcygeal area were poor owing to the relatively younger age of onset, and poor response rate. The 5 year-survival rate of tumors treated with cis-VAB were 74% but shown complications frequently. So BEP will be preferred.
Age of Onset ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma, Embryonal ; Child ; Choriocarcinoma ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Female ; Germ Cells* ; Germinoma ; Gonads ; Humans ; Liver ; Mediastinum ; Medical Records ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Ovary ; Pathology ; Pregnancy ; Seoul ; Skull Base ; Spinal Cord ; Survival Rate ; Teratoma ; Testis ; Tongue

PURPOSE: Germ cell tumors have variable clinical characteristics according to the age, sex, primary site, and pathologic diagnosis. To provide the therapeutic principle, the clinical characteristics, response to the treatment, and prognostic factors were analyzed. METHODS: Medical records of 57 children who were diagnosed as malignant germ cell tumor in Seoul National University Children's Hospital from January 1986 till June 1996 were reviewed. RESULTS: 1) Fifty seven cases (male : 22, female : 43, true hermaphrodite : 1) were analyzed. The age of diagnosis was between 2 months and 15 years and median age was 4 year 7 month. 2) The primary sites were sacrococcygeal area (28%), intracranial area (25%), ovary (18%), testis (11%), retroperitoneum (7%), and mediastinum (4%) in order of frequency. Another cases were in liver, spinal cord, skull base, tongue, and ovary & testis in hermaphrodite. 3) Pathologic diagnosis was possible in 53 cases. Mixed germ cell tumor (37%), endodermal sinus tumor (23%), germinoma (13%), immature teratoma (8%), embryonal carcinoma (4%), and choriocarcinoma (2%) were included in order of frequency. 4) The stage by CCG/POG classification revealed that 6% of stage I, 19% of stage II, 43% of stage III, and 32% of stage IV in 53 cases. 5) After the initial surgery or needle biopsy, radiation therapy was done in the intracranial tumor with EP induction or modified CCG 8891, etc. and cis-VAB, EP, VAB-3, VAC, or CCG 8891, etc. was done in the extracranial tumor with/without radiation therapy. 6) The response rate revealed that 71% of complete response, 22% of partial response, and 7% of progressive disease in 45 cases. 7) The response rate was related to the primary site but not pathology and stage. All the gonadal tumors had complete response. 8) The 5 year-survival rate of all malignant germ cell tumors was 73%. Stage 4 or sacrococcygeal tumor had poor survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: Stage 4 and sacrococcygeal area were thought as the poor prognostic factors affecting survival. Survival rate of tumors at sacrococcygeal area were poor owing to the relatively younger age of onset, and poor response rate. The 5 year-survival rate of tumors treated with cis-VAB were 74% but shown complications frequently. So BEP will be preferred.
Age of Onset ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma, Embryonal ; Child ; Choriocarcinoma ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Female ; Germ Cells* ; Germinoma ; Gonads ; Humans ; Liver ; Mediastinum ; Medical Records ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Ovary ; Pathology ; Pregnancy ; Seoul ; Skull Base ; Spinal Cord ; Survival Rate ; Teratoma ; Testis ; Tongue