Quality assurance analysis of frozen section diagnosis is very important for the pathologists to improve the diagnostic ability and the quality of medical service. We analysed 5,273 consecutive cases of frozen section diagnosis which were done in Samsung Medical Center during 10 months from June 1, 1998 to March 31. 1999 with special reference to the discordance between frozen section diagnosis and final diagnosis. The concordance rate was 97.65%, discordance rate 1.34%, and deferred diagnosis (type 1) rate 1.01%. Category A (discordant diagnosis without any effect on the patients) was 53 cases (1.01%), category B (discordant diagnosis with minimal but no serious effect on the patients) was 10 cases (0.19%), and category C (discordant diagnosis with serious effect on the patients) was 8 cases (0.15%). Type 2 (discordant diagnosis by extra-pathologist problem) was 22 cases (0.42%) and type 3 (discordant diagnosis by pathologist problem) was 49 cases (0.93%). The most frequent causes of type 2 and 3 discordant diagnosis were presence of new lesions on deeper sections and the misinterpretation of lesions. Discordant diagnosis was noted in lymphoreticular system, central nervous system, thyroid, gastric resection margin, breast, female genital organs, intestine, hepatobiliary system, upper aerodigestive tract, urinary tract, lung, and soft tissue in descending order of frequency. Frozen section diagnosis was deferred in central nervous system, lymphoreticular system, gastric resection margin, female genital organs, thyroid, intestine, upper aerodigestive tract, lung, and soft tissue in descending order of frequency. The most important cause of discordant diagnosis was a misinterpretation of the lesions. Based on our results, a continuous and careful follow-up of quality assurance analysis of frozen section diagnosis and a share of experience of problematic cases are mandatory for the pathologists to improve the quality of medical services.
Breast ; Central Nervous System ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Frozen Sections* ; Genitalia, Female ; Intestines ; Lung ; Thyroid Gland ; Urinary Tract

Liver cell dysplasia of Anthony(LCD) is a common association in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)-bearing liver and has been regarded as a premalignant condition with strong linkage to hepatitis B virus infection and cirrhosis. A total of 189 surgically resected livers [HCC(168 cases), cholangiocarcinoma(3 cases), metastatic carcinoma(3 cases), and non-neoplastic lesions(15 cases)] were reviewed to elucidate the nature of LCD by means of light microscopic examination, in situ hybridization method for HBV DNA and expression of proliferatin cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) using immunohistochemical technique. LCD was present in 141 cases(74.6%), and its prevalence rate was independently significant in HCCs with or without cirrhosis than other groups. There was no difference in mean age, although LCD-positive group was younger than its negative counterpart. Association rate of LCD in HCC-cirrhosis group was statistically significant than the non-cirrhotic group, and higher histological grading of LCD was correlated well with wider distribution pattern and clustering. Seropositivity of HBsAg was not correlated with presence of LCD or with histological grading. In situ hybridization techique using HBV DNA probe demonstrated fine granular stainable particles even in LCD cells. Immunohistochemical study for PCNA revealed that the proliferative activity of LCD was lower than that of the cirrhotic cell. With the above results it is concluded that LCD reflects neither a regenerating condition nor a premalignant lesion but suggest a reactive change.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Neoplasm Metastasis

BACKGROUND: Gravity traction is a widely used conservative procedure, and several studies using various techniques have reported changes in blood pressure (BP) or heart rate (HR) or stress variables in the head-down tilting position, with varying results. The purpose of this study was to investigate BP, HR and serum lactic acid (LA) responses to inverted gravity traction at six angles. METHODS: Thirty volunteers (males 15, females 15) were assigned randomly to either of two experimental groups. After the resting BP, HR and LA concentration were measured in the sitting position, they were measured repeatedly at standing, supine, and inverted at -30, -60 and -90 degrees every 2.5 minute. RESULTS: Compared to the systolic BP (SBP) at sitting, SBP decreased at standing and at inverted -30degrees and increased at -60degrees and -90degrees in the males group, whereas SBP decreased at supine to inverted -60degrees and increased at -90degrees in the females group. Compared to the diastolic BP (DBP) at sitting, DBP diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased at standing to -60degrees in both groups and increased at inverted -90degrees. Compared to HR at sitting, HR decreased at supine to -90degrees in both groups. The results of the post hoc test comparisons showed that the SBP, DBP, and HR differed significantly at all six positions. However, compared to serum LA at sitting, LA at all positions were not significantly different in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: As seen in previous research, our results showed increases in BP and HR at inverted -90degrees. However, BP and HR at the other inverted positions including supine showed decreases. LA did not change significantly at any of the positions. Finally, our study showed that angles above -30degrees or -60degrees can benefits the cardiovascular system in young people.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Female ; Gravitation ; Head-Down Tilt ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Male ; Posture ; Traction

Dedifferentiated chordoma is a rare pathologic entity presenting an additional sarcomatous component in otherwise classical chordoma. It has been also emphasized that this neoplasm is classified as a distinct entity because of its different clinical settings and aggressive behavior. Dedifferentiation is a peculiar phenomenon but its histogenesis has remained controversial. A 50-yera-old man developed a huge tumor mass in the retrorectal, presacral area, featured with two histological components. The one was a typical chordoma accounted for approximately 60% of the mass and the other was made up of highly cellular, plemorphic, undifferentiated tumor cells, reminiscent partly to the cells of plemorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Ultrastructural features and immunoreactivity against cytokeratin, S-100 protein and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin in both portions support that histologically different components of this neoplasm derive from the same origin. To our knowledge, this is the first case of dedifferentiated chordoma in Korea.
Male ; Humans

With advance of diagnostic imaging technics, the detection rate of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become much increased, but the questions whether the growth pattern and histologic nature of the HCC keep maintain the original gross and microscopic features with its advancement of tumor size remain still unclear. We reviewed 39 surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas(HCCs) with a tumor size less than or equal to 3 cm in diameter(s-HCC), and their gross and microscopic features were compared with the HCCs bigger than 3 cm (i-HCC, 199 cases). Single nodular type(SN) was the most common gross type(60%) in s-HCCs, and was followed by single nodular type with perinodular extension(SNPE; 15.4%), multinodular-discrete type(10.3%) and multinodular-confluent type(5.1%). These figures contrasted to SNPE(42.2%) and SN(20.6%) in the i-HCCs. Of the 39 s-HCCs, 25 cases(64.1%) were encapsulated, and 14 cases(36%) demonstrated intratumoral fibrous septations, being contrasted to the i-HCCs in which fibrous septa formation was mord prominent but complete capsule formation was found only in 40.2% of the larger ones. Microscopically, the trabecular type was the most frequent one(53.9%), and increased with their size while the compact type transformed into trabecular one. Thirty three cases(84.6%) were associated with macronodular cirrhosis. Seropositivity for HBsAg was found in 26 cases(66.6%), and high serum alpha-fetoprotein level over 500 IU/L was found in 15 s-HCC cases(38.4%), while 53.3% in i-HCC. The above results suggest that HCCs change their pathologic features by increase of their size, and a comparison of the details with regard to the possible mechanisms involved is discussed.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

No abstract available.

Primary hemangioma of the lymph node is an extremely rare vascular neoplasm, and only four cases on the subject have been reported in the literature. We describe a case of cavernous hemangioma in an axillary lymph node that was incidentally found in 70-year-old woman who underwent a modified radical mastectomy for infiltrating duct carcinoma of the left breast. Brief review of the literature regarding vasoformative lesions occupying lymph node is made with special regard to differential diagnosis from reactive-proliferative processes and other true neoplasms.
Female ; Humans ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioma

Elastofibroma is a rare benign tumorous growth presenting as a slowly growing ill-defined mass of fibroblastic tissue occurring in elderly persons and arising mainly form the connective tissue between the lower portion of the scapula and the chest wall. Its pathogenesis is not well established but it may be the result of nonneoplastic reactive hyperplasia taking place with constitutional predisposition in the background. A case of elastofibroma occurring in the subscapular area of a 65-year-old female cook is presented. The mass, 6x5x3 cm in maximum dimensions, was poorly circumscribed, solid, hard, pale fleshy and pray-white fibrous tumor. Microscopically, it was composed of numerous small globular and linear elastic fibers embedded in collagenous matrix. To our knowledge, it is the first case of elastofibroma in Korea.
Female ; Humans

Primary oxalosis is a rare genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of the peroxisomal enzyme alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase(type I) and D-glyceric dehydrogenase(type II). It is characterized by the triad of radiopaque urolithiasis, nephrocalcinosis, and latered renal function. We report a case of primary oxalosis in a 10-year-old Korean girl. She presented with chronic renal failure at 9 years of age. Ultrasonographic examination revealed bilateral, multiple renal and ureteral stones. Removed stones were chemically analysed to be composed of calcium oxalate. She underwent renal transplantation after prolonged period of dialysis. Removed kidneys were firm and gritty. Cut sections showed numerous tiny yellow sandy stones and a large staghorn stone. Specimen X-ray also exhibited disseminated fine granular and often coalescent radiopaque materials throughout the cortex and medulla. Microscopically numerous varying-sized crystals were noted in the kidney in globular or rhomboid appearance. The crystals were semitranslucent and doubly refractile under the polarized light. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis and chronic inflammation as well as glomerular obsolescence were also noted. The oxalate deposit was diffuse and marked, and was thought to be intimately related to the parenchymal damage and fibrosis.

Giant congenital melanocytic nevus is found in 0.1% of live born infants. If present, this lesion has a 6.3% chance to develop malignant melanoma. We report such a case in a 22-year-old woman who had multiple pigmented skin lesions since birth. Rapidly growing masses were recently detected in the 19 cm-sized occipital pigmented lesion. Removed scalp lesion revealed yellowish white lobulated soft nodules in the background of pigmented nevus. Microscopically, the nodules consisted of epithelioid cells with prominent nucleoli, and pleomorphic cells including signetring cells. These cells seldom contained melanin pigment. There were metastatic aggregates of tumor cells in the cervical lymph node, which were reminiscent of germinal centers of lymph nodes. S-100 protein immunostaining was helpful to distinguish them. Incidentally, focally scattered pigmented spindle cells were seen in the capsule of a lymph node
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis