A flow cytometric analysis of the nuclear DNA content of solid tumors using paraffin-embedded tissues has become available since 1983, and its ploidy pattern has been designated as an important prognostic parameter in many human tumors. Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors among Koreans, but little information is consolidated about the significance of ploidy pattern. We measured the nuclear DNA content of 62 surgically resected HCCs and 45 non-neoplastic tissues from the surrounding parenchyma by flow cytometry. Aneuploid was detected in 18 cases(29.0%) in HCCs and 2 cases(4.4%) in nonneoplastic hepatic parenchyma(p<0.005). Correlations between the DNA ploidy pattern and various clinicopathologic findings of HCCs were analized. The mean tumor size was significantly different(p<0.05) between the aneuploid group(8.8 cm) and the diploid group(6.1 cm). Mean age of the aneuploid group was younger(47 year) than the diploid group(51 years), but the difference was not statistically significant(p=0.052). The DNA pattern did not show any meaningful correlation with the gross and microscopic features of HCC except for the presence of capsule. These results suggest that DNA ploidy correlates with growth rate of the tumor and it may be a possibly useful prognostic factor in HCCs.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

Ischemic colitis still remains largely underdiagnosed despite the fact that it is one of the most common disorders of the large bowel. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the variable histologic findings of ischemic colitis and to find out helpful histopathological features in diagnosis. Retrospective review of the clinical symptoms, underlying diseases, endoscopic findings of 23 patients, and the histologic features of 37 biopsies was done. We analyzed the significant pathologic features in the histologically diagnosed ischemic colitis group and compared the biopsy time between the histologically diagnosed ischemic colitis group and the non-diagnosed group. Comparison of the endoscopic biopsy time between the group that showed significant histologic features and the group that showed no significant histologic features was also done. The age of the patients ranged from 27 to 87 years. Most patients had abdominal pain, hematemesis, and melena. Endoscopic differential diagnoses included ischemic colitis, ulcerative colitis, infectious colitis, tuberculous colitis, Crohn's disease, and pseudomembranous colitis. Histologic features and diagnoses were also variable. The coagulative necrosis of mucosa and the epithelial desquamation were frequently detected in the group pathologically diagnosed as ischemic colitis. The most pathognomonic finding was coagulative necrosis of the mucosa that was almost always detected within seven days after the onset of clinical symptoms. Recognition of variable patterns of ischemic colitis in a biopsy specimen will direct the clinician to evaluate the vascular system. Early endoscopic biopsy is essential for the precise diagnosis of ischemic colitis.
Abdominal Pain ; Biopsy* ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ischemic* ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous ; Hematemesis ; Humans ; Melena ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis ; Retrospective Studies

Helicobacter pylori infection has been shown to be associated with gastric carcinoma. However, despite the frequent detection of seropositivity for H. pylori and histologic detection in biopsy specimen, histologic detection rate of H. pylori in surgical specimens has been low. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of H. pylori infection in gastrectomy specimens bearing gastric adenocarcinoma and compared it with both endoscopic biopsy and serologic results. H. pylori infection was identified by Giemsa stain in the mucosa stripped from the tumor, body, and antrum in 61 gastrectomy specimens. We evaluated the effect of H. pylori infection on gastric mucosal cell proliferation by using monoclonal antibody for Ki-67. H. pylori detection rate using Giemsa stain was higher in gastrectomy specimens (67.3%) compared to that (48.1%) of biopsy specimens (p=0.006). The detection rate was higher in body than that of antrum or tumor site in the same patients (p=0.001). The H. pylori seropositivity was 60.5% and relatively nonspecific. The mean value of Ki-67 labeling index in the H. pylori-positive group was higher than that in the H. pylori-negative group (p<0.05). The increase in gastric epithelial cell proliferation was not influenced by the location of the tumor or the site of the specimen. The results suggest that the actual prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with gastric carcinoma is considerably higher than that evaluated on endoscopic biopsy specimens. In addition, the increased cell proliferation in the H. pylori-positive group suggests some evidence that H. pylori may be involved in gastric carcinogenesis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Azure Stains ; Biopsy ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium* ; Gastrectomy ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Prevalence

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung(CCAML) is a rare developmental anomaly characterized by an "adenomatoid" hyperplasia of terminal respiratory structures with formation of the cysts of varying sizes. CCAML is separated into three major types based on the gross and microscopic findings. We have analyzed 22 cases of CCAML, those consisted of 6 autopsy cases and 16 surgical specimens. Out of 22 cases, 5 cases were composed of large cysts(type I) and 9 cases had multiple small cysts(type II). Remaining one case revealed features of solid type(type III), and 7 cases were mixed form. There were 16 boys and 6 girls. All cases were below the age of 14 years. There was no clear-cut age difference between different types of CCAML. However, inflammation, fibrosis and pseudostratification of epithelium were often found in older age. All fetal autopsy cases of CCAML had hydrops fetalis and were associated with maternal hydramnios. One case of type III showed definite mucinogenic cells in the cysts unexpectedly, and one case of the mixed form(typeI+II+III) was found in a fetus of 22 weeks of gestational age. Above findings contradicted the classical description of the CCAML, and suggested that arbitrary classification into three types may not be the best way in understanding this condition.
Cysts

Liver biopsies are used routinely in the assessment of graft dysfunction following liver transplantation and generally considered to be the most reliable method for the diagnosis of posttransplant complications with overlapping clinical and laboratory findings. To investigate posttransplant complications causing graft dysfunction and usefulness of liver biopsy, we analysed clinicopathologic features of 65 posttransplant liver biopsies, 2 autopsies and an explanted liver, taken from 20 patients. The frequencies of posttransplant complications were acute cellular rejection in 9 patients (45%), postoperative infection in 11 patients (55%), of which cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and systemic invasive aspergillosis with candidiasis occured in 10 patients (50%) and 1 patient (5%), respectively. Remainders were hepatic arterial thrombosis in two (10%), primary graft dysfunction due to fatty donor liver in one (5%), and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in two (10%). There were no chronic rejection or recurrent disease. Postoperative mortality was 25%. Histologic grade by Banff schema was well correlated with clinical parameters associated with unfavorable short term prognosis. CMV infection was associated with acute cellular rejection in 6 out of 10 patients (60%). Immunohistochemical staining for CMV was more sensitive method than CMV in situ hybridization or histologic detection of viral inclusion on tissue section. It was unique that one case of PTLD developed under the circumstances of the lowest dosage of immunosuppression and took grave outcome. Based on these results, we concluded that clinicopathologic correlation with integration of all the clinical and laboratory findings is necessary in the interpretation of accurate and early diagnosis of posttransplant liver biopsies. The interrelationship between chronic rejection and CMV infection as well as pathogenetic factors of PTLD remains to be clarified through further ongoing observation.
Aspergillosis ; Autopsy ; Biopsy* ; Candidiasis ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; In Situ Hybridization ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Mortality ; Primary Graft Dysfunction ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

We examined the p53 protein overexpression and evaluated its correlation with pathobiological variables, including: (1) patient age, sex, tumor size, histological type and grade, invasion depth, vascular invasion, perineural invasion and lymph node status; (2) the Ki-67 labeling index in 100 gastric carcinomas; and (3) the DNA ploidy pattern, S phase fraction (SPF), and the proliferation index (PI) in 84 cases using flow cytometry. The positive rate of p53 staining was 48% and the p53 immunoreactivity was independent of variable clinicopathologic factors. No correlation was made between the Ki-67 labeling index with p53 immunostaining and DNA ploidy parameters. Aneuploidy rate was slightly higher in the p53 positive group (55.6%) than the p53 negative group (44.4%)(p=0.097). The mean values of SPF and PI were significantly higher in the p53 protein positive group. Aneuploidy was more often observed in the intestinal type (p=0.038), advanced gastric carcinoma (p=0.015) and lymph node positive group(p=0.039). The above results suggest that although the p53 protein overexpression has no significant correlation with pathological factors and the Ki-67 labeling index, it may play an important role in tumor cell proliferation. Since p53 protein overexpression was slightly higher in the aneuploidy group showing significant correlation with poor prognostic parameters, it is thought that re-evaluation of the p53 mutation by molecular biological study is needed.
Aneuploidy ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Ploidies* ; S Phase

Granular cell tumor(GCT) has been identified in all organ systems, most often in the oral cavity and subcutaneous tissue. GCT of the esophagus has been considered rare. However, this neoplasm is being recognized with increased frequency since the use of fiberoptic endoscopy has become widespread. We report 5 cases of granular cell tumors involving the esophagus, all of which were incidentally found. Four additional cases of GCT which appeared in the Korean literature were reviewed.
Endoscopy ; Esophagus* ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Mouth ; Subcutaneous Tissue

The partial replacement of the human duodenal mucosa by epithelial cells containing gastric-type mucus(gastric metaplasia) is not an uncommon finding, and an emphasis on its etiological role in duodenal ulcerogenesis has been proposed. It is unclear, Furthermore, all the previous studies were done with endoscopic biopsy specimens. We reviewed a total of 118 surgically resected stomachs with attached duodenal stumps(24 cases of gastric ulcer, 15 duodenal ulcer and 79 advanced gastric cancer). The gastric-type mucous cells were homogeneously stained red with PAS in contrast to the intestinal cells which gave a strong PAS stainability only along the the brush border. The gastric metaplasia was seen near the tips or on the sides of the villi and occasionally in the crypts. It was observed in 8 cases(53%) in duodenal ulcer, 12 cases(50%) in gastric ulcer and 29 cases(37%) in gastric cancer. There were no significant statistical differences in incidence among the groups. Nevertheless, diffuse form of gastric metaplasia was more prevalent in patients with duodenal ulcer(p<0.05).
Humans ; Incidence ; Biopsy ; Stomach Neoplasms

The lungs are one of the most common visceral sites for metastatic disease. The identification of a metastasis from a second primary lung tumor is clinically important for patients with pulmonary metastases of an extrathoracic origin. Although the cytologic features of metastatic tumors involving the lung have been extensively described, making the cytologic diagnosis is usually not easy in the absence of clinical information. However, the immunohistochemical staining for many tumor markers and the different expressions of cytokeratin 7 and 20 are very useful in the diagnosis. This review presents the cytomorphological spectrum of metastatic tumors along with the immunohistochemical findings.
Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-7 ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a very useful tool in the preoperative diagnosis of lesions of the salivary gland. Surgical therapy of high-grade malignancies (salivary duct carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, squamous cellcarcinoma, carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, small cell carcinoma, and sebaceous carcinoma) is different from that of benign lesions or low-grade malignancies. Therefore, the recognition of high-grade malignancies is important in salivary gland FNAC. Although recognition of high-grade malignancies of the salivary gland by FNAC is not difficult, precise classification of these malignancies is often impossible. Additionally, because of its rarity, FNAC of spindle cells and mesenchymal lesions of the salivary glands is a tool that is not familiar to many cytopathologists. The characteristic cytomorphologic features of these lesions are reviewed here with a discussion of specific diagnostic problems.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Salivary Glands*