Tumor angiogenesis has been shown to be associated with metastatic potentials in breast, lung and prostatic carcinomas. The relation between tumor angiogenesis and metastatic potentials in colorectal cancer has not been established to date. We analysed 66 selected patients with colorectal carcinomas (37 with and 29 without nodal metastases) for the microvessel density, tumor proliferation activity, and the clinicopathologic parameters including size, stage, histologic grade, growth pattern, presence of angioinvasion, perineural invasion and lymph node metastasis. For evaluation of microvessel density and tumor proliferative activity, the primary tumors were immunohistochemically stained for CD31 and PCNA. The mean microvessel counts (MVC) per 200X field were 99.27+/-23.28 and 131.35+/-31.48 in node-negative and node-positive patients, respectively. The PCNA index was 39.41+/-5.63% and 56.60+/-7.09% in node-negative and node-positive patients, respectively. MVC and PCNA index were higher in tumors with nodal metastasis (p=0.002, p<0.001), and also correlated each other (sr=0.33, p=0.007). Higher microvessel counts were seen in tumors with advanced stage (p=0.016). Tumor proliferation activity assessed by PCNA immunostaining was significantly higher in tumors with advanced stage, perineural invasion, angioinvasion, poor differentiation and larger size. From these results, MVC and PCNA index in colorectal carcinomas are assumed to be valuable prognostic parameters. Thus assessment of tumor angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation in colorectal carcinomas may be helpful for the patients in need of aggressive therapy.
Breast ; Cell Proliferation* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen

Pulmonary blastoma is a rare lung tumor composed of epithelial and mesenchymal element : the latter element may show various pattern of differentiation toward mature tissue, such as cartilage, smooth muscle, and bone. Rhabdomyoblastic differentiation in pulmonary blastoma is quire rare. In th literature, only seven cases have been reported. We report a case of pulmonary blastoma with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation which occured in a 3 year old girl. Microscopically, cytoplasmic cross-striation was present. Immunohistochemically, strong positivity for vimentin and desmin was observed. Electron microscopy demonstrated A and I bands which documented rhabdomyoblastic differentiation.

No abstract available.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Carotid Body*

No abstract available.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Neuroblastoma*

We describe a case metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma of the brain in a 20-year old man. Alveolar soft part sarcoma is slowly growing tumor which almost shows conspicuous vascular invasion and have a high incidence of blood-borne metastasis. The principal metastatic sites are the lungs, followed by the skeleton and brain. Cerebral metastases may be the first manifestation of the disease and are more common with alveolar soft part sarcoma than with any other type of soft tissue sarcoma. The light-and electron-microscopic and immunohistochemical findings are described. Periodic acid-Schiff-positive, diastase resistant, intracytoplasmic crystals, pathognomonic for alveolar soft part sarcoma, are present. The cells expressed immunoreactivity for vimentin, desmin, neuron-specific enolase, S-100 protein and renin. The results of our own immunohistochemical examinations is suggestive of myoendocrine origin.
Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis

The most important prognostic factor of breast cancer is the status of lymph node or distant metastasis, which is resisted by basement membrane and stromal matrix. MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-2 is a 72-kilodalton type IV collagenase/ gelatinase and degrades the type IV collagen which is a main component of the basement membrane. Therefore, MMP-2 is believed to be one of the key molecule for cancer invasion and metastasis. Enzymatic activity of MMP is inhibited by TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase). TIMP-2 forms a complex with latent pro-MMP-2 and inhibits the active forms of MMP-2. The balance of MMPs and TIMPs is suspected as the important factor of invasion and metastasis of the tumor cells. We studied the association between the expression of MMP-2/TIMP-2 and growth pattern of tumor border, lymph node metastasis, and estrogen receptor expression in the 57 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast using immunohistochemical staining methods. The results revealed increased expression of MMP-2 in the infiltrating tumor border and tumors with positive lymph node metastasis and negative estrogen receptor with no statistical significance (p>0.05). But the expression of TIMP-2 was increased in expanding tumor border and tumors with positive lymph node metastasis and negative estrogen receptor without statistical significance (p>0.05).
Basement Membrane ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Collagen Type IV ; Estrogens* ; Gelatinases ; Lymph Nodes* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2*

Pleural involvement in paragonimiasis is relatively common, either unilateral or bilateral, and may occur without pulmonary parenchymal infiltrates. Common radiologic findings of pleural paragonimiasis are pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hydropneumothorax, empyema and pleural thickening. However, pleural calcification as a manifestation of paragonimiasis is a rare condition. We report two cases of paragonimiasis manifested only as pleural calcifications which were confirmed pathologically.
Empyema ; Hydropneumothorax ; Paragonimiasis* ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax

The melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy(MNTl) is a rare, usually benign, pigmented lesion which most frequently involves the maxilla. Skull, brain, and mandible are other craniofacial sites; this anatomic region accounts for 87% of all cases. The vast majority of MNTl, nearly 95%, present in infants of both sexes within the first year of life. Most cases of MNTl follow a benign course, with a 15% propensity for local recurrence. MNTl is regarded as a primitive neuroectodermal tumor with polyphenotypic differentiation. We report a classical MNTl which occurred in left lower maxilla in 6-month old female infant. She developed an ill defined, firm swelling on the left alveolar ridge and gum during 3 weeks. Mass excision reveals ill defined, grayish-tan hard mass, measuring 2.0x1.6 cm. Microscopically, the tumor reveals irregular alveolar pattern of melanin-containing cuboidal cells and nests of small round cells. The immunohistochemical staining for melanoma-associated antigen, neuron-specific enolase and cytokeratin show positive reactions. Ultrastructural examination showed intracytoplasmic melanosome, tonofilament and desmosome.
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: To present the enhancement pattern of acute cerebral or cerebellar cortical infarctions aged 1-3 days on MR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Contrast-enhanced MR images of 26 patients with acute cerebral or cerebellar ischemic events were retrospectively reviewed. MR was performed within 3 days after ictus. RESULTS: Contrast enhancement in the area of infarction was observed in 61.5% (16/26) on MR. Of these 50% (13/26) showed non-parenchymal enhancement (NPE) representing either vascular or leptomeningeal enhancement, 7.7% (2/26) showed parenchymal enhancement (PE), and 2.8% (1/26) showed both NPE and PE. The earliest enhancement was seen in images obtained 12 hours after the onset of symptoms and appeared as NPE. One patient showed NPE without apparent high signal intensity at the corresponding area on T2-weighted images. In 38. 5% (10/26), there was no enhancement. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced MR imaging may be needed in acute ischemic infarction, because NPE may be seen as the earliest MR finding of acute cortical infarction aged 1-3 days.
Cerebral Infarction* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies

Hormone replacement therapy combined with progestogens induces changes in effect of estrogen on serum lipid levels and it has been known that the changes depend on a type and dosage of progestogen. It is also known that progestational agent induces positive ch-ange in bone mineral density. To study the effects of progestogen on lipoprotein and bone metabolism, we administ- ered conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg alone to 50 postmenopausal women, in combinat- ion with medroxy- progesterone acetate 5 mg to 40 postmenopausal women. The data demonstrated a beneficial effect in lipoprotein profiles in both groups. Total cholesterol in two groups decreased from the baseline values, LDL-cholesterol decreased significantly by 4.8 % in group I and 16.2 % in group II(p < 0.05), HDL-cholesterol increa- sed significantly by 11.3 % in group I and 14.7 % in group II(p < 0.05), triglyceride incre- ased slightly in both groups. Bone mineral density of femur was maintained and BMD of vertebrae increased by 1.1 % in group I and 2.0 % in group II, but it is not statistically significant. The differences of changes between two groups were not statistically significa- nt. Our results suggest that medroxyprogesterone acetate have no adverse effect on HDL -cholesterol and have no additive effect on bone mineral density in hormone replacement therapy.
Bone Density* ; Cholesterol ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Femur ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ; Metabolism ; Progesterone ; Progestins ; Spine ; Triglycerides