BACKGROUND: Recently, VE1, a monoclonal antibody against the BRAFV600E mutant protein, has been investigated in terms of its detection of the BRAFV600E mutation. Although VE1 immunostaining and molecular methods used to assess papillary thyroid carcinoma in surgical specimens are in good agreement, evaluation of VE1 in thyroid cytology samples is rarely performed, and its diagnostic value in cytology has not been well established. In present study, we explored VE1 immunoexpression in cytology samples from ex vivo papillary thyroid carcinoma specimens in order to minimize limitations of low cellularity and sampling/targeting errors originated from thyroid fineneedle aspiration and compared our results with those obtained using the corresponding papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues. METHODS: The VE1 antibody was evaluated in 21 cases of thyroid cytology obtained directly from ex vivo thyroid specimens. VE1 immunostaining was performed using liquid-based cytology, and the results were compared with those obtained using the corresponding tissues. RESULTS: Of 21 cases, 19 classic papillary thyroid carcinomas had BRAFV600E mutations, whereas two follicular variants expressed wild-type BRAF. VE1 immunoexpression varied according to specimen type. In detection of the BRAFV600E mutation, VE1 immunostaining of the surgical specimen exhibited 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity, whereas VE1 immunostaining of the cytology specimen exhibited only 94.7% sensitivity and 0% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that VE1 immunostaining of a cytology specimen is less specific than that of a surgical specimen for detection of the BRAFV600E mutation, and that VE1 immunostaining of a cytology specimen should be further evaluated and optimized for clinical use.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mutant Proteins ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the superficial hyperechoic band (SHEB) in articular cartilage by using ultrasonography (US) and to assess its correlation with histological images. METHODS: In total, 47 regions of interest (ROIs) were analyzed from six tibial osteochondral specimens (OCSs) that were obtained after total knee arthroplasty. Ultrasonograms were obtained for each OCS. Then, matching histological sections from all specimens were obtained for comparison with the ultrasonograms. Two types of histological staining were used: Safranin-O stain (SO) to identify glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and Masson's trichrome stain (MT) to identify collagen. In step 1, two observers evaluated whether there was an SHEB in each ROI. In step 2, the two observers evaluated which histological staining method correlated better with the SHEB by using the ImageJ software. RESULTS: In step 1 of the analysis, 20 out of 47 ROIs showed an SHEB (42.6%, kappa=0.579). Step 2 showed that the SHEB correlated significantly better with the topographical variation in stainability in SO staining, indicating the GAG distribution, than with MT staining, indicating the collagen distribution (P<0.05, kappa=0.722). CONCLUSION: The SHEB that is frequently seen in human articular cartilage on high-resolution US correlated better with variations in SO staining than with variations in MT staining. Thus, we suggest that a SHEB is predominantly related to changes in GAG. Identifying an SHEB by US is a promising method for assessing the thickness of articular cartilage or for monitoring early osteoarthritis.
Arthroplasty ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Collagen ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis plays a role in the development of pleural effusion. Caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18, a marker for epithelial cell apoptosis, was evaluated in pleural effusion. METHODS: A total of 79 patients with pleural effusion were enrolled. The underlying causes were lung cancer (n=24), parapneumonic effusion (n=15), tuberculous effusion (n=28), and transudates (n=12). The levels of M30, an epitope of caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18, were measured in blood and pleural fluids using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay along with routine cellular and biochemical parameters. The expression of M30 was evaluated in the pleural tissues using immunohistochemistry for M30. RESULTS: The M30 levels in pleural fluid were significantly higher in patients with tuberculosis (2,632.1+/-1,467.3 U/mL) than in patients with lung cancer (956.5+/-618.5 U/mL), parapneumonic effusion (689.9+/-413.6 U/mL), and transudates (273.6+/-144.5 U/mL; all p<0.01). The serum levels were not significantly different among the disease groups. Based on receiver operating characteristics analysis, the area under the curve of M30 for differentiating tuberculous pleural effusion from all other effusions was 0.93. In the immunohistochemical analysis of M30, all pathologic types of cancer cells showed moderate to high expression, and the epithelioid cells in granulomas showed high expression in tuberculous pleural tissues. CONCLUSION: Caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 was most prominently observed in tuberculous pleural effusion and showed utility as a clinical marker. The main source of M30 was found to be the epithelioid cells of granulomas in tuberculous pleural tissues.
Apoptosis ; Biomarkers ; Cytoskeleton ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelioid Cells ; Exudates and Transudates ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-18* ; Keratins* ; Lung Neoplasms ; Pleural Effusion* ; ROC Curve ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural

Meningiomas, one of the most common neoplasms of the central nervous system, may be encountered incidentally during autopsy. Most of these tumors, however, are benign and hence, are not considered as the chief cause of death. Further, sudden unexpected death caused by meningioma is very unusual. Moreover, the diagnosis of an incidental meningioma as the cause of sudden death may sometimes be difficult. In the present report, we describe an autopsy case of a sudden, unexpected death due to a large olfactory groove meningioma accompanied by severe cerebral edema and tonsillar herniation.
Autopsy ; Brain Edema ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cause of Death ; Central Nervous System ; Death, Sudden ; Diagnosis ; Encephalocele ; Meningioma*

To investigate the characteristics of incidental pituitary microadenomas, we examined 120 pituitary glands from Korean forensic autopsy cases, from which eight tumors were identified (incidence 6.7%). The average age of the affected subjects was 50 yr (range: 33-96 yr) with a female predominance. The maximum diameters of the tumors ranged from 0.4 to 5.4 mm (mean: 2.8 mm). Immunohistochemical analysis of pituitary hormones revealed three growth hormone-secreting adenomas, one prolactin-producing adenoma, one gonadotropin-producing adenoma, one plurihormonal adenoma, and two null cell adenomas. MIB-1 staining for Ki-67 antigen showed no positive expression. The microvessel density (MVD) of the pituitary microadenomas ranged from 2.3 to 11.6% (mean: 5.3%) and was significantly lower than that of nonneoplastic pituitary glands (11.9-20.1%, mean: 14.8%). Our study provides reference data on incidental pituitary microadenomas in the Korean population.
Adenoma/blood supply/epidemiology/metabolism/*pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Microcirculation/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Hormones/metabolism ; Pituitary Neoplasms/blood supply/epidemiology/metabolism/*pathology

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of cyclooxygenase (COX) -2 and p53 expression with prognosis in patients with conventional renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of conventional RCC from 92 patients, who had undergone radical nephrectomy, were examined for COX-2 and p53 expression by immunohistochemistry and compared with clinicopathological variables. The COX-2 expression significantly correlated only with tumor size (p=0.049), whereas the p53 expression profoundly correlated with the TNM stage (p=0.024), M stage (p=0.001), and metastasis (synchronous or metachronous; p= 0.004). The COX-2 overexpression did not significantly associate with p53 positivity (p=0.821). The survival rate of patients correlated with the p53 expression (p < 0.0001) but not with the COX-2 expression (p=0.7506). Multivariate analyses indicated that tumor size, M stage, and p53 expression were independent prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival. The COX-2 expression was not an independent factor. These results show that the increased expression of p53 was associated with metastasis and a worse prognosis in conventional RCC, which suggests that p53 might have played an important role in the progression of conventional RCC. The increased expression of COX-2 was associated only with tumor size, but may not be an important prognostic factor in conventional RCC. No association was observed between COX-2 overexpression and p53 positivity in conventional RCC.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell/*metabolism/mortality/pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/*metabolism/mortality/pathology ; Prognosis ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthase/*metabolism ; Protein p53/*metabolism ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*metabolism

Primary cardiac tumor has very low incidence, especially in cases of malignancy. A 29 year old male patient visited our cardiologic clinic for recent aggrevation of dyspnea on exertion and palpitation. Echocardiography showed a large tumor in the left atrium, which suggested the left atrial myxoma. Urgent open heart surgery was taken. The operative finding was fossa ovalis based a large tumor (35 x 90 x 50 mm) that invaded the posterior wall of LA and right superior pulmonary vein directly. The tumor was excised well by simple dissection, and the final pathologic report was malignant myxofibrosarcoma. His postoperative course was smooth and he was discharged in good health. Postoperative radiation and chemotherapy had taken with satisfactory clinical outcome.
Adult ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Myxoma ; Pulmonary Veins ; Thoracic Surgery

Abstract-associated work is a painstaking part of every annual scientific meetings of professional societies . Abstracts have to be received via mail and delivered to the editorial board committee for the committee members to screen the quality and format of the meeting presentations. There are some professional societies that use a web-based abstract receiving system but this is limited only to the reception of abstracts. The work, thus, exhausts time, money and labor. With this in mind, we developed a new automated system which is fully web-based, making possible the reception, selection and publication of the abstracts. This was first applied to the 2001 Korean Society of Pathologists Fall Meeting(http://www.pathology.or.kr/abstract.htm). The overall selecting and electronic-publishing process took only few days. In addition to the convenience, the members of society were able to not only save time but also money. In order to make this possible, an electronic abstract book and a stand-alone executable program were distributed through the Internet (http://www.pathology.or.kr/way-board/db/File_Archives/file/Path200l.EXE).
Automation* ; Committee Membership ; Internet* ; Postal Service ; Publications

Abstract-associated work is a painstaking part of every annual scientific meetings of professional societies . Abstracts have to be received via mail and delivered to the editorial board committee for the committee members to screen the quality and format of the meeting presentations. There are some professional societies that use a web-based abstract receiving system but this is limited only to the reception of abstracts. The work, thus, exhausts time, money and labor. With this in mind, we developed a new automated system which is fully web-based, making possible the reception, selection and publication of the abstracts. This was first applied to the 2001 Korean Society of Pathologists Fall Meeting(http://www.pathology.or.kr/abstract.htm). The overall selecting and electronic-publishing process took only few days. In addition to the convenience, the members of society were able to not only save time but also money. In order to make this possible, an electronic abstract book and a stand-alone executable program were distributed through the Internet (http://www.pathology.or.kr/way-board/db/File_Archives/file/Path200l.EXE).
Automation* ; Committee Membership ; Internet* ; Postal Service ; Publications

Primary renal malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a rare tumor of the kidney. It is clinically and radiologically indistinguishable from a renal cell carcinoma. Even following radical surgery, the tumor shows a strong predilection for local recurrence and the prognosis is generally poor. We report on a 32-year-old man with malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the kidney who remained free of recurrence for 1 year after radical nephrectomy.
Adult ; Case Report ; Histiocytoma, Fibrous/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Human ; Kidney Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed