Sebaceous carcinoma of the submandibular gland with high-grade malignancy: report of a case

Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy,3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase have been reported to decrease the cholesterol saturation index (CSI) in duodenal bile in humans and to prevent formation of cholesterol gallstones in animal studies. We performed a prospective study to evaluate the role of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors as gallstone-dissolving agents. Fifty patients with radiolucent gallstones in a gallbladder opacifying at drip infusion cholecystography were treated with either 10 mg/day simvastatin plus 600 mg/day ursodeoxycholic acid (group 1, n=26) or 600 mg/day ursodeoxycholic acid alone (group 2, n=24) for 12 months. The ratio of solitary to multiple gallstone cases was 21:29. Plasma lipid levels were assessed and ultrasonographic examination of the gallbladder was performed at baseline and at 3-month intervals during treatment. Duodenal bile sampling was performed in five patients in each group at baseline and after 12 months of treatment. Plasma cholesterol decreased significantly in group 1 but not in group 2. In solitary gallstone cases, no significant difference in dissolution rates was observed between groups 1 (3 of 9, 33%) and 2 (4 of 12, 33%). In contrast, the dissolution rate in multiple gallstone cases was significantly higher in group 1 (12 of 17, 71%) than in group 2 (3 of 12, 25%) (p < 0.01). Bile cholesterol saturation index was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) but did not significantly differ between the two groups. These results suggest that combination therapy with simvastatin and ursodeoxycholic acid is more effective for cholesterol gallstone dissolution than ursodeoxycholic acid monotherapy in patients with multiple gallstones.     

Benign schwannoma of the breast: report of a case

We report herein the case of a 62-year-old woman who presented to our hospital for investigation of occasional pain in her left breast. Although there was no mass palpable in her left breast, mammography and ultrasonography revealed a round tumor in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Although the mammography findings indicated that the tumor was benign, the possibility of a malignant neoplasm could not be ruled out by the ultrasonographic images. A final diagnosis of schwannoma was established by histopathological examination of the excised mass.     

Asphyxial death caused by a laryngeal schwannoma: a case report

Neurogenic tumours of the larynx are unusual, with approximately 115 cases reported in the literature to date. Most of these lesions are benign, solitary submucosal nodules which present with hoarseness and are amenable to surgical resection. We present a case of a large pedunculated schwannoma arising in the aryepiglottic fold associated with sudden asphyxial death in an otherwise healthy young female.     

Retroperitoneal schwannoma: report of a clinical case and review of the literature

The retroperitoneal localization of a schwannoma or neurilemmoma undoubtedly represents an unusual occurrence (0.5-0.7% of all sites); this data, together with the absence of a typical clinical picture and the lack of peculiar instrumental signs, make a preoperative diagnosis of this lesion really hard to ascertain. In this paper, on the basis of a case report successfully treated, the Authors review the literature analysing current diagnostic and therapeutic work up, mainly emphasizing controversies in determining a proper preoperative diagnosis among all retroperitoneal tumours.     

Radiation-induced salivary gland tumors: report of a case

I discuss radiation-induced salivary gland tumors, with special emphasis on those tumors thought to be secondary to childhood head and neck irradiation for benign diseases. I report such a case and review the literature. Statistically, 77.6% of irradiation-induced tumors occur in the parotid gland and 22.4% in the submaxillary and minor salivary glands. A greater proportion of malignant tumors are noted in the submaxillary and minor salivary glands. At present, there is no demonstrable relationship between tumor occurrence and the amount of radiation recieved. Young children are more susceptible to irradiation-induced salivary tumors than older individuals.     

Cytomorphology of adenocarcinoma of lung presenting as submandibular salivary gland mass: report of a case diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

The present study firstly aimed at understanding the relationship between sun exposure, pigmentary traits and the history of sunburns. Secondly, the significance of UV-exposure for cutaneous melanoma and for melanocytic naevi was investigated. The case-controlled study comprised 513 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma and 498 controls matched by age and gender. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to study melanoma risk factors. The number of common melanocytic naevi was associated with age, gender, the history of sunburns and UV-exposure during holidays (odds-ratio = 1.9; 95% confidence interval = [1.1, 3.4]) for 3 weeks or more. The number of atypical melanocytic naevi was significantly related to age, gender, pigmentary traits, the history of sunburns and UV-exposure during holidays (odds-ratio = 3.5; 95% confidence interval = [1.4, 9.0]) for 2 months or more. The results of the present study showed that both the history of sunburn and intensive sun exposure during holidays were important for the development of melanocytic naevi and, therefore, indirectly for cutaneous melanoma. In addition, a particular type of pigmentation was found to be related to atypical melanocytic naevi.     

External ear canal schwannoma: an unusual case report

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of external ear canal schwannoma in the English literature. Several detailed clinical and pathological features were demonstrated. We suggest that if a tender, encapsulated mass is found in the external ear canal, the diagnosis of schwannoma should be taken into consideration.     

Development of a schwannoma within a facial nerve neurofibroma: a case report and literature review

We report the presence of a schwannoma within a neurofibroma of the intratemporal facial nerve. This neurofibroma recurred 39 years after its first excision in the parotid gland. Although some believe that schwannomas and neurofibromas represent the same entity, these tumors present distinctive histopathologic and clinical characteristics, which are discussed. The extreme rarity of a schwannoma developing within a neurofibroma is underlined. This is the first report of such an association occurring within a cranial nerve.     

Benign retroperitoneal schwannoma mimicking a pancreatic cystic tumor: case report and literature review

A rare case of benign retroperitoneal schwannoma mimicking a pancreatic cystic tumor is reported herein. The tumor mass, based on a computed tomography scan and an abdominal echo examination, was initially suspected to be a mucinous cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. However, the surgical and pathohistological findings made a final diagnosis of benign pancreatic schwannoma. The patient is doing well at a 2-year follow-up. The tumor, 18x17x15 cm in size, represented the largest among reported pancreatic schwannomas. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of reported cases of pancreatic schwannoma was carried out to summarize corresponding findings, including benign or malignant forms, adherence to other tissues, cystic change of the tumor, as well as relation to von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis.     

Leiomyosarcoma of the adrenal gland and its angiographic features: a case report

A case of leiomyosarcoma of the adrenal gland is reported. This is a rare neoplasm at this location and actually may arise from the venous wall of the gland. Angiographically, this lesion is demonstrated as a vascular mass with early draining of the vein.     

Neuroblastoma of parotid gland: report of a case and immunohistochemical characteristics

A case of a parotid mass in a 2-year-old boy, postoperatively diagnosed as neuroblastoma, a rare tumour not previously reported in the parotid gland is presented. The neoplasm developed within the parotid gland as a painless mass without regional lymphadenopathy. Histopathologically, the tumour showed primitive nerve cells-neuroblasts-with round or oval dark basophilic nuclei and scanty cytoplasm. The cells were arranged in circular rosettes around an eosinophilic mass consisting of very fine filaments originating in the tumour cells or papillary configuration and sometimes scattered in the poorly developed stroma. Immunohistochemical evaluation of the tumour showed a positive immunoreactivity for vimentin, alpha and beta subunits of S-100 protein, neurone-specific enolase (NSE), substance P, met-enkephalin and chromogranin but cytokeratins, desmin, actin, myosin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) were negative. The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings conclude a diagnosis of neuroblastoma of the parotid gland.     

Haemangiopericytoma of the parotid salivary gland: report of a case with literature review

Haemangiopericytoma is a rare, soft tissue, tumour with unpredictable biological behaviour. A case of haemangiopericytoma of the parotid salivary gland is reported. The clinical, surgical and histological features are described.