Small cell carcinoma of the prostate: a case report]

In many cell types, Ca2+ signals are organized in the form of repetitive spikes. The frequency of these intracellular Ca2+ oscillations increases with the level of stimulation, suggesting the existence of a frequency encoding phenomenon. The question arises as to how the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations can be decoded inside the cell. Ca2+/calmodulin kinase II has long been proposed as an attractive candidate, as it is a key target of Ca2+ signals. By immobilizing the Ca2+/calmodulin kinase II and subjecting it to pulses of Ca2+ of variable amplitude, duration, and frequency, De Koninck and Schulman have shown for the first time that the autonomous activity of Ca2+/calmodulin kinase II is highly sensitive to the temporal pattern of Ca2+ oscillations.     

Small cell carcinoma of the male breast: report of a case

An uncommon type of breast carconoma in a male studied by light and electron microscopy, is reported. Light microscopy reveals histologic characteristics and a pattern similar to infiltrating lobular carcinoma in the female breast. The ultrastructural study, because of close similarities in cellular characteristics with previously published reports, gives firm support to the light microscope findings.     

Giant cell myocarditis. Report of a case

The authors report a case of giant cell myocarditis leading to rapidly progressive cardiac failure despite immuno-suppressor treatment in a 20 year old woman. The cardiac failure was successfully managed by implantation of a left ventricular assist device and then cardiac transplantation. The problems encountered underline the importance of accurate diagnosis by endomyocardial biopsy before undertaking treatment and the difficulties in the choice of appropriate method of assistance in this indication. Giant cell myocarditis is a rare cause of cardiac failure and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in view of its clinical features and risk of progression. The literature and the therapeutic implications are discussed.     

"Osteoclastic" giant cell carcinoma of the pancreas. Report of a case with aspiration cytology

By using oligodendrocyte cells, which have a very highly defined cell morphology, it is demonstrated that, in general, proteins are found slightly more distal, relative to the cell body, than their mRNA counterparts, but that there is a general trend for proteins and the messages which encode them to be found in similar regions within the cell. This has been demonstrated by use of in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry together on single cells.     

Adrenal gland myelolipoma. Report of a new case

OBJECTIVE: We report a new case of symptomatic myelolipoma of the adrenal gland. We analyse clinical, diagnostic, histopathologic and therapeutic aspects. METHOD AND RESULTS: Surgical excision was performed by lumbotomy. The patient was asymptomatic after surgery. DISCUSSION: Adrenal myelolipoma is norfunctioning benign tumour constituted by fat tissue and small islands of haemathopoyetic in a variable rate. The patients are usually asymptomatic. In symptomatic patients the most common symptoms are nonspecific abdominal pain, haematuria and hypertension. The diagnosis is achieved by ultrasound, CT and PAFF. The management is controversial: Surgical treatment or watching are options depending on the size and/or symptoms.     

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the urinary bladder. A clinicopathologic study with emphasis on cytologic features

In mice, peritoneal B cells are composed of a unique B-1 cell population which can repopulate the intestinal lamina propria with IgA-producing cells, as well as contribute to the majority of serum IgM. In this study, peritoneal lymphocytes from patients starting continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and from women undergoing bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) were analysed for the presence of a B-1 cell population as well as the expression of potential homing receptors. Up to 63% of the peritoneal B cells express surface antigen CD5, and most peritoneal lymphocytes express the mucosal homing receptors, alpha4 beta7 and alphaE beta7. When analysing serial samples collected from patients from the beginning of dialysis to 1 year, no marked changes were observed in serum or salivary immunoglobulin levels, although the peritoneal lymphocyte population was reduced by 50%. These data suggest that the phenotype of human peritoneal B-1 cells is similar to that of mice, but the contributions to the immune system may differ.     

Diffuse sclerosing papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Report of a case

The authors report the case of a 12-year-old girl presenting with a diffuse sclerosing papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. The diagnosis was made on a total thyroidectomy specimen three months after thyroid enlargement was detected. This child had previously been treated medically for thyroiditis because of an enlarged thyroid gland with serum antithyroid autoantibodies. A few cases have been described in the literature. Six morphologic findings define this variant of papillary carcinoma: a diffuse growth pattern involving one or both lobes of the thyroid, prominent fibrosis, heavy lymphocytic infiltration with germinal centers, large numbers of psammoma bodies, squamous metaplasia and papillae within cleft-like tissue spaces. Some authors stated that this variant has a poorer prognosis than the usual papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. However, in some series a few patients survive without local recurrence or distant metastasis at a mean follow-up period of more than 10 years. Immunohistochemical studies have shown high accumulation of S-100 protein positive dendritic cells. Such an infiltration has been correlated with a better prognosis.     

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in a liver graft. Report of a case diagnosed by fine needle aspiration

We studied the effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus on voice symptoms in seven patients with essential tremor. All had undergone DBS for management of hand tremor. Five of the patients had received unilateral implants; two were treated bilaterally. Each reported improvement in hand tremor with thalamic stimulation (a 1-to-3-point change on a 5-point severity scale). Voice tremor was evaluated with and without stimulation using patient and clinician severity ratings, and acoustic measures (rate and amplitude). Four of the seven patients showed reductions in voice symptoms in at least two of these measures, although degree of change differed (e.g., from 1 to 3 points on the 5-point severity scale). Voice gains typically were restricted to those patients with the more severe symptoms and did not parallel improvements in the upper extremities. It appears that reduced voice tremor may be an additional benefit of DBS for some individuals.     

Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Report of a case and review of the literature

A case of central mucoepidermoid carcinoma (CMEC) occurring in a 68-year-old woman is reported. The tumor clinically appeared as a long-standing cortical swelling in the left angle of her mandible. As an intrabony lesion was radiologically evidenced, an odontogenic cyst was preoperatively diagnosed. Surgical curettage demonstrated a solid tumor the histological study of which allowed the final diagnosis. Immunohistochemical profile accorded with the patterns previously observed in salivary gland counterparts. Adjuvant radiotherapy was performed. Neither local recurrences nor metastases have been observed to date.     

Primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin. Report of case

The authors report a case of a primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin. This is a rare adnexial tumor arising from the eccrine secretory coils. The histologic characteristic finding of this lesion is the heap of abundant mucinous material (sialomucin) in the dermis in which rare epithelial islands are free-floating. In this study we also value the importance of a correct diagnosis for an appropriate therapy.     

Primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus with ectopic gastrin production. Report of a case and review of the literature

A case of primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus in which extensive hormonal studies could be performed is reported. The tumor was considered as a neuroendocrine tumor because the tumor cells showed intracytoplasmic argyrophilia, neurosecretory granules, and positive stain for neuron-specific enolase with Grimelius stain, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Furthermore, the tumor was regarded as a gastrin-producing tumor because of positive stain for gastrin in the tumor cells. The present case is the first case of primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus with ectopic gastric production.     

Small giant cell carcinoma of the lung diagnosed preoperatively by transthoracic aspiration cytology. A case report

Giant cell carcinoma (GCC) of the lung is considered an aggressive form of lung cancer. Most patients with GCC have large tumors with widespread metastases on hospital admission. We describe a small GCC in the lower lobe of the right lung. Preoperative aspiration cytology showed numerous bizarre, giant epithelial cells, highly suggestive of GCC. The resected tumor measured 1.2 x 1.0 x 0.7 cm in diameter, with an ill-defined margin. Histologically the tumor was composed of pleomorphic mononucleate or multinucleate giant cells without adenocarcinoma or squamous cell differentiation. The tumor cells were loosely organized and noncohesive or free in the alveolar space. The histology was interpreted as GCC of the lung. The clinicopathologic features of giant cell carcinoma are discussed.     

Small cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas

Small cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm: Only 12 cases have previously been documented. This paper describes the clinical evolution, immunohistochemical profile, and ultrastructural features of a case occurring in a 37-year-old woman.     

Colon carcinoma metastatic to the trachea. Report of a case and a review of the literature

It is known that myasthenia gravis is improved by cold. In two previously reported studies performed on a limited number of myasthenic patients and controls, local cold application to the eyelid was suggested for use as a diagnostic test for ocular myasthenia gravis. In this study, ice test to the eyelid was evaluated as a diagnostic test on 12 myasthenic patients and 15 controls with blepharoptosis and the results were compared with those of edrophonium test.     

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma. Report of a single case with review of the literature

The mean survival rates of female BDF1 mice transplanted intravenously (i.v.) with murine L1210 leukemia cells were significantly prolonged by intraperitoneal (i.p.) pretreatment (before i.v. transplantation) or by i.p. pre- and post-treatment (before and after the i.v. transplantation) with heat-killed Actinobacillus suis cells ATCC 15557 (AS 15557) alone, as compared with untreated L1210-leukemia-cell-bearing control mice. However, significant prolongation of the mean survival rates was not elicited by the i.p. post-treatment with AS 15557 alone. When 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was applied i.p. to mice receiving post-treatment with AS 15557 alone, the mean survival rates of the L1210-leukemia-cell-bearing mice were significantly prolonged. The antileukemic action of AS 15557, alone or in combination with 5-FU, against L1210 leukemia was superior to that of a streptococcal preparation (OK-432) and was almost the same as of bacillus Calmette-Guérin with or without 5-FU. The results suggest the possibility that the synergism of AS 15557 in combination with 5-FU may be dependent on the relationship between the indirect immunological function of AS 15557 and the direct cytotoxic action of 5-FU on L1210 leukemia cells.     

Primary carcinoma of the male urethra. Report of a case and review of the literature

Contribution of one case of epidermoid carcinoma of the urethra in a 47-year old male with a several years old urethral stenosis. The significance of urethroscopy and the obtention of biopsies for diagnosis is emphasised. Also a review is made of the existing literature on the different therapeutical alternatives.     

Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a clinicopathological review

Small cell carcinoma of the cervix is rare, with an aggressive natural history. We report on a series of 11 patients treated at the Christie Hospital, Manchester and examine their treatment and survival. Eleven patients with small cell carcinoma of the cervix were identified retrospectively from patient case notes. Treatment was individualised and included a variety of combinations of surgery radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Four patients were disease-free between 21 and 108 months (crude disease-free survival 36%). They presented with earlier disease and were older than the average for the group. They were all initially treated with radical radiotherapy. 7 patients died between 7 and 25 months. Despite combination chemotherapy, survival with advanced disease was poor. Published studies are small and fail to provide definitive answers on the best management of small cell carcinoma of the cervix. Drawing on the experience of small cell carcinoma of the lung however, combination therapy with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and possibly surgery requires careful assessment by an oncologist.