An unusual case of clear-cell carcinoma of the pancreas

This case of clear-cell carcinoma of the pancreas was a rare for three reasons: a) discovery: the investigation was indicated after sudden digestive hemorrhage revealed by melena and anaemia; b) morphology: the tumour began in the head with a spheric tumoural bud and a pediculated extension into the duodenum; c) pathology a clear-cell tumour similar to the type seen in renal localizations. Only one other case of such a primitive tumour was found reported in the literature.     

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.     

Small cell carcinoma of the bladder. Report of a new case

Contribution of a case report of vesical small cell carcinoma (SCC) seen at our Centre and managed with partial cystectomy and systemic chemotherapy (CMT) with M-VAC. SCC is an uncommon neoplasia of the bladder usually associated with an aggressive behaviour. The effectiveness of radical surgery has not been demonstrated, so a conservative treatment was chosen which has allowed to preserve a high quality of life until now, 36 months after diagnosis. The studies of local and distant relapses show no signs of residual disease.     

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.     

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 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.     

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.     

Malignant melanoma of the vagina in pregnancy: description of a clinical case

Vaginal melanoma in pregnancy is a rare but extremely malignant tumour for which the prognosis is worsened by the fact that pregnancy increases the secretion of Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (MSH). The clinical case is described of a malignant vaginal melanoma in a 27 year-old woman in her 38th week of gestation, who was referred for slight vaginal bleeding. Clinical examination revealed a 3 cm pedunculate tumour on the anterior wall of the vagina. Vaginal cytology suggested a melanoma and instrumental examination failed to reveal any lymph node involvement. The vaginal tumour was removed during a caesarean section and subsequent histological examination identified it as a Breslow Stage II malignant melanoma. A 24-month follow-up showed the patient to have been completely cured.     

"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.     

Fibroadenoma of the vulva. Report of a case

A case of fibroadenoma occurring in the vulva of a 24 year old woman is presented. This rare benign tumor appears as dermal or subcutaneous well circumscribed nodule. Histologically the fibroadenoma is characterized by epithelial and stromal proliferation. Two different concepts concerning histogenesis are cited; the authors believe that this tumor arises in ectopic mammary tissue.     

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.     

Renal endometriosis. Report of a case

In the light of a personal case and a review of the literature, the authors recall the specific features of renal endometriosis. This rare lesion, with a favourable prognosis, is difficult to diagnose and is rarely diagnosed preoperatively. Medical treatment by LHRH agonists is discussed and has been used exceptionally.     

Retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma. Report of a case

OBJECTIVE: To report an additional case of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma. METHODS/RESULTS: A case of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma that had been incidentally discovered in a 27-year-old male during abdominal US evaluation is described. The diagnosis was based on the histopathological findings after US-guided biopsy. The clinical features and the findings of the complementary tests, which included radiological assessment, intravenous urography, CT and cavography are presented, as well as the pathology findings. Treatment was by complete surgical excision of the tumor. CONCLUSION: Treatment of ganglioneuroma is by surgery, since the diagnosis is generally based on the histopathological analysis of the surgical specimen. For those cases with a preoperative diagnosis, some authors advocate surgery for patients with clinical evidence of neuroblastoma or another pathology arising from this disease. Although infrequent, ganglioneuroma coexisting with neuroblastoma can occur. For this reason, complete excision of the tumor is preferred.     

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.