ABSTRACT
Endometrial cancer is a common malignancy of the female genital tract. Her-2 overexpression is strongly correlated with tumor grade, type, and stage and this association complicate the issue of response of Her-2 positive endometrial carcinoma to chemotherapy. The aims of the current study are; to estimate the overexpression of Her-2 in endometrial carcinoma in our patients, to correlate the results with other known clinicopathologic markers and to compare our results with others. This is a cross-sectional retrospective study of 51 cases of endometrial carcinoma collected with their clinical data from Al-Batool Teaching Hospital and Al-Khansa'a Maternity Teaching Hospital in Mosul-Iraq from January 2007 to January 2010. All cases were revised histologically. Forty-three cases were total abdominal hysterectomy and 8 were curetting material. Tumors were classified into two main types, endometroid and non-endometroid carcinomas. Immunoperoxidase stains for Her-2/neu were performed on representative formalin-fixed paraffin embedded blocks. Majority of the endometrial carcinoma were in the 6th decade [50.9%] with a mean of 56.5 year. Her-2/ neu overexpression was observed in 58.8% of cases. The most frequent association was with non-endometroid carcinoma [100%]. Expression of Her-2/neu increased with increasing grade reaching 89.47% in grade III tumors. The highest expression was detected in tumors invading deep into the myometrium [77.77%]. HER-2/neu appears to play an important role in the biologic behavior of endometrial cancers. It was overexpressed in non-endometroid carcinoma, especially papillary-serous type, high grade tumors, and among the higher stages. Therefore, targeted therapies directed against HER-2, could be effective in some patients with endometrial cancer
ABSTRACT
Undifferentiated [embryonal] sarcoma of the liver was first defined as a separate clinicopathological entity in 1978. It is uncommon hepatic tumor of mesenchymal origin, usually observed in children and teenage, but also infrequently encounter in adult. It represent about 9-15% of all hepatic tumor in children. We report a case of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver in a 6 year old girl who presented with non specific right hypochondrial pain and mass with fever. Laboratory studies of the liver function were normal and the other tests were non specific. Ultrasonography and CT scan showed a large heterogeneous mass ranging from cystic tissue with multiple septa to more predominant solid component in the right lobe of the liver. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and revealed a large mass in the right lobe and part of the left lobe of the liver. Tumor resection was performed and about 70% of the total liver was resected. Macroscopically, tumor was large solitary globular firm predominant solid mass weighing 1100gm and measuring 18 x 12 x 8 cm, with variegated cut surface of solid, cystic, necrotic and hemorrhagic areas. Microscopically, the tumor has a variable but distinctive sarcomatous appearance, composed of spindle, oval and stellate-shaped sarcomatous cells, with marked nuclear pleomorphism, closely packed in whorls or scattered loosely in a myxoid ground substance. Numerous bizarre multinucleated giant cells, containing large intracytoplasmic hyaline globules with ample mitosis many of which are atypical. Tumor cells entrapped hyperplastic bile ducts. Accordingly the diagnosis of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver was performed. Conclusion: Prompt detection of this aggressive tumor with complete surgical resection is the key to a successful outcome. Prognosis recently improved following postoperative chemotherapy