Expression of MUC2 and MUC6 in Colorectal Adenomas and Adenocarcinomas

PURPOSE: Although the expression of MUC2 is seen in colorectal tumors, there have been few reports about the expression of MUC6 in colorectal tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of MUC2 and MUC6 in normal colorectal tissues and in tumors, as well as the association of MUC2 and MUC6 expressions with prognostic factors. METHODS: Twenty (20) cases of colorectal adenomas treated by using a endoscopic polypectomy and 30 cases of colorectal carcinomas treated by using a resection were collected. Ten (10) normal tissue samples were obtained apart from the carcinomas. Sections were used for MUC2 and MUC6 immunostaining. The expressions of MUC2 and MUC6 were scored by using the sum of the percentages of the stained cells and the intensity of staining. RESULTS: All of the ten normal colorectal tissues expressed MUC2 and MUC6. Of the 20 adenomas, 19 cases (95%) were MUC2 positive, and 17 cases (85%) were MUC6 positive. Adenomas with severe atypia tended to express lower levels of MUC2 and MUC6 than those with mild or moderate atypia. Of the 30 carcinomas, 28 cases (93%) were MUC2 positive and 19 cases (63.3%) were MUC6 positive. Colorectal mucinous carcinomas differed significantly from non-mucinous carcinomas in strong MUC6 expression. MUC2 expression showed a significant association with lymph-node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that MUC6 is expressed in normal colorectal tissues and tumors, that MUC6 expression is especially strong in mucinous carcinomas, and that MUC2 expression is associated with lymph-node metastasis, among the prognostic factors.

Intraocular Ossification: A Case Report

Heterotopic bone formation in the eyeball is a rare finding. Some etiologic factors, such as trauma, chronic inflammation, and long-standing retinal detachment have been associated with the onset of intraocular ossification. We report here on a case of a 21-year-old woman with a history of blunt trauma fifteen years ago, who complained of right eye blindness. When the right eyeball eviceration was done, a hard, grayish mass was found. On histopathologic examination, the mass showed lamellar bone with fatty marrow and hyalinized tissue with dystrophic calcification. We diagnosed her case as intraocular ossification.

Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Meninges

Solitary fibrous tumor(SFT) is a spindle cell neoplasm that usually arises in the pleura. Its involvement of the meninges is rare but increasingly being reported. Our case was a 33-year-old man who presented with clonic seizure around the right mouth angle and sensory disturbance at the right hand. Radiological studies showed a large extra-axial, dural-based mass in the left fronto-parietal region, typically isointense with gray matter and heterogeneous strong enhancement on T1-weighted images. Histologically, the tumor was composed of spindle-shaped cells growing in fascicles within the collagenous matrix. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated diffuse CD34 positivity. Awareness of this neoplasm is necessary to accurate diagnosis.