Expression of Bcl-2, Bax and p27 in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer with or without Lymph Node Metastasis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p27 and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The thyroid tissue samples were obtained randomly from the department of pathology at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. The specimens were from 72 patients, comprising 25 patients with thyroid nodular hyperplasia (TNH), 23 PTC without LNM, and 24 PTC with LNM between January 2006 and May 2008. Immunohistochemical staining for Bcl-2, Bax, and p27 was performed, and quantified blindly by three pathologists who had no clinical information of the patients. Immunohistochemical expression was scored as high (>25% of cells stained) or low (0-25%). RESULTS: Expression of Bcl-2 was scored as high for 1 (4%) TNH, 3 (13%) PTC without LNM and 4 (17%) PTC with LNM cases. Expression of Bax was scored as high for 0 (0%) TNH, 9 (39%) PTC without LNH and 16 (67%) PTC with LNM cases. Expression of p27 was scored as high for 13 (52%) TNH, 12 (52%) PTC without LNM and 13 (54%) PTC with LNM cases. Expression of Bax in the PTC with LNM group was scored higher than TNH (p<.01) and PTC without LNM (p<.05). There was no statistically difference in the immunoreactivity for Bcl-2 and p27 among the three groups. However, some positive expressions of p27 were noted at the cytoplasm of the PTC. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that immunohistochemical analysis of Bax may be helpful in the diagnosis of PTC and in the evaluation of lymph node metastatic potential in PTC.

A Case of Minor Salivary Gland Pleomorphic Adenoma Arising from Larynx / 대한이비인후과학회지

Even though pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumor of the major salivary gland, such as the parotid gland, it is relatively rare in the minor salivary gland since it accounts for only 10% of all reported pleomorphic adenoma. The minor salivary gland spreads throughout the oral cavity from nasopharynx, oropharynx, to larynx, and pleomorphic adenoma can be possibly found in every one of them. However, pleomorphic adenoma of the larynx is very rare. We experienced a case of 59 year old woman who presented 3 months history of voice change, swallowing difficulty. She had huge pleomorphic adenoma originated from arytenoid area of larynx. We resected the mass by suprahyoid approach and obtained good postoperative results. We reporte this case with a review of literature.