Hemorrhagic invasive ductal carcinoma with immunohistological expression of b-subunit HCG: A case report.

A hemorrhagic breast mass was excised from a 27-year-old female. Microscopically, the tumor showed typical areas of invasive ductal carcinoma with intraductal component admixed with some trophoblast-like tumor giant cells in the hemorrhagic area. These cells exhibited β-subunit HCG by immunohistochemistry. The modified radical mastectomy was done after exclusion of the coexisting choriocarcinoma in breast cancer. Postoperatively, the HCG serum level was within normal limit and the gynecological check up showed no positive findings. The modified radical mastectomy specimen revealed that the residual tumor showed the same findings as seen in the previously excised mass.

Ultrastructural features of sidero - apoptotic hepatocytes in thalassemia.

Liver tissues from 20 patients with thalassemia were investigated by light and electron microscopy, with focus on ultrastructure of sidero-apoptosis. The results of light microscopy were compared. Sidero-apoptosis was found in 82% in b thal/Hb E disease, 67% in thalassemia Hb H, 100% in and b-thal major, respectively. Regardless of the type of hemoglobin, sidero-apoptosis was present in various degrees. The main criteria used for identification of sidero-apoptosis were marked condensation of chromatin against the nuclear membrane, and fragmentation into nuclear fragments of varying sizes and structures into membrane-bounded sidero-apop-totic bodies. These bodies may be phagocytosed by macrophages or neighboring cells or remain free. However, the cell may also shrink into a dense, rounded mass, as a single sidero-apoptotic body. Sidero-apoptoic bodies were similar to acidophilic bodies, or Councilman bodies, commonly found in viral hepatitis. This preliminary report suggestsd that sidero-apoptosis is a features of human liver pathology in thalassemia and may be due to hepatotoxicity of iron overload. In addition, many factors or other agents-hormone, killer cells, cytokines, various physical, chemical and viral agents should be considered. We propose the term "sidero-apoptosis" to describe the features resenbling acidophilic bodies commonly seen in viral hepatitis but with a heavy depositi of iron.