Pathologic Study of Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor: Report of 5 cases

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) occuring in the brain (especially in the cereburm) of young individuals is a rare and highly malignant neoplasm. The authors analyzed 5 cases of primitive neuroectodermal tumor, operated from January 1986 to September 1987. They had characteristic clinical, radiologic and pathologic features. Patient's age ranged from 2 years to 14 years old (mean 8.2 years old) and there were 3 boys and 2 girls. They were rapidly growing tumor, with a brief duration of symptoms taking a rapidly progessive course. Computerized tomographic findings were characteristic, revealing the large, irregular, typically iso-to hyper-dense mass lesions with calcification and cystic or necrotic areas, and showing dense heterogeneous contrast enhancement of the mass in the cerebral hemisphere. Grossly all of the 5 cases showed hemorrhage and necrosis with sharp border and 2 cases showed calcification and cystic change grossly. Microscopically, they were predominantly composed of undifferentiated small dark cells with evidence of focal differentiation along glial and or neuronal lines. Four cases showed glial differentiation and three cases showed neuronal differentiation. Mesenchymal components were predominant in 3 cases.

Study on the Stromal Response of Colon Cancer in Relation with the Stage of the Cancer

Total 74 cases of colon cancer were examined in the Inje Medical College, Pusan Paik-hospital, which were collected from 1979 to the April 1986. The stromal histopathological findings are as followings; 1) The highest frequency of the good reactions of the four parameters of the stromal response (i.e., good general stromal reaction, peripheral tumor disintergration, and each inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous proliferation alone) was found in Dukes class B1 and the least frequency in Dukes C1. The good general stromal response and the peripheral tumor disintegration are more closely related with the stage than the other two parameters. They are about 60% in class B1, 30% in class B2 and C2, and 20% in class C1. 2) The insistent poorest stromal response of the Dukes C1 in all parameters may be explained from the fact that the cancer cells of this particular stage are very aggressive biologically because the cancer cells are capable to invade the regional lymph nodes before the main tumor can infiltrate all through the layers of the wall. 3) Among the four types of the colon cancer, the better stromal reactions are observed in more than half of the cases of the well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma while this trend is completely opposite in the mucinous and poorly differentiated types. 4) The above findings indicate that how closely the stroma influences upon the progress of the colon cancer, or how closely it represents the status of the individual immunological force.

Leiomyosarcoma of the Breast

Leiomyosarcoma of the breast is extremely rare. The natural history of leiomyosarcoma of the breast remains largely unknown because of the low incidence and lack of long-term follow up. But leiomyosarcoma of the breast appears to be less aggressive biologically than other sarcomas of the breast such as rhabdomyosarcoma. In an attempt to define diagnostic criteria of smooth muscle tumors of the breast, the reported cases of leiomyoma of the breast and nipple were also reviewed and compared with leiomyosarcomas by Chen et al(1981). Based on the result of this review, tumors with three or more mitoses per 10 HPF are leiomyosarcoma and those with no mitosis, necrosis, and significant atypia are leiomyomas. We have experienced a case of leiomyosarcoma of the breast. The patient was a 39 year-old female and was admitted due to a rapid growing right breast mass. The breast mass was noted 4 years ago and then this year the mass growed rapidly. Simple mastectomy was performed. Grossly the mass measured 11.0x8.0x8.0 cm in dimensions and was well circumscribed, pinkish, multinodular, and it was protruded from the cut surface. Microscopically the mass is composed of interlacing bundles of spindle shaped cells and multifocal large areas of hyalinized collagenous tissue. The individual spindle cells are slightly pleomorphic and occasionally show mitotic figures, 6~7 per 10 HPF in the most cellular area.

Study on the Natural History of Hepatitis B Virus-infected Rats, and its Relationship with Chemical and Physical Injury of the Liver

Normal, hepatectomied(partial) or CCI4 injected rats are infected intraperitoneally with human HBV-infected serum, and histopathological examination of major organs, and serologically HBV markers are checked. In the latter groups, the relationship between the regenerating hepatocytes and their infectivity toward HBV are investigated. 1) There are no specific histological changes in the liver which might suggest HBV infection of hepatocytes. 2) There is a tendency to increase basophilic mononuclear cells in the lymphoid organs. At the same time, HBcAb are positive in the rat's serum suggesting that these cells are immunologically oriented effector cells in the defense system. In the groups which received hepatic injury, the number of these cells are decreased. 3) HBcAb are positive in the groups of 5th day, 1 week, and 2 weeks' post-HBV injection. All groups with hepatic injury show trace in the 2 weeks post-HBV injection which corresponds to the concomitant decreased number of basophilic mononuclear cells in the lymphoid organs. 4) Above findings suggest that HBV will promote a proliferative reaction of the mononuclear cells in the lymphoid organs in the early stage of HBV infection. It appears that the infection stops there, and there would be no activation of the mechanism of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity followed by injury of hepatocytes due to the attack of T-lymphocytes manifesting the clinical hepatitis.

Polycystic Disease of Kidney(Two autopsy cases) / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Two autopsy cases of polycystic disease of kidney were reported, both female,31 and 61 years of age: gravida 2,and 7 respectively. The incidence among autopsies was 0.3%.Both cases were accompanied with congenital polycysts in liver. The blood pressure of the cases was slightly or moderately elevated and hearts were moderately hpertropic. Renal function were not considerably impaired. Clinically the correct diagnosis were subarachnoidal hemorrhage(by rupture of aneurism) in 1st case and uremia after right nephrectomy in 2nd case. Etiology of the condition was discussed.