Diffuse Glomerular Basement Membrane Lamellation in Post-Transplant IgA Nephropathy

Diffuse glomerular basement membrane (GBM) lamellation, reminiscent of Alport's syndrome, has rarely, and exclusively, been reported in renal allografts from pediatric donors to adult recipients. We report on a similar lesion, identified in a 42-year-old male, who received a kidney from an unrelated 21-year-old living male donor. The disease of the recipient was unknown. Renal allograft biopsies were performed 3.5 and 4.8 years after the renal transplantation, due to massive proteinuria and serum creatinine elevation. The histological features of both biopsies were similar, but more advanced in the second biopsy. Glomerular mesangium was widened and had an IgA deposit in the first biopsy. In addition to the presence of mesangial electron dense deposits, the GBM showed diffuse lamellation and splintering on the subepithelial side, but no definite deposits. In the second biopsy, IgA deposits were extended to the peripheral capillary walls, but electron microscopic examination was not available. Two months after the second biopsy, the patient returned for hemodialysis.

Diffuse Glomerular Basement Membrane Lamellation in Post-Transplant IgA Nephropathy

Diffuse glomerular basement membrane (GBM) lamellation, reminiscent of Alport's syndrome, has rarely, and exclusively, been reported in renal allografts from pediatric donors to adult recipients. We report on a similar lesion, identified in a 42-year-old male, who received a kidney from an unrelated 21-year-old living male donor. The disease of the recipient was unknown. Renal allograft biopsies were performed 3.5 and 4.8 years after the renal transplantation, due to massive proteinuria and serum creatinine elevation. The histological features of both biopsies were similar, but more advanced in the second biopsy. Glomerular mesangium was widened and had an IgA deposit in the first biopsy. In addition to the presence of mesangial electron dense deposits, the GBM showed diffuse lamellation and splintering on the subepithelial side, but no definite deposits. In the second biopsy, IgA deposits were extended to the peripheral capillary walls, but electron microscopic examination was not available. Two months after the second biopsy, the patient returned for hemodialysis.

p21 Protein Expression and Cell Proliferation Activity in Human Multistep Hepatocarcinogenesis

p21 is a universal inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) and of cell-cycle progression. p21 expression is variable according to the type of tissue and the pathologic condition. To study the role of p21 in the multistep hepatocarcinogenesis, the expression of p21, p53 and Ki-67 was investigated in 53 cases of inactive liver cirrhosis, 4 cases of low grade dysplastic nodules, 3 cases of high grade dysplastic nodules, 7 cases of early hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 27 cases of small HCCs (3 cm). p21 expression was not detected in liver cirrhosis, low grade dysplastic nodules, high grade dysplastic nodules and early HCCs which were mitotically inactive. p21 expression was significantly increased in small HCCs and advanced HCCs which were mitotically active. p21 expression was significantly correlated with Ki-67 labelling indices. p53 protein was not expressed in liver cirrhosis, dysplastic nodules, and early HCCs. The expression of p53 protein was, however, significantly increased in small and advanced HCCs. The p21 expression was not correlated with p53 expression. Therefore, p21 is suggested to play a role in the mitotically active small and advanced HCCs, but not in the mitotically inactive lesion of dysplastic nodules and early HCC in multistep hepatocarcinogenesis. These findings suggest that homeostatic mechanism of growth control is not totally destroyed in HCC.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of urinary bladder

A previously healthy 44-year-old male was admitted with the chief complaint of intermittent gross hematuria. On initial ultrasonographic and CT examination, a grossly protruding intravesical tumor was noted and, under the impression of a malignant bladder tumor, transurethral resection was performed. The histological findings were spindle cells with elongated cytoplasm with rare mitotic figures distributed in myxoid stroma, consistent with diagnosis of inflammatory pseudotumor of the bladder. The benign nature of this tumor warrants conservative surgical management, usually consisting of transurethral resection or partial cystectomy. No reports of metastasis have been reported following complete excision. Therefore, any suspicion and recognition of this entity is imperative to avoid performing an irreversible radical procedure.

Wegener's Granulomatosis Involving Lung and Middle Ear: A case report

A case of Wegener's granulomatosis is described, with special attention focused on the typical histologic findings and involvement of both middle ear and lung. The patient is a 37-year-old man presented with four-month history of cough and sputum. He had a past history of surgery of both ears because of otitis media followed by left facial palsy. Chest radiographs showed variable sized ill defined nodules in both lower lobes with internal airspace consolidation. Histologic preparations of the open lung biopsy specimens demonstrated a diffusely scattered palisading micro and macrogranulomas with central focus of neutrophils and necrotic collagen surrounded by histiocytes, histiocytic giant cells. Fibrinoid necrosis involved blood vessels and lung parenchyma. Chronic inflammation, diffuse granulation tissue formation and irregular fibrosis are also found in the lung parenchyma. The histologic findings of middle ear which was previously biopsied showed scattered palisading ill defined microgranulomas mixed with fibrotic tissue.

Expression of CD44 in Epithelial Ovarian Tumors

CD44 is a hyaluronic acid receptor that exists as a standard 90-kd form (CD44H) as well as several CD44 variants isoforms are produced through alternative splicing. Alternatively spliced variants of the CD44 molecule have been found to be associated with invasive and metastatic potential of cancer cells and poor prognosis in several types of carcinoma. The purpose of the present study is to define the expression of CD44H and CD44v6 in ovarian tumors and to investigate whether the expression of these molecules is associated with adverse prognosis. We evaluated the expression of CD44 isoforms in 58 ovarian tumors by means of immunohistochemistry, and correlated between CD44 expression and the histologic types, tumor grade, peritoneal implants, pseudomyxoma peritonei and FIGO stage. While the CD44H was commonly expressed in ovarian tumors, the CD44v6 was expressed in a minor proportion of serous tumors in comparison with frequent expression of v6 isoform in mucinous tumors. The CD44H expression was significantly higher in stage I/II than in stage III. However, there was no correlation between the expression of CD44 and the presence of peritoneal implants or pseudomyxoma peritonei. These results suggest that CD44H could play an important role in the adhesive function in the lower stage of the ovarian tumor and reduced expression in the higher stage might be related to the metastasis and widespread invasion of ovarian carcinoma cells.

A Pancreatic Cyst of the Anterior Mediastinum

Although heterotopia of pancreatic tissue is a developmental anomaly found in approximately 2% of all autopsies, pancreatic tissue within the thorax and mediastinum is uncommon. In most of these instances, the pancreatic tissue is a component of gastroenteric duplication cysts, intralobar pulmonary sequestrations or teratomas. We describe an anterior mediastinal cyst consisting entirely of pancreatic tissue. A previously healthy 27-year-old woman was admitted due to chest pain during deep inspiration. The computed tomographic scan of the thorax showed a large cyst occupying the right anterior mediastinum. The excised multilocular cystic lesion measured 12 cm in maximum diameter and contained a brown, turbid fluid. The wall was fibrotic and showed a haphazard mixture of ducts and exocrine acini without islets. The histogenesis of this lesion is unclear.

A Case of Recurrent Leiomyoma in Vesicovaginal Septum / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Leiomyoma of vagina is relatively rare benign tumor. And majority of these lesions occur in labia major and anterior vaginal wall. The recurrence of this tumor is extremely rare and its cellular atypism, mitotic activity, tumor size and contour are known as important factors in its recutrence. A case of recutrent leiomyoma causing urinary frequency in vesicovaginal septum was reported with a brief review of literature.

Leiomyoma of the Urinary Bladder

Leiomyoma is commonly found in the female genital tract, but occurrence in the urinary bladder is very rare with only 235 cases reported in the literature. These tumors have been classified as intravesical (63%), intramural (7%) and extravesical (30%) depending on the direction of the growth. We report a case of intravesical leiomyoma of the urinary bladder in a 36 year-old woman who exhibited dysuria and urinary retention. The gross and microscopical findings of leiomyoma of the bladder are similar to those of the uterus. Immunohistochemical stains for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) revealed diffuse nuclear staining in smooth muscle cells, supporting the hypothesis of hormonal influence in tumorigenesis.

Mixed hepatoblastoma in an adult--a case report and literature review

Hepatoblastoma is thought to originate from embryonal hepatic tissue, and most of these tumors occur in children under the age of 2 years. Hepatoblastoma in adults is extremely rare, and the prognosis is much worse than the mixed hepatoblastoma of childhood. We experienced a case of mixed hepatoblastoma in a 51 year old female patient. She had been suffering from a mild pain and a palpable lump in the epigastric area. Serum AFP was 43,850 ng/ml. Computerized tomography and selective abdominal angiography showed a large low-density mass. With a suspicion of hepatocellular carcinoma of the left lobe, a left lateral segmentectomy was performed. The external surface showed a huge protruding mass and the capsule was previously ruptured. On section, the tumor was a 11 x 7 cm sized expanding mass which had a variegated surface composed of yellow-white friable tissue with multifocal hemorrhagic areas. Microscopic examination revealed a tumor consisted of epithelial and mesenchymal elements. The mesenchymal cells were spindle in shape and proliferated over the whole tumor with focal osteosarcomatous differentiation. The epithelial components showed well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma-like areas, poorly differentiated acinar or tubular structures.

Mature Cystic Teratoma of the Fallopian Tube: A case report

Teratomas of the fallopian tube are extremely rare, and only about 50 cases have reported in the world literature. Most cases of mature cystic tubal teratoma are asymptomatic and are discovered as an incidental finding on physical or radiologic examination, or at the time of laparatomy. We report a case of mature cystic teratoma of the right fallopian tube which was discovered during pelvic ultrasonogram for antenatal care in a 28 year old woman. Right salpingectomy was performed during cesarean section for cephalo-pelvic distortion at IUP 39 weeks. Gross examination of the right fallopian tube reveals a distended fallopian tube, measuring 8cm in length and 2cm in diameter. On section, it is filled with several small pedunculated nodules and cysts containing sebaceous materials. Microscopically the tumor was seen in continuity with the lining epithelium of mucosal folds. The majority of the tumor was composed of well differentiated mature elements of three germ layers with skin and skin appendages, mature brain tissue, bone, breast tissue, intestinal mucosa and bronchial epithelium.