Variance in the interpretation of cervical biopsy specimens obtained for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.

We sought to determine whether the variability in dysplasia rates in cases of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) reflects variability in interpretation of cervical biopsy specimens. In phase 1, 124 biopsy specimens obtained because of a cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS were reviewed independently by 5 experienced pathologists. Diagnostic choices were normal, squamous metaplasia, reactive, indeterminate, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). The rate of dysplasia ranged from 23% to 51%. All pathologists agreed in 28% of cases. In 52% of cases, the diagnoses ranged from benign to dysplasia. The overall interobserver agreement was poor. In phase 2, 60 cervical biopsy specimens (21 obtained for ASCUS, 22 for LSIL, and 17 for HSIL) were evaluated using the same diagnostic choices. Agreement was better in biopsies performed for HSIL and LSIL compared to those for ASCUS. Intraobserver reproducibility in the interpretation of biopsies performed for ASCUS ranged from poor to excellent. We conclude that variability in the interpretation of biopsy specimens plays an important role in the differences in rates of dysplasia reported for the follow-up of ASCUS.

Chondronecrosis of the hip. The protective role of the ossific nucleus in an animal model.

The presence of the ossific nucleus and its role in reducing the risk of ischemic necrosis in developmental dysplasia of the hip remains a matter of controversy. Ischemic necrosis of the pre-osseous capital femoral epiphysis, defined as chondronecrosis, was evaluated in a rabbit model. Histologic evidence of chondronecrosis after casting in maximum abduction was greater in 1-day-old New Zealand White rabbits before the radiographic appearance of the ossific nucleus, compared with 16-day-old New Zealand White rabbits with an ossific nucleus already present. This preliminary study supports the hypothesis that the ossific nucleus may decrease the risk of intracapsular compressive ischemic injury to the developing capital femoral epiphysis in a rabbit model.

Expression of epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptors during cervical carcinogenesis.

Altered expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is common in a variety of epithelial malignancies, including cervical cancer. However, the prognostic significance of EGFR expression is controversial for cervical cancer. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) expression status is unknown in cervical cancer. Our results demonstrated that expression of EGFR and PDGFR was greatly enhanced in vivo and in organotypic cultures of low-grade cervical dysplastic tissues, but levels were decreased in high-grade lesions. To our knowledge, this is the first report identifying the expression of PDGFR in human epithelium. When low-grade dysplastic organotypic culture tissues were induced to differentiate more completely, EGFR expression, but not PDGFR expression, was relocalized to the basal layer as seen in normal tissues. Differentiation also induced phosphorylation of EGFR but not PDGFR. Our results suggest a role for EGFR and PDGFR during the early stages of cervical carcinogenesis, and demonstrate the facility of organotypic cultures to study the role of these growth factors in the development of cervical cancer.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head in haemophiliacs: not all joint disease is haemophilic arthropathy.

Osteonecrosis (ON) is rare while arthropathy is common in persons with haemophilia. A recent case of bilateral ON of the femoral head prompted us to review our experience with hip arthroplasty. We identified nine patients with presumed end-stage haemophilic arthropathy. Four of the nine individuals had radiographic findings suggestive of ON, but without unequivocal microscopic evidence of ON. It is important to recognize ON at an early stage because there are surgical interventions which may prolong the life of the joint and improve quality of life. We suggest that ON should be included in the differential diagnosis of hip pathology in persons with haemophilia presenting with hip pain or dysfunction.

Left atrial appendage rupture caused by a seat belt: a case report and review of the literature.

Motor vehicle accidents account for most cases of blunt chest trauma; seat belts have been implicated as the cause of a few of these injuries. We report a case of a seat-belt-induced fatal isolated left atrial appendage rupture in a 40-year-old female.

Acute renal failure secondary to solid tumor renal metastases: case report and review of the literature.

Renal metastases from solid tumors to both kidneys rarely result in acute renal failure (ARF). We present a case of squamous cell pulmonary carcinoma responsible for ARF due to (1) extensive (50% to 75%) bilateral parenchymal infiltration and replacement accompanied by tissue destruction, (2) widespread vascular invasion and thrombosis resulting in ischemia, and (3) histological evidence for foci of distal intratubular obstruction and pyelonephritis. Five additional cases, including one pulmonary cancer, causing ARF from extensive tissue replacement and destruction are reviewed. In a separate case, ARF resulted from lymphatic metastases rather than from parenchymal destruction or obstruction. Common findings in all six reported cases include bilaterally enlarged kidneys and progressive oligoanuria despite correction of prerenal or postrenal conditions. In our patient and in one other prior reported case, extrarenal obstruction was not considered important because invasive therapeutic procedures were unsuccessful in reversing ARF. In one case, irradiation of kidney tumor resulted in reversal of ARF. These cases emphasize the rare potential for solid tumors to metastasize to both kidneys and result in irreversible oligoanuric ARF. A high level of suspicion is required, and an early diagnosis may result in reversible ARF if the tumor is amenable to chemotherapy or irradiation.

Osteoradionecrosis of the hyoid induced by combined modality therapy for laryngeal carcinoma.

Contemporary management of laryngeal carcinoma often incorporates multiple modalities of therapy. We report a case of osteoradionecrosis of the hyoid bone in a patient treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for a supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma. A discussion regarding pathophysiology, radiation dosimetry and treatment options is also presented.

Bacillary angiomatosis.

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and other causes of immunosuppression have ushered in a variety of opportunistic infections. One of these is bacillary angiomatosis, a vasoproliferative lesion whose principal causative agent is Rochalimaea henselae. Bacillary angiomatosis, while preponderantly a cutaneous affliction, can be systemic, including involvement of the head and neck mucous membranes. Molecular technology and epidemiologic studies used to identify the bacterial agent of bacillary angiomatosis have also uncovered R henselae as the organism responsible for most cases of cat-scratch disease. Why the same organism promotes two different histopathologic lesions, as seen in bacillary angiomatosis and cat-scratch disease, is unknown.

Nodular fasciitis of the parotid gland. Report of a case with presentation in an unusual location and cytologic differential diagnosis.

The histomorphology of nodular fasciitis (NF), a benign proliferation of myofibroblasts, is well described in the surgical pathology literature. The cytomorphology, however, has been reported infrequently. Cytologic interpretation of this pseudosarcomatous lesion is subject to the same pitfalls so frequently reported for histologic material. NF arises most commonly in the extremities or trunk; occurrence in the parotid gland is relatively uncommon. We describe a case of NF arising in association with the parotid gland; review the clinical, cytologic, histologic and immunohistochemical features of NF; and offer a differential diagnosis, based on cytologic features, of other benign and malignant lesions likely to be encountered at this location.

The histologic features of musculoskeletal tumors.

An atlas of 32 captioned color photomicrographs of typical musculoskeletal tumors is presented to demonstrate the need for close radiologic and pathologic correlation of these tumors. Diagnostic and key microscopic features of these soft tissue and bone lesions are highlighted.

Case report 730. Malignant large cell lymphoma of tibial epiphysis.

We present a case of primary lymphoma of bone arising in the proximal tibial epiphysis of a 16-year-old boy. To the best of our knowledge, primary lymphoma of bone has not been described previously as a mimicker of chondroblastoma. This case report is intended to increase awareness among clinicians and radiologists that primary lymphoma of bone can present with a long clinical prodrome and initially benign radiographic appearance. Early recognition of this unusual presentation will (hopefully) increase the likelihood of cure. However, it is recognized that in children, primary lymphoma of bone is a rare diagnosis and associated with a poor prognosis unless aggressive treatment is utilized [8].

Clear cell cribriform hyperplasia of the prostate. Immunohistochemical and DNA flow cytometric study.

Clear cell cribriform hyperplasia (CCCH) of the prostate is an unusual form of benign prostatic hyperplasia characterized by a nodular proliferation of clear cells with small, uniform nuclei. The authors studied 15 cases of CCCH by immunohistochemistry and 13 of them by DNA flow cytometry to establish the immunohistochemical and DNA profile of this lesion. Patients ranged in age from 58 to 88 years (mean, 68 years). Follow-up of a mean of 22 months showed all patients alive with no evidence of malignant prostatic disease. All 13 CCCHs showed diploid DNA content; in contrast, among 4 papillary/cribriform carcinomas of the prostate used for comparison, 3 were aneuploid and 1 was diploid. A basal cell layer was demonstrated in all 15 CCCHs by the use of the 34 beta E12 anti-high-molecular-weight keratin antibody (EAB-903) that reacts with the basal cells but not with the acinar cells of the prostate. A continuous basal cell layer was not evident in the carcinomas. The blandness of the epithelium, the well-defined nodular configuration, the presence of a basal cell layer demonstrable by immunocytochemistry, and the lack of aneuploidy as determined by DNA flow cytometry together lend support to the concept that CCCH is a benign lesion.

Well-differentiated serous ovarian carcinoma presenting as a breast mass: a case report and flow cytometric DNA study.

Ovarian carcinoma metastatic to the breast is uncommon. We report a rare occurrence of ovarian carcinoma that initially presented as a breast mass. Complete examination revealed bilateral ovarian tumors with widespread peritoneal and abdominal disease. One of the ovarian tumors was a papillary serous tumor of low malignant potential, and the other was a well-differentiated papillary serous carcinoma. Although the neoplasm within the breast resembled serous ovarian carcinoma with psammoma bodies, the initial presentation and the presence of an apparent intraductal component created a potential for its misdiagnosis as a primary breast carcinoma. Using DNA flow cytometry, we demonstrated the relationship between the breast, lymph node, and peritoneal metastases and the serous carcinoma, thereby supporting the histologic diagnoses.

Case report 704: Extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the thigh with several suspected skeletal metastases and extensive metastases to the chest.

A case of extraskeletal osteosarcoma occurring in its most common location, the thigh, is reported. Particular emphasis is given to demonstrating the spectrum of radiological findings, including CT, MRI, and scintigraphy and to illustrate that this entity can metastasize to bone.

Value of endocervical curettage in the staging of endometrial carcinoma.

The prognosis for women with endometrial cancer correlates with stage of disease. Spread to the cervix distinguishes Stage II from Stage I disease. To assess the accuracy of endocervical curettage (ECC) in predicting cervical involvement by endometrial adenocarcinoma, we examined and assigned to one of four groups the ECC from 147 women treated between 1980 and 1985. Ultimate determination of spread to the cervix was based on examination of subsequent hysterectomy specimens. In the hysterectomy specimen 19 of 147 women (13%) had cervical involvement demonstrated. Five women had tumor clearly within the endocervical tissue of the ECC (Group I), and three of these five (60%) had spread of tumor to the cervix in the hysterectomy specimen. At hysterectomy, 13 of 41 women (32%) with tumor present but not contiguous with endocervical tissue within the ECC (Group II) had cervical involvement. Of the 80 women without tumor in the curettage (Group III), one (1.2%) had cervical involvement by tumor at hysterectomy. Two of the 21 women (9.5%) with curettings considered insufficient for diagnosis (Group IV) had spread of adenocarcinoma to the cervix within the hysterectomy specimen. We also compared the results of ECC performed at our institution with those performed at referring hospitals and found a significant difference between them in ability to obtain definitive results. We conclude that (a) the absence of carcinoma in ECC is highly predictive of absence of cervical involvement by endometrial carcinoma; (b) ECC having tumor within endocervical tissue is a good predictor of cervical involvement by tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accuracy and reproducibility of the IDS rapID STR system for species identification of streptococci.

The RapID STR system (Innovative Diagnostic Systems, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.) was evaluated in the identification of 266 streptococci. Organisms included 60 beta-hemolytic streptococci, 71 group D strains (48 enterococci and 23 nonenterococci), 26 Streptococcus pneumoniae, and 109 viridans group strains. With concomitant optochin testing, as is currently recommended by the manufacturer for all alpha-hemolytic strains, the RapID STR system correctly identified 100% of beta-hemolytic strains, 87.3% of group D strains (93.7% of enterococci, 73.9% of nonenterococci), 88.5% of S. pneumoniae, and 72.5% of viridans strains. Without the use of optochin, the correct identification of S. pneumoniae and the viridans group was 26.9 and 52.3%, respectively. The RapID STR system incorrectly identified 3.0% of strains, including four group D streptococci, three pneumococci, and one viridans isolate. Reproducibility was excellent, with 95% of strains tested in triplicate yielding identical results on each of the three occasions. The RapID STR system represents a worthwhile advance in streptococcal species identification, especially for group D and viridans strains.

Neuropathology of oral-facial-digital syndromes.

A 3-month-old female infant with oral-facial-digital syndrome (OFD-I) was found to have extensive malformations of the brain and spinal cord. Our review of other case reports indicated that the most common central nervous system malformations found in OFD-I include cerebral epithelial (ependymal) cysts, agenesis of the corpus callosum, cerebral micropolygyria, and hypoplasia or dysplasia of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla. It is suggested that the individuals with OFD-I syndrome should be carefully studied clinically and pathologically for complex nervous system anomalies.