A pilot study of estrogen receptor (ER) expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common pancreatic neoplasm with 5-year survival as low as 6%. It is therefore imperative to explore potential treatment avenues to improve survival in these groups of patients. Anti-estrogenic hormone therapy (AEHT) is well-tolerated and has been used in estrogen receptor (ER) subgroups of breast cancer. ER is a type of sex hormone receptor which have been reported to be expressed inconsistently in pancreatic cancer. This study aims to identify the presence of ER in PDAC specimens to guide potential use of AEHT in the management of unresectable PDAC. METHODS: This is a retrospective case control study of 10 patients (5 males, 5 females) who underwent pancreatic resections for PDAC from 2011 to 2012. Sections of the post-operative specimens were prepared and sent for ER staining. Pancreatic tissue specimens that were analysed included (I) ductal epithelial cells; (II) acinar cells; (III) islet cells; (IV) intralobular stromal cells; and (V) adenocarcinoma cells. RESULTS: Intralobular stromal cells were positively stained for ER in 7/10 (70%) of the cases, but were of weak intensity and patchy in distribution. Islet cells (<1%) stained for ER in 3/10 (30%) of the cases. Ductal epithelial cells, acinar cells and adenocarcinoma cells stained negative for ER in all of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study did not detect the presence of ER expression in PDAC. ER expression in intralobular stromal and islet cells which was previously unreported, were noted in our study. The role of AEHT in pancreatic cancer remains uncertain and does not appear to be of value at present.

Majority of flat epithelial atypia diagnosed on biopsy do not require surgical excision.

BACKGROUND: Borderline risk lesions such as flat epithelial atypia (FEA) are increasingly being diagnosed on biopsy. The need for surgery is being debated. In this study, we determined the frequency of histological upgrade following a diagnosis of FEA on biopsy and evaluated potential predictive factors. METHODS: Retrospective review was done of 194 women who underwent biopsy of indeterminate lesions (total 195 lesions) that were diagnosed as FEA. The review covered a 10-year period. Cases where malignancy was also present together with FEA within the same biopsy cores were excluded. RESULTS: Lesions diagnosed as FEA on biopsy were mostly asymptomatic and presented as microcalcifications on mammogram. Flat epithelial atypia was the only abnormality detected in one-third of cases, was associated with a benign or another borderline lesion in another third and was associated with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) in another third. Six patients (3.1%) were later found to have ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS) at surgery. The presence of ADH in the biopsy was the only predictor of histological upgrade to malignancy (P = 0.04, OR 11.24, 95% CI 1.10 - 115.10), and was present in 5 of the 6 patients. Surgery was advised in the last patient because of radiology-pathology discordance. Thirty-six lesions (18.5%) were not excised and no interval progression or malignancy was found on follow up. CONCLUSION: Histological upgrade to malignancy was uncommon in lesions found on biopsy to be FEA. Non-operative management of biopsy-proven FEA can be considered in the absence of ADH and radiology-pathology discordance.

Histopathologically proven siderotic cataract with disintegrated intralenticular foreign body.

Cataract formation may be an indicator of early siderosis and has been associated with intralenticular foreign bodies. We report a unique case of histopathologically proven lens siderosis in a young man with a preceding history of trauma but no signs of retained intraocular foreign body. He presented with a total white cataract with brownish deposits on anterior capsule and underwent cataract surgery for same followed by histopathological staining of anterior capsule for iron deposits. This case illustrates the importance of close monitoring of patients with history of trauma or previous penetrating injury to the eye, albeit no intraocular foreign body, as they might develop ocular siderosis at a later stage.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (143). Perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from chronic fistula-in-ano.

We report a case of mucinous adenocarcinoma arising in the perianal soft tissue in association with chronic fistula-in-ano in a 43-year-old man who had a relapse of perianal pain and bloody discharge after six years of defaulted follow-up. He underwent magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography imaging with correct identification of the disease entity on imaging. Mesh-like septations and an enhancing solid component with high diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and intermediate apparent diffusion coefficient signals were observed. He underwent abdominoperineal resection of the tumour but succumbed due to postoperative complications. Literature on the MR imaging features of this tumour remains scarce. We highlight the MR imaging features, including those seen on DWI, which were useful in making the correct diagnosis. Though uncommon, this would be an important condition to recognise since assessment of fistula-in-ano by MR imaging is considered to be the standard of care in current clinical practice. The clinical features of this entity are also briefly discussed.

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata presenting as omental torsion.

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata is usually asymptomatic or mimics widespread malignancy; acute presentation is rare. We describe a patient with right iliac fossa and lower abdominal pain. Two masses were detected via computed tomography, but at surgery, one of these implanted leiomyomas had undergone acute omental torsion. This case illustrates a rare complication of omental leiomyoma torsion clinically mimicking acute appendicitis.

Lobular neoplasia of the breast: 68 years on.

Lobular neoplasia, which encompasses both atypical lobular hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ, is traditionally considered a risk lesion that indicates an increased relative risk of the affected woman for subsequent breast cancer development. Recent molecular genetic information on this entity, however, has provided additional insights into the biology of this incompletely understood disease. Recognition of variants of lobular carcinoma in situ has also led to dilemmas in optimal management, and the advent of pre-operative core biopsies for radiologically detected lesions has created uncertainties regarding how best to handle incidentally discovered lobular neoplasia on these biopsy cores. This article provides an overview of existing concepts, diagnostic pitfalls, pathobiology and current management approaches for this enigmatic lesion.

Flat epithelial atypia: concepts and controversies of an intraductal lesion of the breast.

Image-guided biopsies of the breast play an integral role in the diagnostic evaluation of mammographically detected calcifications. Apart from cancer, on these biopsies we are increasingly recognising a hitherto poorly categorised group of benign to atypical entities collectively known as columnar cell lesions. A variant of this theme is flat epithelial atypia, a columnar lesion characterised by mildly atypical epithelial cells. There is emerging evidence to suggest that flat epithelial atypia may represent a precursor of or the earliest morphologically recognisable form of low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ. In addition, these lesions are often associated with tubular carcinomas and lobular neoplasia. This article reviews the current concepts and controversies surrounding flat epithelial atypia, with special emphasis on the biology, histological and clinical features. Potential diagnostic challenges faced by pathologists in the evaluation of these atypical columnar lesions are also discussed.