TP53 deletions but not trisomy 12 are adverse in B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders.

Abnormalities of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene at 17p13.1 are prognostically adverse in a variety of hematolymphoid malignancies. The present study utilized interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) to detect TP53 deletions and trisomy 12 in 101 clinical specimens from 98 patients with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (B-LPDs). Twelve patients had TP53 deletions (group A), 23 had trisomy 12 (group B), and 63 had neither (group C). The groups did not significantly differ in age, duration of disease, absolute lymphocyte count, or percentage with an immunophenotype or cytology atypical for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The clinical stage of disease and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level were higher in group A, with less response to therapy. After a median follow-up of 19 months, seven of the patients in group A had died of disease (another patient subsequently has had large cell transformation) compared with none in group B and nine in group C. Multivariate analysis found the stage of disease and TP53 deletions as the only parameters independently associated with shortened survival (P < 0.001). Thirty-nine patients had conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA) which was complexly abnormal in 11 patients; 6 of whom died of disease. There was a trend for complex cytogenetics to be seen more frequently in group A, often with 17p involvement. For most laboratories, CCA may be the preferable initial study to identify prognostically different subgroups of B-LPDs. However, as more probes and clinical outcome data become available, I-FISH will likely play an increasingly important ancillary role.

A multicenter investigation with D-FISH BCR/ABL1 probes.

Twenty-eight laboratories evaluated a new fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) strategy for chronic myeloid leukemia. In a three-part study, bcr/abl1 D-FISH probes were used to study bone marrow specimens. First, laboratories familiarized themselves with the strategy by applying it to known normal and abnormal specimens. Then, collectively the laboratories studied 20 normal and 20 abnormal specimens blindly and measured workload. Finally, each laboratory and two experts studied six serial dilutions with 98-0% abnormal nuclei. Using the reported normal cutoff of < 1% abnormal nuclei, participants reported no false-negative cases and 15 false-positive cases (1-6.6% abnormal nuclei). Results provided by participants for serial dilutions approximated the expected percentages of abnormal nuclei, but those from the experts exhibited greater precision. The clinical sensitivity, precision, nomenclature, workload, recommendations for training, and quality assurance in methods using D-FISH in clinical practice are discussed.

[Chronic invasive fibrous thyroiditis (Riedel struma). Case report with special reference to preoperative diagnosis]. / Chronische invasiv-fibröse Thyreoiditis (Riedel-Struma). Fallbericht mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der präoperativen Diagnostik.

Chronic invasive fibrous thyroiditis (Riedel's struma) is a very rare disease of unknown aetiology mainly affecting middle-aged or old female patients. An aggressive fibrosis partly or totally replaces normal thyroid gland tissue. The gland becomes stony hard, is not displaceable and, characteristically, the fibrous tissue penetrates the capsule and infiltrates into surrounding structures such as muscles, vessels, nerves and even the trachea. Riedel's struma is often associated with fibrotic processes in other parts of the body. The preoperative differential diagnosis includes malignant tumours and fibrosing stages of Hashimoto's disease, as well as subacute thyroiditis de Quervain. This paper reports the case of a 60-year-old woman suffering from Riedel's struma and discusses differential diagnostic aspects with regard to preoperative investigation and pathohistology.

[Thyroiditis from the surgical viewpoint]. / Die Thyreoiditis aus chirurgischer Sicht.

1296 Patients were treated for thyroid disorders in the Surgical Clinic of the University of Graz between 1975 and 1981. In 3.5% thyroiditis was diagnosed, 75% struma lymphomatosa Hashimoto and 25% subacute thyroiditis de Quervain. 75% of all cases were classified only by histological postoperative examination. Suspected malignancy leads in most cases to operative treatment, but there are also indications because of the inflammatory lesion. We do not believe that thyroiditis should be treated surgically as thyroid carcinoma, neither provides the low incidence between carcinoma and thyroid inflammation any radicality for preventing malignant disorders.

[A prospective study on the occurrence of postoperative thrombosis of leg-veins and the possible influence of aescin in its prevention (author's transl)]. / Prospektive Untersuchung der Häufigkeit postoperativer Beinvenenthrombosen und ihre medikamentöse Beeinflussung durch Aescin

Based on the frequency of subclinical, postoperative thrombosis which we detected using radio-iodine-tagged fibrinogen (125I-fibrinogen) in 2 comparable test groups of 100 female patients each, we were able to compare the effectiveness of Aescin (Reparil) to the untreated group. Whereas only 16 patients in the Reparil group were thrombose-positive we found 27 such cases in the control group. The analysis of these data shows Reparil to be of distinct advantage when compared to the untreated group.