Properties of Pleural Mesothelial Cells in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia

Background@#Profibrotic properties of pleural mesothelial cells may play an important role in the fibrosis activity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of pleural mesothelial cell markers in IPF and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), with an assumption that increased expression implies increase in fibrosis. @*Methods@#Twenty IPF lung samples were stained by immunohistochemistry for the pleural mesothelial cell markers: leucine rich repeat neuronal 4 (LRRN4), uroplakin 3B, CCchemokine ligand 18, and laminin-5. Nine COP lung samples were used as controls. A semiquantitative analysis was performed to compare markers expression in IPF and COP. @*Results@#LRRN4 expression was found in epithelial lining cells along the honeycombing and fibroblastic foci in IPF, but not in the fibrotic interstitial lesion and airspace filling fibrous tufts in COP. We found a significant decrease in baseline forced vital capacity when LRRN4 expression was increased in honeycombing epithelial cells and fibroblastic foci. @*Conclusion@#LRRN4 expression patterns in IPF are distinct from those in COP. Our findings suggest that mesothelial cell profibrotic property may be an important player in IPF pathogenesis and may be a clue in the irreversibility of fibrosis in IPF.

Pathological interpretation of connective tissue disease-associated lung diseases / 영남의대학술지

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) can affect all compartments of the lungs, including airways, alveoli, interstitium, vessels, and pleura. CTD-associated lung diseases (CTD-LDs) may present as diffuse lung disease or as focal lesions, and there is significant heterogeneity between the individual CTDs in their clinical and pathological manifestations. CTD-LDs may presage the clinical diagnosis a primary CTD, or it may develop in the context of an established CTD diagnosis. CTD-LDs reveal acute, chronic or mixed pattern of lung and pleural manifestations. Histopathological findings of diverse morphological changes can be present in CTD-LDs airway lesions (chronic bronchitis/bronchiolitis, follicular bronchiolitis, etc.), interstitial lung diseases (nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis, usual interstitial pneumonia, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, and organizing pneumonia), pleural changes (acute fibrinous or chronic fibrous pleuritis), and vascular changes (vasculitis, capillaritis, pulmonary hemorrhage, etc.). CTD patients can be exposed to various infectious diseases when taking immunosuppressive drugs. Histopathological patterns of CTD-LDs are generally nonspecific, and other diseases that can cause similar lesions in the lungs must be considered before the diagnosis of CTD-LDs. A multidisciplinary team involving pathologists, clinicians, and radiologists can adequately make a proper diagnosis of CTD-LDs.

Pathological interpretation of connective tissue disease-associated lung diseases / 영남의대학술지

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) can affect all compartments of the lungs, including airways, alveoli, interstitium, vessels, and pleura. CTD-associated lung diseases (CTD-LDs) may present as diffuse lung disease or as focal lesions, and there is significant heterogeneity between the individual CTDs in their clinical and pathological manifestations. CTD-LDs may presage the clinical diagnosis a primary CTD, or it may develop in the context of an established CTD diagnosis. CTD-LDs reveal acute, chronic or mixed pattern of lung and pleural manifestations. Histopathological findings of diverse morphological changes can be present in CTD-LDs airway lesions (chronic bronchitis/bronchiolitis, follicular bronchiolitis, etc.), interstitial lung diseases (nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis, usual interstitial pneumonia, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, and organizing pneumonia), pleural changes (acute fibrinous or chronic fibrous pleuritis), and vascular changes (vasculitis, capillaritis, pulmonary hemorrhage, etc.). CTD patients can be exposed to various infectious diseases when taking immunosuppressive drugs. Histopathological patterns of CTD-LDs are generally nonspecific, and other diseases that can cause similar lesions in the lungs must be considered before the diagnosis of CTD-LDs. A multidisciplinary team involving pathologists, clinicians, and radiologists can adequately make a proper diagnosis of CTD-LDs.

Endometrial adenocarcinoma in a 13-year-old girl

Endometrial cancer is the third most common gynecologic cancer in the Korea and occurs mainly in menopausal women. Although it can develop in young premenopausal women cancer as well, an attack in the adolescent girl is very rare. A 13-year-old girl visited gynecology department with the complaint of abnormal uterine bleeding. An endometrial biopsy revealed FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) grade II endometrial adenocarcinoma. In the treatment of endometrial cancer, conservative management should be considered if the patient is nulliparous or wants the fertility preservation. Therefore, we decided to perform a hormonal therapy and a follow-up endometrial biopsy after progestin administration for eight months revealed no residual tumor. We report a case of endometrial cancer occurred in a 13-year-old girl with a brief review of the literature.

Guideline Recommendations for Testing of ALK Gene Rearrangement in Lung Cancer: A Proposal of the Korean Cardiopulmonary Pathology Study Group

Rearrangement of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene is the best predictor of response to crizotinib, an ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor. However, the prevalence of the ALK fusion is low, so accurate patient identification is crucial for successful treatment using ALK inhibitors. Furthermore, most patients with lung cancer present with advanced-stage disease at the time of diagnosis, so it is important for pathologists to detect ALK-rearranged patients while effectively maximizing small biopsy or cytology specimens. In this review, we propose a guideline recommendation for ALK testing approved by the Cardiopulmonary Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists.

Possible Existence of Melanocytes or Melanoblasts in Human Sebaceous Glands

BACKGROUND: Melanocytes are present in both basal epidermis and hair follicles. Melanocyte stem cells have been found in hair follicle bulge. During embryogenesis, the outer cells of the bulge differentiate into the sebaceous gland (SG) and proliferate. OBJECTIVE: To identify and determine the distribution and morphological characteristics of melanocytes in human SGs. METHODS: A total of 171 biopsy specimens of face and scalp were studied. Of these specimens, 103 samples contained SGs. We conducted a retrospective review of slides stained with H&E, F-M, anti-S100, anti-c-kit, anti-HMB-45, anti-CD1a, anti-MITF, and anti-tyrosinase. The presence and distribution of melanocytes in human SGs was also evaluated by electron microscopy. In addition, melanocytes were isolated from SGs for primary culture. RESULTS: S-100-positive cells were observed mainly at the periphery of SGs in 34 of 54 specimens. We did not find F-M-positive and HMB-45-positive cells in SGs. CD1a-positve cells were identified in two specimens. We also found c-kit-, MITF-, and tyrosinase-positive cells in SGs. Electron micrograph showed the presence of melanocytes in the suprabasal portion of SGs. These melanocytes showed fewer melanin-containing granules than the melanocytes of basal epidermis. However, the individually distributed melanosomes in suprabasal melanocytes were larger than those in epidermal melanocytes. Primary culture of melanocytes derived from SGs showed morphologically homogeneous, slender cell bodies with few dendrites. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the presence of non-melanogenic melanocytes and Langerhans cells in human SGs. In addition, the characteristics of the melanocytes in SGs were found to be different from those of the epidermal melanocytes.

Prognostic Significance of Claudin 4 in Completely Resected Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

BACKGROUND: The development of diagnostic techniques and an awareness of health examinations can bring about an early diagnosis of lung cancer. However, appropriate postoperative management and adjuvant chemotherapy remain under debate in postoperative therapeutic strategy. The present study was conducted to assess the clinicopathologic factors that influence recurrence and prognosis after complete resection of lung cancer. METHODS: The present study analyzed 62 patients with lung cancer who underwent complete resection of diagnosed adenocarcinoma between 1994 and 2007. In addition to conventional factors, which include staging factor and histological evaluation, the present study also performed univariate and multivariate analyses to consider claudin, a cell adhesion molecule, as a prognostic factor by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: There was no correlation between conventional factors, including lymphatic and vascular invasion, and recurrence. However, there was a significant correlation between high expression of claudin 4 and cancer recurrence. In particular, there was a correlation between high expressions of claudin 1, 4, and 5 and a reduction of disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: Increased expressions of claudin 4 were negative prognostic factors in adenocarcinoma of the lung and thus could be used to identify high-risk patients for adjuvant chemotherapy, even if they had early-stage lung cancer. The present findings collectively suggest that consideration of claudin as a prognostic factor in the active postoperative treatment in patients at high risk will lead to better therapeutic outcomes with fewer side effects.

Two Cases of Hypophosphatemic Osteomalacia After Long-term Low Dose Adefovir Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis B and Literature Review

Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) is a nucleotide used as long-term therapy of chronic hepatitis B. Many published reports have shown that long-term high-dose therapy with adefovir can be associated with proximal renal tubular dysfunction resulting in significant hypophosphatemia, renal insufficiency and osteomalacia. We have encountered two patients who developed evidence of hypophosphatemic osteomalacia while on long-term low-dose adefovir therapy for chronic hepatitis B. We report on its clinical features and its potential resolution with cessation of the drug and supplementation with phosphate. We also reviewed the other published cases associated with hypophosphatemic osteomalacia after low-dose adefovir therapy. The symptoms and the hypophosphatemia improved after cessation of the drug and supplementation with phosphate in most cases. Patients taking adefovir long-term should receive regular investigation of the phosphate level and renal function.

Isolated Cervical Lymph Node Sarcoidosis Presenting in an Asymptomatic Neck Mass: A Case Report / 결핵및호흡기질환

Sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. The presentation of sarcoidal granuloma in neck nodes without typical manifestations of systemic sarcoidosis is difficult to diagnose. We describe the case of a 37-year-old woman with an increasing mass on the right side of neck. The excisional biopsy from the neck mass showed noncaseating epithelioid cell granuloma of the lymph nodes. No evidence of mycobacterial or fungal infection was noted. Thoracic evaluations did not show enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes or parenchymal abnormalities. Immunohistochemistry showed abundant expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the granuloma. However, transforming growth factor-beta was not expressed, although interleukin-1beta was focally expressed. These immunohistochemical findings supported characterization of the granuloma and the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis can present with cervical lymph node enlargement without mediastinal or lung abnormality. Immunohistochemistry may support the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and characterization of granuloma.

No Detection of Simian Virus 40 in Malignant Mesothelioma in Korea

BACKGROUND: Simian virus 40 (SV40), a polyomavirus, was discovered as a contaminant of a human polio vaccine in the 1960s. It is known that malignant mesothelioma (MM) is associated with SV40, and that the virus works as a cofactor to the carcinogenetic effects of asbestos. However, the reports about the correlation between SV40 and MM have not been consistent. The purpose of this study is to identify SV40 in MM tissue in Korea through detection of SV40 protein and DNA. METHODS: We analyzed 62 cases of available paraffin-blocks enrolled through the Korean Malignant Mesothelioma Surveillance System and performed immunohistochemistry for SV40 protein and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SV40 DNA. RESULTS: Of 62 total cases, 40 had disease involving the pleura (64.5%), and 29 (46.8%) were found to be of the epithelioid subtype. Immunostaining demonstrated that all examined tissues were negative for SV40 protein. Sufficient DNA was extracted for real-time PCR analysis from 36 cases. Quantitative PCR of these samples showed no increase in SV40 transcript compared to the negative controls. CONCLUSIONS: SV40 is not associated with the development of MM in Korea.

Zotarolimus-eluting stent-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis

No abstract available.

A Case of Synchronous Lung Adenocarcinoma and Extranodal Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Type / 결핵및호흡기질환

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type (extranodal MZL) is a distinct subgroup of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Pulmonary extranodal MZL is a rare entity and accounts for less than 0.5% of primary pulmonary malignancies. Only a few cases of simultaneous occurrence of lung cancer and pulmonary extranodal MZL have been reported. A 60-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a pulmonary nodule. She was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma by percutaneous needle biopsy. The protrusions into the left main bronchus were found by accident while performing bronchoscopy during lung cancer evaluation. The bronchial lesions were diagnosed as extranodal MZL. Although the patient underwent surgical resection for the lung adenocarcinoma, the pulmonary extranodal MZL was left untreated; it was monitored during follow-up visits. To our knowledge, this is the first report of synchronous lung adenocarcinoma and primary extranodal MZL of the main bronchus.

A Case of Synchronous Lung Adenocarcinoma and Extranodal Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Type / 결핵및호흡기질환

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type (extranodal MZL) is a distinct subgroup of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Pulmonary extranodal MZL is a rare entity and accounts for less than 0.5% of primary pulmonary malignancies. Only a few cases of simultaneous occurrence of lung cancer and pulmonary extranodal MZL have been reported. A 60-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a pulmonary nodule. She was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma by percutaneous needle biopsy. The protrusions into the left main bronchus were found by accident while performing bronchoscopy during lung cancer evaluation. The bronchial lesions were diagnosed as extranodal MZL. Although the patient underwent surgical resection for the lung adenocarcinoma, the pulmonary extranodal MZL was left untreated; it was monitored during follow-up visits. To our knowledge, this is the first report of synchronous lung adenocarcinoma and primary extranodal MZL of the main bronchus.

A Soft Tissue Perineurioma and a Hybrid Tumor of Perineurioma and Schwannoma

Perineuriomas are composed of differentiated perineurial cells. Perineuriomas have been recently recognized by the immunoreactivity for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). Microscopically, perineuriomas show proliferation of spindle cells with wavy nuclei and delicate elongated bipolar cytoplasmic processes. The tumor cells are usually negative for the S-100 protein. Ultrastructurally, perineurial cells reveal slender, nontapered processes containing pinocytic vesicles and discontinuous basal lamina. Interestingly, hybrid tumors of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) have been recently reported by using immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigations. Herein, we report a case of soft tissue perineurioma arising in the skin of a 56-year-old female; another case of a hybrid tumor of perineurioma and schwannoma in the posterior mediastinum occurred in a 53-year-old male, which is the first case of the hybrid PNST tumor reported in Korea.

Evaluation of Bronchiolar and Alveolar Cell Injuries Induced by Short- and Long-term Exposure to Sidestream Smoke

BACKGROUND: We investigated effects of short- and long-term exposure to sidestream smoke on the bronchiolar and alveolar cells in Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into five experimental groups: groups 1, 2, and 3 (1-month exposure to 3, 5, and 7 cigarettes a day, respectively), groups 4 and 5 (3- and 6 month exposure to five cigarettes a day, respectively). We examined the morphologic changes, the expressions of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), tumor growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), interlekin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, Ki-67, and cytokeratin 14 and in situ apoptosis in the bronchiolar and alveolar cells on light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopic (EM) terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. RESULTS: LM showed the respiratory bronchiolar dilatation and alveolar wall collapse. In groups 3, 4, and 5, EM showed loss of the cilia and Clara cells with irregular size, more prominent alveolar wall collapse and dilation of alveolar duct than those of groups 1 and 2. Bronchiolar and alveolar cells showed increased expressions of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta in groups 4 and 5. LM and EM TUNEL stains showed increased apoptosis in groups 3, 4, and 5. CONCLUSIONS: Sidestream smoke causes a bronchiolar and alveolar cell injury and the severity correlates strongly the volume and duration of exposure to sidestream smoke.

A Case of Intimal Sarcoma Arising in the Left Common Iliac Artery

Primary tumors of the great vessels are rare. Most encountered cases are sarcomas which most commonly develop in the aorta, pulmonary artery, and inferior vena cava. We experienced an intimal sarcoma arising in the left common iliac artery in a 68-year-old male, who suffered from claudication in his left lower extremity for a year and was diagnosed as arteriosclerosis obliterans, clinically. Bypass surgery was performed on the obstructive lesion. Grossly, the vascular lumen was filled with dark hemorrhagic materials. Microscopically, the lesion showed proliferation of anaplastic spindle cells with a marked nuclear atypia, arranged haphazardly. There were numerous mitotic figures. Foci of cholesterol clefts were also found in the intima. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and cytokeratin in certain areas. Stains for CD34, desmin, myosin heavy chain, caldesmon, and S-100 protein were negative. A pathologic diagnosis was made as intimal sarcoma with myofibroblastic differentiation.

A Case of Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Lung / 결핵및호흡기질환

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the lung is a very rare tumor. Originally described in the nasopharynx as lymphoepithelioma, this carcinoma has also been found in the stomach, esophagus, thymus, cervix, urinary bladder, skin, and salivary glands. Histologically, it is an undifferentiated carcinoma that has a syncytial appearance with tumor cells and is infiltrated by numerous lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells. LELC of the lung occurs more commonly in Asians, particularly Chinese. Many studies have reported the association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and LELC of the lung in Asian patients. A 45-year-old man had a solitary pulmonary nodule on a routine chest X-ray examination. As a malignant tumor was suspected, surgical resection was performed to establish the correct diagnosis. The pathology of the excised tumor demonstrated LELC of the lung. This is the first report of LELC of the lung in Korea.

Comparative Study of Relative Value for Diagnostic Procedure of Surgical Pathology in Korea and United States

BACKGROUND: Pathologic examination is a very important diagnostic procedure. It is the most important method to decide the therapeutic plan and to predict the prognosis of cancer patients. The Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) is a schema used to determine how much money medical providers should be paid. In Korea, a modified RBRVS has been used since the year 2000. METHODS: We researched the July 2010 RBRVS for Korea and the US medicare. The individual Relative Evaluation Index (REI) is defined as the ratio of an individual RBRVS to the mean RBRVS. The REIs of pathologic examination in Korea and America were compared. RESULTS: For an endoscopic biopsy specimen, the pathologic examination REI in Korea was 55.4% of the American REI. The Korean REI of a prostate biopsy (8 sites) was only 5.7% of the American REI. The Korean REI was 28.1% of the American REI for the hysterectomy for uterine myoma, and the Korean REI was 67.6% of the American REI for resection of stomach or colon cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The RBRVS of pathologic examination in Korea remains undervalued. Considering the importance of pathologic examination in medicine, the RBRVS in Korea should be increased.

The Effect of Hyaluronan Treatment in Endotoxemic Rats / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronan (HA) is an unbranched glycosaminoglycan. It has been proposed that HA acts as a vehicle for cytokines due to the strong negative charge on its surface. We hypothesized that HA would function like a cytokine scavenger and reduce the inflammatory signaling cascade and this would lead to improved survival in rats suffering with endotoxemia. METHODS: Endotoxin (Salmonella, 10 mg/kg) or an equal amount of 0.9% NaCl (NS) was injected into the jugular vein of rats. HA (1,600 kDa, 0.35%) or NS was given at 0.1 mL/kg/h for 3 hours. HA or NS infusion was started at 4 hour after endotoxin injection. The rats were divided into the control and HA groups (n=16 for each group). The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was monitored during HA or normal saline infusion. Survival was assessed every 12 hours for 3 days throughout the experiment. RESULTS: The survival rate (%) of the rats treated with HA was higher (60%) than that of the controls (20%) when HA was infused 4 hours after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of the animals surviving HA or NS infusion 4 hours after LPS showed that the total cell counts and number of neutrophils were significantly (p<0.01) reduced in the HA treated groups compared with that of the controls (total cell count, 9.2x10(4)/mL vs. 61x10(4)/mL; neutrophils, 21x10(4)/mL vs. 0.2x10(4)/mL, respectively). There was no significant MAP difference between the HA or control groups either with or without endotoxin. CONCLUSION: Infusion of hyaluronan (1,600 kDa) reduced the BAL total cell count and the number of neutrophils and it improved the survival rate of the endotoxemic rats.

Expression of MUC1 and MUC4 and Its Prognostic Significance in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Mucin (MUC)1 and MUC4 (MUC1, 4) are high molecular weight glycoproteins expressed in normal and malignant epithelial cells, and these expressions are related to the prognosis of some carcinomas. In non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), the relationship between MUC1, 4 expressions and their prognostic significance is not well known. We evaluated these relationships in a series of NSCLC: 1) between MUC1, 4 expression levels and histologic subtypes, and 2) between high expression of MUC1, 4 and their prognostic significance. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical staining for MUC1, 4 in paraffin-embedded tissues from 165 NSCLC cases arranged in a tissue microarray. RESULTS: We found a significant correlation between MUC1, 4 expressions and NSCLC histologic subtypes (p < 0.05). High MUC1 expression was characteristic of adenocarcinoma. Low MUC1, 4 expressions were characteristic of squamous cell carcinoma. In adenocarcinoma, we found significant association between diffuse MUC1 expression and short patient survival (p = 0.005). In squamous cell carcinoma, diffuse MUC4 expression showed long patient survival trend (p = 0.128). CONCLUSIONS: MUC1, 4 expression levels were significantly correlated with NSCLC histologic subtypes. Diffuse MUC1 expression was significantly associated with shortened survival in NSCLC patients, especially in adenocarcinoma.