Epidemiological trends in the diagnosis of melanoma in a Southern European population: analysis of a large database from a tertiary referral center.

The aim of this study was to present the epidemiological, clinicopathological, and treatment characteristics of patients diagnosed and treated in a tertiary referral center and to analyze independent factors associated with these characteristics. In this cohort study, epidemiological, clinicopathological, and treatment characteristics of 1461 consecutive melanoma patients diagnosed and treated in a tertiary referral center in 1987-2015 were prospectively collected in a registry. All patients underwent resection of their melanoma lesion. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine independent correlations between characteristics. Internal validation of these correlations was performed by the bootstrap method. The median age of the patients was 53 years. Female sex had a slight predominance, whereas the majority were of Southern European origin. Superficial spreading melanoma was associated with younger age (P<0.001), whereas the nodular melanoma histological subtype was associated independently with indoor occupation (P=0.021) and diagnosis in the years 2004-2015 (P=0.002). Melanomas with Breslow thickness above 1.0 mm were associated with skin type III-IV (P=0.021) and diagnosis in the years 1987-2003 (P=0.046). In addition, histological ulceration was associated with older age (P=0.004) and diagnosis in the years 1987-2003 (P<0.001), whereas histological regression was associated independently with older age (P=0.001). This study presented independent associations between epidemiological, histopathological, and treatment characteristics, which might help to better understand melanoma disease and treatment practices in Southern Europe.

Pathologic findings in breast reduction specimens: detection of occult premalignant and cancerous lesions.

BACKGROUND: As reduction mammaplasty has become one of the most popular reconstructive procedures, there is an increasing number of reports regarding histopathologic findings in breast tissue yielded by the procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study evaluates histopathologic findings in breast tissue removed during reduction mammaplasty procedures performed during a 40-month period (2008-2011), and includes 300 patients of which 258 underwent bilateral breast reduction (group B) and 42 unilateral reduction for symmetry to the contralateral reconstructed breast (group U). RESULTS: Occult carcinomas were detected in 4 (1.55%) group B patients and 1 (2.38%) group U patient. Atypical hyperplasia and intraductal papillomas were identified in 22 (8.6%) and 5 (11.9%) patients, respectively. Benign pathologic changes including typical mild ductal hyperplasia, fibrocystic disease, adenosis, fibroadenoma, and lobular atrophy were identified in 174 (67.44%) group B and 26 (61.9%) group U patients. CONCLUSION: Breast carcinomas are rarely detected in breast tissue yielded by reduction mammaplasty procedures due to routinely performed preoperative assessment including clinical examination and mammograms. Pathologic examination of specimens provides the clinician with a conclusive diagnosis allowing for possible prompt further management.

Coexistence of tumor-induced osteomalacia and primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: To present an unusual case of coexisting tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) and primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). METHODS: We report the clinical features, imaging studies, and the results of laboratory investigations before and after surgical resection of both a soft-tissue tumor and a parathyroid adenoma. RESULTS: A 44-year-old woman was referred to the endocrinology department with a diagnosis of PHPT accompanied by unusually severe hypophosphatemia, despite having received treatment with cinacalcet. Debilitating muscle weakness and bone pain, severe phosphaturia and hypophosphatemia, inappropriately normal calcitriol, and elevated fibroblast growth factor-23 and intact parathyroid hormone levels raised the suspicion of coexisting TIO and PHPT. Imaging studies were negative, but histologic characteristics of a palpable subcutaneous mass from the patient's thigh revealed a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor. Complete remission after surgical removal of both the soft-tissue tumor and the parathyroid adenoma confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The coexistence of TIO and PHPT has not been described before and can cause life-threatening hypophosphatemia. Diagnosis and localization of the tumor is of paramount importance since surgery is the treatment of choice for both TIO and PHPT.

Somatostatin and dopamine receptor profile of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: an immunohistochemical study.

Somatostatin and its synthetic analogs act through five specific somatostatin receptors (sstr1-5), found on the cell membrane of various tumors, including endocrine ones. Dopamine--a known neurotransmitter--acts through five membranous dopamine receptors (D1R-D5R) which have recently been found to be expressed in endocrine tumors. We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of the sstrs and D2R in a large series of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). A total of 22 (28.94%) well-differentiated NETs (WDNETs), 6 (7.89%) WDNETs of uncertain biology, 26 (34.21%) well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas, and 22 (28.94%) poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas were studied. Overall, 76.31% of the tumors were positive for different types of sstrs with variable intensity of the membranous staining whereas 36.95% were positive for D2R alone. The sstr2A was the most frequently expressed, followed by sstr2B, sstr1, and sstr5. Co-expression of sstrs and D2R was seen in 88.23% of positive tumors. The high rates of sstr2A and sstr2B and in a lower extent of sstr5 expression are of great importance for more accurate imaging, staging and targeted therapy of the disease. The co-expression of sstrs and D2R in a significant number of the studied cases offers a potential therapeutic alternative for GEP-NETs.

Intestinal schistosomiasis caused by both Schistosoma intercalatum and Schistosoma mansoni.

A case is presented of intestinal schistosomiasis due to both Schistosoma intercalatum and Schistosoma mansoni in a 30-year-old man from Senegal with discussion of diagnostic approach, species identification and determination of the effect of treatment. The patient was admitted to hospital for investigation of renal failure, arterial hypertension and hypereosinophilia. Repeated stool examinations for ova and parasites were negative. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed no abnormalities. US of the urinary tract showed kidneys of borderline size with increased echogenicity. Cystoscopy and histopathological examination of bladder biopsy specimens were normal. Flexible colonoscopy revealed numerous nodular lesions in the rectosigmoid region and a few similar lesions in the transverse colon, the histopathological examination of which showed deposition of Schistosoma ova with granuloma formation. Examination of multiple crush biopsy specimens from the rectosigmoid region revealed numerous granulomas formed around Schistosoma eggs which had a terminal spine and were identified as S. intercalatum (longer than Schistosoma haematobium and with a slightly curved terminal spine) and a very few S. mansoni eggs. Crush biopsies from the lesions in the transverse colon showed only S. mansoni eggs. In conclusion, the examination of multiple crush biopsy specimens is a very sensitive and specific technique for species identification of Schistosoma, especially in mixed infections, and for defining the location and extent of the granulomas evoked by each species.

Chronic pyelonephritis presenting as a renal sinus tumor with retroperitoneal extension: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic pyelonephritis is associated with progressive renal scarring and occurs, most of the time, in patients with major anatomical anomalies, including urinary tract obstruction, calculi, renal dysplasia or vesicoureteric reflux. We report the computed tomography imaging findings of a patient with chronic pyelonephritis appearing as a renal sinus mass. To our knowledge, it is the first time that such a case has been published in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 68-year-old woman who underwent a computed tomography scan of the abdomen in the work-up for recently diagnosed hypertension. A non-enhancing left renal sinus mass was detected extending to the para-aortic space. The initial diagnosis was that of a tumor of the collecting system. Nephro-ureterectomy was performed and the pathology results revealed changes of chronic pyelonephritis. CONCLUSION: Chronic pyelonephritis presenting as a renal sinus mass is reported for the first time in the literature. This may lead to the conclusion that diagnostic ureteropyeloscopy and biopsy should be performed prior to radical surgery for possible upper tract urothelial tumors.

A new combined "interrupted-continuous" microvascular anastomotic technique. Experimental study and clinical application.

A new combined interrupted-continuous microvascular anastomotic technique is introduced, using four interrupted stay stitches and continuous suturing in between. Its efficacy is compared with the simple interrupted and continuous techniques. Microanastomoses were performed in the femoral artery and vein of rats. The patency, anastomosis time, and blood loss from the suture line of all anastomoses were recorded. Also, the sites of all anastomoses were harvested and histologically examined for lumen stenosis, media regeneration, and endothelial lining. Experimentation findings showed 100% patency rate in all groups. The combined and the continuous techniques were significantly faster and watertight compared with the simple interrupted. The only difference in pathology findings was the development of significant lumen stenosis in vein anastomoses performed with the continuous technique, compared with the other two techniques. The combined technique was clinically used in 16 free flap transfers and ensured 100% patency in all arterial and vein anastomoses, as well as survival of all flaps. In conclusion, the combined technique was found to be fast and easy to perform and ensured the same patency rate as the simple interrupted and continuous techniques. It also diminished the lumen stenosis effect of the continuous technique in vein anastomoses. Therefore, we suggest its use in both experimental studies and clinical cases.