Fatal coronary ectasia: An autopsy case report and review of literature.

Coronary ectasia is a rare vessel defect that represents a pathological and incidental finding in routine coronary angiography performed for other coronary syndromes. This defect exposes to the risk of intra-coronary thrombosis by blood stasis due to the turbulent blood flow in those dilated areas that can lead to sudden death. We report an autopsy case of a male subject suddenly deceased. A medico-legal autopsy concluded an ischemic heart failure due to a vascular thrombosis by a blood clot in a coronary ectasia. Our case report aimed to discuss the mechanisms of sudden death attributed to coronary artery ectasia.

ALK protein expression in pulmonary adenocarcinoma of Tunisian patients.

BACKGROUND: It is now necessary to determine ALK status in order to use targeted therapy. AIM: herein, we assess immunohistochemical profile of ALK protein in a series of Tunisian patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ALK protein expression was studied applying the D5F3 antibody with a fully automated Ventana CDx technique on a series of 19 patients. RESULTS: Positive ALK expression was found in one case (5.2%) corresponding to a papillary adenocarcinoma which showed a strong granular and homogenous cytoplasmic staining. The patient was a 30-years-old woman. CONCLUSION: The frequency of positive ALK expression based on immunohistochemistry in our series was similar to that reported in the world literature.

Assessment of the role of histopathology and DNA image analysis in the diagnosis of molar and non-molar abortion: a study of 89 cases in the center of Tunisia.

This study retrospectively evaluated the histopathological criteria commonly used in the literature on the diagnosis of hydatidiform mole, in correlation with the diagnosis rendered previously. The molar and non-molar cases seen in the first-trimester of pregnancy were separately reviewed by two pathologists. The correlation between the consensual histological diagnosis and the ploidy status was then evaluated. We retrospectively studied 89 specimens of abortus conception, including 35 complete hydatidiform moles (CHM), 12 partial hydatidiform moles (PHM), and 42 hydropic abortions (HA). The final histopathological diagnosis was compared with the results of DNA content detected by imaging analyzer (Samba 200), studying all cases of molar pregnancy and 4 cases of HA (initially diagnosed as molar pregnancies). In the consensus histological diagnosis, the cases were reclassified as follows: 30 CHM (initial diagnosis (ID): 27 CHM and 3 PHM), 12 PHM (ID: 6 PHM and 6 CHM), and one case with a persistent problem in differentiating PHM from HA and 46 HA (ID: 42 HA, 2 CHM, and 2 PHM). An agreement between the two pathologists was reached in 77 cases (K=0.72, 0.52, and 0.9, respectively, for CHM, PHM, and HA). The ploidy study demonstrated diploidy in 56.6% (17/30) of CHM and triploidy in 58.3% (7/12) of PHM. In the 4 cases of HA studied, 3 were diploid and 1 case was aneuploid. Our study demonstrated that several histopathological criteria could be used for the distinction between PHM, CHM, and HA. However, the study of DNA cannot be the technique of choice to distinguish between these entities. Some cases remain problematic since the morphological criteria are not easily reproducible. New sensitive techniques might resolve these dilemmas.

[Prognostic value of the immunohistochemical expression of: Ki67, p53, PCNA and Bcl2 in the superficial tumors of the bladder]. / Valeur pronostique de l'expression immunohistochimique de: Ki67, p53, PCNA et Bcl2 dans les tumeurs superficielles de la vessie.

AIM: To study a serie of superficial tumors of the bladder and to assess the prognostic significance of p53, Ki67, PCNA and bcl2 in these tumors. METHODS: We studied 59 bladder tumors: 43 pTa and 16 pT1. All Patients had cystoscopy 3 months after the resection and tumors that did not recur had a minimum follow up of 5 years. RESULTS: Age more than 65 years (p = 0,001), multifocality (p=0,022) and tumoral size > or = 3 cm (p = 0,022) were correlated with the recurrence. The expression of p53 was correlated with the recurrence in the year following the tumoral resection (p = 0,035). That of of Ki67 was correlated with the histological grade (p = 0,03) and stage (p=0,002). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest to practise regular endoscopic controls during the first year following the resection of the primitive tumor if it expresses p53. The immunohistochemical expression of Ki67 being correlated with the grade, this marker could help to better classify the tumors of intermediate grade.

[Pelvic ganglioneuroma. Report of a case]. / Le ganglioneurome pelvien. A propos d'une observation.

Ganglioneuroma is a rare benign tumor. It is the most mature of neurogenic tumors. We report a case of a pelvic ganglioneuroma diagnosed in 24-year-old pregnant woman who presented with an urinary infection. Echographic examination suggested an ovarian mass. At surgical operation, the tumor was close to the sacrum. A total resection of the tumor was performed. Pathological examination proved it as a ganglioneuroma. Sixteen months later, the patient is free from disease.

[Prostatic stromal sarcoma]. / Sarcome stromal de la prostate.

Prostatic sarcoma is a very rare tumour arising from the specialized stroma of the prostatic parenchyma. The clinical and histological features and biological behaviour of this entity are poorly elucidated at the present time. The authors report a case of prostatic stromal sarcoma in a 47-year-old man presenting with complete bladder retention. The initial diagnosis was that of benign prostatic hyperplasia and the patient was treated by suprapubic prostatectomy with no other complementary treatment. Histological examination demonstrated primary neuroectodermal tumour (PNET). The patient was subsequently lost to follow-up and was only reviewed 22 months later in a context of haematuria. Digital rectal examination revealed a large, soft prostate with an estimated weight of 83 grams on ultrasound. Transurethral resection was performed and histological examination of the resection material and review of the slides of the primary tumour showed identical microscopic and immunohistochemical features, corresponding to stromal sarcoma. The patient was treated by local and regional radiotherapy (60 Grays). With a follow-up of 36 months, he presents urinary symptoms with no signs of local extension or metastasis.

[Prognostic value of clinicopathologic factors in superficial bladder tumors: a retrospective analysis]. / Valeur pronostique des facteurs clinicopathologiques dans les tumeurs superficielles de la vessie: Etude rétrospective à propos de 59 cas.

OBJECTIVE: To study, through a series of superficial bladder tumors, the prognostic factors of recurrence and tumoral progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of a series of 59 urothelial tumors of the bladder at stage pTa or pT1. The following parameters were considered: age, sex, treatment, stage and grade. The chi square test was used in search of a correlation between the different parameters and the course (recurrence and progress) of the disease. A multivariate analysis was undertaken by integrating factors correlated with the course. RESULTS: Thirty two tumors (54 %) had recured versus 27 (46%) without recurrence. Eight tumors (25 %) progressed in grade and 4 (12,5 %) had become infiltrative. Age beyond 65 years, tumoral size > 3 cm and multifocality were predictive factors of recurrence with a relative risks of 2,36, 3,28 and 3,88 respectively. In a multivariate analysis, these factors remained significant with adjusted relatif risks respectively of 1,36, 1,6 and 1,7.