ABSTRACT
Excisional or incisional biopsies of melanoma are used to determine depth of tumor invasion and to plan subsequent treatment. Accurate determination of depth of melanoma invasion is critical for treatment decisions and prognosis. Incisional or punch biopsies can be perilous for histopathologic determination of invasion, and both over- and underestimation of invasion can occur when using incisional methods. Likewise, histologic factors can lead to over- and underestimation of invasion. Prognosis and treatment of melanoma are primarily determined by depth of tumor invasion. We discuss several scenarios that can lead to over- and underestimation of depth of invasion in incisional biopsy specimens. We therefore discourage incisional or punch biopsies of suspected melanoma and recommend that depth of invasion not be reported on these types of specimens.
Subject(s)
Biopsy, Needle/methods , Melanoma/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Diagnostic Errors , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Calcinosis/etiology , Chondromatosis, Synovial/diagnosis , Shoulder/pathology , Adult , Female , HumansABSTRACT
An unusual case of a cutaneous collision tumor comprised of a squamous cell carcinoma and an apocrine carcinoma occurring in the auricle of an 82-year-old man is presented. Microscopic study confirmed 2 distinct tumors: a squamous cell carcinoma arising in the epidermis and an adjacent apocrine carcinoma. We discuss the diagnostic criteria and review pertinent recent literature. To our knowledge, this is the first English language report of such a collision tumor.
Subject(s)
Apocrine Glands , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Ear Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/pathology , Sweat Gland Neoplasms/pathology , Aged , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery , Ear Neoplasms/surgery , Humans , Male , Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/surgery , Sweat Gland Neoplasms/surgeryABSTRACT
Workup of a patient with lung cancer involves adrenal imaging for evaluation of metastatic disease. When nodules are detected, biopsy is often attempted to differentiate a primary neoplasm from metastatic carcinoma or other lesions, such as granuloma. CT-guided biopsy of the deep seated adrenal glands is technically difficult and material is often scanty. We present a case and review histologic features enabling the diagnosis of adrenal cortical carcinoma.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/secondary , Carcinoma, Adenosquamous/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/pathology , Aged , Biopsy , Carcinoma, Adenosquamous/diagnosis , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Male , Neoplasm MetastasisABSTRACT
Prostatic epithelial polyps, also known as adenomatous polyps or papillary adenomas with prostatic type epithelium, are uncommon lesions. These lesions typically involve the adult male urethra, trigone, or bladder dome. Diagnosis is usually made by biopsy. Presence of clusters of benign columnar cells in urine cytologic material can suggest the presence of such polyps and must be included in the differential diagnosis.
