ABSTRACT
AIMS: To assess the immunophenotypic changes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in craniopharyngioma, especially at the tumour invasive front, and to correlate the findings with clinicopathological features and patient outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-two craniopharyngiomas were investigated for the presence of EMT markers (vimentin, E-cadherin and ß-catenin) by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The relationships between expression of these markers and various clinicopathological indicators and clinical outcomes of the tumours were analysed. There were statistically significant differences in the expression of vimentin and E-cadherin-ß-catenin between adamantinomatous and papillary variants. The expression of vimentin and E-cadherin (but not that of ß-catenin) in whole tumour sections was associated with tumour recurrence, and with postoperative weight and hypothalamic disturbances; the expression of vimentin and E-cadherin-ß-catenin at the tumour invasive front was also associated with tumour recurrence, postoperative weight, and hypothalamic disturbances. The results from western blotting closely matched those of immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential prognostic implications of vimentin, E-cadherin and ß-catenin expression in craniopharyngiomas. EMT may represent a crucial mechanism in the progression of craniopharyngiomas.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Craniopharyngioma/pathology , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/physiology , Pituitary Neoplasms/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Blotting, Western , Cadherins/analysis , Cadherins/biosynthesis , Child , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , Vimentin/analysis , Vimentin/biosynthesis , Young Adult , beta Catenin/analysis , beta Catenin/biosynthesisABSTRACT
Displacement of distal ventriculo-atrial (VA) shunt is not uncommon. However, misplacement of the distal catheter of VA shunt in the internal jugular vein is a possibility, especially when conducted without intraoperative monitoring. We describe a patient in whom a VA shunt was performed due to failure of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and the distal catheter of the shunt was found to be misplaced in the left internal jugular vein. Endovascular intervention via femoral vein was used to retrieve the distal catheter.
