Metal-induced sarcoma. A case report and literature review.

The overall biocompatibility characteristics of metallic implants are important considerations in orthopedic surgery. A review of the literature shows very few reports of neoplasms in association with metallic implants. This case report demonstrates osteogenic sarcoma at the site of a Smith-Petersen nail that had been implanted for nine years in a 65-year-old woman for fixation of a femoral neck fracture. Gross examination revealed debris at the tumor site, with a concentration of 14 ppm of nickel within the tumor tissue. Experimental investigations support the possibility of neoplastic induction by heavy metals, particularly cobalt, cadmium, and nickel. Circumstantial evidence shows osteogenic sarcoma that developed at the site of this device, possibly in response to metal or factors at the site of metal.

Clear cell chondrosarcoma. A report of two cases and review of literature.

Two cases of clear cell chondrosarcoma located in the distal femur and proximal humerus are reported. Both patients were men aged 35 and 51 years. Their initial symptom was a pathologic fracture. Roentgenographically, one patient showed a purely lytic lesion and another lytic with centrally radiodensity. Microscopic examination revealed that the tumor cells have a centrally placed vesicular nucleus surrounded by a clear cytoplasm, with distinct boundaries. Their cytoplasm stained with S-100 protein by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. We found 36 reported cases (including the two reported here), and delineated the clinico-pathologic characteristics of the disease.

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: an ultrastructural study of two cases, with immunocytochemical correlations.

The clinicopathologic features of two cases of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma (DCS) are presented, in which anaplastic components showed the electron microscopic features of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, as well as immunoreactivity for alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin. Rare cells also displayed S100 protein in high-grade areas of the primary tumors, but a pulmonary metastasis lacked this determinant. These findings could be interpreted as reflecting a retained potential for primitive chondrogenesis in primary DCS, which may be lost in its metastases. In all other respects, this tumor appears to assume the morphological and immunocytochemical attributes of a fibrohistiocytic neoplasm.

Free alpha subunits of glycoprotein hormone with dissimilar carbohydrates produced by pathologically different carcinomas.

The two kinds of glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit ectopically produced by an undifferentiated carcinoma of the left femoral region (TM-alpha) and an adenocarcinoma of the right external genitalia (FS-alpha) were examined for amino acid composition, isoelectric focusing, molecular weight, the ability to combine with standard hCG beta and affinity with lectins (Con A, Ricin and PNA). Both TM-alpha and FS-alpha exhibited immunoantigenicity similar to standard hCG alpha. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the amino acid compositions of TM-alpha, FS-alpha or standard hCG alpha. In isoelectric focusing, while standard hCG alpha exhibited a neutral charge, both TM-alpha and FS-alpha exhibited strong negative charges. FS-alpha was as sensitive to sialidase as standard hCG alpha, whereas most of the TM-alpha exhibited resistance to sialidase. TM-alpha contains sialidase-insensitive peripheral material with a negative charge. The affinity with Ricin-Sepharose indicated that most of the FS-alpha and some of the TM-alpha may contain terminal sialic acid and the penultimate structure, Gal beta 1----4G1cNAc; the affinity with PNA-Sepharose indicated that both may also contain terminal sialic acid and the penultimate structure, Gal beta 1----3GalNAc. These observations suggest that dissimilar glycosylation processes are present in the carcinoma ectopic biosynthesis of glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit.

[Mineral and trace element determination in human osteosarcoma. Case report]. / Mineral- und Spuren-elementbestimmungen im menschlichen Osteosarkom. Fallbericht.

The concentrations of calcium and magnesium, and of the trace elements iron, copper, manganese and zinc were determined in the amputation specimen of a 25-year-old patient with osteosarcoma and compared with the tumor-free, normal bone tissue. Not only the concentrations of calcium and magnesium, but also those of the trace elements were significantly higher in the osseous portion of the tumor. The periosseous concentrations of trace elements iron, copper and zinc were also significantly higher in the tumor than in the normal bone tissue.

S-100 protein in tumors of cartilage and bone. An immunohistochemical study.

Using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemical method, S-100 protein was found in well-differentiated chondrocytes of chondroma, chondroblastoma, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, and osteosarcoma. It was not detected in osteoma, osteoblastoma, giant cell tumor, and Ewing's tumor. The presence of S-100 protein in tumorous chondrocytes and chondroblasts suggests that this protein may be a marker of chondrocyte origin and should not be considered a specific marker for nerve tissue.