Constant expression of somatostatin receptor 2a in minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules.

AIMS: Although ultrastructural studies showed that minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules (MPMNs) cells closely resembled meningothelial cells, their immunophenotype has not been well characterised, partly due to their rarity. METHODS: Somatostatin receptor 2a (SSTR2a) and other markers of meningioma, including epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), progesterone receptor (PR) and S100, were analysed retrospectively in 19 MPMN cases from two institutions in China. RESULTS: The median age of patients with MPMNs was 62.5 years (32-73 years), with a male-to-female ratio of 1:8.5. Most (15/19) patients with MPMNs had coexisting diseases, including adenocarcinomas (12 cases), bronchiectasis (1 case) and tuberculosis (2 cases). Just over half of the cases (10/19) were multifocal lesions (2-5 lesions). An additional 53 cases with 123 lesions from the literature were reviewed with reported immunophenotype information. In total, 162 lesions were included in the analysis. The size of nodules was 1-4 mm. All MPMN lesions (39/39) in the 19 cases showed strong and diffuse cytoplasmic expression of SSTR2a. The expression rate of SSTR2a was higher than that of conventional markers of meningioma, including EMA (86/138), PR (32/68) and S100 (1/125). CONCLUSIONS: Our observations expand the spectrum of recognised SSTR2a-positive lesions and once again demonstrated that MPMNs show immunohistochemical characteristics similar to meningothelial cells.

Clinicopathologic features of minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules.

Purpose Minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules are incidentally discovered in lung specimens. We analyzed the clinicopathologic features of 14 cases identified in surgically resected lungs. Methods Among patients who underwent lung resection in our hospital from October 2007 to March 2016, 14 were found to have minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules. The clinical parameters, radiologic findings, and pathologic features of these patients were retrospectively reviewed using the medical records. Results The patients included 4 men and 10 women, with a mean age of 69 years (range 53-82 years). The coexisting main disease was adenocarcinoma in 8 patients, squamous cell carcinoma in 1, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia in 1, and metastatic pulmonary tumor in 3. In one patient, the minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules presented as multiple lung nodules on chest computed tomography. The median size of the nodules was 1.4 mm (range 0.3-6.0 mm). Similar to meningioma, one case had immunoreactivity to progesterone receptor and epithelial membrane antigen, although the minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules were not associated with a meningioma. Conclusions The relationship between minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules and meningioma should be investigated. If minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules are found on preoperative computed tomography, thoracoscopic lung biopsy is helpful for differential diagnosis.

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) and multiple pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH): a case report.

We report a case of a 76-year-old female with multiple lung nodules (Fig. 1 Rx). Pathologic evaluation of the lower left video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy VATS-lobectomy showed four nodules that were described as pulmonary epithelioid hemangio-endothelioma (PEH); the immunohistochemical stains showed that the neoplastic cells expressed CD31, a variable expression for factor VIII and a low expression of CD34. In the remaining parenchyma of the lobe, multiple nests of neuroendocrine cells were observed with immunohistochemical confirmation, and the diagnosis was diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH). To our knowledge, the association between PEH and DIPNECH has never been described in the literature.

Multiple thyroid nodules in the lung: metastasis or ectopia?

BACKGROUND: Intrapulmonary thyroid tissue with no malignant history of the thyroid gland is extremely rare. Usually, it is interpreted as ectopic thyroid tissue. Here we describe a case of bilateral pulmonary thyroid nodules with a history of multinodular thyroid goiter. HISTORY: A 37-year-old female had recurrent multinodular thyroid goiter and showed bilateral pulmonary nodules on CT scan. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was performed for the largest nodule biopsy. Pathological and molecular examinations were done after biopsy, and both were shown the characters of benign thyroid tissues. To eliminate the possibility of thyroid carcinoma metastases, total thyroidectomy with modified radical neck dissection was performed, and there were no malignant pathological findings. After surgery, this patient accepted adjuvant radiometabolic treatment for ablation of the remaining intrapulmonary nodules. Her thyroglobulin level decreased to an undetectable level, and she has currently survived for 24 months after surgery. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this case, pulmonary ectopic thyroid and metastasizing thyroid carcinoma should both be considered, but the metastatic pattern and benign pathological characters were inconsistent with any of the corresponding diagnosis. Ultimately, this patient accepted postoperative treatment of thyroid carcinoma metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: This is a rare thyroid disease with malignant behavior but no pathological evidence. Careful diagnosis and postoprative follow-up should be carried out whenever such nodules are encountered in clinical practice. VIRTUAL SLIDES: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1255194331453728 .

Pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma: a case report.

Pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma (PBML) is a rare entity usually occurring in females with history of uterine leiomyoma, and it is preferential to metastasize to the lung and appears as a histopathologic benign tumor of smooth muscle origin. In this article, the clinical and pathological data from 1 patient with PBML were analyzed. Chest CT scan showed that multiple well-defined nodules in the both lobes of the lungs. The tumor cells in the lung were well differentiated, and the pattern of tumor was similar to the original tumor. IHC identified it originated from smooth muscle cells, consistent with the diagnosis of PBML. Positive staining of estrogen and progestogen receptors was detected in both the leiomyoma and the metastasizing lesions. During two years of observation, pulmonary function parameters were within normal limits and there was no evidence of tumor recurrence.

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma of the lung.

A 44-year-old woman was found to have an abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray during a regular health checkup, and visited our department. Chest computed tomography showed multiple nodular shadows in both lungs. The patient had no history of neoplasm except for myomectomy for uterine leiomyoma 6 years previously. Eighteen months later, the nodules showed a gradual increase in size, and video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy of a nodule was performed. Histopathologically, the pulmonary nodule was composed of benign smooth muscle cells proliferating in fascicles, consistent with the diagnosis of benign metastasizing leiomyoma. Benign metastasizing leiomyoma is defined as a histologically benign uterine smooth muscle tumor that acts in a somewhat malignant fashion and produces benign metastases. Although it is a rare condition, it should be considered in asymptomatic women of reproductive age with a history of uterine leiomyoma, who present with solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules. Herein, we report a case of pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma.

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma with PlGF expression: report of a case.

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a relatively uncommon neoplasm of vascular origin with a low or intermediate grade of malignancy. We present a case of a 28-year-old female with multiple pulmonary nodules which were diagnosed as PEH by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) biopsy. In addition, we performed an immunohistochemical analysis for placenta growth factor (PlGF) and a strong positivity for PlGF observed, suggesting that the PlGF may play some role in the tumorigenesis of PEH.

Silicosis: a disease with an active present.

Silicosis, an interstitial lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica powder, despite being one of the oldest occupational diseases, continues being a cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. The World Health Organisation and the International Labour Organisation (OMS/ILO), aware of the current problem, have designed the World Programme for the Elimination of Silicosis, which includes the identification of occupational groups at risk amongst its actions. We present 3 cases of silicosis in young workers in the construction sector, with exposure to high concentrations of silica due to handling artificial silica conglomerates. The main interest of this observation lies in the identification of new risk sources, in the need to draw attention to the dangers involved in its use without prevention measures, and in the importance of the occupational history to avoid under-diagnosis.