Influence of human papillomavirus on DNA ploidy determination in genital condylomas.

It has been reported that deoxyribonuclease (DNAse) treatment does not destroy viral DNA, but it does digest native nuclear DNA. To determine what effect, if any, papillomavirus infection has on DNA ploidy values of genitourinary condylomas, DNA was measured with and without DNAse exposure in seven urethral condylomas, shown by prior in situ hybridization to contain abundant human papillomavirus types 6 and 11. Normal human skin was used as a negative control. Consecutive paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained according to Feulgen before and after DNAse treatment. The DNA was measured by image analysis. In control tissue, DNAse obliterated DNA, and the Feulgen reaction was negative. In six of seven condylomas the DNA content was reduced, but a measurable Feulgen reaction was still present in isolated cells. In the seventh case there were no significant changes in the histograms. This observation strongly suggests that the presence of human papillomavirus has a significant effect on measurements of DNA ploidy in genital condylomas and, by implication, possibly also in other tissues containing the virus. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

Fine-needle aspiration of parotid tumors.

We evaluated the accuracy and usefulness of fine-needle aspiration cytologic evaluation of intraparotid masses in 64 patients who underwent subsequent surgery. Adequate specimens for cytologic evaluation were obtained in 46 of the 64 patients (72 percent). Thirty-three lesions in this group (72 percent) were benign and 13 (28 percent) were malignant. There was agreement of cytologic with final histologic diagnosis with regard to distinction of malignant from benign lesions in 43 of the 46 cases (93 percent). Eleven of 13 malignant tumors (sensitivity 85 percent) and 32 of 33 benign lesions (specificity 97 percent) were predicted. Exact tissue diagnosis was correctly determined in 34 of the 46 tumors (74 percent). There were no instances of hematoma, infection, facial nerve injury, implantation of tumor, or other complications as a result of 71 aspirations performed in 64 patients. Information gained by fine-needle aspiration was often valuable in assessing the suitability and extent of surgical treatment.

Fusarium solani osteomyelitis with probable nosocomial spread.

A case of Fusarium solani osteomyelitis is reported in a previously healthy adult male who received multiple injuries during an automobile accident. Combined histologic and mycologic data proved it to be a case of hyalohyphomycosis resulting from Fusarium. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of osteomyelitis resulting from F. solani. A concurrent case of saprophytic wound colonization by the same organism is reported in another patient in the same ward who had sustained similar injuries. Evidence suggests that this represents nosocomial spread from the first case.

Value of aspiration cytology of the thyroid in metastatic disease.

Metastases may simulate primary malignant tumors of the thyroid, causing problems in the diagnosis and management of patients with a history of cancer. In the seven-year period of July 1978 through June 1985, 8 of 549 needle aspirates of the thyroid contained metastatic tumor, 6 of which were subsequently confirmed by histologic study. The primary sites of origin were the breast, kidney, colon and stomach as well as lymphoma. The cytologic features observed in the aspiration biopsy material from the six cases were characteristic of each of the primary tumors. Three of the patients had had prior resections of carcinomas (breast, colon and stomach) while in three patients the cytologic diagnosis of the thyroid aspirates led to the discovery of the primary tumor (kidney and two lymphomas). One case of lymphoma/leukemia and one case of previously biopsied lung carcinoma were confirmed on clinical grounds. It is of critical importance that primary thyroid neoplasms occurring in patients known to have primary tumors elsewhere be distinguished from disseminated tumors involving the thyroid. Our experience suggests that fine needle aspiration is of considerable value in this differential diagnosis. Needle aspirates of the thyroid are also of value in leading to the diagnosis of unsuspected nonthyroidal primary cancer.

Multiparameter flow cytometric analysis of colon polyps.

Sixty-eight colonic polyps of various histologic types were studied using retrospective flow cytometric (FCM) DNA analysis to determine the prevalence of aneuploid cell populations and whether they were associated with any particular histologic features. Overall, 13 of 68 polyps (19%) contained DNA-aneuploid cells, including 3 of 9 villous and 4 of 10 villoglandular polyps with histologic features of carcinoma in situ (CIS), 4 of 11 villous and 1 of 18 villoglandular polyps without CIS, and 1 of 12 adenomatous polyps. Eight hyperplastic polyps were diploid. These results show retrospective FCM analysis can detect DNA aneuploidy in polyps; DNA aneuploidy may occur before histologic evidence of invasive carcinoma; and this change is more frequent in types of polyps thought to have increased malignant potential (i.e., those with villous morphology and/or CIS).

Retrospective DNA analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Abnormal cellular DNA content, a hallmark of malignancy, is known to occur in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The significance of this finding has yet to be elucidated. Paraffin-embedded blocks from 46 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck were sectioned, dewaxed, and made into a suspension of bare nuclei by mechanical mincing and enzymatic digestion. The nuclei were stained with propidium iodide, and quantitative DNA measurements were obtained with flow cytometry. The results were compared with existing prognostic factors: DNA aneuploidy was identified in 41% of the specimens and was significantly correlated with tumor size and surgical stage; the relationship between DNA aneuploidy and anatomic site approaches statistical significance. There was no correlation with histologic grade or presence or absence of cervical metastasis.

Peritoneal fluid in patients with and without endometriosis: prostanoids and macrophages and their effect on the spermatozoa penetration assay.

Peritoneal fluid from 35 women with endometriosis and from 34 control women was aspirated at laparoscopy and analyzed. No differences in prostanoid levels were found. The peritoneal fluid volume, macrophage concentration, macrophage content, and content of activated macrophages as measured by acid phosphatase staining were all significantly elevated in the endometriosis patients. The macrophages were incubated and the medium was added to the zona-free hamster egg sperm penetration assay. This medium caused a significant decrease in the percentage of ova penetrated in this assay. It is postulated that one of the mechanisms of infertility in women with endometriosis may involve the increased number of activated macrophages and their ability to interfere with sperm-egg interaction.