Clinicopathological Evaluation of Childhood Sacrococcygeal Germ Cell Tumors: A Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the cases of sacrococcygeal germ cell tumors diagnosed in our hospital between 2006 and June 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 38 sacrococcygeal germ cell tumors cases in our series in terms of age, sex, clinical complaints, localization, macroscopy, tumor size, histopathological diagnosis, surgical, postoperative complications, treatment, recurrence, and prognosis. RESULTS: The cases ranged from 1 day to 16 years of age; 14 cases were diagnosed with routine ultrasonographic examination during prenatal period while the rest of the cases most frequently presented with complaints of constipation. In terms of localization, 6 cases were type 1, 11 cases were type 2, 6 cases were type 3, and 15 cases were type 4. In the pathological evaluation, 25 cases were mature teratoma, 8 cases were immature teratoma, and 5 cases were pure yolk-sac tumor. In terms of complications, temporary colostomy was performed as a result of rupture during birth in 2 cases, disseminated intravascular coagulation at birth in 1 case, and colon injury in 2 cases. There was a recurrence in 2 of our cases. Thirty-seven of our cases were alive and 1 died. Alpha-fetoprotein level was high in 28 of our cases. CONCLUSION: In our series, type 4 cases were observed more frequently, contrary to the literature. We recommend to use a routine ultrasonography to patients who come to the clinic with complaints of constipation and inability to urinate and if a mass is detected, asking for alphafetoprotein for further follow-up. Sacrococcygeal germ cell tumors are ultimately a disease that can be successfully treated with multidisciplinary approach, accurate diagnosis in the antenatal and postnatal period, appropriate surgical intervention, and regular follow-up.

Four-Year Analyses of Renal Graft Biopsies: A Single-Center Pathology Experience.

OBJECTIVES: Kidney transplant is the best treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. Long-term graft survival depends on the protection of renal allograft function. Renal allograft biopsy is the most important method for examining an allograft function. Biopsy provides critical information, enabling diagnosis and grading of pathologic changes, prediction of response to therapy, and long-term graft prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent renal transplant from living and deceased donors at Baskent University Adana Teaching and Research Hospital between 2010 and 2014 and who had an indication for biopsy. Clinical characteristics and laboratory results of patients were recorded. Patient biopsy samples were examined according to the Banff 2009 classification. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2014, there were 175 renal transplants performed at our hospital, with 134 recipients (76.6%) having living-donor and 41 recipients (23.4%) having deceased-donor transplants. Fifty-one patients (29.1%) were children, and 124 patients (70.9%) were adults. We found that there were 123 biopsies made from 75 transplant patients over a 4-year period. When examined according to Banff 2009 criteria, the biopsy samples revealed acute T-cell-mediated rejection alone in 14.1% of the samples, acute antibody-mediated rejection in 4%, and a combination of the 2 rejections in 5.7%. Specific infections were detected in 12 patients. The graft nephrectomy rate was 5.1%. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated biopsy results, their relation with patient clinical status and 4-year survival rates, and our pathology experience and found that rejection and infection rates were similar to the literature. Our future studies with a longer follow-up and a larger sample size will likely provide more accurate information about graft survival and biopsy results.

GLUT-1 Expression in Proliferative Endometrium, Endometrial Hyperplasia, Endometrial Adenocarcinoma and the Relationship Between GLUT-1 Expression and Prognostic Parameters in Endometrial Adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Malignant cells show increased glucose uptake in in vitro and in vivo studies. This uptake is mediated by glucose transporter proteins. GLUT-1 is the most common transporter protein, and its expression is reported to be increase in many human cancers. The aim of this study is to determine the GLUT-1 overexpression in benign, hyperplastic, and malignant endometrial tissues, to evaluate the usefulness of GLUT-1 expression in endometrial hyperplasia, and to determine its role in the neoplastic progression to endometrioid type adenocarcinoma. We also aimed to analyze prognostic clinical parameters, predict prognosis, and survival. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We examined immunohistochemical expression of GLUT-1 in 91 cases of endometrial hyperplasia, 100 cases of endometrioid type adenocarcinoma, and 10 proliferative endometrial tissues. The percentage of positive cells and staining intensity were assessed in a semi quantitative fashion and scored (1+ to 3+). RESULTS: GLUT-1 immunoreactivity was not present in proliferative endometrium. Twenty-nine (31.9%) of 91 endometrial hyperplasia cases showed positive immunoreactivity, of which only six were cases of hyperplasia without atypia while 23 of them were cases with atypia. We found GLUT-1 positivity of 95% in endometrioid type adenocarcinoma. GLUT-1 overexpression was not significantly correlated with any of the clinicopathological parameters except histological grade in endometrioid adenocarcinoma; the survival was not found to be correlated with GLUT-1 expression. CONCLUSION: GLUT-1 immunostaining may be useful in distinguishing hyperplasia without atypia from hyperplasia with atypia; GLUT-1 overexpression is a consistent feature of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. A correlation between GLUT -1 expression and tumor grade has been found, although other prognostic parameters and survival has no meaningful correlation.

A Case of a Man With Isolated Breast Metastasis From Lung Adenocarcinoma Incidentally Detected by FDG PET/CT.

Breast metastases from an extramammary primary tumor are very rare, particularly in men. In this study, we present a case of a 74-year-old man with isolated breast metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma as an incidental finding on PET/CT and diagnosed concomitantly with the primary tumor. Detection of isolated incidental metastatic lesions in the breast on PET/CT imaging has a significant clinical impact on patients with known malignant disease due to change of disease stage, management, and also treatment method.

Venous thrombosis of sarcoidosis as an unusual incidental finding on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

Sarcoidosis is defined as a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown cause. Venous thrombosis (VT) in the sarcoidosis is rare. The routine use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) has resulted in clinicians detecting many incidental findings, which have proven to be clinically significant such as thrombosis. Here, we present a case with VT of sarcoidosis in the inferior vena cava and portal vein as an unusual incidental finding on 18F-FDG PET/CT.

[Our surgical treatment results in pediatric cholesteatoma]. / Pediatrik kolesteatomda cerrahi tedavi sonuçlarimiz.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate surgical techniques and obtained outcomes in pediatric cholesteatoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 62 patients (41 males, 21 females; mean age 13 years; range 3 to 17 years) diagnosed as pediatric cholesteatoma between January 1998 and December 2014 were enrolled into the study. Of the patients, canal wall down (CWD) mastoidectomy was performed in 31, canal wall up (CWU) mastoidectomy in 13, inside-out (ISO) mastoidectomy in eight, and tympanoplasty in 10. Surgical approaches, staging, hearing outcomes, relapse status, and surgical data were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Cholesteatoma recurred in seven patients (11%). Recurrence rates for CWU and CWD mastoidectomies were 31% and 6%, respectively. While the number of patients with good serviceable hearing (pure-tone average ≥25 dB) was 10 preoperatively, it became 16 postoperatively. Ossicular erosion was higher in CWD group. Twenty-nine patients (47%) had extensive disease and CWD mastoidectomy was performed in 86% of these. Number of patients not requiring care was 45 (72.6%). CONCLUSION: In this study, we observed no differences in terms of good serviceable hearing between CWU and CWD mastoidectomies. The preferred method was mainly CWD in patients with extensive disease and ossicular erosion. Recurrence rates were higher in CWU group. Therefore, ISO or CWD mastoidectomy come to the forefront as appropriate treatment options in the treatment of pediatric cholesteatomas according to the extensiveness of disease.

Multifocal soft tissue Langerhans' cell histiocytosis treated with PET-CT based conformal radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a proliferative disorder of Langerhans cells, which is seen extremely rarely in adults. Conventional imaging modalities, such as skeletal surveys and bone scans, were accepted to be standard methods for diagnosis; however, 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET-CT) has been increasingly used. METHODS: We report on a 33-year-old female patient with disseminated LCH treated with radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy where PET-CT has been used for defining the extent of the disease, RT planning and assessment of treatment response during follow-up. RESULTS: The patient was treated with 24 Gy 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (RT), given as 2 Gy a day, 5 days a week. The patient was also treated with systemic prednisolone 20 mg/m(2), concurrently. The chemotherapeutic regimen switched to cytosine-arabinoside with a dose of 100 mg/m(2) subcutaneously daily for 4 days, vincristine 1.5 mg/m(2) given on the 1st day and prednisolone 20 mg/m(2) for 4 cycles. After local RT with adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient was alive for 54 months and remained disease-free at last visit. CONCLUSION: RT is a treatment choice in multi-system LCH as well as solitary lesions. Low-dose RT is adequate to control large masses of LCH including soft tissue and lymph nodes.

Positron emission tomography evaluation of sinonasal inverted papilloma and related conditions: a prospective clinical study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine whether there is a difference between inverted papilloma (IP) and nasal polyp, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with regard to fluorodeoxyglucose uptake. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between September 2007 and May 2014, positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) images of 27 patients (20 males, 7 females; mean age 53.4 years; range 18 to 74 years), with unilateral polyposis diagnosed on examination and tomographic scans of paranasal sinus were obtained. Nasal polyps in eight of the patients (group 1), IP in 10 patients (group 2), and SCC in nine patients (group 3) were found. The data were compared with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: The mean maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) values were found to be 2.9 in the group 1; 7.8 in the group 2, and 17.8 in the group 3. There was significant difference in the SUVmax values between the group 1 and the group 2 (p=0.016), the group 1 and the group 3 (p=0.001), and the group 2 and the group 3 (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, PET/CT scan in the patients with unilateral polyposis is invaluable to distinguish nasal polyp from IP and SCC. It is also useful to recognize the distinctions between IP and SCC. In our study of 27 patients, a SUVmax of 6 or higher ruled out the presence of nasal polyp [95% CI (5.93 to 13.39), specificity 100%] might also be clinically useful.

Elastofibroma dorsi incidentally detected by (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is a rare pseudotumor of the soft tissues that can also show 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. The aim of this retrospectively study was to describe the metabolic characteristics of ED incidentally detected by (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2009 and August 2013 at our institution, 10,350 consecutive PET/CT examinations were retrospectively investigated. In 176 of these patients, ED was recorded as an incidental finding. Fifty-five of 176 patients also had follow-up scans after chemoradiotherapy. A total of 231 scans with ED in 176 patients were identified. To determine the metabolic activity of ED, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was calculated semiquantitatively. For measurement size of ED, the longest axis of transaxial CT images was used. Seven of the 176 patients underwent surgery due to suspected metastases and/or invasion of primary malignancy and/or symptoms or incidental during surgery. RESULTS: The prevalence of ED in our series was 1.7%. The lesions were located in the subscapular region in all patients, except in one case with a lesion in the infrascapular region. A total of 419 ED lesions in 231 scan of 176 patients were evaluated. Mean ± SD SUVmax and long axis values for these 419 lesions were 2.31 ± 0.61 (range 1.0-4.30) and 56.78 ± 17.01 mm (range 19-112 mm), respectively. Of these 176 patients, 141 (80.1%) had bilateral lesions and 35 (19.9%) had unilateral lesions. There were statistically significant differences in the SUVmax and long axis values between the right and left side in the bilateral lesions (p = 0.001). No significant differences in the SUVmax and long axis values of the lesion were found between pre- and posttreatment in the patients with follow-up scans. CONCLUSION: Elastofibroma dorsi located in the scapular region is usually bilateral, asymmetric and with mild or moderate metabolic activity on PET/CT imaging. In addition, the metabolic activity and size of ED remained stable after chemoradiotherapy. Awareness of these metabolic characteristics of ED is important for preventing misinterpretation during (18)F-FDG PET/CT studies.

Myofibroblastoma of the Breast.

This study aimed presenting a case of a 64-year-old woman with a rare diagnosis of myofibroblastoma (MFB). MFB is one of the rare, benign, spindle-like stromal tumors arising from the connective tissue of the breast. MFBs are often confused with fibroadenomas and hamartomas because of their benign characteristic appearance on breast imaging and are diagnosed after excisional biopsies. Their differential diagnosis with malignant neoplasia of the breast is important because of their wide morphological spectrum. Our case also demonstrated a breast mass with benign imaging characteristics and a needle core biopsy revealing a benign, spindle-like stromal tumor. The pathological examination performed after the excision of the lump demonstrated a collagenous-/fibrous-type MFB. This case report emphasizes the rare but important place of MFB variants of the breast in the differential diagnosis of breast mass.

Surgical treatment of carotid body tumors.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we report our clinical experience in a series of patients with carotid body tumors along with diagnosis, treatment and follow-up procedures in the light of related literature data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2001 and May 2012, 10 patients (5 males, 5 females; mean age 53.2 years; range 27 to 80 years) who underwent surgery due to a carotid body tumor in our clinic were included. Diagnosis was based on ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, selective carotid angiography, balloon occlusion test, biochemical tests and preoperative embolization. Complications were also recorded. RESULTS: Balloon occlusion test was performed in all patients preoperatively, while embolization was implemented in seven patients. All masses were dissected by carotid artery subadventitial approach. Carotid integrity was maintained in nine patients, while a vein graft was used in one patient. Neurological disorder was observed in one patient, whereas transient hypoglossal paresis was in one patient who underwent saphenous vein grafting. CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that (i) carotid body tumors should be handled with multidisciplinary approach; (ii) balloon occlusion test should be performed in all patients undergoing surgery; (iii) a particular attention should be paid to cranial and phrenic nerves, if it is necessary to extend the surgical field while removing the tumor; and (iv) pathological examination should be carried out by an experienced team and in a multi-centered fashion, if necessary.

A thoracic surgeon's perspective on the elastofibroma dorsi: A benign tumor of the deep infrascapular region.

BACKGROUND: An elastofibroma is a benign, soft-tissue tumor and is important in the differential diagnosis of thoracic wall masses. Here, patients with elastofibromas who underwent thoracic surgery were retrospectively reviewed to elucidate elastofibroma formation and to facilitate the differential diagnosis. METHODS: This is a retrospective and descriptive study of a series of 30 patients with elastofibroma dorsi. The data was obtained by review of the hospital records. RESULTS: There were 27 female and three male patients (mean age, 55.13 ± 8.7 years) with a total of 42 elastofibroma dorsi tumors (12 bilateral cases, 18 unilateral cases) diagnosed between January 2004 and October 2011. Twenty patients (67%) underwent surgery as a result of subscapular swelling and pain. In 10 (33%) asymptomatic patients, elastofibromas were found incidentally during a thoracotomy. Imaging methods in symptomatic patients included computerized tomography (15 cases), magnetic resonance (three), and ultrasonography (two). For five patients, fluorodeoxyglucose uptake values were available and revealed mild metabolic activity in the elastofibromas. Elastofibromas were significantly larger in symptomatic patients (8.15 ± 1.9 vs. 6.2 ± 2.3; P= 0.02). Exposure to long-term repetitive micro-trauma was a precipitating factor in 23 (77%) patients. Seroma formation, the most common surgical complication, was observed in 40% of patients. CONCLUSION: The differential diagnosis of elastofibroma dorsi is straightforward, and preoperative histology is unnecessary when the clinical, radiological, and metabolic characteristics are known. Repetitive micro-trauma may predispose to hyperproliferation of fibroelastic tissue, and genetics may also play a role. Surgical treatment can be reserved for cases with severe symptoms.

Pregnancy-related peritoneal ectopic decidua (deciduosis): morphological and clinical evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: Ectopic decidual reaction (deciduosis) can be seen rarely on the peritoneum during laparotomy for a cesarean section for pregnancy, in addition to the ovary and cervix. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical characteristics of ectopic decidua cases that were incidentally found in the peritoneum during a cesarean section. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of seven cases where decidualization was found in the peritoneal biopsy taken during pregnancy at the Baskent University Medical Faculty Adana Teaching and Training Hospital Department of Pathology were included in this study. The clinical features of the cases were obtained from their clinical folders. The morphological findings were recorded and the peritoneal biopsies were analyzed with keratin Pan Ab-1, calretinin, vimentin, HMB-45 and progesterone receptor antibody for immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The mean age for the seven cases was 36±4.16. The gestational age was 33 to 39 (mean 37.2) weeks. Microscopic evaluation revealed decidualized cells that were large polygonal and eosinophilic, some with vacuolated cytoplasm, that formed small nodules under the mesothelium of the peritoneum in all cases. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive staining of the cell cytoplasm with vimentin and positive staining of the cell nucleus with the progesterone receptor antibody in the decidual cells. Calretinin, keratin and HMB-45 stains were negative. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy-related peritoneal deciduosis develops with the effect of progesterone in pregnancy. It disappears without complication in the postpartum period. Immunohistochemistry may help the differential diagnosis of peritoneal deciduosis where problems are experienced differentiating the case from malignant mesothelioma or metastatic tumor.

Clinical significance of TRAIL and TRAIL receptors in patients with head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a death ligand currently under clinical trials for cancer. The molecular profile of TRAIL and TRAIL receptors has not yet been mapped for patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tissues from 60 patients with laryngeal SCC and 14 patients with OCSCC were retrospectively analyzed using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: An increase in decoy-R1 (DcR1) but a decrease in decoy-R2 (DcR2) expression were observed in patients with laryngeal SCC and in patients with OCSCC compared with control individuals with benign lesions. Clinical and pathologic grading revealed distinctive TRAIL and TRAIL receptor profiles in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). CONCLUSIONS: TRAIL and a TRAIL receptor expression profile might be useful to follow-up disease progression by virtue of its connection with clinical staging and pathologic grading in patients with laryngeal SCC.

[Chronic renal failure: unexpected late sequela of pulmonary tuberculosis after 30 years]. / Kronik Böbrek Yetmezligi: Pulmoner Tüberkülozun 30 Yil Sonra Gelen Beklenmeyen Geç Sekeli.

Tuberculosis-related chronic granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis (GTN) and chronic renal dysfunction as a consequence of GTN is a rarely seen clinical condition, with a few case reports in the literature. In this report, a case with end stage renal failure as an unexpected late extrapulmonary sequela of tuberculosis has been presented. A 60 years old female patient was admitted to hospital with the complaints of fever, malaise and nausea. Her history revealed that she had pulmonary tuberculosis 30 years ago and received antituberculosis therapy for nine months. The laboratory results on admission were as follows: blood urea nitrogen 90 mg/dl, serum creatinine 9 mg/dl, sodium 116 mEq/L, potassium 6.6 mEq/L, albumine 2.9 g/dl, hemoglobin, 8.4 g/dl, white blood cell count 10.800/mm3, C-reactive protein 187 mg/L and erythrocyte sedimentation rate 110 mm/hour. Urinalysis showed 8.1 g/L protein, 10-12 leukocytes, 1-2 erythrocytes, while 24-hours urinalysis yielded proteinuria with 8 ml/minutes creatinine clearance value. Urine and blood cultures of the patient revealed neither bacteria or mycobacteria. PPD skin test was negative. Acid-resistant bacilli (ARB) were not detected in sequential urine samples obtained on three consecutive days. Since sputum samples could not be obtained, diagnostic procedures for sputum were not performed. Abdomen ultrasonography yielded bilateral edema and grade II echogenity in kidneys. Computed tomography of the chest showed bilateral pulmonary nodules, chronic sequela lesions, pleural scarring and calcifications, as well as minimal interstitial infiltrate. Transthoracic lung biopsy showed chronic inflammation and fibrosis, while amyloid was negative. Renal biopsy showed GTN with central caseified necrosis and granulomas, multinuclear giant cells, tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Amyloid was negative and ARB were not detected in renal biopsy sample. Definitive diagnosis was achieved by the demonstration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis nucleic acid in kidney biopsy by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antituberculosis therapy was not initiated since there were no signs of active tuberculosis. The patient became clinically stable following dialysis and was discharged, however, she has been undergoing hemodialysis three times a week. The aim of this case presentation was to emphasize that renal tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with end stage renal failure, especially in countries like Turkey where tuberculosis incidence is high.

Benign mucinous cystadenoma with stromal luteinization responsible for maternal virilization and fetal intrauterine growth restriction.

Virilization caused by ovarian tumors with functioning stroma during pregnancy is extremely rare and has been reported to be due to different types of ovarian tumors. In mucinous cystadenomas with maternal virilization during pregnancy, the stromal cells responsible for hormone secretion resemble lutein or Leydig cells and have been referred to as luteinized stromal cells. Here we present a rare case of mucinous cystadenoma accompanied by virilization, which was also the cause of fetal intrauterine growth restriction during pregnancy and discuss the mechanisms of hormone production in these tumors in the light of the literature.