Morphological characteristics of the walls of thrombophlebitic saphenous vein.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the morphological changes in the walls of thrombophlebitic saphenous veins. METHODS: Fifty-four specimens were made into slices for haematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome staining; ultrathin slices were also created. Slices were observed under light microscopy and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Under light microscopy, the tunica intima of venous wall in the thrombophlebitic saphenous veins group was obviously thickened and incomplete; intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia was observed. Hyperplasia of collagenous fibres in the tunica media was observed. Elastic fibres in the tunica externa became fewer, whereas nourishing vessels were significantly increased in number. Infiltration of many inflammatory cells was observed. Under electron microscopy, Auer bodies with high electron density and round granules could be seen in endothelial cells in the thrombophlebitic saphenous veins group. Smooth muscle cells had an irregular karyotype, with blurred cristae in some mitochondria. Myofilaments basically disappeared. CONCLUSION: Thrombus formation might aggravate re-modelling of the walls of varicose veins.

Intraperitoneal indium-111- and yttrium-90-labeled human IgM (AC6C3-2B12) in nude mice bearing peritoneal carcinomatosis.

UNLABELLED: Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies are utilized increasingly for the diagnosis and treatment of human cancer. Tumor targeting of radiolabeled human monoclonal IgM improves with compartmental administration and might be useful for the diagnosis or treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis. METHODS: A human monoclonal antibody IgM lambda (AC6C3-B12) reactive with human adenocarcinomas was conjugated to isothiocyanato-2-benzyl-3-methyl-diethylenetriamine-penta-a cetic acid and labeled with either 111In or 90Y. Nude mice bearing intra-abdominal lumps of a human colorectal carcinoma cell line (SW620) were used as a model for peritoneal carcinomatosis. A human monoclonal antibody IgM lambda (CR4E8) reactive with human squamous-cell carcinoma was used as a control. RESULTS: Indium-111-IgM and 90Y-IgM immunoconjugates were compared in nude mice at 2, 24, 72, 120 and 144 hr after intraperitoneal administration. Both showed high specific tumor uptake. The tumor-effective half-lives of the immunoconjugates were 39 hr for indium and 46 hr for yttrium. Tumor-to-normal organ ratios were high and similar for both reagents. Only the femur uptake at later time points was relatively higher for the 90Y-IgM than for 111In-IgM. The tumor uptake of specific AC6C3-2B12 was about fourfold higher than the uptake of aspecific CR4E8 at 24 and 120 hr. CONCLUSION: The combination of 111In- and 90Y-labeled AC6C3-2B12 offers a new opportunity to develop safer and more effective methods for diagnosing and treating human patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Sclerosing lobular hyperplasia manifesting as a palpable mass of the breast in young black women.

Sclerosing lobular hyperplasia is defined as a lesion of the breast characterized solely by prominent hyperplasia of the lobules and sclerosis of the intralobular stroma. The extra-lobular connective tissue may or may not be fibrosed. To ascertain the frequency of this condition, the histologic sections of all benign breast lesions diagnosed at Howard University Hospital between January 1, 1980, and June 30, 1982, were reviewed. The patient population of the hospital is almost entirely black. Among a total of 590 benign breast lesions, 18 cases of sclerosing lobular hyperplasia were found. The mean age of the patients was 28.3 years. The patients generally complained of a painless or slightly tender lump in the breast, of one or two month's duration. The masses appeared finely nodular and varied in size from 0.8 X 1.2 cm to 3.5 X 5.0 cm. Some microscopic sections from patients with sclerosing lobular hyperplasia revealed incipient (lobule-sized) fibroadenoma. On re-examination of the available sections of 101 fibroadenomas, 47 (46.5 per cent) were found to be surrounded by breast tissue exhibiting focal sclerosing lobular hyperplasia. Apparently, sclerosing lobular hyperplasia is often overgrown by fibroadenoma, and the presenting symptoms are those of the dominant tumor rather than those of the preceding condition.