Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma risk: the experience of the North-Eastern Italian Registry (EBRA).

OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence and risk factors for progression to high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-IEN) or Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma (BAc) in a prospective cohort of patients with esophageal intestinal metaplasia [(BE)]. BACKGROUND: BE is associated with an increased risk of BAc unless cases are detected early by surveillance. No consistent data are available on the prevalence of BE-related cancer, the ideal surveillance schedule, or the risk factors for cancer. METHODS: In 2003, a regional registry of BE patients was created in north-east Italy, establishing the related diagnostic criteria (endoscopic landmarks, biopsy protocol, histological classification) and timing of follow-up (tailored to histology) and recording patient outcomes. Thirteen centers were involved and audited yearly. The probability of progression to HG-IEN/BAc was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method; the Cox regression model was used to calculate the risk of progression. RESULTS: HG-IEN (10 cases) and EAc (7 cases) detected at the index endoscopy or in the first year of follow-up were considered to be cases of preexisting disease and excluded; 841 patients with at least 2 endoscopies {median, 3 [interquartile range (IQR): 2-4); median follow-up = 44.6 [IQR: 24.7-60.5] months; total 3083 patient-years} formed the study group [male/female = 646/195; median age, 60 (IQR: 51-68) years]. Twenty-two patients progressed to HG-IEN or BAc (incidence: 0.72 per 100 patient-years) after a median of 40.2 (26.9-50.4) months. At multivariate analysis, endoscopic abnormalities, that is, ulceration or nodularity (P = 0.0002; relative risk [RR] = 7.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.63-21.9), LG-IEN (P = 0.02, RR = 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-11.43), and BE length (P = 0.01; RR = 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.30) were associated with BE progression. Among the LG-IEN patients, the incidence of HG-IEN/EAc was 3.17 patient-years, that is, 6 times higher than in BE patients without LG-IEN. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in the absence of intraepithelial neoplastic changes, BE carries a low risk of progression to HG-IEN/BAc, and strict surveillance (or ablative therapy) is advisable in cases with endoscopic abnormalities, LG-IEN or long BE segments.

In situ follicular lymphoma associated with overt B- or T-cell lymphomas in the same lymph node.

In situ follicular lymphoma (FL) is usually an incidental finding in otherwise reactive lymph node [1­3]. However, it may be associated with overt FL, or with lymphomas other than FL or with other malignancies,in other sites or, less commonly, in the same lymph node [2,4­8]. Here we describe two cases of in situ FL, one with concurrent overt FL(Case 1), and one with concurrent peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL),NOS (Case 2) in the same lymph node. Immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction for B and T-cell clonality, and double-staining chromogenic in situ hybridization for BCL2 translocation were performed.In both cases, the in situ FL foci were characterized by strong expression of BCL2 and CD10 in the germinal center B cells of the affected follicles. Case 1 showed the concurrence of an overt B-cell FL with IgH@ rearrangement and expression of B-cell markers, but not BCL2. Case 2 demonstrated the concurrence of a PTCL, NOS with TCRG@ rearrangement and expression of T-cell markers. In conclusion,the association of in situ FL with PTCL expands the spectrum of lymphoproliferations that may coexist with in situ FL and suggests that in situ FL may not behave like a simple precursor for overt FL.

Paediatric laryngeal malignant nerve sheath tumour.

Malignant nerve sheath tumours (MNSTs) are more frequently diagnosed in the extremities, the chest wall and the abdominal wall. Laryngeal MNST is an extremely rare occurrence, particularly in children. We treated a laryngeal recurrence of MNST in a 13-year-old boy with chemotherapy followed by horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy extended to left arytenoid and ipsilateral vocal fold and bilateral neck dissection. Four years later, hemithyroidectomy was performed for thyroid MNST recurrence. At present, 6 years after last intervention, the patient shows no evidence of recurrent disease.

Adult laryngeal hemangioma CO2 laser excision. A single institution 3-year experience (Vittorio Veneto 2001-2003).

CONCLUSIONS: Adult supraglottic hemangiomas can be treated successfully with CO2 laser excision with limited morbidity. Extended laryngeal cavernous hemangiomas involving hypopharynx should be approached with staged CO2 laser surgical procedures. OBJECTIVES: Hemangioma of the adult larynx is an uncommon, benign lesion characterized by thin, friable mucosa overlying the vascular stroma. The optimal surgical approach to these lesions is still controversial because only anecdotal case reports or very limited series are available. We report a 3-year, retrospective, single institution study of the results of CO2 laser treatment of supraglottic hemangiomas in adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six consecutive cases of adult laryngeal hemangioma were treated by the first author with CO2 laser microsurgery alone. RESULTS: In five of six cases, no recurrences have been diagnosed (median follow-up period: 29 months). One case presented limited persistence of disease in the retro-cricoid and arytenoids at 20-month follow-up control.