Ewing sarcoma of the first metacarpal with a 9-year follow-up: case report.

Ewing sarcoma is a primary bone tumor that rarely occurs in the hand. We present a case involving the thumb metacarpal with long-term follow-up. Carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal arthrodeses with autograft are relatively simple procedures that stabilized the thumb and preserved satisfactory function.

Endoscopic evaluation and histological findings in graft-versus-host disease.

BACKGROUND: the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the major target site of the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Diagnosis is based on endoscopic and histological findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we performed a retrospective study from January 1st, 1990 to December 31st, 2008 on 338 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies (gastroscopies) performed to 197 patients that underwent an allogeneic transplant with clinical suspicion of GI-GVHD. RESULTS: endoscopic findings to the diagnosis of GVHD have a sensitivity (S) of 34%, specificity levels (SP) of 65%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 73% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 48%. The histological study of the endoscopic biopsies has a global sensibility of 85.6% SP = 34.6% PPV = 64.2% and NPV = 63.7%. Histological grade was correlated with the clinical grade of acute GVHD (p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is useful for the diagnosis of GVHD, as it allows biopsies that can ultimately lead to the diagnosis, but with limited accuracy because the histological findings have low sensitivity and specificity, while the endoscopic findings are generally nonspecific.

Evaluación endoscópica y hallazgos histológicos en la enfermedad de injerto contra huésped / Endoscopic evaluation and histological findings in graft-versus-host disease

Introducción: el tracto gastrointestinal es la diana principal de afectación en la enfermedad de injerto contra huésped (EICH). Su diagnóstico se basa en los hallazgos endoscópicos e histológicos. Material y métodos: hemos realizado un estudio retrospectivo, desde el 1 de enero de 1990 hasta el 30 de diciembre de 2008, de 338 endoscopias digestivas altas realizadas a 197 pacientes sometidos a trasplante alogénico de células hematopoyéticas con sospecha de EICH gastrointestinal. Resultados: los hallazgos endoscópicos tienen una sensibilidad (S) del 34%, especificidad (E) del 65%, valor predictivo positivo (VPP) del 73% y valor predictivo negativo (VPN) del 48% para el diagnóstico de EICH. El estudio histológico de las biopsias tiene una S del 85,6%, E del 34,6%, VPP del 64,2% y VPN del 63,7%. El grado histológico se correlacionó con el grado clínico en la EICH aguda (p = 0,0018). Conclusión: la endoscopia digestiva alta es útil para el diagnóstico de EICH, ya que permite la toma de biopsias que finalmente pueden llevar al diagnóstico, pero con una rentabilidad limitada ya que los hallazgos histológicos tienen una sensibilidad y especificidad bajas, mientras que los endoscópicos son generalmente inespecíficos(AU)

Background: the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the major target site of the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Diagnosis is based on endoscopic and histological findings. Material and methods: we performed a retrospective study from January 1st, 1990 to December 31st, 2008 on 338 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies (gastroscopies) performed to 197 patients that underwent an allogeneic transplant with clinical suspicion of GI-GVHD. Results: endoscopic findings to the diagnosis of GVHD have a sensitivity (S) of 34%, specificity levels (SP) of 65%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 73% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 48%. The histological study of the endoscopic biopsies has a global sensibility of 85.6% SP = 34.6% PPV = 64.2% and NPV = 63.7%. Histological grade was correlated with the clinical grade of acute GVHD (p = 0.018). Conclusion: upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is useful for the diagnosis of GVHD, as it allows biopsies that can ultimately lead to the diagnosis, but with limited accuracy because the histological findings have low sensitivity and specificity, while the endoscopic findings are generally nonspecific(AU)

Helicobacter pylori infection and graft-versus-host disease.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the main target site of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Diagnosis is based on endoscopic and histological findings. Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a Gram-negative spiral bacterium linked to gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and adenocarcinoma and is frequently observed on endoscopy in patients who have undergone transplantation. The role, if any, played by HP infection in the development of acute GVHD is unknown. We conducted a retrospective study between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2008, of 338 upper GI endoscopies (gastroscopies) performed on patients who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation with clinical suspicion of GVHD (198 patients). Acute and chronic GVHD were confirmed from histological features in 97 patients (51.3%) and 68 patients (36%), respectively. HP infection was detected in 69 patients (35%) and had a negative modulating effect on the development of acute GVHD (relative risk [RR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.79; P = .001) and chronic GVHD (RR, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.92; P = .016). Furthermore, the presence of HP was inversely correlated with the histological severity of GVHD (P = .003). Our findings suggest that infection with HP may have a negative modulating effect on GVHD.

[Histological characteristics of head and neck paragangliomas]. / Anatomía patológica de los paragangliomas cervicocefálicos.

Paragangliomas arise from the extra-adrenal paraganglion system. Histologically, paragangliomas are usually easy to diagnose, with well-defined characteristics. These lesions are clearly delimited and highly vascular and are composed of cell balls (Zellballen) separated by thin fibrous septa. These cell balls are composed of two types of cells: chief cells and sustentacular cells. Other, less frequent patterns, which are nearly always focal, can also be found and hamper diagnosis: angiomatoid, fusocellular and clear cell. Some paragangliomas show intense fibrosis, which can compress and distort the cell balls, giving rise to a pseudoinfiltrative appearance (sclerosing paragangliomas). With immunohistochemical techniques, the chief cells are positive for neuroendocrine markers (neuron specific enolase, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, serotonin) while sustentacular cells are positive for S-100 protein. Ultrastructurally, the chief cells contain neurosecretory granules with dense centers and simple intercellular junctions without desmosomes. From a practical point of view, paragangliomas can be divided into three groups: non-invasive (circumscribed or encapsulated), locally invasive and metastatic. Although some invasive tumors can be fatal, there are no histological data that can predict the malignancy of paragangliomas, and the only absolute criterion for malignancy is the presence of metastasis.

Anatomía patológica de los paragangliomas cervicocefálicos / Histological characteristics of head and neck paragangliomas

Los paragangliomas son tumores que derivan del sistema paragangliónico extra adrenal. Desde el punto de vista histológico, los paragangliomas son, por lo general, tumores de fácil diagnóstico, con unas características bien definidas. Son lesiones bien delimitadas, muy vascularizadas y formadas por nidos celulares (Zellballen) separados por finos septos conjuntivos. Los nidos celulares están constituidos por 2 tipos de células: las principales y las sustentaculares. En ocasiones, existen otros patrones, menos frecuentes y casi siempre focales, que pueden dificultar el diagnóstico: angiomatoide, fusocelular y de células claras. Algunos paragangliomas se acompañan de intensa fibrosis, que puede comprimir y distorsionar los nidos celulares, dando una apariencia seudoinfiltrativa (paragangliomas esclerosantes). Con técnicas inmunohistoquímicas, las células principales son positivas para marcadores neuroendocrinos (enolasaneuronal específica, cromogranina A, sinaptofisina, serotonina) y las células sustentaculares para proteína S-100. Desde el punto de vista ultra estructural, las células principales muestran gránulos de centro denso, de tipo neurosecretor y uniones simples intercelulares sin desmosomas. Desde un punto de vista práctico, los paragangliomas pueden dividirse en 3 grupos: no invasivos (circunscritos o encapsulados), localmente invasivos y metastásicos. A pesar de que algunos tumores de crecimiento infiltrante pueden ser letales, no existe ningún dato histopatológico que pueda predecir el comportamiento maligno de los paragangliomas, y sólo la existencia de metástasis es criterio absoluto de malignidad (AU)

Paragangliomas arise from the extra-adrenal paraganglion system. Histologically, paragangliomas are usually easy to diagnose, with well-defined characteristics. These lesions are clearly delimited and highly vascular and are composed of cell balls (Zellballen) separated by thin fibrous septa. These cell balls are composed of two types of cells: chief cells and sustentacular cells. Other, less frequent patterns, which are nearly always focal, can also be found and hamper diagnosis: angiomatoid, fusocellular and clear cell. Some paragangliomas show intense fibrosis, which can compress and distort the cell balls, giving rise to a pseudo -infiltrative appearance (sclerosing paragangliomas). Withimmunohistochemical techniques, the chief cells are positive for neuroendocrine markers (neuron specific enolase, chromogran in A, synaptophys in, serotonin) while sustentacular cells are positive for S-100 protein. Ultrastructurally, the chief cells contain neurosecretory granules with densecenters and simple intercellular junctions without desmosomes. From a practical point of view, paragangliomas can be divided into three groups: non-invasive (circumscribed or encapsulated), locally invasive and metastatic. Although some invasive tumors can be fatal, there are no histological data that can predict the malignancy of paragangliomas, and the only absolute criterion for malignancy is the presence of metast (AU)

Fat-specific FUS-DDIT3-transgenic mice establish PPARgamma inactivation is required to liposarcoma development.

FUS-DDIT3 is a chimeric oncogene generated by the most common chromosomal translocation t(12;16)(q13;p11) associated to liposarcomas. The application of transgenic methods and the use of primary mesenchymal progenitor cells to the study of this sarcoma-associated FUS-DDIT3 gene fusion have provided insights into their in vivo functions and suggested mechanisms by which lineage selection may be achieved. These studies indicate that FUS-DDIT3 contributes to differentiation arrest acting at a point in the adipocyte differentiation process after induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) expression. To test this idea within a living mouse, we generated mice expressing FUS-DDIT3 within aP2-positive cells, because aP2 is a downstream target of PPARgamma expressed at the immature adipocyte stage. Here, we report that FUS-DDIT3 expression was successfully induced at the aP2 stage of differentiation both in vivo and in vitro. aP2-FUS-DDIT3 mice do not develop liposarcomas and exhibit an increase in white adipose tissue size. Consistent with in vivo data, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) obtained from aP2-FUS-DDIT3 mice not only were capable of terminal differentiation but also showed an increased capacity for adipogenesis in vitro compared with wild-type MEFs. Taken together, this study provides genetic evidence that the presence of FUS-DDIT3 in an aP2-positive cell is not enough to cause liposarcoma development and establishes that PPARgamma inactivation is required for liposarcoma development.

Numerical abnormalities of chromosomes 17 and 18 in sporadic colorectal cancer: Incidence and correlation with clinical and biological findings and the prognosis of the disease.

BACKGROUND: In recent years important information has accumulated on the genetic alterations present in colorectal tumors. However, thus far few studies have analyzed the impact of numerical abnormalities of chromosomes 17 and 18, which carry the p53 and DCC plus SHAD4/DPC4 genes involved in colorectal cancer, on the clinical and biological behaviors of the disease. METHODS: With the use of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we analyzed the incidence of numerical abnormalities of chromosomes 17 and 18 in a series of malignant colorectal tumors and explored its potential association with clinicobiological behavior and the prognosis of the disease. For this purpose, 94 consecutive patients newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer were analyzed. In all cases, FISH analyses of the number of copies and nuclei of chromosomes 17 and 18 were performed in interphase nuclei with the use of double stainings. For all patients, information on age, sex, tumor size, Dukes' stage, tumor localization, DNA ploidy status, and the proportion of S-phase tumor cells was recorded. Median follow-up was 38 months. RESULTS: Numerical abnormalities of chromosomes 17 and 18 were present in most patients with colorectal cancer (57% and 52%, respectively). Gains of chromosome 17 and monosomy 18 were found in 51% and 29% of cases, respectively, and they were the most frequent individual abnormalities for each chromosome. The simultaneous analysis of the number of copies of both chromosomes in the same cell showed that, in most cases displaying numerical abnormalities for these chromosomes, two or more different tumor cell clones were present. From a clinical point of view, numerical abnormalities of chromosome 17, especially monosomy 17, were associated with a significantly higher incidence of rectal tumors (P = 0.001) and Dukes' stage D (P = 0.02) and a lower median of disease-free survival among patients who underwent curative surgery (P = 0.05), as compared with diploid cases. In addition, cases with an altered number of copies of chromosome 17 showed a higher incidence of DNA aneuploidy (P = 0.0001) and a greater proportion of S-phase cells (P = 0.001) by flow cytometry. In contrast, no clear association was found between the presence of numerical abnormalities of chromosome 18 and clinicobiological disease characteristics, except for a higher incidence of DNA aneuploidy by flow cytometry (P = 0.001) and a lower median of disease-free survival (P = 0.06). Multivariate analysis showed that numerical abnormalities of chromosome 17, but not of chromosome 18, are an independent prognostic factor for predicting disease-free survival in patients with colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Numerical abnormalities of chromosomes 17 and 18 were relatively common findings in patients with colorectal cancer, with chromosome 17 being associated with a higher incidence of tumors localized to the rectum and a worse clinical outcome. Cytometry Part B (Clin. Cytometry) 51B:14-20, 2003.