Prostate carcinoma with squamous differentiation: an analysis of 33 cases.

BACKGROUND: Only sporadic cases of prostate carcinomas with squamous differentiation have been reported. DESIGN: The files of two institutions were reviewed for prostate cancers with squamous differentiation. RESULTS: A total of 33 cases were studied. The average age at diagnosis was 68 years (range 49-86 years). The most common presenting symptoms included bladder outlet obstruction and dysuria. Thirteen men had a positive digital rectal examination. Diagnosis was made by needle biopsy (n = 23); transurethral resection of the prostate (n = 5); needle and transurethral resection of the prostate (n = 1); transurethral resection of the bladder (n = 1); or biopsy of metastases (n = 3). In 21 of 33 cases, there was a prior diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the prostate; 8 patients were treated with hormones, 4 were treated with radiation, and 1 received both radiation and hormone therapy. Of the 12 men without a prior diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, 2 patients had received hormonal therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Eight of 33 cases were pure squamous carcinomas. The remaining cases were adenosquamous carcinoma (n = 16), adenosquamous and urothelial carcinoma (n = 3), and adenosquamous carcinoma and sarcoma (n = 6). The squamous carcinoma component of these mixed cases averaged 40% of the tumor volume (range 5%-95%) and had a range of cytologic atypia (mild [n = 6], moderate [n = 17], severe [n = 10]). In the 25 cases with adenocarcinoma, the glandular component tended to be high-grade (Gleason grade >6 in 19 cases). Immunohistochemistry for prostate specific acid phosphatase and prostate specific antigen was positive in a large percentage of the adenocarcinomas (85% and 75%, respectively) and only very focally positive in 12% of the squamous carcinomas. 34 beta E12 was diffusely positive in >95% of the squamous carcinomas and only focally positive in <10% of the adenocarcinomas. Cytokeratins 7 and 20 did not differentiate the squamous and adenocarcinoma components. Follow-up was available on 25 of 33 cases, with the average survival being 24 months (range 0-63 months). CONCLUSION: Squamous differentiation in prostate cancer is uncommon, often but not necessarily arising in the setting of prior hormone or radiation therapy, and is associated with a poor prognosis. In addition to pure squamous cell carcinoma and adenosquamous cancer, other patterns may be seen. Whereas the adenocarcinoma component is typically high grade, the squamous component has a wide range of differentiation.

Mechanisms of prostatic stromal invasion in patients with bladder cancer: clinical significance.

PURPOSE: We assess the pathological mechanisms of silent prostatic stromal invasion in patients with bladder cancer for early detection and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 1998 and January 1999, 10 patients with clinically organ confined transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and known prostatic stromal invasion on transurethral biopsy or who were high risk for prostatic involvement due to tumor location near the bladder neck were studied for histological patterns of prostatic invasion. There were 5 cystectomy specimens distended for 24 hours with formalin via a Foley catheter, then step sectioned longitudinally at 3 mm. intervals through the bladder neck and prostate. Standard hematoxylin and eosin staining methods were used and sections were analyzed by 2 pathologists. RESULTS: There were 3 separate patterns of prostatic stromal invasion elucidated, including 2 previously described methods of extravesical or intraurethral invasion into the prostatic stroma and a third one through the bladder neck directly into the prostatic stroma. The third pattern was not grossly evident on endoscopy or urethral biopsy before cystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal sectioning of the bladder neck and prostate of cystectomy specimens suggests tumors at the bladder neck may directly invade the prostatic stroma without histological evidence of extravesical or intraurethral spread. Such direct silent tumor invasion of the prostate by superficial or endoscopically inapparent tumor is difficult to detect clinically by current biopsy methods. New methods of detection are necessary.

Dramatic recovery of renal function after 6 months of dialysis dependence following surgical correction of total renal artery occlusion in a solitary functioning kidney.

Revascularization of renal artery stenosis for the treatment of hypertension is an established procedure. In selected clinical scenarios, successful revascularization procedures may preserve or restore renal function. We present a 31-year-old man who underwent successful renal revascularization of a solitary functioning kidney after being dialysis dependent for approximately 190 days. He had dramatic improvement of renal function and has remained off dialysis since his surgery 18 months ago. He continues to have severe but controllable hypertension.

Immunophenotype of high-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma and urothelial carcinoma.

Morphologic features alone can usually be used to distinguish prostatic adenocarcinoma and urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Poorly differentiated tumors, however, can occasionally have features of both neoplasms, making determination of site of origin difficult. No study has provided a panel of antibodies to assist in the distinction of these two tumors. For this study, 73 examples of moderately and poorly differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma and 46 examples of high-grade urothelial carcinoma were obtained from radical resection specimens. Immunohistochemical studies were performed using the following panel of antibodies: cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK 20, 34betaE12, Leu M1, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)m, CEAp, p53, Leu 7, prostate-specific acid phosphatase (PSAP), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and B72.3. Mucicarmine was also performed. Intermediate and high-grade prostatic carcinoma were compared and then high-grade prostatic carcinoma was compared with high-grade urothelial carcinoma. PSA and PSAP each stained 94% of prostatic adenocarcinomas, but no urothelial carcinomas. Leu 7 stained 94% of prostate and 17% of urothelial carcinomas. Over half of the urothelial carcinomas showed positivity for 34betaE12 (65%), as did two cases of prostatic carcinoma (6%). Eighty-three percent of urothelial carcinomas and 12% of prostatic adenocarcinomas stained with CK 7. Forty-one percent of urothelial carcinomas and 12% of prostatic carcinomas were reactive for CEAm, and p53 stained 33% and 3% of urothelial and prostatic adenocarcinomas, respectively. No significant difference was seen in the expression of CEAp, CK 20, B72.3, Leu M1, or mucicarmine between prostate and urothelial carcinoma. We propose a panel of six antibodies to assist in the distinction of high-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma from high grade urothelial carcinoma: PSA, PSAP, 34betaE12, Leu 7, CK 7, and p53. The first three antibodies should be used initially; if results are negative, the remaining antibodies may be employed.

Infiltrative nonamyloidotic monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain cardiomyopathy: an underappreciated manifestation of plasma cell dyscrasias.

BACKGROUND: Infiltrative cardiomyopathies are characterized by diastolic dysfunction. In monoclonal plasma cell dyscrasias, organ compromise may be produced by tissue deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulins or their constituent peptides independently of the effects of unbridled plasma cell proliferation. The deposits may be fibrillar, as in light chain amyloid (AL) or nonfibrillar, as in light chain deposition disease (LCDD). AL disease of the heart is a restrictive cardiomyopathy. We hypothesized that, despite differences in physical properties, nonamyloidotic light chain deposition in the myocardium could produce similar clinical and physiological abnormalities. METHODS: Cardiac tissue from five patients with LCDD and cardiac dysfunction was examined by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic techniques. Hospital charts, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and cardiac catheterization results were reviewed. In two cases, the original echocardiograms were reanalyzed. RESULTS: The five patients with nonamyloidotic light chain deposits in the myocardium had either mechanical or electrocardiographic abnormalities. In four with adequate clinical documentation, the diastolic dysfunction and conduction abnormalities were similar or identical to that described in cardiac AL disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although nonamyloidotic immunoglobulin light chain deposits in the myocardium differ in distribution and ultrastructural organization from the fibrillar deposits of AL disease, an analogous pattern of diastolic dysfunction and conduction disturbances results. The diagnosis should be considered in patients with a plasmacytic dyscrasia and restrictive cardiomyopathy in whom Congo red staining of endomyocardial biopsy tissue is negative. The diagnosis can be established by using the appropriate immunohistochemical and ultrastructural tissue examinations.

Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the ureter: a case report and review of the literature.

Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/PNET) is a rare soft tissue tumor of childhood usually found in the extremities. The authors present the case of a 17-year-old girl who presented with right flank pain and hematuria and during operation was found to have a right ureteral mass. The histopathologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and cytogenetic characteristics of the excised mass were consistent with extraosseous ES/PNET. This is the first known reported case of extraosseous ES/ PNET of the ureter. The pathologic features and clinical management of this case, as well as a review of the literature, are presented.