Immunohistochemical analysis of thoracic endometriosis.

Thoracic endometriosis is a rare disease responsible for catamenial pneumothorax. The immunohistochemical features of thoracic endometriosis are not well understood. An immunohistochemical examination of 84 diaphragmatic specimens of catamenial pneumothorax using antibodies against estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), CD10 and smooth muscle actin (SMA) was conducted. The endometrial tissue was small, and focally located around the chasm of the tendon on the side of the thoracic cavity. Endometrial stroma were detected in 84/84 (100%) of the specimens, endometrial glands were detected in 21/84 (25%) and smooth muscle was detected in 1/84 (1.2%). The endometrial stroma exhibited positive staining for ER in 74/84 (88.1%) of the specimens, PgR in 84/84 (100%), CD10 in 74/84 (88.1%) and SMA in 46/84 (54.8%). Because thoracic endometriosis is small in size, and only 25% of the resected tissue specimens were accompanied with the endometrial gland, an immunohistochemical analysis can be useful for their detection. The fact that over half of the thoracic endometrial stroma showed positive staining for SMA, and the existence of thoracic endometriosis accompanied by smooth muscle, indicated that some part of the thoracic endometriosis may have the ability to differentiate into smooth muscle, although further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Bilateral thalamic glioma--case report.

A 35-year-old woman presented with a bilateral thalamic glioma manifesting as dysesthesia over the left side of the body and mental deterioration. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlarged bilateral thalami with homogeneous isointensity and no enhancement after gadolinium administration. Histological examination of a stereotactic biopsy specimen identified anaplastic astrocytoma. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy failed to arrest tumor growth. She subsequently died. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical findings support the view that bilateral thalamic gliomas represent a distinct clinicopathologic entity among thalamic tumors.

Efficacy of contrast-enhanced MR imaging in cardiomyopathy: an experimental study using Bio14.6 hamsters.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Myocardial fibrosis was evaluated with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in Bio14.6 hamsters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gated gradient-echo T1-weighted images and spin-echo images with gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement (0.2 mmol/kg) were obtained. RESULTS: Myocardial enhancement persisted for 13 minutes after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine, and myocardial signal intensity peaked at 13 minutes on gradient-echo T1-weighted images. The enhanced areas were greater in Bio14.6 hamsters at 25-42 weeks than at 10 weeks. Pathologic data revealed enhancement with inflammation at 10 weeks and fibrosis with vessel proliferation at 25-42 weeks. Pathologic fibrotic change was greater at 32-42 weeks than at 10 weeks. The myocardium of 42-week-old Bio14.6 hamsters showed remarkable contrast enhancement, which continued for 13 minutes. There was no correlation between gadolinium enhancement and pathologic findings in the evaluation of myocardial degeneration and fibrosis. CONCLUSION: Gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging was useful for estimating myocardial fibrotic changes with vessel proliferation and myocardial damage.