Anaplastic large cell lymphoma: update of findings.

The problem of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is extensively reviewed by depicting the clinical, pathological and biological characteristics of the four main varieties of ALCL: common, Hodgkin's like/Hodgkin-related, lympho-histiocytic, and giant-cell rich. Special emphasis is given to the differential diagnosis between ALCL Hodgkin like and Hodgkin's disease in the light of possible therapeutical differences.

Malignant sarcomatoid mesothelioma of the pleura: a histological and immunohistological study of a case.

The authors describe the case of a 70 year-old asymptomatic female, who showed nodular pleural growths at an occasional chest roentgenogram. Histological examinations and laboratory findings excluded the possibility of an inflammatory granulomatous process, but they did not allow differentiation between malignant sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Only at immunohistochemistry was the differential diagnosis made. In fact, the co-expression of vimentin and cytokeratins by neoplastic cells, along with their negativity for macrophage markers strongly supported the hypothesis that the neoplastic growth originated from subpleural mesenchymal stem cells.

Acute idiopathic interstitial giant cell myocarditis. A histological and immunohistological study of a case.

The Authors report on a case of acute idiopathic giant cell myocarditis, which occurred in a young man without previous history of immunodeficiency or tumours, and displayed a rapidly fatal clinical course. Autoptic examination showed diffuse damage to the myocardium, with myocytolysis, granuloma formation and abundant giant cell reaction. No significant changes were observed in the other organs and systems . Immunohistochemistry revealed that the giant cells strongly reacted with the antibody KP1--raised to the macrophage-associated antigen CD68--whereas they did not stain with the monoclonal against the muscle-specific marker desmin. In the light of their findings and previous reports in the literature, the Authors discuss the possible origin of giant cells, along with the pathogenesis of the condition.

Distribution of basement membrane antigens in bladder carcinomas: an additional prognostic parameter. Immunohistochemical study.

A retrospective study of basement membrane (BM) components (laminin and type IV collagen) in urothelial tissues was performed by applying an immunoperoxidase method to 64 formalin-fixed specimens. The distribution of laminin and type IV collagen was investigated in normal and non-cancerous epithelium (11 cases), where the staining of the basement membrane was continuous. In the invasive bladder carcinomas (53 cases), two distinct staining patterns were observed both with type IV collagen and with laminin: preserved or thin and discontinuous (pattern I) and fragmented or absent (pattern II). These patterns were largely related to the type of growth of the bladder neoplasias ("pushing margin" or "finger-like") and to the cellular arrangement. Furthermore, five-year survival exceeded 70% in patients with pattern I, whereas only three of the 18 patients with pattern II survived for five years or more.

Juvenile papillomatosis (epitheliosis) of the breast. A clinical and pathologic study of 13 cases.

The clinical and pathologic findings of 13 patients with juvenile papillomatosis (JP) (epitheliosis) of the breast are analyzed. The average age was 25 years, with a range from 15 to 42. Family history of breast carcinoma was observed in 33%. Carcinoma did not develop in any patient after the diagnosis of JP. A co-existing carcinoma was present in 15% of the patients. This study confirms that JP may be related to family history of breast carcinoma and that the patients themselves may be at increased risk for the development of cancer. A long-term follow-up for these patients and relatives is needed so that additional information and better knowledge of this entity can be obtained.

Tissue antigen distribution in hepatocellular carcinoma.

An immunohistochemical study on 63 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) was performed for the demonstration of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens. AAT and AFP were also investigated in 54 cases of cirrhosis not associated with HCC. AAT was frequently expressed both in HCC (82.5%) and in cirrhosis (53.7%), whereas AFP was present in 41.2% of HCC and never detected in cirrhosis used as controls. These findings suggest that AFP is the more specific antigen for use as a marker of malignant cellular transformation. The HBsAg-positivity in 31.7% of HCC supports the hypothesis of a close link between virus B infection and the tumor.

Atypical juvenile polyposis.

Two cases of atypical juvenile polyposis are described in males of 9 months and 25 years-of-age. The first was associated with congenital megacolon and presented as juvenile polyps with features suggesting mild dysplasia. In the second case six histological lesions are found: I hyperplastic polyps; 2 juvenile polyps; 3 hyperplastic polyps with adenomatous areas; 4 juvenile polyps with areas of dysplastic epithelium; 5 adenomas; and 6 adenocarcinomas. On the basis of the morphological features we propose a pathogenetic sequence of focal mucosal hyperplasia to adenoma and carcinoma through stages of non-neoplastic and non premalignant polyps. Finally, the possibility that hyperplastic epithelium can in some circumstances have a greater dysplastic potential that normal colorectal mucosa is raised.

[Prognostic anatomical features in the colon-rectum carcinoma (author's transl)]. / Facteurs anatomiques et pronostiques des cancers du côlon et du rectum.

We have reviewed 415 cases of colon-rectum carcinoma in order to establish the most important prognostic anatomical features. Furthermore, we have examined the associated adenomatous polyps, and the possible relationships between anatomical and histological aspects and Dukes stage of carcinoma. We have searched for some useful parameters to decide whether 5 centimeters between neoplasia and resection line is the correct surgical treatment.