Imaging of peripheral nerve sheath tumors with pathologic correlation: pictorial review.

Peripheral neurogenic tumors include neurilemoma, neurinoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. All neurogenic tumors share common imaging features. Although differentiation between them is difficult, neurogenic origin can be suggested from their imaging appearances, including fusiform shape, relation to the nerve, "split-fat" sign, associated muscle atrophy and intrinsic imaging characteristics including "target sign" as well as from lesion location along a typical nerve distribution. Our purpose is to make an overview of imaging findings of each type of peripheral nerve sheath tumor with emphasis on characteristic signs and correlate with histologic features. Morton's neuroma and intraneural ganglion are also included as tumors of nerve origin.

Bronchogenic cyst infected by Salmonella enteritidis followed gastroenteritis.

Congenital bronchogenic cysts of the lung and mediastinum develop from the ventral foregut during embryogenesis. Bronchogenic cysts are seldom seen in the adults and most are thought to be asymptomatic and free of complications unless they become infected or are large enough to cause pressure on contiguous vital structures such as the tracheal carina, the lung or the esophagus. We present the unique case of a 24-year-old man who developed respiratory symptoms after Salmonella enteritidis infected bronchogenic cyst following Salmonella gastroenteritis.

Primary malignant melanoma of the oral cavity. Report of an unusual case.

Primary malignant melanoma is only rarely found in the oral cavity (estimated at between 0.2 and 8 per cent of all melanomas) and occurs approximately four times more frequently in the oral mucosa of the upper jaw, usually on the palate or alveolar gingivae. A case is reported of a malignant melanoma in the mouth of a 74 year old male, which was originally diagnosed as reactive denture hyperplasia caused by a ill-fitting upper denture. Correction of the denture fault failed to stop the growth of the mass, which was therefore removed surgically. Histological examination revealed a melanin-producing tumour. A partial maxillectomy was performed and there was no evidence of recurrence over a three year follow-up period.

p53 and bcl-2 expression in locally advanced squamous cell head-neck cancer treated with platinum based chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The role of apoptosis regulating oncoproteins in defining response to cytotoxic therapy remains poorly understood. Loss of wild type p53 function and bcl-2 protein overexpression are well known to inhibit the apoptotic pathway in in vitro studies. METHODS: We immunohistochemically examined the nuclear accumulation of mutant p53 and the cytoplasmic overexpression of bcl-2 proteins in 76 patients with locally advanced inoperable squamous cell cancer of the head and neck area. Patients were treated with platinum based chemotherapy and radiotherapy (37 with induction and 39 with concurrent chemotherapy). The median follow up period was 72 months. RESULTS: Thirty five (46%) cases were positive for p53 and 41 (54%) negative, whilst 19 (25%) and 57 (75%) cases were positive and negative for bcl-2 respectively. A high percentage of bcl-2 positive cells was associated with a low incidence of nodal involvement. A statistically significant higher percentage of p53 positive cells was observed in the group of patients with complete disappearance of the disease as compared to the group with residual disease after treatment (p = 0.01). High percentage of p53 positive cells and concurrent chemoradiotherapy was associated with better local progression free survival (p = 0.05 and 0.02). In multivariate analysis, the type of chemotherapy (concurrent vs. induction) was the only significant prognostic variable for local relapse (p = 0.02) and overall survival (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence that p53 nuclear accumulation may be associated with better response to DNA damaging cytotoxic agents. The association of wild type p53 loss with decreased DNA repair enzyme activity is a possible explanation. Induction platinum based chemotherapy may contribute to the selection of clonogenic cells with a radioresistant phenotype.

Clear cell carcinoma of the minor salivary glands. Report of a case.

Clear cell carcinoma is an extremely rare form of malignant salivary gland tumour. A case of clear cell carcinoma arising in the minor salivary glands is reported.

Mediastinal cystic hygroma: report of a case with review of the literature.

Cystic hygroma is a developmental malformation of the lymphatic system. It is very uncommon for this type of tumor to arise from and grow exclusively in the mediastinum. Enlargement of such a lesion within this region often produces alarming respiratory symptoms requiring immediate medical attention.

Benign cysts of the parotid gland.

Benign cysts of the parotid gland are not frequently diagnosed. They occur in any portion of the parotid gland and may be difficult to diagnose. They present with considerable histological variation in their linings. Three cases are presented of unilocular benign cystic lesions of the parotid gland that have been treated by superficial parotidectomy. Two of them were lined by a single or pseudostratified layer of cuboidal epithelium and were diagnosed as retention cysts. The third was a lympho-epithelial cyst and was lined by stratified squamous and partially by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. A review of the relevant literature is also presented.

Early intimal lesions in the common carotid artery.

Histological sections of the common carotid arteries from 259 children who were stillborn or died under 16 years of age were examined for intimal thickening, lamellar irregularities and ruptures, foam cells, and fat. Lesions were present at birth in approximately half the children examined, and the incidence increased rapidly in the first two months after birth. All the children had the early features of the prodroma of atheroma by 8 months of age. Compared with the findings of previous studies of the coronary arteries and aorta the histological findings appeared in the carotid arteries at an earlier age. The prevalence of intimal lesions in infant cot deaths, chronic diseases, and congenital heart disease was compared with that in all other children in the study. There was no difference in the cot death group, but in children under 2 years in both the chronic disease and heart deformity group there was a lower incidence of intimal thickening and visible fat.

Cementoblastoma: review of the literature and report of a case in a 7 year-old girl.

Cementoblastoma is a very rare tumour of mesenchymal odontogenic origin. It usually affects adolescents and young adults, the youngest patient ever reported being 8 years-old. It is treated by enucleation and has an excellent prognosis. We review the world literature on the subject and present a case of cementoblastoma in a 7 year-old girl.