Expression of actin isoforms and intermediate filament proteins in childhood orbital rhabdomyosarcomas.

The diagnosis of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in childhood gives rise to several clinical and anatomo-pathological problems. Antibodies recognizing structural proteins and cytoskeletal components have been shown to increase the diagnostic accuracy of different neoplastic lesions. In this study we examined anatomo-clinically and, where possible, by means of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, a series of 14 cases of orbital RMS in childhood. In the 12 cases studied by immunohistochemistry, desmin was always present, although showing variable patterns, and alpha-sarcomeric actin was found in 10 cases. alpha-Smooth muscle actin was always absent. The other markers tested (myoglobin, polyclonal actin, vimentin and enolase) proved unreliable for several reasons. We conclude that antibodies against desmin and alpha-sarcomeric actin are useful for the diagnostic definition of RMS. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis supplies data regarding the degree of tumor differentiation and may be applied to monitor radio- and chemotherapy.

Identification of 1-alkyl-2-acyl-3-(2',3'-diacylglycerol)glycerols, a new type of lipid class, in harderian gland tumors of mice.

A new class of alkyl glycerolipids, 1-alkyl-2-acyl-3-(2',3'-diacylglycerol)glycerols, was identified in lipid extracts prepared from harderian gland tumors of mice. After saponification, this lipid class yielded 1-alkyl-3-(1'-glycerol)glycerols. Identification was based on mass spectrometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and chromatography of various derivatives and appropriate standards that were synthesized. The alkyl moieties of this unique lipid class consisted of saturated aliphatic chains with chain lengths of 14 to 20 carbon atoms. The acyl moieties were mostly saturated and monounsaturated aliphatic chains ranging from 14 to 24 carbon atoms. The alkyl and acyl moieties of 1-alkyl-2-acyl-3-(2',3'-diacylglycerol)glycerols were similar to those of alkyldiacylglycerols present in the same tissue, except for the presence of monounsaturated alkyl moieties in the latter. 1-Alkyl-2-acyl-3-(2', 3'-diacylglycerol)glycerols were only found in trace amounts in the normal harderian glands of mice. The total quantity of the alkyl and acyl moieties with a chain length greater than 20 carbon atoms in the alkyldiacylglycerols from tumors were considerably lower than those found in normal harderian glands of mice. This is the first report of the presence of bisglyceryl ether lipids in mammalian tissue; its unique chemical structure is consistent with the type of ether-linked lipid products that could be synthesized in the reaction catalyzed by alkyldihydroxyacetone-P synthase.

Melanotic paraganglioma of the orbit: a case report.

A paraganglioma of the orbit in a 21-year-old woman is presented, containing oculo-cutaneous melanin in many tumor cells, occasionally adjacent to neurosecretory granules, and in macrophages. This tumor expands the list of neuroectodermal tumors with potential melaninization.

Granular cell tumor of the orbit.

An 18-year-old woman had a 3-month history of increasing proptosis and visual loss secondary to an inferior orbital mass. Surgical exploration revealed an encapsulated mass in the orbit. After this mass was excised good vision was restored. The diagnosis of granular cell tumor was made as a result of various microscopic studies. The location of the tumor within the orbit is unusual and its histologic origin is uncertain. Immunohistochemistry by peroxidase-antiperoxidase method revealed that this tumor had S-100-protein-positive cells and negative results for lysozyme and alpha-1-antitrypsin. This fact suggests that the origin of the granular cell tumor may be due to the Schwann cell.

Malignant lymphoma presenting in the orbit: a clinicopathologic study of a rare immunoglobulin-producing variant.

Malignant lymphoma with orbital presentation and associated serum paraproteinemia has seldom been reported in the literature. We report two such cases of lymphoplasmacytic type, one of which was also associated with amyloidosis. Both cases were studied with immunohistologic and one with electron microscopic techniques with results that confirmed that the neoplastic cells were producing the abnormal serum immunoglobulin.

Electron microscopic and electron histochemical studies on embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the orbit.

A small number of differentiated tumor cells could be found besides a great number of undifferentiated ones. Abnormal dense granules were found in the nuclei of undifferentiated tumor cells, not in differentiated ones. Non-specific filaments were seen in the cytoplasm of undifferentiated tumor cells. Differentiated tumor cells demonstrated various stages of myofibrillar structures such as A, I, and Z bands, many glycogen granules, mitochondria and a basement membrane. Polyglucose particles synthesized from glycose-1-phosphate by phosphorylase activity were located in the cytoplasmic matrix of undifferentiated and differentiated tumor cells and in the karyolymph of undifferentiated tumor cells. Polyglucose partices increased in number according to the degree of differentiation of tumor cells.