Myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma with multiple primary sites.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is one of the most common types of soft tissue sarcomas in adults. The most common location of MFH are the extremities and the trunk, with the most common site for distant metastases being the lung. We describe a case with multiple synchronous sites of myxoid MFH but no lung metastases and presence of abnormalities of 19p13.

Expression of CD44s, CD44v6, and hyaluronan across the spectrum of normal-hyperplasia-carcinoma in breast.

Background: The interaction between transmembrane receptors on epithelial tumor cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix molecules is important in tumor progression and metastasis. This interaction is best exemplified by the relationship of the receptor CD44 and the extracellular matrix component hyaluronan (HA). This study seeks to evaluate the expression and the correlation of CD44s, CD44v6, and HA in normal, hyperplastic, and malignant breast epithelium and stroma.

Odontogenic keratocysts arise from quiescent epithelial rests and are associated with deregulated hedgehog signaling in mice and humans.

Odontogenic keratocysts in humans are aggressive, noninflammatory jaw cysts that may harbor PTCH1 mutations, leading to constitutive activity of the embryonic Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. We show here that epithelial expression of the Hh transcriptional effector Gli2 is sufficient for highly penetrant keratocyst development in transgenic mice. Mouse and human keratocysts expressed similar markers, leading to tooth misalignment, bone remodeling, and craniofacial abnormalities.

Temporal variation in the distribution of hyaluronic acid, CD44s, and CD44v6 in the human endometrium across the menstrual cycle.

Tissues undergoing rapid growth and regeneration contain hyaluronic acid (HA) as a prominent component of the extracellular matrix. The physiologic role of HA is partly mediated by its relationship with CD44, its major cell surface receptor. Given the extensive remodeling of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle, the authors sought to determine whether these changes are related to the levels of HA, CD44s, and CD44v6 in the endometrium.

GLUT-1 is preferentially expressed in atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinoma.

The facilitative transport of monosaccharides in human cells is accomplished by a family of transmembrane proteins, GLUT-1 to GLUT-7, that differ in their tissue distribution, affinities for specific monosaccharides, and physiologic regulation. GLUT-1, a high-affinity glucose transporter, is normally expressed in erythrocytes, the perineurium of peripheral nerves, and capillary endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier. Although the aberrant expression of GLUT-1 has been reported in a wide spectrum of epithelial malignancies, its possible correlation with the malignant transformation of endometrial epithelium has not been clearly established.

Diagnostic utility of GLUT-1 expression in the cytologic evaluation of serous fluids.

Objective: To evaluate the extent to which adenocarcinomas in body cavity fluids express GLUT-1 in comparison to currently available markers for adenocarcinomas.

Study Design: Archival paraffin-embedded cell blocks of serous fluids from 25 cases of benign effusions containing reactive mesothelial cells and 39 cases of malignant effusions with metastatic adenocarcinoma (11 ovarian, 11 pulmonary, 9 gastrointestinal and 8 breast) were retrieved from the surgical pathology files. All cases were stained with antibodies for GLUT-1, Ber-Ep4, B72.

Expression of hyaluronic acid and its receptors, CD44s and CD44v6, in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic endometrium.

The interaction between epithelial tumor cells and their surrounding stroma is important in tumor progression and metastasis. This is accomplished through a number of transmembrane receptors that interact with stromal extracellular matrix molecules. One of these receptors, CD44, binds to extracellular matrix component hyaluronic acid (HA).

Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp: a multidisciplinary approach.

Background: Angiosarcoma is a malignant tumor of vascular endothelial cells that arises in the head and neck. It is a rare, difficult to treat, and lethal tumor.

Methods: Clinical data from patients who were diagnosed with angiosarcoma of the scalp between 1975 and 2002 at the University of Michigan were reviewed.

Are epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor responsible for pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia associated with granular cell tumors?

Granular cell tumors (GCT) are uncommon benign neoplasms that have a predilection for the head and neck region. These tumors can frequently be associated with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH), which in turn may be mistaken for squamous cell carcinoma. Although epidermal growth factors are overexpressed in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, their presence in PEH, especially its relation to GCT, is unknown.

Basaloid tumors of the salivary glands.

Basaloid tumors of the salivary glands are a heterogeneous group of benign and malignant lesions characterized by small tumor cells with round or ovoid nuclei surrounded by a thin rim of cytoplasm. Primary salivary gland tumors with this predominant morphology include basal cell adenoma, basal cell adenocarcinoma, cellular pleomorphic adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and small cell undifferentiated carcinoma. Certain metastatic lesions and nonepithelial neoplasms can also demonstrate a basaloid appearance.

Perineural invasion in adenoid cystic carcinoma: Its causation/promotion by brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a common salivary gland neoplasm with a lengthy clinical course and often late local recurrences after surgical resection. This is accounted for histologically by its infiltrative capacity and distinct propensity for perineural invasion. The expression of biological markers may help explain the clinicopathologic course in ACCs.

Malignant melanoma of the oral mucosa in a 17-year-old adolescent girl.

Mucosal melanomas of the oral cavity are rarely seen in the United States. The hard palate is the most common intraoral site. This unusual case occurred in the oral cavity of a 17-year-old Asian girl, who presented to her dentist with complaints of pain and swelling in the upper jaw.

Prognostic factors in malignant mixed tumors of the salivary gland: correlation of immunohistochemical markers with histologic classification.

Malignant mixed tumor of salivary glands is a rare tumor whose variable behavior and prognosis are related for the most part to the clinical stage and histologic grade of the carcinomatous component. The purpose of this study is to predict prognosis by comparing the histologic grading and subclassification of the carcinomatous component with the immunohistochemical reactivity for E-cadherin, P53 mutation protein, and cellular proliferation (Ki67). Stains were performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 18 cases of malignant mixed tumor.

Diagnostic use of muscle markers in the cytologic evaluation of serous fluids.

Differentiating reactive mesothelial cells from malignant mesotheliomas and from adenocarcinomas can be diagnostically challenging when based solely on the morphologic examination of serous fluids. The diagnosis even after the use of standard immunohistochemical stains may at times be inconclusive because of the variable reactivity of mesothelial cells for these markers. Pathologists and cytologists underutilize reactivity for desmin, a feature of mesothelial cells apparently not shared by adenocarcinomas.

Lipomatous variant of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: a case report.

Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is an uncommon benign vascular tumor that occurs in adolescent boys and young men. We describe an unusual histological variant of this entity characterized by a prominent adipose tissue component. The patient was a 35-year-old man with a 20-year history of nasal obstruction.

Cytology of myoepithelial carcinoma of the salivary gland.

Background: Myoepithelial carcinoma, also know as malignant myoepithelioma, is rare in the salivary gland, and its cytologic features have rarely been reported.

Design: Four cases of myoepithelial carcinoma with cytology were retrieved from the archives of the Pathology Departments of two academic institutes. In three cases, the specimens were obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA); the remaining case was a bench aspiration performed on the surgically resected specimen at the time of intra-operative consultation.

Melan-A as a useful diagnostic immunohistochemical stain for the diagnosis of primary sinonasal melanomas.

Background: Sinonasal melanomas are rare neoplasms whose diagnosis may require confirmatory immunohistochemical stains. S-100 protein and HMB-45, the stains most commonly used, have varying sensitivities and specificities. Melan-A, a more recent melanoma-specific marker, may prove helpful when S-100 protein and HMB-45 stains are negative or equivocal.