Pulmonary blastomas of childhood: histologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural aspects and therapeutic considerations.

Pulmonary blastomas are rare neoplasms typically occurring in patients of pediatric age, clinically characterized by fever, respiratory distress, and radiologic findings of a pulmonary cystic and/or solid mass with partial or complete obliteration of emithorax. Their behavior is aggressive and outcome is poor due to frequent relapses and metastases. The histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural aspects of a personal series of 6 cases of pulmonary blastoma are described and the differences between childhood and adult types are stressed.

Different pattern of matrix metalloproteinases expression in alveolar versus embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.

Background/purpose: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM), are important in neoplastic cell invasion and metastasis. Data for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most frequent soft tissue sarcoma of childhood, are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess their expression in this tumor and to evaluate the correlation with clinicopathologic parameters.

Role of surgery for nonmetastatic abdominal rhabdomyosarcomas: a report from the Italian and German Soft Tissue Cooperative Groups Studies.

Background: In the current study, the authors aim to evaluate clinical features and treatment results observed in patients from the German and Italian studies who had nonmetastatic abdominal rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS).

Methods: One hundred sixty-one patients were observed; 78 registered in the German studies between October 1980 and August 1995, and 83 registered in the Italian studies between April 1975 and December 1995. The age range of the patients was 0-18 years (median, 4 yrs).