Diagnostic and prognostic value of DNA image cytometry in myelodysplasia.

The DNA content of erythropoietic cells from 10 patients with refractory anaemia (RA) with megaloblastic changes, who subsequently developed acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia (ANL), and from seven patients with megaloblastic marrow aspirates due to pernicious anaemia were compared by DNA image cytometry. The DNA distribution, the rate of aneuploid cells exceeding 5c (5cER), and the square deviation index of DNA values from the normal 2c-peak (2cDI) were recorded. Both variables were of diagnostic and prognostic importance for epithelial tumours, malignant lymphomas, and dysplastic lesions.

Morphometric assessment of bone marrow fiber content in acute nonlymphatic leukemia at presentation.

The number of intersections of reticulin fibers per sq mm of fat cell-free marrow parenchyma with the lines of a grid ocular (i/sq mm) represents an objective measure of the bone marrow reticulin fiber content. This method was used to assess the reticulin fiber content of bone marrow biopsies from 50 cases of acute nonlymphatic leukemia (ANLL) at presentation and 20 controls. Seventeen (34%) of the 50 patients with ANLL showed fibrosis, i.

The prognostic implication of clinical and histological features in Ph1+ chronic myelocytic leukaemia (CML).

A study on clinical and histological features of prognostic significance was performed in 45 patients with Ph1+ -CML who showed median survival of 36 months. The histological features were evaluated by morphometry of iliac crest biopsies. Among the variables correlated with prognosis, we eliminated those without primary importance by mutual univariate retrospective stratification.

[Myelosarcoma as the primary manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia].

Myelosarcoma ("Granulocytic sarcoma", "Chloroma") is an extramedullary tumor composed of granulocytic precursor cells and related to myelogenous leukemia. If the tumor precedes acute leukemia diagnosis is difficult and requires special diagnostic techniques. This is documented by the presented 7.

Acute megakaryocytic myelosis preceded by myelodysplasia. Report of a case and review of the literature.

Acute megakaryocytic myelosis represents a distinct disease entity. As shown by a survey of the literature, it is a rapidly fatal disease, not preceded by a chronic myeloproliferative disorder, and mostly refractory to cytotoxic treatment. The first manifestation is pancytopenia with initial absence but quick development of hepatosplenomegaly.

Recovery patterns of rat hemopoietic stem cells between pulse doses of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) applied in a leukemogenic regimen.

Male Wistar rats received repeated pulse doses of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), known to elicit myelodysplasia followed by acute, mostly erythroblastic, leukemia at 10-day intervals. The recovery of spleen colony forming hemopoietic stem cells (CFU-s) surviving the cytocidal action of DMBA was examined between pulses. Recovery after a pulse of 35 mg/kg body weight varied with the organ source of the CFU-s (femoral bone marrow or spleen) and the number of preceding DMBA pulses.

Aplastic anaemia and the hypocellular myelodysplastic syndrome: histomorphological, diagnostic, and prognostic features.

In a retrospective study of 111 patients with aplastic anaemia iliac crest biopsies were evaluated for the presence of morphological features statistically related to the evolution of the disease. Prognostic variables for a transition to acute non-lymphatic leukaemia were: cellular atypias of the three haemopoietic lineages, as observed in the myelodysplastic syndrome, and especially "micromegakaryocytes"; high numbers or irregular distribution of megakaryocytes, or both; and (slight) marrow fibrosis. Clinical variables did not influence these prognostic correlations.

Preleukemic myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): pathogenetical considerations based on retrospective clinicomorphological sequential studies.

Analysis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in 77 patients terminating in "overt" leukemia revealed sequential changes of marrow morphology with respect to cellularity and involvement of lineages, indicating that different "forms" of MDS represent in reality different phases. Three main phases were observed, which occurred in the following non-reversible sequence: (a) hypocellular dysplasia (H), (b) hypercellular dysplasia with predominance of erythropoiesis (E), and (c) with predominance of myelo(mono)poiesis (MM). Published studies suggest that these phases represent different manifestation stages of the stem cell lesion leading to MDS.

Bone marrow mast cell reaction in preleukaemic myelodysplasia and in aplastic anaemia.

The relationship of bone marrow mast cell counts to prognosis was investigated in 48 patients with preleukaemic myelodysplasia, in 59 patients with aplastic anemia and in a DMBA induced myelodysplasia/leukaemia rat model. In patients with myelodysplasia terminating in overt leukaemia the number of mast cells per square millimeter was not correlated to duration of the preleukaemic course. Leukaemia development probabilities of patients at risk were not different for low and elevated mast cell counts.

The possibility of assaying Wistar rat bone marrow CFUs in a xenogeneic (rat-to-mouse) system.

The possibility of replacing the space-consuming rat-to-rat colony-forming unit (CFUs) assay by rat-to-mouse assay systems was examined using Wistar rat bone marrow. After considering the published results on the responsiveness of mouse strains to hemopoietic xenografts and on the ways to abrogate "xenogeneic resistance', we tested C57B1/6J and C3H/He mice conditioned by cyclophosphamide (CY) and/or whole-body irradiation in the following combinations: 850 rad C57Bl; 850 rad + CY C57Bl; 800 rad + CY C3H. A linear relationship between the number of cells injected and the macroscopical spleen colony count could be demonstrated with all three combinations.

[Cryotherapy of rectal cancer. Immunologic results].

On the basis of experimental studies carried out in animals several authors could demonstrate that cryotherapy is able to induce a raise of auto- and tumour-antibodies. The specificity of these reactions has been proved. Comparative analysis could verify greater immune response after 'in situ-destruction' of tumours than after conventional surgical excision.

On the pathogenesis of preleukemic myelodysplastic syndromes: development of a dysplastic hemopoietic proliferation in the rat after a single pulse dose of dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA).

After a single pulse dose of DMBA, rats develop bone-marrow hypoplasia, which is almost compensated for by regeneration after 16 weeks. Subsequently, dysplastic signs of hemopoiesis appear in all experimental animals as massive extrusion of normoblasts into the peripheral blood, red-cell aniso- and poikilocytosis, nuclear deformities, atypical mitoses, and PAS-positivity, as well as megaloblastoid maturation dissociation of erythroblasts and nuclear and granulation anomalies of neutrophilic granulocytes and monocytes, comparable to human "pseudo-Pelger cells" and "paraneutrophils". At the time of death (112-497 days after DMBA pulse) experimental animals showed hyperplastic bone marrow with increased granulopoietic/erythropoietic ratios and an augmented, mainly erythropoietic, hemopoiesis in the spleen, with splenomegaly in six rats.

[Hypoferric anaemia due to a leiomyosarcoma of the proximal jejunum (author's transl)].

In an outpatient the diagnosis of a hypoferric anaemia and a transitory, masked, intestinal bleeding led to the discovery of a tumour in the proximal jejunum. The diagnosis was confirmed by operation. Radiographs and surgical specimen corresponded to each other.

[Chronic lymphoproliferative disorder resembling hairy-cell leukemia (author's transl)].

Seven patients are presented with a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder characterized clinically by splenomegaly, no or discrete lymphnode enlargement, and a varying degree of cytopenia. In blood and bone-marrow smears lymphoid cells of "hairy" appearance are demonstrable which may contain tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. The finding of a nodular bone-marrow infiltration without fibrosis as well as that of a nodular infiltration of the spleen originating in the white pulp are incompatible with the diagnosis hairy-cell leukemia and place the disease near to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or leukemic immunocytoma respectively.

[Echinococcus cysticus infections in the head and neck (author's transl)].

An unusual case of Echinococcus cysticus infection of the neck, face and skull is reported. The disease was misdiagnosed for several years as tuberculosis of the lymph nodes and consequently incorrectly treated. Definitive therapy required radical surgery.