Arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, arteriolosclerosis, and Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis: what is the difference?

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in contemporary times. Arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, arteriolosclerosis, and Monckeberg's arteriosclerosis are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different vascular pathologies. The objective of this study is to review the concepts of atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis and Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis (MMCS).

Multiple cardiac rhabdomyomas in tuberous sclerosis complex: case report and review of the literature.

Cardiac rhabdomyoma is a benign tumor which constitutes the most common cardiovascular feature of the tuberous sclerosis complex, a multisystem genetically determined neurocutaneous disorder. Cardiac rhabdomyomas can be detected in the prenatal ultrasound, are usually asymptomatic and spontaneously regress within the first three years of life. Less often, the tumors' size, number, and location can produce a mass effect that may lead to blood flow abnormalities or organ dysfunction (heart failure and arrhythmia).

Juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis with pulmonary involvement and carcinomatous transformation.

Papilloma associated with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) infection types 6 and 11, is the most common benign neoplasm of the larynx. The clinical features of RRP vary widely from mild to aggressive forms. RRP in children is known as juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP).

Bone metastasis as the first symptom of tumors: role of an immunohistochemistry study in establishing primary tumor.

Objectives: To determine the role of immunohistochemistry in identifying the primary site of tumors, and in establishing which bones are most frequently involved, their relationship with the primary tumor site, and the rate of pathologic bone fracture as the first symptom of a malignant tumor.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all medical records on bone metastases the cases treated between January 2006 and December 2011 at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology was performed.

Results: Immunohistochemistry correctly determined the primary tumor site in 61.

Mycotic aneurysm with aortoduodenal fistula.

Firstly described in the 19th century by Sir William Osler, the mycotic aneurysm (MA) is a rare entity characterized by an abnormal arterial dilation, which is potentially fatal, and is associated with the infection of the vascular wall. Elderly patients are mostly involved, especially when risk factors like chronic diseases, immunosuppression, neoplasia, and arterial manipulation are associated. The authors report the case of a young male patient diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm of infectious origin in the presence of repeated negative blood cultures.

Use of cytology as an auxiliary diagnostic tool in autopsies.

Background: The use of minimally invasive procedures in autopsies such as image-guided fine-needle aspiration may facilitate family acceptance and, therefore, increase the number of postmortem examinations. The objective of the current study was to validate the use of cytology in a prospective set of conventional autopsies.

Methods: All lesions and organs sampled for histological examination were concomitantly evaluated by scrape cytology of exactly the same location.

Cardiac amyloidosis: a challenging diagnosis.

Cardiovascular involvement of amyloidosis is present in 90% of cases, which is frequently associated with the primary form of the disease (AL amyloidosis). Clinical manifestations are represented by heart failure due to restrictive myocardiopathy and electrical impulse conduction abnormalities, which are clinically remarkable in up to 50% of the cases. The prognosis of patients with systemic amyloidosis is directly associated with the presence of cardiac involvement, such that survival does not usually exceed 4 months after the onset of heart failure signs and symptoms.

Capillary hemangiomatosis like-lesions in lung biopsies from children with congenital heart defects.

The morphological findings in the lung vessels of children with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with uncorrected congenital cardiac shunts may be qualitatively and quantitatively assessed by lung biopsy in selected cases. Among 297 lung biopsies collected over a period of 11 years two cases were detected presenting the typical findings of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, a rare disorder usually associated with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. We report the clinical and histological findings and discuss about the impact of this unexpected and not-previously described associated lesion on the prognosis and on the therapeutic strategy in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease.

Bilateral papillary muscle infarction in a chagasic patient.

We report a case of a 59-year-old patient diagnosed with chagasic cardiomyopathy, who manifested sudden heart failure while hospitalized, evolving to death due to cardiogenic and septic shock. Anatomical-pathological studies revealed infarction of the papillary muscles together with histological changes compatible with 48 to 72 hours of evolution. Pulmonary edema was considered the cause of death, probably related to mitral regurgitation of ischemic nature.

Comparative histological study of atherosclerotic lesions and microvascular changes in amputated lower limbs of diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Objective: To perform a comparative analysis of atherosclerotic lesions and capillaries changes in diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Methods: Leg arteries and skin of 57 amputated lower limbs of diabetic (47.3%) and nondiabetic patients were histologically examined.

Diffuse-regressive alterations and apoptosis of myocytes: possible causes of myocardial dysfunction in HIV-related cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To determine the frequency of cardiac alterations in necropsies of AIDS patients in pre-HAART era and better understand the pathogenesis of HIV-related cardiomyopathy.

Design: Retrospective study of 94 complete necropsies.

Method: Macroscopic, histopathologic (histochemical, immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques) and ultra structural myocardial evaluation (23 cases).

Tuberculosis of the thymus.

Tumors of the anterior mediastinum include several entities with different radiological and clinical manifestations, constituting a heterogeneous group of congenital, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions. Among these lesions, the most common primary tumor of the mediastinum is thymoma, nearly followed by germ cell tumors and lymphomas. Tuberculosis of the thymus, an extremely rare condition, typically involves the mediastinal lymph nodes.