Recurrent plexiform neurofibromatosis of the foot with extensive bone destruction.

Plexiform neurofibromatosis is uncommon in the foot. No case of neurofibromatous involvement of the bone in the foot has been reported. We report the first case of plexiform neurofibromatosis with destruction of bones in the foot.

Lymphatics and bone.

There is controversy regarding whether lymphatic vessels are present or absent in bone. Although lymphangiomas have been described in bone, lymphatic vessels have not been identified morphologically with certainty in any other benign or malignant bone tumors or in normal human bone. In this study, we determined by immunohistochemistry, using 2 specific lymphatic endothelial cell markers, LYVE-1 and podoplanin, whether lymphatics are present in normal bone and a wide range of primary and secondary bone neoplasms.

Irradiation of myxoid/round cell liposarcoma induces volume reduction and lipoma-like morphology.

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical and morphological effects of radiotherapy in the treatment of myxoid/round cell liposarcoma (MLS/RCLS). Thirty-three primary and metastatic MLS/RCLS tumours in 15 patients were treated with radiation therapy. Twenty-seven of the 33 tumours were surgically removed after preoperative radiation (34-46 Gy) while six tumours were treated with radiotherapy alone (44-60 Gy).

Adjuvant imatinib treatment improves recurrence-free survival in patients with high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST).

Palliative imatinib treatment has dramatically improved survival in patients with malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumours, particularly in patients with tumours harbouring activating KIT mutations. To evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant imatinib after radical surgery, a consecutive series of patients with high-risk tumours (n=23) was compared with historic controls (n=48) who were treated with surgery alone. The mean follow-up period was over 3 years in both groups.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology and core needle biopsy in the preoperative diagnosis of desmoid tumors.

Background: Desmoid tumors have a tendency to recur locally, and traditionally they have been treated surgically. No treatment is sometimes indicated, however; this requires a morphological diagnosis that is not based on a surgical specimen. In this study we aimed to identify the diagnostic accuracy of needle and core biopsy for the morphological diagnosis of desmoid.