Langerhans cell histiocytosis with spinal, pulmonary and pituitary involvement: What about ACTH deficiency without diabetes insipidus? A propos of a case.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is disease process characterized by clonal proliferation of CD1a+ dendritic cells within an inflammatory infiltrate of hematopoietic derived cells. LCH can manifest with a broad spectrum of symptoms and can involve single organs or have a multisystem distribution. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement of LCH can manifest as granulomatous parenchymal or pituitary mass lesions.

Histopathological Mimics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

This review article discusses the challenges of making a firm histopathological diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on biopsy and resection material and the importance of its distinction from a range of other inflammatory and infective conditions that may closely mimic IBD. In many cases, the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease is straightforward, especially when patients have a typical presentation and characteristic histopathological features. Knowledge of the full clinical history is very important, particularly past and recent medical history, drug history, foreign travel, or known contact with individuals with specific infection.

Spindle cell proliferations of the sigmoid colon, rectum and anus: a review with emphasis on perineurioma.

A wide range of spindle cell proliferations are found uncommonly in the sigmoid colon, rectum and anus. They usually present as polyps, and include reactive lesions and benign and malignant neoplasms which may be primary or metastatic. They are less frequently described in the literature compared to those in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and may be underdiagnosed.

Assessment of lymph node involvement in colorectal cancer.

Lymph node metastasis informs prognosis and is a key factor in deciding further management, particularly adjuvant chemotherapy. It is core to all contemporary staging systems, including the widely used tumor node metastasis staging system. Patients with node-negative disease have 5-year survival rates of 70%-80%, implying a significant minority of patients with occult lymph node metastases will succumb to disease recurrence.

A pathologist's survey on the reporting of sessile serrated adenomas/polyps.

Aim: The purpose of this survey was to ascertain reporting habits of pathologists towards sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/P).

Methods: A questionnaire designed to highlight diagnostic criteria, approach and clinical implications of SSA/P was circulated electronically to 45 pathologists in the UK and North America.

Results: Forty-three of 45 pathologists agreed to participate.

In vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) in periocular basal cell carcinoma: correlations between in vivo OCT images and postoperative histology.

Aim: To investigate in vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) for imaging of periocular basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Methods: Consecutive patients with periocular BCC were prospectively investigated with VivoSight OCT imaging prior to surgical excision. Histology sections were compared with OCT images with regard to lesion measurements (x, y and z dimensions) and histological features.

Investigation of basal cell carcinoma using dynamic focus optical coherence tomography.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is becoming a popular modality for skin tumor diagnosis and assessment of tumor size and margin status. We conducted a number of imaging experiments on periocular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) specimens using an OCT configuration. This configuration employs a dynamic focus (DF) procedure where the coherence gate moves synchronously with the peak of the confocal gate, which ensures better signal strength and preservation of transversal resolution from all depths.

Quantitative evaluation of scattering in optical coherence tomography skin images using the extended Huygens-Fresnel theorem.

An optical properties extraction algorithm is developed based on enhanced Huygens-Fresnel light propagation theorem, to extract the scattering coefficient of a specific region in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) image. The aim is to quantitatively analyze the OCT images. The algorithm is evaluated using a set of phantoms with different concentrations of scatterers, designed based on Mie theory.

The routine use of histochemical stains in gastrointestinal pathology: a UK-wide survey.

Aims: A survey was conducted into the routine use of special stains on gastrointestinal (GI) biopsy specimens in histopathology departments within the National Health Service. The aim was to compare the sole use of haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining with the use of H&E and special stains, according to the biopsy site.

Methods And Results: One hundred and sixty-seven histopathology departments in the UK were contacted using an e-mail questionnaire.

Positron emission tomography in the quantification of cellular and biochemical responses to intrapulmonary particulates.

Inhaled mineral dusts and fibres can cause chronic pulmonary inflammation, often leading to permanent scarring with loss of function, but the mechanisms involved remain obscure. There are currently no good methods for monitoring inflammatory processes in situ. Positron emission tomography (PET) of suitable intravenously injected radiolabelled markers provides non-invasive and repeatable methods of quantifying biochemical and cellular responses.

Ophthalmic presentation of the Muir Torre syndrome.

The Muir Torre syndrome (MTS) is a rare autosomal dominant condition characterized by the association of certain skin tumors and systemic malignancies. We report the ophthalmic presentation of this syndrome in two cases.

Kinetics of lung macrophages monitored in vivo following particulate challenge in rabbits.

The ligand PK11195 binds specifically in macrophages. We have assessed the use of positron emission tomography (PET) of [(11)C]R-PK11195 to monitor macrophage disposition following particulate challenge to the lung. Repeated PET scanning was performed over 4 weeks following iv [(11)C]R-PK11195 in rabbits treated with 5-microm particles of either amorphous (aSiO(2)) or microcrystalline (xSiO(2)) silica instilled into right upper pulmonary lobes.

Primary biliary cirrhosis and idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis: a rare association.

Primary biliary cirrhosis has rarely been reported to be associated with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. We describe the case of a 57-year-old man who was confirmed to have both conditions, reflecting the likely autoimmune aetiopathogenesis common to both disorders.