Malignant melanoma of the sympathetic chain: with a consideration of pigmented nerve sheath tumours.

A case of malignant melanoma of the posterior mediastinum, arising from the sympathetic chain is reported. The structural features and the presence of long-spaced collagen on electron microscopic examination suggest schwannian derivation of the tumour. Similar tumours are reviewed and the histogenesis of pigmented nerve sheath tumours in general is discussed.

Combined bipedal lymphangiography, CT scanning and transabdominal lymph node aspiration cytology for node staging in carcinoma of the prostate.

Forty-two patients with carcinoma of the prostate have been studied by bipedal lymphangiography, abdominal CT scanning and percutaneous transabdominal lymph node aspiration cytology to try to increase the accuracy of lymph node staging. The use of two independent radiologists to report the lymphangiograms did not improve the accuracy of reporting. CT scanning was of value only in patients in whom the lymph nodes were not opacified on lymphangiography.

Malignant histiocytosis and encephalomyeloradiculopathy complicating coeliac disease.

A 62 year old Irish woman with an eight year history of probable coeliac disease developed brain stem signs, unilateral facial numbness and weakness, wasting and anaesthesia in both lower limbs. Over the next two years, a progressive deterioration in neurological function and in intestinal absorption, and the development of anaemia led to a suspicion of malignancy. Bone marrow biopsy revealed malignant histiocytosis.

Testicular venography in impalpable testis.

77 venographic studies of impalpable testes have been reviewed. All patients subsequently underwent surgical exploration. In 28 studies a pampiniform plexus was identified and in 27 a testis was present at the site of the pampiniform plexus.

[Renocerebral oxalosis following glycerin infusion].

At the autopsy of a 55 years old male patient renocerebral oxalosis was found, the most frequent cause of which--the ethylenglycol poisoning could be excluded by toxicological examination of the organs. Authors suppose that intravenous administration of 500 ml of 10 per cent solution of glycerol several hours before the death for the treatment of cerebral oedema might have caused the renocerebral oxalosis. The fact that in the catabolism of glycerol, ethylenglycol and xylit causing most frequently renocerebral oxalosis glycoxylic acid, precursor of the oxalic acid in the organism is formed, seems to evidence this supposition.

Thyroid-bound Y-chromatin-like fluorescence in the nuclei of thyroid adenomas.

Brilliantly fluorescent supernumerary chromocenters indistinguishable from the Y-chromatin have been often found electively in the thyroid nuclei. The authors compared the occurrence of this Y-chromatin-like fluorescence in 31 thyroid adenomas obtained from 30 autopsy cases (10 males, 20 females) with non-adenomatous thyroid tissues of the same cases. All adenomas had follicular structure but one with papillary structure.

Non-random appearance of Y-chromatin-like fluorescence in the nuclei of thyroid and brain and its chromosomal background.

Non-random distribution of fluorescing chromatin bodies resembling Y chromatin was observed among the cell populations of various organs obtained by autopsy of 52 adults. This type of Y-chromatin-like fluorescence is more frequent in thyroid and brain than in other organs. The Y-chromatin-like bodies of thyroid nuclei are not closely correlated with the brilliantly fluorescing autosomal blocks of lymphocyte mitoses of the same persons, as it was demonstrated in surgical cases.