Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in the differential diagnosis of ground-glass opacities in the lung.

Computed tomographic (CT) screening for lung cancer has increased the detection rate of nodules manifesting as ground-glass opacities (GGOs). The natural history of this new entity it is not well known nor is the factors that influence the growth, progression and malignant potential. This genetic study was performed in order to identify molecular markers with possible diagnostic and prognostic significance to differentiate lesions with malignant or benign profiles.

Rectal squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy: report of six cases.

Purpose: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the colon and rectum is a rare pathologic entity. From May 2006 to August 2008 six consecutive patients with SCC of the rectum were treated at our institution. A retrospective analysis of these cases was performed in order to evaluate the role of chemoradiotherapy as an alternative to surgery.

Sampling variability of computer-aided fractal-corrected measures of liver fibrosis in needle biopsy specimens.

Aim: To assess the sampling variability of computer-aided, fractal-corrected measures of fibrosis in liver biopsies.

Methods: Samples were derived from six to eight different parts of livers removed from 12 patients with clinically and histologically proven cirrhosis undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. Sirius red-stained sections with a thickness of 2 mum were digitized using a computer-aided image analysis system that automatically measures the surface of fibrosis, as well as its outline perimeter, fractal surface and outline dimensions, wrinkledness, and Hurst coefficient.