Genetic Alterations in Invasive Breast Carcinoma with a Glycogen-Rich Clear Cell Pattern: A Case Report.

Invasive carcinoma with a glycogen-rich clear cell pattern (IC-GRCCP) is a rare and understudied subtype of invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (IBC-NST). Here we report the molecular characteristics of a mammary IC-GRCCP diagnosed in a 69-year-old woman. Next-generation sequencing of the tumor revealed an inv(1)(p36.

Diagnosis of Vitreoretinal Aspergillosis with Transvitreal Retinochoroidal Biopsy.

Diagnosing culture-proven endophthalmitis is complicated by the insufficient yield of intraocular samples and the variety of etiologies which mimic true endophthalmitis. In cases of impending vision loss where vitreous biopsy cannot provide a definitive diagnosis, transvitreal retinochoroidal biopsy can be an effective next step. Our case is a 48-year-old male with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia that presented with counting fingers vision, redness, and tearing of the left eye.

BCL-2 expression aids in the immunohistochemical prediction of the Oncotype DX breast cancer recurrence score.

Background: The development of molecular techniques to estimate the risk of breast cancer recurrence has been a significant addition to the suite of tools available to pathologists and breast oncologists. It has previously been shown that immunohistochemistry can provide a surrogate measure of tumor recurrence risk, effectively providing a less expensive and more rapid estimate of risk without the need for send-out. However, concordance between gene expression-based and immunohistochemistry-based approaches has been modest, making it difficult to determine when one approach can serve as an adequate substitute for the other.

A rare case of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex with colitis in a renal transplant recipient.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) colitis is a rare complication of immunosuppression in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Here, we describe a case of disseminated MAC infection with colitis following renal transplantation. Despite common pathways of immunosuppression, SOT recipients and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients differ in their typical presentations of MAC infection.

Glial choristoma of the middle ear.

Glial choristomas are isolated masses of mature brain tissue that are found outside the spinal cord or cranial cavity. These masses are rare, especially in the middle ear. We describe the case of an 81-year-old man who presented with left-sided chronic otitis media, mastoiditis, hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness.

Association of autotaxin and lysophosphatidic acid receptor 3 with aggressiveness of human breast carcinoma.

In vitro and in vivo experimental studies have demonstrated the role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling in tumor proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis. Among LPA receptors, the overexpression of LPA receptor 3 (LPAR3) in transgenic mice has resulted in the highest rate of breast cancer metastasis. Our goal is to evaluate the LPA-producing enzyme autotaxin and LPAR3 as potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer patients.

Downregulation of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/Apo2L in Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia and adenocarcinoma.

TRAIL/Apo2L is a CD95 ligand-related member of the TNF family that initiates apoptosis in immune and neoplastic cells after binding to specific surface receptors. The authors previously reported a specific topographic pattern of TRAIL expression in the normal colonic mucosa and the loss of TRAIL expression in tubular adenomas as well as in most colon carcinomas. Therefore, they hypothesized that similar changes may occur during the malignant transformation of Barrett's esophagus.

Diagnostic utility of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) as a marker of breast myoepithelial cells.

We evaluated the low affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) as a marker of breast myoepithelial cells. Immunohistochemical staining for p75NTR was performed on paraffin sections of 122 malignant breast lesions, 28 benign lesions and the adjacent normal breast tissue. The staining pattern was compared to those of myosin heavy chain and p63.

Benign myoepithelial tumors of the breast have immunophenotypic characteristics similar to metaplastic matrix-producing and spindle cell carcinomas.

We immunohistochemically compared benign myoepithelial tumors (adenomyoepitheliomas [AMEs]) and metaplastic matrix-producing (MMP-CA) and spindle cell (MSC-CA) carcinomas of the breast to identify helpful diagnostic markers. Normal myoepithelial cells (MECs) consistently expressed cytokeratin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), myosin, S-100, CD10, and maspin. They were variably positive for vimentin and negative for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), steroid receptors, p53, and HER-2/neu.

Loss of mismatch repair proteins in sebaceous gland tumors.

Background: Sebaceous gland neoplasms are rare tumors that are associated with visceral malignancies in patients with Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS). The majority of the MTS-associated tumors reveal mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes (most often hMSH-2 and hMLH-1) and microsatellite instability. The sebaceous gland lesions in patients with MTS can often precede or occur concurrently with the visceral neoplasms.