Multifocal epithelioid angiosarcoma of bone: a potential pitfall in the differential diagnosis with metastatic carcinoma.

A case of multifocal epithelioid angiosarcoma of the femur, tibia, fibula, and astragalus in a 54-year-old man is reported. The tumor was composed of nests and cords of malignant cells with epithelioid morphology, with foci of vascular differentiation, necrosis, and hemorrhage. By immunohistochemistry, the neoplastic cells showed positivity for endothelial cell markers (CD31, CD34, factor VIII-related antigen, and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I), epithelial markers (cytokeratins and epithelial membrane antigen), and vimentin.

Regulation of vascular growth and regression by matrix metalloproteinases in the rat aorta model of angiogenesis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the formation of microvessels during angiogenesis, but their role in vascular regression is poorly understood. The rat aorta model of angiogenesis was used to study the function of MMPs at different stages of the angiogenic process. Gelatin zymography and Western analysis demonstrated production of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by aortic outgrowths in serum-free collagen gel culture.

Thoracoscopic reduction pneumoplasty for severe emphysema: do pleural adhesions affect outcome?

Background: Pleural adhesions are frequently encountered in patients undergoing reduction pneumoplasty. We evaluated the impact that pleural adhesions had on the surgical technique and outcome of thoracoscopic reduction pneumoplasty.

Methods: 59 operated patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the presence (group A) or absence (group B) of pleural adhesions.

Autoregulation of angiogenesis by cells of the vessel wall.

The cells of the vessel wall can regulate angiogenesis by producing growth factors, proteolytic enzymes, extracellular matrix components, cell adhesion molecules, and vasoactive factors. This property enables preexisting blood vessels to generate new vessels in the absence of exogenous angiogenic stimuli. Vascular autoregulation of angiogenesis can be studied by culturing rat aortic or venous explants in collagen gels under serum-free conditions.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the perithyroid soft tissue. Report of a case simulating a thyroid nodule.

A case of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the perithyroidal soft tissue is reported. Due to its proximity to the upper aspect of the right thyroid lobe, its slow growth and its ultrasound features, the tumor was confused with a thyroid nodule. Two fine needle aspirations (FNA) gave only scant non diagnostic material.