Expression of the membrane mucins MUC4 and MUC15, potential markers of malignancy and prognosis, in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most frequent carcinoma of the thyroid gland and has a relatively good prognosis. However, it is important to identify PTC characteristics that indicate high risk for recurrence and metastasis. To date, overexpression of the membrane mucin, MUC1, has been investigated as a key molecular event in the pathogenesis of aggressive PTC.

Effect of {beta}4 integrin knockdown by RNA interference in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Integrin α6β4 is a known tumor antigen; however, its function in different subtypes of thyroid cancer is not known. This study reports that α6β4 expression is selectively up-regulated in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) cells, the most malignant subtype of human thyroid cancer.

Materials And Methods: To assess the contribution of α6β4 in ATC progression, cell proliferation, motility and soft agar assay were performed in vitro and a xenograft tumor growth assay was performed in vivo.

Visually discernible [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a potential new risk factor.

Context: A significant number of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMCs), despite excellent prognosis, show aggressive features such as extrathyroidal extension (EE) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) that may not always be detected preoperatively or intraoperatively. The relapse rate appears also substantial.

Objective: To assess the value of [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in PTMC as a potential risk factor for preoperative risk stratification.

Predicting recurrence of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

Context: Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas are commonly diagnosed as large tumors. Most are detected incidentally during imaging studies or as a result of neurological manifestations. Depending on severity, most patients with large tumors require surgery and adjunctive therapies because of the high rate of tumor recurrence.

Absence of activating mutations of CXCR4 in pituitary tumours.

Objective: Mutations of the gsp oncogene are responsible for 30-40% of GH-producing pituitary adenomas and 10% of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). However, the pathogenetic mechanism of the remaining pituitary tumours still remains to be identified. Recently, the interaction between the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 and its receptor CXCR4 was found to play an important role in GH production and cell proliferation in various pituitary adenoma cell lines.

Diagnostic efficacy and characteristic feature of MRI in pulmonary hamartoma: comparison with CT, specimen MRI, and pathology.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pulmonary hamartoma and observe the significant MRI features, other than fat or characteristic calcification revealed by computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Six hamartomas were included and surgically resected, and we prospectively studied MRI in cases showing suggestive findings of hamartoma or indeterminate nodule on CT. We analyzed the tumor on CT and MRI (available enhancement study in 4) focusing on cleftlike structure in comparison with specimen MRI (n = 3) and histopathologic findings: presence, shape, and distribution of the cleftlike structure and signal intensity and enhancement of the cleftlike structure and main portion.

Nodular gastritis and pathologic findings in children and young adults with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the pathologic characteristics of nodular gastritis in children and young adults infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Materials And Methods: A total of 328 patients were enrolled in this study, and the diagnosis of H.

Sclerosing lobular hyperplasia: sonographic pathologic correlation.

The objective was to evaluate the sonographic findings of sclerosing lobular hyperplasia (SLH) of the breast and to correlate the sonographic findings and the pathologic features. This study consisted of 9 patients with pathologically proven sclerosing lobular hyperplasia who had undergone a preoperative imaging study. We retrospectively reviewed 9 ultrasonograms and 6 mammograms.

Steatocystoma multiplex: mammographic and sonographic manifestations.

Objective: This study was performed to identify the typical imaging features of steatocystoma multiplex on mammography and sonography.

Conclusion: Steatocystoma multiplex is manifest by multiple clinically palpable skin-colored or yellow nodules scattered on the axillae and the anterior chest wall. Steatocystoma multiplex is included in the differential diagnoses of lipoma, fat necrosis, galactocele, epidermal cyst, and so on, so radiologists need to be aware of its distinguishing features.

Mucinous versus nonmucinous gastric carcinoma: differentiation with helical CT.

Purpose: To assess the capability of helical computed tomography (CT) to assist in the differentiation between mucinous and nonmucinous gastric carcinomas, with a focus on the thickened stomach wall itself.

Materials And Methods: In 62 patients with pathologically proved mucinous (n = 21) or nonmucinous (n = 41) gastric carcinomas, contrast material-enhanced helical CT images were obtained. The gross appearance, contrast enhancement pattern, predominant thickened layer, and degree of enhancement were retrospectively evaluated.

Clinicopathologic review of pulmonary silicone embolism with special emphasis on the resultant histologic diversity in the lung--a review of five cases.

It is known that the subcutaneous injection of silicone can lead to severe pulmonary complications, followed in some patients by respiratory failure. Currently, silicone is being increasingly applied in the field of plastic surgery and, unfortunately, the illicit injection of silicone fluid by uncertified practitioners is not uncommon in Korea. We offer a critical pathologic review of 5 cases of pulmonary silicone embolism following illegal injection to the vaginal wall, four of which were fatal and came to legal autopsy.