Routine elastin staining improves venous invasion detection in colorectal carcinoma.

Background: Colorectal carcinoma is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in North America. Invasion of tumor cells into lymphatic and blood vessels is an imperative step in the metastatic progression of colorectal carcinoma.

Objectives: This is a before-and-after study conducted by the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine of Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida to assess the impact on venous invasion (VI) detection by implementing routine elastin staining on all tumor-containing blocks per case, where feasible, in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) resection specimens.

Heterotopic mesenteric ossification: a report of two cases.

Heterotopic mesenteric ossification (HMO) is abnormal bone formation in tissues which usually do not undergo ossification. There are approximately 75 cases reported worldwide. We present two cases of HMO.