Pizzetti F

[Histological & histochemical study of the adrenals & ovaries in breast cancer patients].

98 women with advanced breast cancer underwent adrenalectomy, 88 also ovariectomy; in 56 adrenalectomy was performed in two times. 1) The adrenal weight shows marked variations from case to case. 2) Normal glomerulosa (35,5 %), hypertrophic fasciculata (55 %), and hypertrophic (43 %) or normal (43 %) reticularis are more frequent in the first removed adrenals. Reticularis hypertrophy is more marked in women ovariectomized many years before. The histocbemical examination, carried out in 30 cases, shows a prevalence of acid fats on neutral ones and a phospholipids and cholesterol decrease. 3) The adrenals removed by controlateral adrenalectomy show initial hypotrophy followed by hypertrophy of glomerulosa, hypertrophy of fasciculata (70 %), initial hypertrophy followed by hypotrophy of reticularis. In the second adrenal a marked decrease of lipids is observed (85 %), especially when a short period of time was elapsed between first and second operation, cholesterol is always decreased. 4) It is interesting to notice the scanty amount of mucopolysaccharides, the frequent (75 %) occurrence of foamy cytoplasms in fasciculata, the presence (in the 39 per cent of the cases) of big nuclei in the same zone. 5) Ovaries show frequently (75 %) cortical hyperplasia, which is very marked in the 50 per cent of the cases. 6) Adrenal metastases have been found in the 35,7 per cent (21,7 % bilaterally), ovarian ones in the 26,1 per cent (15,9 % bilaterally). 7) 52 patients improved after endocrino-surgical treatment, 32 showed no clinical modifications, in 14 a follow-up was not possible owing to various reasons. The biovaromonoadrenalectomy, followed by controlateral adrenalectomy, gave the best results. The patients age has no prognostic value. 8) As regards functional meaning of the microscopic features of adrenals and ovaries some hypotheses are advanced in order to explain some histochemical pictures. 9) Hormonal dosages in urine and adrenal homogenate show a higher output of estrogens in the Improved cases (67 y/24 h in 9 improved patiens; 20 y/24 h in 7 unimproved ones), and a probable correlation between thickness of reticularis and sex steroids amount of adrenals.

Contribution to the cytology of urogenital apparatus. I. Cytology of bladder mucosa

The most suitable tecniques of removal and staining for the cytological examination of the bladder are described. The pathognomonic cytological findings for acute and chronic cystitis, benign tumours (papillomas) and malignant tumours or the urinary bladder are exposed.

[TRANSFORMATION OF CARCINOMAS INTO CARCINO-SARCOMAS AFTER RADIUM THERAPY].

Five cases of conversion of carcinomas into carcinosarcomas, one case of conversion of carcinoma into carcinosarcoma and then into fibrosarcoma and one case of conversion of carcinoma into spindle cell sarcoma are referred; the lesions were localized in two cases in the portio uteri, in one case in the cheek mucosa and in four cases in the tongue. In all the patients the conversion of the primitive histological pattern of the tumor occurred after local radium treatment: the appearance of the carcinosarcoma took place in four cases 16, 23, 25 and 30 years after a single radium treatment, whereas in two patients submitted to repeated radium therapies the latence time of the conversion lasted 3 and 4 years and the conversion of the carcinoma into spindle cell sarcoma required 15 years. Histological and cytological evaluation allows to exclude the possibility of pseudosarcomatous aspects of epithelial nests and to affirm the malignancy of the connectival portion of the tumors.

[Attempts at the experimental induction of tumors of lymphatic tissue. I. Trials with ACTH and acetyl-2-fluorenamine].

A lymphocytolytic hormone (ACTH) and a carcinogenic substance with general and protrected action (AAF) were administared to rats in order to induce hyperdysplastic-neoplastic processes in the lymphatic tissue. Microscopical examinations were performed (at different time intervals) on some organs (liver, spleen, thymus, testis, intestine, kidney, adrenals, lymph nodes) of the animals treated with the carcinogen alone as well as of those treated by the combined administration ACTH + AAF. High dosage (50 U.I. pro die for 10 days) of ACTH did not induce proliferative changes in the lymphatic tissue, except for a slight hyperplasia. True preneoplastic changes were obtained only in the liver of animals submitted to combined treatment.A lymphocytolytic hormone (ACTH) and a carcinogenic substance with general and protrected action (AAF) were administared to rats in order to induce hyperdysplastic-neoplastic processes in the lymphatic tissue. Microscopical examinations were performed (at different time intervals) on some organs (liver, spleen, thymus, testis, intestine, kidney, adrenals, lymph nodes) of the animals treated with the carcinogen alone as well as of those treated by the combined administration ACTH + AAF. High dosage (50 U.I. pro die for 10 days) of ACTH did not induce proliferative changes in the lymphatic tissue, except for a slight hyperplasia. True preneoplastic changes were obtained only in the liver of animals submitted to combined treatment.

HISTOLOGY IN THE PROGNOSIS OF MIXED TUMORS OF THE PALATE

The review of 21 cases of mixed tumor of the palate showed that the prognosis, after surgical treatment, is much better than in mixed tumors of the parotid gland. No recurrence was seen in 20 cases, although histologically they often showed great cellularity and pseudo-cylindromatous or muco-epidermoid areas. In the only case which evolved unfavourably, invasive tendency toward the mucous membrane and cylindromatous areas were found.

[Attempts at the experimental induction of tumors of lymphatic tissue. II. Trials with methyl-bis-beta-chloroethylamine and acetyl-2-fluorenamine].

An atypical proliferation of the lympatic tissue has been obtained in rats by the combined administration of a lymphocytolytic substance (methyl-bis-beta-chloro-ethylamine) and a carcinogenic substance (acetaminofluorene).

Effect of azoyperites on circulating leukocytes

The quantitative and qualitative alterations induced by nitrogen mustards in the leukocytes of circulating blood are studied. Slight but constant numerical modifications have been observed in the first 24 hours after a single therapeutical dose; they consist in a slight initial increase (which lasts 1 hour about) followed by a temporary decrease. These variations have no statistical value; on the contrary, a diminished osmotic resistance of the circulating leukocytes, especially of the polymorphonuclear leukocytes, has been statistically demonstrated; this phenomenon is most evident 2 hours after the administration of the drug and demonstrates that the leukopenia from nitrogen mustards is not be ascribed only to a medullar lesion but also to a peripheral distruction of leukocytes caused by a diminution of their osmotic resistance.The quantitative and qualitative alterations induced by nitrogen mustards in the leukocytes of circulating blood are studied. Slight but constant numerical modifications have been observed in the first 24 hours after a single therapeutical dose; they consist in a slight initial increase (which lasts 1 hour about) followed by a temporary decrease. These variations have no statistical value; on the contrary, a diminished osmotic resistance of the circulating leukocytes, especially of the polymorphonuclear leukocytes, has been statistically demonstrated; this phenomenon is most evident 2 hours after the administration of the drug and demonstrates that the leukopenia from nitrogen mustards is not be ascribed only to a medullar lesion but also to a peripheral distruction of leukocytes caused by a diminution of their osmotic resistance.