Rosario Carrillo

Prognostic significance of DNA ploidy and proliferative index (MIB-1 index) in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

The DNA content and proliferative index of 61 gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) were measured by image analysis and correlated with the lesions clinicopathological features and patients survival. DNA analysis was performed on cytospin single-cell preparations obtained from the paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. MIB-1 was the proliferation marker used on paraffin sections. DNA aneuploidy was detected in 12 tumors (18%), and high MIB-1 index (>22%) in 12 lesions (18%). DNA aneuploidy and high MIB-1 index statistically correlated with high mitotic rate (> or = 5 x 10 high-power field [HPF]) (P < .001) and with the presence of necrosis (P < .05). The patients survival was significantly correlated with DNA ploidy (P < .01), MIB-1 index (P < .00001), mitotic rate (P < .00001), presence of necrosis (P < .0001), and size of the tumor (P < .01). Multivariate regression analysis showed that only MIB-1 index was an independent parameter in predicting the clinical outcome for patients with GIST. The mitotic rate was the only other independent prognostic factor when MIB-1 index was not allowed to enter the model.

Minor salivary gland tumors of the palate: clinical and pathologic correlates of outcome.

Minor salivary gland tumors of the palate are rare and may pose a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for the head and neck surgeon. The authors reviewed their 46 years of experience with minor salivary gland tumors of the palate to determine the factors that influence outcome and their implications for treatment.

Synovial Sarcomas of the Head and Neck

Springing from mesenchyme rather than mature synovial tissues, synovial sarcomas are high-grade neoplasms that express epithelial as well as supporting tissue features. Accordingly, their histologic phenotypes can be epithelial, stromal, or mixed. Between 3% and 10% of all synovial sarcomas originate in the head and neck, particularly from parapharyngeal sites. These is no appreciable difference in biologic activity between synovial sarcomas of the head and neck and those arising from other anatomic sites. Five-year survivals are misleadingly optimistic and do not adequately reflect the natural history of the sarcoma. Synovial sarcoma is known to metastasize late, and few patients survive that event.

Salivary neoplasms of the palate : a flow cytometric and clinicopathological analysis

In order to test the clinical and prognostic significance of flow cytometrically assessed DNA content in minor salivary gland tumours we evaluated 75 neoplasms of the palate, 55 of which were carcinomas. Benign neoplasms were exclusively DNA diploid with low S-phase fractions while 22 per cent of malignant tumours manifested a DNA aneuploidy and 23.5 per cent high S-phase fractions (> 5 per cent). Significant statistical correlations between DNA content and tumour size, histological grade, lymph node metastasis and lethality were observed. Our findings suggest a potentially important role for flow-cytometry in the evaluation of these neoplasms.

Benign fibro-osseous lesions in Paget's disease of the jaws

A clinicopathologic study of five patients with Pagets disease of the jaws is reported. All patients had well-documented cases of osteitis deformans with polyostotic involvement. Histologic studies of facial bones could be performed because surgery was necessary for either cosmetic or functional reasons. Three specimens consisted of maxillary bone, and two were mandibular. Microscopically, all cases showed multiple and irregular fibroproliferative lesions containing mineralized structures intermingled with bone characteristic of Pagets disease. The purpose of this article is to present these fibro-osseous lesions in relation to Pagets disease of the jaws and to emphasize their close resemblance to other benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws, especially cementifying and ossifying fibroma, and florid osseous dysplasia.

Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) and myoepitheliomas: A comparison with DNA content and clinical course

Nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) were studied in 15 salivary gland myoepitheliomas by an argyrophilic staining technic (AgNOR). The AgNOR data were then compared with flow cytometric DNA content of the neoplasms and also with selected clinicopathologic parameters. We conclude that AgNORs: (1) do not correlate well with DNA cytometric indices and (2) at best, provide redundant information.

Benign cutaneous neural tumors

Benign cutaneous neural neoplasms are one of the most frequent benign mesenchymal tumors in the skin. Because peripheral sheath nerve is composed of different cells, the tumors raised in these structures are varied and usually contain many of these cells. Most of these tumors are easy to diagnose, as usually present characteristic features well-recognized and express -specific immunohistochemical proteins. However, there are so many infrequent variants that many times require distinction from others spindle-cell tumors including melanoma. The tumors differ from one another by displaying a different proportion and arrangement of the various constituents of a peripheral nerve. In this article, we present the most characteristic clinical and histopathological features of many of these frequent benign cutaneous neural tumors including their uncommon variants.

Primary haemangiopericytomas of the parotid gland.

Haemangiopericytomas involving the parotid gland are uncommon and those arising from the gland itself are rare. Three examples of primary parotid gland hemangiopericytoma are presented. The biological course of parotid or periparotid haemangiopericytomas does not differ from that manifested by their counterparts arising from somatic soft tumours.