Sandra Viero

Imatinib mesylate: An attractive alternative in young children with large, surgically challenging dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

To document the clinical activity of imatinib mesyalte in a child with a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). An 18‐month‐old girl presented with a large extremity DFSP. As surgical resection would have caused unacceptable functional defects, imatinib mesylate was administered to induce tumor reduction and or stabilization. After 23 weeks of therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the tumor showed a reduction in the subcutaneous thickness in the transverse plane. The drug was tolerated well without any adverse reactions. Imatinib mesylate offers a non‐surgical alternative for the treatment of large DFSP in children.

The PDAC syndrome (pulmonary hypoplasia/agenesis, diaphragmatic hernia/eventration, anophthalmia/microphthalmia, and cardiac defect) (Spear syndrome, Matthew-Wood syndrome): Report of eight cases including a living child and further evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance†

The combination of pulmonary agenesis/dysgenesis/hypoplasia, microphthalmia/anophthalmia, and a diaphragmatic defect (agenesis or eventration) is a rare syndrome presumed to have an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance based on a report of affected siblings born to unaffected parents [Seller et al., 1996 ]. The condition is known as Spear syndrome and Matthew‐Wood syndrome, although genetic heterogeneity cannot be ruled out. We report on eight patients with this condition including a living child, three sibs and three isolated cases. Most presented with fetal ultrasound findings of microphthalmia/anophthalmia, and diaphragmatic eventration/hernia and in five, cardiac abnormalities were also found. The earliest detection was at 20 weeks gestation. This is the second report of sibs affected with this condition, which supports an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. We present the first and only reported living patient with this condition and expand the intrafamilial, interfamilial, and ethnic variability of this condition. We suggest changing the conditions name to PDAC to reflect the most important components of this condition.

Association of the t(12;22)(q13;q12) EWS/ATF1 rearrangement with polyphenotypic round cell sarcoma of bone: a case report.

The t(12;22)(q13;q12) chromosomal rearrangement results in an EWS/ATF1 fusion transcript and is associated with clear cell sarcoma (CCS). CCS is an uncommon tumor arising in tendons and aponeuroses of the extremities and shows evidence of melanocytic differentiation at the light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and/or ultrastructural level. Only 5 cases have been reported to arise in bone, none of which had molecular confirmation of the diagnosis. The current report describes a 7-year-old girl with a primary round cell sarcoma of the left humerus showing polyphenotypic differentiation on immunohistochemical analysis. Antibodies directed at melanocytic antigens were negative, and there was no evidence of melanocytic differentiation by light microscopy or ultrastructural analysis. Cytogenetic analysis revealed rearrangement of the EWS locus within 22q12. RT-PCR and sequence analysis revealed the presence of a fusion transcript bringing together exon 7 of EWS with exon 5 of ATF1, consistent with a type 2 transcript reported in association with CCS. However, given the lack of morphologic features usually present in CCS, a diagnosis of polyphenotypic round cell sarcoma was made. This tumor thus expands the spectrum of neoplasms associated with the t(12;22)(q13;q12) rearrangement.

Retroperitoneal infantile fibrosarcoma: clinical, molecular, and therapeutic aspects of an unusual tumor.

The authors describe a patient with a large retroperitoneal infantile fibrosarcoma that responded well to preoperative chemotherapy, which subsequently facilitated the complete surgical resection of the mass. The patient had an unusual site of metastasis presumed to be to a regional lymph node. The histology on initial core biopsies was not classic but showed a round cell, myxoid pattern. The presence of the t(12;15)(p13;q25) and the fusion transcript ETV6-NTRK3 by RTPCR facilitated the diagnosis.

Absence of the interstitial cells of Cajal in a child with chronic pseudoobstruction

Absence or altered distribution of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) has been described in association with intestinal pseudoobstruction in adults. We report the first pediatric case with regional absence of ICCs in the distal small bowel and colon associated with intestinal pseudoobstruction. This report highlights that abnormalities of the ICCs in intestinal pseudoobstruction should be considered early in the diagnostic workup of children with intestinal pseudoobstruction.

Splenic hamartoma in a child in the era of PET-CT.

We present a case of a healthy 7‐year‐old female with an incidental finding of a growing splenic lesion, diagnosed as a splenic hamartoma after splenectomy. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of splenic lesions and that the role of positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) in defining splenic lesions in the pediatric population remains to be defined. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:114–116.

Prenatal detection of microtia by MRI in a fetus with trisomy 22

Trisomy 22 is a rare chromosomal abnormality infrequently detected prenatally. External ear abnormalities, in particular microtia, are often associated with trisomy 22, but prenatal detection of microtia has not been reported in association with trisomy 22. We report a fetus with trisomy 22, with fetal MRI findings of microtia, craniofacial dysmorphism, and polygyria. Fetal MRI is a useful tool for auricular assessment and might have utility in the prenatal detection of chromosomal abnormalities, especially among fetuses with structural anomalies.

Stage III cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma recurring after nephrectomy and chemotherapy

Cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma (CPDN) has low malignant potential. We report a 1‐year‐old with stage III CPDN of the right kidney that recurred following radical nephrectomy and chemotherapy. There was evidence of tumor spillage pre‐operatively and intra‐operatively. During chemotherapy the disease recurred in the omentum and the peritoneum. Pathology of the recurrent resected cysts revealed a more differentiated biphasic tumor without blastemal elements. It appears that spillage of CPDN in our patient led to dissemination of disease. Chemotherapy failed to prevent recurrence but only mature elements were present following this treatment. The intensity of therapy required to treat CPDN remains undefined. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:129–131.