Sedigheh Keyhani-Rofagha

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Primary and Metastatic Bladder Cancer

A total of 22 patients with high grade P2-4N+ transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder underwent flow cytometric analysis of nuclei obtained from paraffin embedded specimens from the primary (bladder) and metastatic (lymph node) sites. Tumor heterogeneity was defined as polyclonal aneuploidy of the primary tumor (not identified in the population studied) or as a difference in the deoxyribonucleic acid index of the primary and metastatic sites of 0.20 or more (8 patients). With these criteria 8 patients (36%) had heterogeneous tumors and 14 (64%) had homogeneous tumors. The median survival of 14 patients with aneuploid and 8 with diploid primary tumors was 17.5 and 8.0 months, respectively (p equals 0.08, Lee-Desu test). When patient survival was compared to the ploidy of the metastatic site, or in patients with diploid primary and metastatic lesions versus deoxyribonucleic acid aneuploidy at either the primary and/or metastatic site, the aneuploid tumors had a longer survival but this difference was not significant (p equals 0.13 and 0.23, respectively). Our study demonstrates the value of flow cytometry to identify primary metastatic tumor heterogeneity. It also suggests that the presence of metastasis may be a more important factor to define the biological potential of transitional cell carcinoma than is deoxyribonucleic acid ploidy.

Dissecting hematoma (aneurysm) of coronary arteries

Isolated dissecting hematoma (aneurysm) of a coronary artery is a rare occurrence that often results in myocardial infarction and sudden death. A case of dissecting hematoma involving the left main, left anterior descending, and left circumflex coronary arteries is described in a patient who had received vigorous closed-chest cardiac resuscitation. This is believed to be the first reported case of coronary artery dissection caused by epicardial trauma from closed-chest cardiac resuscitation. This case demonstrates that dissecting hematoma of the coronary artery can be a complication of cardiac resuscitation.

Exfoliative cytology of neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the endometrium : A report of two cases

BACKGROUND In the female genital tract, neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma can occur in the endometrium as well as the cervix, ovary and vagina. This tumor has a high propensity for systemic spread and a poor prognosis. Small cell carcinoma of the endometrium is cytologically identical to its counterparts in the lung and other sites. Its characteristic appearance in a cervicovaginal smear should raise concern about small cell carcinoma. Other tumors of the uterus should be considered in the differential diagnosis, including adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine features, small cell nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and metastatic breast carcinoma. CASES Case 1 was a 59-year-old, white female, and case 2 was a 47-year-old, white female. Both patients presented with vaginal bleeding. The Papanicolaou smears in both cases had similar, characteristic exfoliative cytology. The tumor cells were small and either single or arranged in groups and files. They had barely visible cytoplasm, darkly staining nuclei with finely stippled chromatin, and inconspicuous nucleoli. The characteristic molding of the nuclei was also present. Immuno-histochemical staining for neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin was positive in tissue sections. Pancytokeratin, vimentin, muscle-specific actin, desmin, alpha-fetoprotein, S-100, glial fibrillary acid protein, common leukocyte antigen and chromogranin were negative. CONCLUSION When a uterine small cell carcinoma is suspected in a cervicovaginal smear, the similarity of cervical and endometrial small cell carcinoma requires a differential curettage and immunohistochemical demonstration of neuroendocrine differentiation in order to arrive at the final diagnosis.

Follow-up on flow cytometric DNA analysis of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

Preliminary data from this institution suggested that flow cytometric DNA analysis was an objective prognostic indicator in archival localized squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Technical improvements were made, including analysis of tumor, normal tissue, and a combination of the two; standardized cursor placement; mathematic determination of tetraploid populations; and development of a statistical analysis. A larger number of patients (60) with this disease were reviewed. DNA content was related to disease-free survival, local recurrence, regional metastasis, and incidence of second primary tumors. There was no significant difference between aneuploid and diploid tumors with respect to the variables analyzed. We believe these technical improvements will enhance flow cytometric DNA analysis of paraffin-embedded tissues. However, in this retrospective review of localized squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, DNA analysis was not a valuable prognostic indicator. Only prospective studies will address this issue.

Automated screening for quality control using PAPNET: A study of 638 negative Pap smears

To determine if the PAPNET screening system can be used for quality control to lower false‐negative rates for Pap smears 638 manually screened. “negative” Pap smears were subjected retrospectively to the PAPNET screening system. Twenty‐nine of the smears came from 18 patients who subsequently had biopsy‐proven high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL). The remaining 609 negative smears were arbitrarily selected as controls.

Recurrence of primary extramedullary plasmacytoma in breast both simulating primary breast carcinoma

BackgroundExtramedullary myelomas (plasmacytoma) are malignant proliferations of plasma cells in the absence of bone involvement. When they occur in the soft tissue they usually involve the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity. Extramedullary plasmacytomas of breast are uncommon.Case presentationA 70 year-old woman with bilateral breast masses underwent excisional biopsy for suspected primary carcinoma that subsequently proved to be a recurrence from extramedullary plasmacytoma of the mediastinum. This was diagnosed and treated 5-years prior to appearance of breast lumps.ConclusionThough uncommon, considering the possibility of metastatic carcinoma and primary, secondary or recurrent lymphoproliferative disease presenting as a breast mass may avoid unnecessary surgeries.

Use of Immunohistochemistry in Fine Needle Aspiration of Thyroid Nodules in Patients with a History of Malignancy

BACKGROUND A history of a nonthyroid malignancy may present a diagnostic dilemma in the assessment of fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules. One reported series, on patients with prior malignancies and a thyroid nodule, indicated that in 17% of patients, the thyroid nodule represented metastatic malignancy, 6% were classified as primary thyroid cancers, and the remainder were benign or inconclusive lesions. The resolution of this problem is essential to patient management. CASES We report two cases in which patients with a history of renal cell carcinoma presented with a thyroid nodule. The first patient was an 80-year-old female whose Papanicolaou-stained FNA demonstrated clusters of round to polygonal cells with round to ovoid, hyperchromatic nuclei and abundant, wispy cytoplasm. The second patient was a 55-year-old female with clusters and single cells with round to oval, eccentric nuclei and copious, granular, gray cytoplasm noted on Papanicolaou-stained material. In each case, the diagnosis was inconclusive on initial review of Papanicolaou-stained slides, and immunohistochemical staining was ordered to better characterize the lesions. Tumor cells from case 1 were positive for cytokeratin cocktail and vimentin and negative for thyroglobulin, epithelial membrane antigen and calcitonin, suggestive of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. In contrast, the tumor cells from case 2 expressed cytokeratin, thyroglobulin and vimentin, consistent with a primary thyroid neoplasm. In each case, the cytologic diagnoses were confirmed in the resected specimens. CONCLUSION Immunohistochemistry is a helpful adjunct in the evaluation of thyroid nodules in patients with a past history of malignancy.

Pneumocystis carinii thyroiditis diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology : A case report

BACKGROUND Extrapulmonary infection or dissemination of Pneumocystis carinii (PC) is rare, but under certain conditions the parasite can spread via the bloodstream or lymphatic vessels. Systemic pneumocystosis most often involves the lymph nodes, stomach, spleen, liver, skin, pancreas, choroid and eye. Isolated lesions containing PC have also been identified in the thyroid. CASE A 41-year-old homosexual male infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) developed a PC infection in the thyroid gland. The patient had had thrush and anal herpes since being diagnosed as HIV positive in 1984. In 1992 the patient developed a mass in the area of the right lobe of the thyroid gland. Smears from fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid mass revealed epithelioid cells. However, a cell block revealed numerous PC organisms on Gomori methenamine-silver stain; that finding was confirmed by an excisional biopsy. The patient had not previously been diagnosed with PC pneumonia. CONCLUSION Our case of thyroid involvement with PC expands the clinical spectrum of extrapulmonary pneumocystosis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We believe that in these patients the incidence of Pneumocystis thyroiditis will continue to rise and be reported.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma in a human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient with cytologic findings in bladder wash: a case report.

BACKGROUND Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) (Ki-1/CD-30 positive) is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder that may be of T cell or null cell type. ALCL has been reported in fine needle aspirations of lymph nodes and pleural or peritoneal fluid cytology. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, ALCL appears to be more common and run a more aggressive course. CASE A 39-year-old black man, seropositive for HIV, presented with acute renal failure secondary to bilateral ureteral obstruction by a pelvic mass involving the urinary bladder. Bladder wash cytology and subsequent biopsy of the mass were diagnostic of ALCL. The ALCL was CD30+ and null cell type, with negative CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD20, CD45, CD79a, ALK-1, granzyme B, cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and S-100. The patient expired 9 months after the diagnosis, despite aggressive therapy. CONCLUSION This is a rare occurrence of ALCL (CD 30 positive, null cell type) in the urinary bladder in an HIV+ patient. Presumptive diagnosis was made by bladder wash cytology and subsequently confirmed by biopsy. Urinary cytologic examination is a useful diagnostic tool. In HIV+/immunosuppressed patients with urinary symptoms and an obstructive mass, ALCL should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Exfoliative cytology of atypical polypoid adenomyoma. A case report.

BACKGROUND An atypical polypoid adenomyoma (APA) is a well-defined entity. It occurs in the endometrium, lower uterine segment and endocervix. It is usually composed of atypical complex glands with squamous metaplasia admixed with myofibromatous stroma. CASE A 35-year-old female presented with one-year history of irregular menstrual periods. A diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in situ was rendered on her cervicovaginal smear. Pelvic examination revealed an enlarged uterus due to a leiomyoma. Colposcopic examination revealed a 0.6-cm, sessile, polypoid mass at the junction of the endocervix and ectocervix. A cone biopsy of the lesion showed irregular, endometrial-type glands embedded in a prominent myofibromatous stroma. The atypical glandular component of the mass demonstrated varying degrees of architectural complexity, ranging from simple to complex hyperplasia. In tissue sections the lesion was diagnosed as APA of the cervix. The patient underwent a hysterectomy for the leiomyoma. The hysterectomy specimen showed an 8.5-cm leiomyoma. The cervix and uterine corpus revealed no residual APA. CONCLUSION APA of the cervix should be considered among the differential diagnoses of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance. The diagnosis of APA cannot be made on cytology; the final diagnosis requires histologic confirmation.