The American journal of surgical pathology
-
Am. J. Surg. Pathol. · Aug 2008
Case ReportsThe surgical pathology of notochordal remnants in adult intervertebral disks: a report of 3 cases.
The notochord plays a critical role in organizing and directing vertebral development. In humans, most notochordal cells are eventually sequestered into the nucleus pulposus and disappear within the first decade of life. Although notochordal remnants and related lesions have been described in the axial skeleton of adults, their presence in intervertebral disks is rare. ⋯ Their histologic features were reminiscent of notochordal vestiges in the fetus. However, they raised the differential diagnosis of benign notochordal cell tumor and chordoma. Notochordal rests can be a source of diagnostic confusion and should be distinguished from notochordal neoplasms because they do not necessitate resection or other forms of therapy.
-
Am. J. Surg. Pathol. · May 2008
Ovarian mature teratomas with mucinous epithelial neoplasms: morphologic heterogeneity and association with pseudomyxoma peritonei.
Mucinous epithelial neoplasms arising in association with mature teratomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors, but with the exception of a single recent study, their full histologic spectrum, detailed immunophenotype, and association with classic pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) have not been fully studied. The morphologic, immunohistochemical, and clinical features of 42 patients with mucinous epithelial tumors arising in association with mature ovarian teratomas were evaluated. The patients' ages ranged from 17 to 66 years (mean, 39 y). ⋯ Pseudomyxoma ovarii is common in this setting, particularly in tumors with IM-LMP histology, but pseudomyxoma ovarii is not predictive of PMP. Ovarian teratoma-associated benign and IM-LMP mucinous neoplasms with microscopic peritoneal low-grade mucinous epithelium do not seem to be at significant risk for intra-abdominal recurrence, but numbers are few and follow-up is limited. In contrast, teratomas with an invasive carcinomatous component and microscopic peritoneal carcinomatosis follow an aggressive clinical course.
-
Am. J. Surg. Pathol. · Apr 2008
Pituitary tumors and hyperplasia in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome (MEN1): a case-control study in a series of 77 patients versus 2509 non-MEN1 patients.
Patients affected by the multiple endocrine neoplasia type I syndrome (MEN1) display a high incidence of pituitary adenomas, though it is still unknown whether these pituitary tumors have specific pathologic features that would distinguish them from sporadic pituitary adenomas. Pituitary tissue specimens of 77 MEN1 patients from the GTE (Groupe d'étude des Tumeurs Endocrines) register were compared with unselected 2509 non-MEN1 sporadic pituitary tumors and also to a control subgroup of 296 cases, where 1 MEN1 tumor was matched with 4 sporadic tumors of the same hormonal immunoprofile. Sex, age, size, and invasiveness of tumors, and menin gene mutations were documented. ⋯ In addition, multiple adenomas were significantly more frequent (4% vs. 0.1%; P < 0.0001), especially prolactin-adrenocorticotropic hormone. Somatotroph hyperplasia, with or without a microadenoma was found in only 3 MEN1 patients, with growth hormone-releasing hormone hypersecretion by a pancreatic tumor in 2 of them. All types of mutation were observed, including frameshifts, nonsenses, missenses, and 1 case of germline MEN1 encompassing large deletion, strongly suggesting the absence of any phenotype-genotype correlation.
-
Am. J. Surg. Pathol. · Jan 2008
Small cell carcinoma of the prostate. A morphologic and immunohistochemical study of 95 cases.
Small cell carcinoma of prostate is rare, with the literature consisting of case reports and small series. The current work analyzes the morphology and immunohistochemistry of 95 cases of prostatic small cell carcinoma diagnosed at our institution. Specimens included 55 needle biopsies, 27 transurethral resections, 4 radical prostatectomies, and 9 biopsies from metastatic sites (some patients with >1 procedure). ⋯ In this, the largest study of prostatic small cell carcinoma, we highlight the presence of morphologic features that may result in its underdiagnosis. Other more classic histologic features of small cell carcinoma along with rosettes are critical for its accurate diagnosis. P501S and prostate-specific membrane antigen were better in identifying the prostatic origin of small cell carcinoma than PSA, although the majority (60%) of prostatic small cell carcinomas were negative for all 3 markers.