Annals of diagnostic pathology
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Case Reports
Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica presenting as a single dominant tracheal mass.
Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is a rare, benign disorder of upper airways characterized by multiple submucosal metaplastic cartilaginous and bony nodules arising from the tracheal cartilage. We report an unusual presentation of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica as a single dominant nodule arising from the anterior tracheal rings in a young adult man who presented with wheezing and symptoms of airway obstruction. The differential diagnosis of cartilaginous and bony endotracheal lesions is discussed.
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Postradiation sarcomas are long-term complications of radiation treatment of various forms of cancer. Osteosarcoma, specifically, occurring in patients with a history of prostate cancer is rare; but with high-dose radiotherapy now an accepted standard of care for localized prostate adenocarcinoma, it should be considered in the clinical setting of patients presenting with potential remote disease relapse. ⋯ Because of the long latency period, the appearance of lytic bone lesions with soft tissue components in pelvic bony structures may mimic recurrent/metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. The prognosis of patients developing osteosarcoma after radiotherapy for prostate cancer is similar to other radiation-induced osteosarcomas occurring in the axial skeleton, with a 50% overall mortality within the first year after diagnosis.
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Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the gallbladder (GB) and extrahepatic biliary ducts (EHBDs) include carcinoid tumors and small-cell carcinomas (SCCs). They are uncommon, and therefore, little is known about their demographics and clinical course. From National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (1973-2005), we analyzed the demographics and 10-year relative survival rates of carcinoids and SCCs of the GB and EHBD according to histologic type and stage. ⋯ For SCC, the 10-year survival was 0% in the GB and EHBD. Carcinoid tumors and SCC of the extrahepatic biliary tree are uncommon neoplasms that differ in their demographics and biologic behavior, supporting the distinction of these 2 histopathologic types. Therefore, these tumors should be separately classified and not included in the single generic group of neuroendocrine carcinoma.
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Synchronous renal and adrenal masses are uncommon. Although adrenal masses in the context of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are often suspected as metastasis, other adrenal lesions with different therapeutic and prognostic implications may coexist with RCC. In a retrospective review of 550 radical nephrectomies with ipsilateral adrenalectomy, 80 cases of coexisting renal and adrenal masses were identified. ⋯ The benign and malignant nature of the adrenal lesions in the context of RCC could not be discriminated based on the size of adrenal mass. Because of the prognostic implication of direct or metastatic involvement of adrenal gland in the setting of RCC and the possibility of finding small metastatic foci, a meticulous gross and microscopic examination of adrenal glands is emphasized. Rare unusual combinations of renal and adrenal lesions such as RCC and adrenal histoplasmosis, RCC and adrenal myelolipoma, renal oncocytoma, and adrenal pheochromocytoma are also described.
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Historical Article
The history of the rise and fall in importance of the clinicopathologic conference in American medicine.
This article is a review of the history of the clinicopathologic conference, a teaching method used for and by physicians in medical schools and hospitals throughout the United States since the beginning of the 20th century.