Malignant Degeneration (malignant + degeneration)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Phacomatosis Pigmentokeratotica: A 20-Year Follow-up with Malignant Degeneration of Both Nevus Components

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
Teresa Martínez-Menchón M.D.
The disorder is a consequence of the so-called twin spot genetic mechanism. We describe the first occurrence involving malignant degeneration of both nevus components, giving rise to three basal cell carcinomas over the sebaceous nevus and a malignant melanoma of the superficial spreading type over the speckled lentiginous nevus. This observation, in concert with the other instances reported in the literature, points to the need for adequate patient follow-up to ensure early detection and treatment of any possible associated malignant degeneration. [source]


Primary sclerosing cholangitis as a cause of false positive bile duct brushing cytology: Report of two cases.

DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
Lester J. Layfield M.D.
Abstract Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown etiology characterized by ongoing inflammation, destruction, and fibrosis of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Irregular narrowing and dilation of the biliary duct system produces the characteristic beaded pattern seen on cholangiogram. Malignant degeneration resulting in cholangiocarcinoma is a well-recognized sequela of PSC. Bile duct brushing cytology is the primary screening technique for cholangiocarcinoma. It is associated with a relatively low sensitivity but high specificity. Few false positive bile duct brushings have been reported in the literature, with the majority of these having occurred in a background of PSC. We report two patients with PSC in whom bile duct brush cytologies were falsely positive for carcinoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2005;32:119,124. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Benign metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: A clinicopathologic puzzle

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 12 2003
Gino Marioni MD
Abstract Background. Pleomorphic adenoma constitutes the most common benign parotid gland tumor. Local recurrence after surgical treatment (lateral or total parotidectomy) has been described in 1% to 5% of cases. Malignant degeneration has been reported in 2% to 9% of cases of pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland origin. Metastasizing pleomorphic adenomas without histologic evidence of malignancy have rarely been reported. Metastatic lesions have been discovered in bone, lymph nodes, the lung, oral cavity, pharynx, skin, liver, retroperitoneum, kidney, calvarium, and central nervous system. To the best of our knowledge, we hereby report the first case of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland metastasizing to the ipsilateral maxilla. Methods. We simultaneously examined apoptosis-related protein expression and markers of cell-proliferation activity in our case of benign pleomorphic adenoma metastasis and compared outcome with a control group of primary parotid pleomorphic adenomas. Results. Analysis of p53, Bcl-2, MIB1, CD 105, p27, and p21 expression did not reveal significant differences between metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland and the control group of primary parotid pleomorphic adenomas. Conclusions. Clinical rather than pathologic evidence seems to justify inclusion of metastasizing salivary pleomorphic adenoma in the group of low-grade malignant salivary tumors. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head and Neck 25: 000,000, 2003 [source]


S -adenosylmethionine regulates dual-specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase expression in mouse and human hepatocytes,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2010
Maria Lauda Tomasi
Increased mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity correlates with a more malignant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) phenotype. There is a reciprocal regulation between p44/42 MAPK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK]1/2) and the dual-specificity MAPK phosphatase MKP-1/DUSP1. ERK phosphorylates DUSP1, facilitating its proteasomal degradation, whereas DUSP1 inhibits ERK activity. Methionine adenosyltransferase 1a (Mat1a) knockout (KO) mice express hepatic S -adenosylmethionine (SAM) deficiency and increased ERK activity and develop HCC. The aim of this study was to examine whether DUSP1 expression is regulated by SAM and if so, elucidate the molecular mechanisms. Studies were conducted using Mat1a KO mice livers, cultured mouse and human hepatocytes, and 20S and 26S proteasomes. DUSP1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were reduced markedly in livers of Mat1a KO mice and in cultured mouse and human hepatocytes with protein falling to lower levels than mRNA. SAM treatment protected against the fall in DUSP1 mRNA and protein levels in mouse and human hepatocytes. SAM increased DUSP1 transcription, p53 binding to DUSP1 promoter, and stability of its mRNA and protein. Proteasomal chymotrypsin-like and caspase-like activities were increased in Mat1a KO livers and cultured hepatocytes, which was blocked by SAM treatment. SAM inhibited chymotrypsin-like and caspase-like activities by 40% and 70%, respectively, in 20S proteasomes and caused rapid degradation of some of the 26S proteasomal subunits, which was blocked by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. SAM treatment in Mat1a KO mice for 7 days raised SAM, DUSP1, mRNA and protein levels and lowered proteosomal and ERK activities. Conclusion: DUSP1 mRNA and protein levels are lower in Mat1a KO livers and fall rapidly in cultured hepatocytes. SAM treatment increases DUSP1 expression through multiple mechanisms, and this may suppress ERK activity and malignant degeneration. HEPATOLOGY 2010 [source]


RET rearrangements and BRAF mutation in undifferentiated thyroid carcinomas having papillary carcinoma components

HISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
Kunio Mochizuki
Mochizuki K, Kondo T, Nakazawa T, Iwashina M, Kawasaki T, Nakamura N, Yamane T, Murata S-i, Ito K, Kameyama K, Kobayashi M & Katoh R (2010) Histopathology,57, 444,450 RET rearrangements and BRAF mutation in undifferentiated thyroid carcinomas having papillary carcinoma components Aims:, To elucidate the genetic background of anaplastic transformation, RET rearrangements and BRAF mutation were studied in composite undifferentiated carcinomas (UCs) of the thyroid, which are UCs having papillary carcinoma (PC) components. Methods and results:, Reverse transcription,polymerase chain reaction (RT,PCR) was performed for RET rearrangements and PCR for BRAF mutation in UC and PC components that were microdissected separately from seven composite UCs. Forty-two thyroid cancers with single component histology (14 UCs and 28 PCs) were also studied in the same manner. RET/PTC1 was undetectable in both components from all seven composite UCs, and RET/PTC3 was identified in both components of one composite UC. BRAF mutation was identified in both components from three composite UCs and only in the PC components from two composite UCs. In contrast, in thyroid carcinomas with single component histology, RET/PTC1 was detected in 11% of PCs and in none of the UCs, and RET/PTC3 was not found in any of the tumours studied. BRAF mutation was identified in 82% of PCs and in 21% of UCs. Conclusions:, The high frequency of BRAF mutation and the absence of RET rearrangements in UC components from composite UCs supports the hypothesis that UCs may actually represent progressive malignant degeneration of a BRAF -mutated, well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. [source]


Bilateral aberrant axillary breast tissue mimicking lipomas: report of a case and review of the literature

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 2007
Samer H. Ghosn
The masses exhibited similar consistency to the adjacent normal breast tissue but lacked an associated nipple complex. The clinical impression was lipoma; however, mammography, ultrasonography and skin biopsy revealed ectopic breast tissue. These findings were consistent with the diagnosis of aberrant breast tissue. A subset of ectopic mammary tissue, aberrant breast tissue may constitute a diagnostic challenge and is often misdiagnosed as lipoma, hidradenitis, follicular cyst, or lymphadenopathy. In addition, some studies have suggested that aberrant breast tissue may be at higher risk of malignant degeneration. Therefore, it's important that physicians be familiar with this condition as this may contribute to the early detection of ectopic breast cancer. [source]


Metabolic differences between primary and recurrent human brain tumors: a 1H NMR spectroscopic investigation

NMR IN BIOMEDICINE, Issue 6 2005
Fritz-Georg Lehnhardt
Abstract High-resolution proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed on tissue specimens from 33 patients with astrocytic tumors (22 astrocytomas, 11 glioblastomas) and 13 patients with meningiomas. For all patients, samples of primary tumors and their first recurrences were examined. Increased anaplasia, with respect to malignant transformation, resulting in a higher malignancy grade, was present in 11 recurrences of 22 astrocytoma patients. Spectroscopic features of tumor types, as determined on samples of the primary occurrences, were in good agreement with previous studies. Compared with the respective primary astrocytomas, characteristic features of glioblastomas were significantly increased concentrations of alanine (Ala) (p,=,0.005), increased metabolite ratios of glycine (Gly)/total creatine (tCr) (p,=,0.0001) and glutamate (Glu)/glutamine (Gln) (p,=,0.004). Meningiomas showed increased Ala (p,=,0.02) and metabolite ratios [Gly, total choline (tCho), Ala] over tCr (p,=,0.001) relative to astrocytomas, and N -acetylaspartate and myo-inositol were absent. Metabolic changes of an evolving tumor were observed in recurrent astrocytomas: owing to their consecutive assessments, more indicators of malignant degeneration were detected in astrocytoma recurrences (e.g. Gly, p,=,0.029; tCho, p,=,0.034; Glu, p,=,0.015; tCho/tCr, p,=,0.001) in contrast to the comparison of primary astrocytomas with primary glioblastomas. The present investigation demonstrated a correlation of the tCho-signal with tumor progression. Significantly elevated concentrations of Ala (p,=,0.037) and Glu (p,=,0.003) and metabolite ratio tCho/tCr (p,=,0.005) were even found in recurrent low-grade astrocytomas with unchanged histopathological grading (n,=,11). This may be related to an early stage of malignant transformation, not yet detectable morphologically, and emphasizes the high sensitivity of 1H NMR spectroscopy in elucidating characteristics of brain tumor metabolism. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising in benign ancient schwannoma: A case report with an immunohistochemical study

PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2000
Yoshiki Mikami
A rare example of malignant transformation in an ancient schwannoma arisng in the right side of the neck of a 51-year-old man without any clinical manifestations suggesting neurofibromatosis is described. The tumor, approximately 4 cm at its largest dimension, was well circumscribed and had a direct connection with the sympathetic nerve. Microscopically, the central portion of the tumor showed features of ancient schwannoma characterized by extensive hyalinization with cystic degeneration, scattered spindle cells with hyperchromatic and tapered nuclei, and some symplastic changes. However, predominantly in the outer portion, a proliferation of spindle-shaped cells with enlarged nuclei was present. The nuclei of these cells showed irregular contours, coarse granular chromatin texture, and conspicuous nucleoli. Mitotic figures and small necrotic foci with scattered apoptotic bodies were also seen. Immunohistochemically, S-100 protein was almost negative in areas consisting of overtly atypical cells where the mitotic index evaluated with MIB-1 antibody was 30.5%. In contrast, S-100-positive bland spindle cells were scattered in an extensively hyalinized area with a labeling index less than 3%. P53 protein was strongly positive in atypical spindle cells. Although it is a very uncommon event, definite nuclear atypia, frequent mitotic figures, and the existence of small necrotic foci should be recognized as indicating a diagnosis of malignant degeneration of benign schwannoma. Immunohistochemistry would be useful as an ancillary technique in such a setting. [source]


Phacomatosis Pigmentokeratotica: A 20-Year Follow-up with Malignant Degeneration of Both Nevus Components

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
Teresa Martínez-Menchón M.D.
The disorder is a consequence of the so-called twin spot genetic mechanism. We describe the first occurrence involving malignant degeneration of both nevus components, giving rise to three basal cell carcinomas over the sebaceous nevus and a malignant melanoma of the superficial spreading type over the speckled lentiginous nevus. This observation, in concert with the other instances reported in the literature, points to the need for adequate patient follow-up to ensure early detection and treatment of any possible associated malignant degeneration. [source]


Case-orientated approach to the management of hepatocellular adenoma,

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 12 2006
D. J. van der Windt
Background: Treatment of suspected hepatocellular adenoma (HA) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the management of HA at a time when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are highly sensitive methods for diagnosing HA. Methods: Between January 2000 and January 2005, data from 48 consecutive women with HA (median age 36 years) were prospectively collected. The protocol for diagnostic work-up consisted of multiphasic MRI or CT. Management was observation if the tumour was smaller than 5 cm and surgical intervention if it was 5 cm or larger. Results: The median follow-up was 24 (range 3,73) months. Sixteen (33 per cent) patients had invasive procedures because of tumour size 5 cm or larger, malignant characteristics or haemorrhage. The remaining 32 patients (67 per cent) were observed; haemorrhage and malignant degeneration did not occur and none of the lesions showed enlargement after withdrawal of oral contraceptives. Multiple HAs were found in 32 (67 per cent) patients; liver steatosis was significantly more common in these patients than in those with a solitary lesion (59 versus 19 per cent; P = 0·008). Conclusion: Observation of adenomas smaller than 5 cm is justified because of improved radiological reliability. Resection should be reserved for patients with malignant tumour characteristics or with single lesions 5 cm or larger. Copyright © 2006 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Utility of fine-needle aspiration for diagnosis of carcinoma associated with multinodular goitre

CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 6 2004
Antonio Ríos
Summary background, Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a useful method for evaluating a solitary thyroid nodule; however, this is not an agreed method for a multinodular goitre (MNG). The aim of this study was to assess the utility of preoperative FNA for detecting malignancy in MNG. patients and method, We analysed operated MNGs in which FNA had been performed. Puncture was carried out on the dominant nodule and any other nodules with features suggesting malignancy. The diagnosis was classed as colloid, follicular or Hürthle proliferation, suggestive of malignancy, haematic and inadequate. The thyroid FNA results, grouped into suggestive of malignancy (positive result) and other diagnoses (negative result), were compared to those of the final histological study in order to calculate the value of the test in diagnosing malignancy. results, FNA was performed in 432 MNGs, of which 42 (9·7%) were associated with carcinoma. Overall, the results of the test were poor, revealing a sensitivity of 17%, specificity of 96% and diagnostic accuracy of 88%, with a positive predictive value of 32% and negative predictive value of 88%. When the values were recalculated with the exclusion of microcarcinomas ,considering their minor clinical importance , there was a slight improvement in the results: the sensitivity increased to 26%, diagnostic accuracy to 93% and negative predictive value to 96%. However, the specificity remained at 96%, and the positive predictive value fell from 32% to 25%. The results of the test improved in multifocal carcinomas. conclusions, Thyroid fine needle aspiration is not useful for differentiating MNG with malignant degeneration from benign MNG, as more than 80% of carcinomas go unnoticed; it provides a sensitivity of 17% for detecting carcinomas, rising to 26% if microcarcinomas are excluded. We therefore suggest that clinical criteria should prevail over FNA. [source]