Adrenocortical carcinoma: a comprehensive immunohistochemical study of 40 cases

Large-cell Basaloid Adenocarcinoma of the Lung: A Clinicopathologic Study of 12 Cases of a Distinctive Form of Lung Cancer Often Mistaken for Large-cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

A distinctive form of lung adenocarcinoma that closely mimics large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is described. The tumors arose in 6 women and 6 men aged 46-86 years (mean=58.4). They presented as peripheral subpleural masses measuring 2-12 cm (mean=6.5 cm). Histologically they were characterized by islands or anastomosing and serpiginous strands of large, atypical cells showing striking peripheral palisading of nuclei, with high mitotic activity and prominent comedo-like areas of necrosis. Because of the striking resemblance to neuroendocrine tumors, some of the cases were initially diagnosed as large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma despite the absence of neuroendocrine markers. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity of the tumor cells for TTF1 and napsin-A, and negative staining for p40. The tumors were also uniformly negative for multiple neuroendocrine markers, including chromogranin, synaptophysin, CD56, and INSM1. Electron microscopy performed in 2 cases was negative for membrane-bound dense core neurosecretory granules. Pathogenic alterations were detected in 5 of 8 tumors tested by next-generation sequencing. Point mutations in KRAS and TP53 were identified in 5 patients. Low-level amplification of GNAS , KIT , and FGFR1 was present in 2 patients. No RB1 mutations were identified. Clinical follow-up in 10 cases showed that 2 patients died of their tumors, 2 experienced distant metastases, and 6 were alive and well from 1 to 13 years after diagnosis (median=7.1 y). Large-cell basaloid adenocarcinoma is an unusual variant of lung cancer that is easily confused with large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Awareness of this unusual variant of lung adenocarcinoma is important for treatment and prognosis and for avoiding misdiagnosis.

Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma to the Skin: A Case Report and Review of This Unusual Neoplasm

ABSTRACT

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a very rare oncologic condition with poor prognosis that usually metastasizes to the lungs, liver, local lymph nodes, and peritoneum at initial presentation. However, skin metastasis is very uncommon and has rarely been reported even in advanced stages of the disease. We present a case of a 41-year-old man with a known history of adrenocortical carcinoma of the right adrenal gland that presented with an arm mass. The histopathologic sections showed a multinodular necrotic malignant neoplasm in dermis and subcutaneous fat composed of atypical epithelioid cells with ample granular cytoplasm and pleomorphic vesicular nuclei with frequent intranuclear inclusions and atypical mitoses. The immunohistochemical stains showed tumor cells that were strongly positive for synaptophysin and inhibin, only focally positive for Melan-A, and negative for AE1/AE3. The histopathologic features and the immunohistochemical profile confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma consistent with adrenal cortical origin. The diagnosis can be difficult (especially when no clinical data are provided), and an immunohistochemical battery is often useful in distinguishing this tumor from other tumors with similar cytomorphological features.

Various Markers of Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Narrative Review

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are uncommon tumors that develop from specialized endocrine cells. Thyroid medullary carcinoma, phaeochromocytomas, pituitary tumors, carcinoid, and gastroenteropancreatic NET are just a few examples of the diverse group known as NET. In recent times, they have garnered significant interest due to their ease of palliation and ability to reveal the long-term impact of the specific hormone raised. Neuroendocrine indicators, particularly chromogranin A, are very helpful in the diagnostic process. Accurate biomarkers that can be employed for NET diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up, therapy stratification, and treatment response evaluation are greatly needed. Due to the great diversity of neuroendocrine neoplasms, particular biomarkers must be developed in order to diagnose, treat, and identify them. The several NET biomarkers covered in this review will aid in the fight against this uncommon illness.

Comparison of INSM1 immunostaining with established neuroendocrine markers synaptophysin and chromogranin A in over 14,000 neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine tumors

INSM1 is a transcription factor protein which is increasingly used as an immunohistochemical marker for neuroendocrine differentiation. To determine the prevalence of INSM1 expression in tumors and its expression pattern in normal tissues, tissue microarrays containing 14,908 samples from 117 different tumor types/subtypes as well as 76 different normal tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. INSM1 was positive in 89.2% of 471 neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) and in 3.5% of 11,815 non-neuroendocrine neoplasms that were successfully analyzed. At least an occasional weak INSM1 positivity was observed in 59 different non-neuroendocrine tumor entities, of which 15 entities contained at least one case with strong INSM1 staining. A comparison with synaptophysin and chromogranin A staining revealed that in NEN, synaptophysin showed the highest sensitivity (93.3%), followed by INSM1 (89.2%) and chromogranin A (87.5%). In neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC), sensitivity was highest for INSM1 (88.0%), followed by synaptophysin (86.5%) and chromogranin A (66.4%). If INSM1 was used as an additional marker, the sensitivity for detecting neuroendocrine differentiation in NEN increased from 96.6% (synaptophysin and chromogranin A) to 97.2% (synaptophysin, chromogranin A and INSM1). Our study shows that INSM1 is a useful additional marker for neuroendocrine differentiation with high sensitivity, particularly in NEC.

[Metastatic lesions of the adrenal glands. The experience of Endocrinology Research Center.]

Differentiation between benign, primary and secondary malignant tumors is a critical problem in the clinical treatment of adrenal tumors, especially in patients with isolated adrenal lesions. In most cases, the correct diagnosis can be established microscopically with standard staining with hematoxylin and eosin. However, there are cases when it is almost impossible to distinguish metastasis from primary adrenal cancer, so an accurate diagnosis requires an immunohistochemical examination.This article presents five unique observations of secondary adrenal tumors that were diagnosed by us in the current surgical material: metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma, follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer, metastasis of keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the bladder, as well as malignant mesothelioma. Taking into account the extreme rarity of the presented observations, we present an analysis of the literature data.

Neuroendocrine Tumors: Genomics and Molecular Biomarkers with a Focus on Metastatic Disease

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are considered rare tumors that originate from specialized endocrine cells. Patients often present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis, which negatively impacts their quality of life and overall survival. An understanding of the genetic mutations that drive these tumors and the biomarkers used to detect new NET cases is important to identify patients at an earlier disease stage. Elevations in CgA, synaptophysin, and 5-HIAA are most commonly used to identify NETs and assess prognosis; however, new advances in whole genome sequencing and multigenomic blood assays have allowed for a greater understanding of the drivers of NETs and more sensitive and specific tests to diagnose tumors and assess disease response. Treating NET liver metastases is important in managing hormonal or carcinoid symptoms and is imperative to improve patient survival. Treatment for liver-dominant disease is varied; delineating biomarkers that may predict response will allow for better patient stratification.

Histopathologic Features of Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma

Adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy that poses challenging issues regarding the diagnostic workup. Indeed, no presurgical technique or clinical parameters can reliably distinguish between adrenal cortical adenomas, which are more frequent and have a favorable outcome, and ACC, and the final diagnosis largely relies on histopathologic analysis of the surgical specimen. However, even the pathologic assessment of malignancy in an adrenal cortical lesion is not straightforward and requires a combined evaluation of multiple histopathologic features. Starting from the Weiss score, which was developed in 1984, several histopathologic scoring systems have been designed to tackle the difficulties of ACC diagnosis. Dealing with specific histopathologic variants (eg, Liss-Weiss-Bisceglia scoring system for oncocytic ACC) or patient characteristics (eg, Wieneke index in the pediatric setting), these scores remarkably improved the diagnostic workup of ACC and its subtypes. Nevertheless, cases with misleading features or discordant correlations between pathologic findings and clinical behavior still occur. Owing to multicentric collaborative studies integrating morphologic features with ancillary immunohistochemical markers and molecular analysis, ACC has eventually emerged as a multifaceted, heterogenous malignancy, and, while innovative and promising approaches are currently being tested, the future clinical management of patients with ACC will mainly rely on personalized medicine and target-therapy protocols. At the dawn of the new Fifth World Health Organization classification of endocrine tumors, this review will tackle ACC from the pathologist's perspective, thus focusing on the main available diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive tissue-tethered features and biomarkers and providing relevant clinical and molecular correlates.

Inhibin Alpha Expression in Human Tumors: A Tissue Microarray Study on 12,212 Tumors

As a result of its expression in corresponding normal cell types, inhibin alpha (INHA) is used as an immunohistochemical marker for adrenocortical neoplasms and testicular or ovarian sex cord stromal tumors. However, other tumors can also express INHA. To comprehensively determine INHA expression in cancer, a tissue microarray containing 15,012 samples from 134 different tumor types and subtypes was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. INHA positivity was found in 72 of 134 tumor categories, including 26 categories with ≥1 strongly positive case. A moderate to strong INHA positivity was found in 100% of 37 granulosa cell tumors of the ovary, 100% of 43 other sex cord stromal tumors of the ovary/testis, 100% of 31 granular cell tumors, 78.5% of 28 adenomas, 44% of 25 carcinomas of the adrenal cortex, and 46.7% of 15 pancreatic acinar cell carcinomas. At least a weak INHA positivity was seen in <33% of cases of 46 additional tumor entities. In summary, these data support the use of INHA antibodies for detecting sex cord stromal tumors, granular cell tumors, and adrenocortical neoplasms. Since INHA can also be found in other tumor entities, INHA immunohistochemistry should only be considered as a part of any panel for the distinction of tumor entities.

Synaptophysin and chromogranin A expression analysis in human tumors

The expression of the neuroendocrine markers synaptophysin and chromogranin A was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 14,584 samples from 103 different tumor types and subtypes in a tissue microarray format. At least one of these markers was found to be positive in 96.7% of tumors from various subtypes of neuroendocrine neoplasms. In non-neuroendocrine tumors, synaptophysin and/or chromogranin A staining was seen in 6.3% (n = 584), specifically in 41 of 88 non-neuroendocrine tumor entities. Basal cell carcinomas of the skin (50% positive for chromogranin A alone) and adrenocortical carcinomas (91.7% positive for synaptophysin alone) stood out due to a frequent expression of only one specific marker. A subdivision of non-neuroendocrine neoplasms revealed "neuroendocrine differentiation" most commonly in adenocarcinomas from the female genital tract (18.9%), from pancreatico-/hepato-/biliary tract (15.8%) and the prostate (14.9%) while it was rare in urothelial (1.0%) and squamous cell carcinomas (0.6%). A comparison with clinico-pathological parameters of tumor aggressiveness did not suggest a clinical significance of neuroendocrine marker expression in 204 endometrium cancers, 249 pancreatic adenocarcinomas, 233 gastric adenocarcinomas and 1,182 colorectal adenocarcinomas. Within a cohort of 1,073 breast cancers of no special type, synaptophysin positivity was seen in 4.9% of cases and it was significantly linked to advanced tumor stage (p = 0.0427), high tumor grade (p = 0.0319) and loss of estrogen receptor expression (p = 0.0061) but unrelated to patient outcome. In conclusion, "neuroendocrine differentiation" can be observed in many different tumor types with non-neuroendocrine morphology. Evidence for a statistically significant association (p < 0.0001) between such a "neuroendocrine differentiation" and tumor aggressiveness could not be found.

Adrenocortical Cancer: A 20-Year Experience of a Single Referral Center in Prognosis and Outcomes

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but very aggressive endocrine malignancy with poor survival. Histopathology is important for diagnosis, while in some cases immunohistochemical markers and gene profiling of the resected tumor may be superior to current staging systems to determine prognosis. We aimed to present the 20-year experience at a tertiary hospital in patients with ACCs and correlate the immunohistochemical characteristics of ACCs with the clinical and morphological characteristics of the tumors and the survival of the patients. Forty-five patients with ACC were included in the study. All the resections were R0. The tumor size and weight, the disease stage (ENSAT classification), Weiss score and Helsinki score were examined along with immunohistochemical expression of inhibin-A, melan A, calretinin, Ki67, synaptophysin, p53, vimentin, CKAE1/AE3. The male to female ratio was 1:1.37. The median age at diagnosis was 55.5 years (IQR 19-77). The median size of ACCs was 9 cm (IQR 3.5-22 cm) and the median weight 127 g (IQR 18-1400 g). The median follow up period was 18 months (IQR 1-96). Ki67 varied from<1% to 75% (median: 16.4%). The expression of melan-A and lower expression of Ki-67 (≤4) were independently associated with longer OS time (p=0.01 and p=0.04, respectively). In multivariable analysis, tumor volume>400 cm³ (p=0.046), Weiss score>5 (p=0.007) and overexpression of p53 (p=0.036) were independent risk factors for shorter survival. Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare and very aggressive endocrine malignancy. The most important factors that determine long-term prognosis of ACC are the disease stage at diagnosis, the Weiss score, and the Ki67 index. Immunohistochemical markers such as melan A could also serve as prognostic factors.

NordiQC Assessments of Synaptophysin Immunoassays

This paper is number 8 in a series developed through a partnership between ISIMM and NordiQC with the purpose of reporting research assessing the performance characteristics of immunoassays in an external proficiency testing program.

Review of the Literature on Leiomyoma and Leiomyosarcoma of the Adrenal Gland: A Systematic Analysis of Case Reports

BACKGROUND/AIM

To date few cases of smooth muscle-derived tumors of the adrenal gland have been reported and their treatment remains a medical challenge. The aim of this manuscript was to systematically review the literature and present the tumor characteristics and their management in order to provide a standardized approach to their diagnosis and management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, ResearchGate, Google scholar) for relevant articles published until March 2020.

RESULTS

Twenty-two cases of adrenal leiomyoma, four cases of adrenal smooth muscle tumor and forty-five cases of adrenal leiomyosarcoma were included.

CONCLUSION

We present the demographic, clinical, radiological, pathological and oncological characteristics and prognosis of tumors of the adrenal gland arising from smooth muscle cells, as well as describe the common clinical investigations and therapeutic modalities that have been reported as part of their management.

A patient with paraganglioma undergoing laparoscopic resection: A case report

Paraganglioma is a very rare extraadrenal nonepithelial tumor. The number of cases of laparoscopic surgery in Paraganglioma is small and controversial. This study encountered a case of successful transperitoneal laparoscopic surgery for a 56-mm paraganglioma in a 53-year-old female. Moreover, previous reports on laparoscopic surgery for paraganglioma are reviewed.

Non-functioning adrenocortical carcinoma

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy that arises from the adrenal cortex and can be classified as either non-functioning or functioning. A patient with non-functioning ACC may present no specific symptoms. Imaging analysis can provide some information to a clinician who suspects ACC, such as tumor size, density, washout, necrosis, hemorrhage, and calcification. Histopathology is used to confirm and determine the origin of the malignancy and can provide relevant prognostic information. Microscopic findings can be used to obtain information such as the Weiss score, resection surface features, Ki-67 proliferative index, and the degree of capsular and vascular invasion. Surgery can be curative for localized tumors, and adjuvant therapy using mitotane and cytotoxic chemotherapy is often employed for advanced-stage tumors. We describe a case report of a 32-year-old man with a non-functioning ACC that highlights the importance of radiological and pathological features in the diagnosis of ACC and their use as prognostic factors.

Case Report: Ectopic Adrenocortical Carcinoma in the Ovary

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with an incidence of 0.7-2.0 cases/million habitants/year. ACCs are rare and usually endocrinologically functional. We present the case of a 59-year-old woman who experienced abdominal fullness for 6 months and increased abdominal circumference. A large pelvic tumor was observed. She underwent cytoreductive surgery and the pathological test results revealed local tumor necrosis and prominent lympho-vascular invasion. Neuroendocrine carcinoma was the first impression, but positivity for synaptophysin, alpha-inhibin, transcription factor enhancer 3 (TFE-3), calretinin (focal), and CD56 (focal) and high Ki-67-labeling proliferating index (>80%) confirmed the diagnosis of ectopic ACC. Ectopic primary aldosteronism could not be excluded. However, we did not perform saline infusion test or captopril test due to poor performance status. When pathological test reports reveal neuroendocrine features not typically found in the organ being examined, IHC staining should be performed to rule out ectopic ACC. Whether the ectopic ACC is functional or not requires complete survey.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Disease State Clinical Review on the Evaluation and Management of Adrenocortical Carcinoma in an Adult: a Practical Approach

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this Disease State Clinical Review is to provide a practical approach to patients with newly diagnosed adrenocortical carcinoma, as well as to follow-up and management of patients with persistent or recurrent disease.

METHODS

This is a case-based clinical review. The provided recommendations are based on evidence available from randomized prospective clinical studies, cohort studies, cross-sectional and case-based studies, and expert opinions.

RESULTS

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy, often with poor outcomes. For any patient with an adrenal mass suspicious for adrenocortical carcinoma, the approach should include prompt evaluation with detailed history and physical exam, imaging, and biochemical adrenal hormone assessment. In addition to adrenal-focused imaging, patients should be evaluated with chest-abdomen-pelvis cross-sectional imaging to define the initial therapy plan. Patients with potentially resectable disease limited to the adrenal gland should undergo en bloc open surgery by an expert surgeon. For patients presenting with advanced or recurrent disease, a multidisciplinary approach considering curative repeat surgery, local control with surgery, radiation therapy or radiofrequency ablation, or systemic therapy with mitotane and/or cytotoxic chemotherapy is recommended.

CONCLUSION

As most health care providers will rarely encounter a patient with adrenocortical carcinoma, we recommend that patients with suspected adrenocortical carcinoma be evaluated by an expert multidisciplinary team which includes clinicians with expertise in adrenal tumors, including endocrinologists, oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, geneticists, and radiologists. We recommend that patients in remote locations be followed by the local health care provider in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team at an expert adrenal tumor program.

ABBREVIATIONS

ACC = adrenocortical carcinoma; ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone; BRACC = borderline resectable adrenocortical carcinoma; CT = computed tomography; DHEAS = dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; EDP = etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin; FDG = ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose; FNA = fine-needle aspiration; HU = Hounsfield units; IVC = inferior vena cava; LFS = Li-Fraumeni syndrome; MEN1 = multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; OAC = oncocytic adrenocortical carcinoma; PC = palliative care; PET = positron emission tomography.

Haemorrhagic retroperitoneal paraganglioma initially manifesting as acute abdomen: a rare case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Paragangliomas (PGLs) are extremely rare neuroendocrine tumours arising from extra-adrenal chromaffin cells. PGLs are clinically rare, difficult to diagnose and usually require surgical intervention. PGLs mostly present catecholamine-related symptoms. We report a case of Acute abdomen as the initial manifestation of haemorrhagic retroperitoneal PGL. There has been only one similar case reported in literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a unique case of a 52-year-old female with acute abdomen induced by haemorrhagic retroperitoneal PGL. The patient had a 5-h history of sudden onset of serve right lower quadrant abdominal pain radiating to the right flank and right lumbar region. Patient had classic symptoms of acute abdomen. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a large abdominal mass with a clear boundary. A Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) of superior mesenteric artery was also performed to in the emergency department. The CTA demonstrated a large retroperitoneal mass measured 9.0 × 7.3 cm with higher density inside. A provisional diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumour with haemorrhage was made. The patient received intravenous fluids, broad-spectrum antibiotics and somatostatin. On the 3rd day of admission, her abdominal pain was slightly relieved, but haemoglobin decreased from 10.9 to 9.4 g/dL in 12 h suggesting that there might be active bleeding in the abdominal cavity. Thus, we performed a midline laparotomy for the patient. Haemorrhage was successfully stopped during operation. The retroperitoneal tumour with haemorrhage was completely removed. The abdominal pain was significantly relieved after surgery. The patient initially presented with acute abdomen instead of catecholamine-related symptoms. The diagnosis of retroperitoneal PGL with haemorrhage was finally confirmed by postoperative pathological and immunohistochemical results. The postoperative course was uneventful. At the 1-year follow-up visit, no tumour recurrence was observed by Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. A literature review was performed to further understand and analyse the aforementioned disease.

CONCLUSION

Acute abdomen as the initial manifestation of haemorrhagic retroperitoneal paraganglioma is extremely rare. Abdominal Computed Tomography is essential to locate the lesion and differentiate between other causes of acute abdomen. PGLs are hypervascular tumours. We should be aware that ruptured retroperitoneal PGL with massive bleeding could be life threatening and require emergency laparotomy.

An Algorithmic Immunohistochemical Approach to Define Tumor Type and Assign Site of Origin

Immunohistochemistry represents an indispensable complement to an epidemiology and morphology-driven approach to tumor diagnosis and site of origin assignment. This review reflects the state of my current practice, based on 15-years' experience in Pathology and a deep-dive into the literature, always striving to be better equipped to answer the age old questions, "What is it, and where is it from?" The tables and figures in this manuscript are the ones I "pull up on the computer" when I am teaching at the microscope and turn to myself when I am (frequently) stuck. This field is so exciting because I firmly believe that, through the application of next-generation immunohistochemistry, we can provide better answers than ever before. Specific topics covered in this review include (1) broad tumor classification and associated screening markers; (2) the role of cancer epidemiology in determining pretest probability; (3) broad-spectrum epithelial markers; (4) noncanonical expression of broad tumor class screening markers; (5) a morphologic pattern-based approach to poorly to undifferentiated malignant neoplasms; (6) a morphologic and immunohistochemical approach to define 4 main carcinoma types; (7) CK7/CK20 coordinate expression; (8) added value of semiquantitative immunohistochemical stain assessment; algorithmic immunohistochemical approaches to (9) "garden variety" adenocarcinomas presenting in the liver, (10) large polygonal cell adenocarcinomas, (11) the distinction of primary surface ovarian epithelial tumors with mucinous features from metastasis, (12) tumors presenting at alternative anatomic sites, (13) squamous cell carcinoma versus urothelial carcinoma, and neuroendocrine neoplasms, including (14) the distinction of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma from well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor, site of origin assignment in (15) well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor and (16) poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma, and (17) the distinction of well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor G3 from poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma; it concludes with (18) a discussion of diagnostic considerations in the broad-spectrum keratin/CD45/S-100-"triple-negative" neoplasm.

Prognostic significance of immunohistochemical markers in adrenocortical carcinoma

Background: To present basic demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), to determine the overall survival rate and to analyze the results of immunohistochemical staining and its correlation with the length of survival.Material and methods: The study was conducted during the period between 1996 and 2010 and included 30 patients with ACC. Immunohistochemical staining (MMP9, melan A, inhibin, caltretinin, D2-40, synaptophysin and Ki-67) was performed.Results: ACC was diagnosed in 19 females and 11 men (1.7:1). The average age was 50.1 years. The median tumor size was 10 cm, the median weight 400 g. Majority of subjects had positive immunohistochemical staining for the markers of interest. Patients with any negative staining had shorter cancer-specific survival than ones with positive staining. According to the log-rank test results as well as according to the results of the univariate Cox analysis, negative staining for inhibin, D2-40 and synaptophysin and Ki-67 expression ≥7% were associated with poorer prognosis.Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that the absence of staining for some immunohistochemical markers and increased expression of Ki-67 are associated with a poorer prognosis and shorter survival of patients with ACC. Immunohistochemical markers may serve as a prognostic factor for ACC.

Steroid Receptor Coactivator-1 Expression in Pheochromocytoma: Clinicopathologic Correlation and Potential Diagnostic Pitfall

Pheochromocytoma is a relatively uncommon tumor, and the histomorphologic and biochemical features that may portend malignant behavior have poor overall consensus across various proposed classification systems. Steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) is a nuclear protein that mediates transcriptional activity. Current diagnostic applications of SRC-1 are limited, and include distinguishing adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) from renal cell carcinoma, and other mimickers. SRC-1 expression in pheochromocytoma has not been previously studied. Pheochromocytoma cases were retrieved from our Urological Pathology database and expert consultation files of the senior author, from 2015 to 2019. Clinicopathological data were obtained. SRC-1 expression was scored systematically. Thirty-eight cases were included, with a female predominance, and a mean age of 52 years (range, 16 to 75 y). Seven patients had heritable mutations including RET (n=3), VHL (2), SDHB (1), and ATM and PDGFRA (1). Two patients developed clinical metastasis, who individually had ATM and PDGFRA mutations, and SDHB p.V140F mutation. All heritable tumors were positive for SRC-1, including diffuse/strong staining and intensity in the VHL cases, and diffuse staining with variable intensity in RET cases. Diffuse positivity was seen in most of our heritable cases, providing evidence for a putative link between RET and downstream SRC-1 signaling. An inverse relationship was observed between SRC-1 expression and Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Gland Scaled Score/tumor size, suggesting that SRC-1 phenotype may become muted in pheochromocytomas that have malignant potential. SRC-1 expression in aggressive pheochromocytomas, may also be a potential diagnostic pitfall in view of the fact that these tumors may be misinterpreted as ACC in the primary or metastatic setting.

Insulinoma-associated protein 1 expression in primary and metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gastrointestinal and pancreaticobiliary tracts

AIMS

Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) is a transcription factor that is expressed in developing and mature neuroendocrine tissue. Recent studies have shown that INSM1 is a sensitive marker for neuroendocrine tumours. The aims of this study were to evaluate INSM1 expression in primary gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) and in their known metastases, in order to assess its sensitivity as compared with chromogranin-A (CgA) and synaptophysin (SYN), and to evaluate any change in expression between primary and metastatic disease.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified 30 patients with primary GEP-NEN. Liver metastatic tissue was available for 26 patients; two patients had two metachronous metastatic foci, yielding a total of 28 metastatic cases. An additional two and seven non-paired cases of primary and metastatic grade 3 GEP-NEN, respectively, were included. To assess specificity, we evaluated the expression of these markers in other primary tumours (colorectal adenocarcinoma, acinar cell carcinoma, solid pseudopapillary neoplasm, cholangiocarcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma) and metastatic tumours in the liver (adrenal cortical, breast and prostate carcinomas) that may present as differential diagnoses. In our cohort, all of the primary GEP-NENs and 94% of the metastatic GEP-NENs expressed INSM1. INSM1 showed similar sensitivity to SYN and higher sensitivity than CgA in both primary and metastatic neoplasms. INSM1 has comparable specificity to CgA, and higher specificity than SYN.

CONCLUSIONS

The nuclear reactivity and the high sensitivity and specificity of INSM1 make it a preferred neuroendocrine marker. In conclusion, INSM1 can be used as a single first-line marker for primary and metastatic GEP-NEN.

Molecular Drivers of Potential Immunotherapy Failure in Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, highly aggressive cancer, often insensitive to conventional chemotherapeutics agents. Early diagnosis, followed by radical surgical resection plus/minus adjuvant mitotane therapy, is nowadays the only valuable option. Unfortunately, one out of four patients has metastatic disease at diagnosis and most of radically resected ACC patients are destined to recur with local or metastatic disease. Numerous efforts aimed at identifying molecular alterations crucial for ACC pathogenesis have been extensively conducted, with the hope to develop new treatments. Indeed, multiple genes and pathways have been identified as potentially targetable in ACC patients; however, despite the strong preclinical rationale, translational findings to clinical trials led to date to disappointing results. The immunotherapeutic intervention targeting T-cell checkpoint molecules has been proposed as well, but results obtained in early studies indicate that ACC patients would be unlikely to benefit from immunotherapy. Genetic alterations of different pathways involved in ACC carcinogenesis are also known substrates of resistance to immunotherapy. Among them, β-catenin gene CTNNB1 and TP53 gene are frequently mutated in ACC samples. Overactivation of the β-catenin pathway and loss of p53 protein function are potential tumor-intrinsic factors that, impacting on the ability of ACC cells to recruit dendritic cells, leading to T-cell exclusion, put this tumor among those that are potentially resistant to immunotherapy. Moreover, the steroid phenotype, which implies glucocorticoids hypersecretion in a subset of ACC, contributes to generating an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here, we review clinical results of immunotherapy in ACC and we highlight molecular mechanisms driving immunotherapy failure in ACC, suggesting possible approaches to overcome resistance.

Applications of Immunohistochemistry to Endocrine Pathology

The role of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in endocrine pathology is similar to that in other organ systems in that it can aid in the subclassification of tumors within an organ, confirm site of primary in metastatic disease, provide prognostic information, identify underlying genetic alterations, and predict response to treatment. Although most endocrine tumors do not require IHC to render a diagnosis, there are certain scenarios in which IHC can be extremely helpful. For example, in thyroid, IHC can be used to support tumor dedifferentiation, in the adrenal it can aid in the diagnosis of low-grade adrenocortical carcinomas, and in paragangliomas it can help identify tumors arising as part of an inherited tumor syndrome. This review will focus on the applications of IHC in tumors of the thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, and paraganglia in adults.

European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of adrenocortical carcinoma in adults, in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and in most cases steroid hormone-producing tumor with variable prognosis. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide clinicians with best possible evidence-based recommendations for clinical management of patients with ACC based on the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system. We predefined four main clinical questions, which we judged as particularly important for the management of ACC patients and performed systematic literature searches: (A) What is needed to diagnose an ACC by histopathology? (B) Which are the best prognostic markers in ACC? (C) Is adjuvant therapy able to prevent recurrent disease or reduce mortality after radical resection? (D) What is the best treatment option for macroscopically incompletely resected, recurrent or metastatic disease? Other relevant questions were discussed within the group. Selected Recommendations: (i) We recommend that all patients with suspected and proven ACC are discussed in a multidisciplinary expert team meeting. (ii) We recommend that every patient with (suspected) ACC should undergo careful clinical assessment, detailed endocrine work-up to identify autonomous hormone excess and adrenal-focused imaging. (iii) We recommend that adrenal surgery for (suspected) ACC should be performed only by surgeons experienced in adrenal and oncological surgery aiming at a complete en bloc resection (including resection of oligo-metastatic disease). (iv) We suggest that all suspected ACC should be reviewed by an expert adrenal pathologist using the Weiss score and providing Ki67 index. (v) We suggest adjuvant mitotane treatment in patients after radical surgery that have a perceived high risk of recurrence (ENSAT stage III, or R1 resection, or Ki67 >10%). (vi) For advanced ACC not amenable to complete surgical resection, local therapeutic measures (e.g. radiation therapy, radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolization) are of particular value. However, we suggest against the routine use of adrenal surgery in case of widespread metastatic disease. In these patients, we recommend either mitotane monotherapy or mitotane, etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin depending on prognostic parameters. In selected patients with a good response, surgery may be subsequently considered. (vii) In patients with recurrent disease and a disease-free interval of at least 12 months, in whom a complete resection/ablation seems feasible, we recommend surgery or alternatively other local therapies. Furthermore, we offer detailed recommendations about the management of mitotane treatment and other supportive therapies. Finally, we suggest directions for future research.

False-positive findings on 6-[18F]fluor-l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine PET (18F-FDOPA-PET) performed for imaging of neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND/AIM

PET with 6-[18F]fluor-l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (¹⁸F-FDOPA) has been shown to be a useful imaging tool with a high sensitivity for the visualization of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). ¹⁸F-FDOPA uptake in tumors other than NETs has been suggested previously, but data on this phenomenon are limited. We therefore studied the non-physiological, false-positive uptake of ¹⁸F-FDOPA in a large population of patients with a NET or with a high clinical suspicion of harboring a NET.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective single-center study among adult patients in whom ¹⁸F-FDOPA PET scintigraphy was performed between January 2004 and December 2014. The original scan report was compared with the original pathology report corresponding with the ¹⁸F-FDOPA PET-positive lesion. In case this was inconsistent with the diagnosis of a NET, both the scan and the pathology slides were reassessed. Specimens of these non-NET tissues were immunohistochemically stained for AADC.

RESULTS

1070 ¹⁸F-FDOPA PET scans from 705 patients were evaluated. Focal or multiple ¹⁸F-FDOPA-avid lesions were described in 709 ¹⁸F-FDOPA PET scans (66%). Histology of these ¹⁸F-FDOPA PET-positive lesions was present in 508 (72%) cases. In seven cases, the histopathology was not compatible with NET but showed squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, multiple myeloma (two cases), hepatocellular carcinoma, Schwannoma, adrenocortical carcinoma and a skeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, with positive immunohistochemical staining for AADC in 67%.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathological uptake of ¹⁸F-FDOPA does not always indicate the presence of a NET. The possibility of ¹⁸F-FDOPA uptake by tumor types other than NETs, although rare, should be considered.

Old, New, and Emerging Immunohistochemical Markers in Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

The evolution of genetic research over the past two decades has greatly improved the understanding of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. It is now accepted that more than one third of pheochromocytoma and paragangliomas arise in the context of syndromic disease, usually hereditary. The genetic profile of these tumors also has important prognostic implications which may help guide treatment. Accompanying the changing molecular landscape is the development of new immunohistochemical markers. Initially used in assisting with diagnosis, immunohistochemical markers have now become an important adjunct to screening programs for inherited conditions and subsequently as prognostic markers. The accessibility and efficiency of immunohistochemistry bring pathologists to the forefront in triaging patients based on tumor genotype-phenotype. In this review, we provide an update on the role of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, as an adjunct to assessment for hereditary disease and finally as a potential tool to assist risk stratification.

A case of adrenocortical carcinoma accompanying secondary acute adrenal hypofunction postoperation

Background

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, heterogeneous malignancy with a poor prognosis. ACCs are classified as functioning and non-functioning. The pathogenesis of ACC remains elusive, and diagnosis of ACC is currently based on pathology. In the absence of other effective approaches, surgical resection is the preferred treatment option.

Case presentation

Here, we report a case of ACC in the retroperitoneum. The patient underwent radical adrenalectomy and remained disease-free throughout a 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Radical surgical resection is an efficient therapy for ACC, and hydrocortisone can be used to alleviate symptoms of secondary acute adrenal hypofunction.

Laparoscopic Treatment of Adrenal Tumors: A Single-Center Experience with 58 Patients

Background. The aim of this study is to discuss the laparoscopic approach and assess the immunohistochemical expression profiles of synaptophysin, Ki-67, and inhibin and patient outcomes in adrenal masses through a series of cases treated at our institution. Method. The study was conducted on 58 patients who were diagnosed with adrenal masses. All cases were operated on laparoscopically for adrenal masses. Results. Both inhibin and synaptophysin were found positive in 45 patients (77,6%). Ki-67 was negative in 11 patients, whereas it was found positive in 42 with a rate of 1%. The size of the masses ranged from 1 up to 9 cm (mean 4,3 ± 1,5). Urine hormone excretion was measured within normal ranges in 47 out of 58 patients (81%). Most of the diagnosed patients were harboring Cortical Adenoma (n: 38; 65,5%). All of the masses were successfully resected without complication except 3 patients. Because of complications of bleeding, the operation was converted to open surgery for 2 patients. Conclusion. Morbidity, mortality, and healing were comparable, regardless of tumor size, yet involvement in both laparoscopic and adrenal surgery was required. Our results suggested that laparoscopic adrenalectomy should replace open surgery as the standard treatment for most adrenal masses.

Adrenal Tumors in Adults

Although most adrenal tumors are not diagnostic dilemmas, there are cases that are challenging. This may be due to the tissue provided, for example fragmented tissue received in the setting of morcellation, or it may be due to inherently challenging histology, such as in cases with equivocal features of malignancy. Additionally, much has been learned about the molecular alterations of adrenal tumors, especially pheochromocytomas. Many of these alterations represent germline mutations with significant clinical implications for patients and their families. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the most common adrenal tumors in adults so that pathologists can tackle these interesting tumors.

Malignant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa) of the Adrenal Gland: Report of a Rare Case Posing Diagnostic Challenge with the Role of Immunohistochemistry in the Diagnosis

Histological diagnosis of adrenal tumors is often challenging as diverse groups of tumors, both primaries and metastatic, may be seen in the adrenal gland with overlapping morphological features. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays the most important role in their diagnosis. Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), a rarely reported tumor in the adrenal gland, shares many features with another rare tumor sarcomatoid adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Extensive immunohistochemical study is required to distinguish this tumor from adrenocortical carcinoma and from other morphologically similar tumors. The unique combination of immunoreactivity for melanocytic markers, such as HMB-45 and Melan A, and myogenic markers, such as smooth muscle actin, is the hallmark of PEComas biological behavior, and prognosis of malignant PEComas is yet to be fully understood. Few cases of malignant PEComa have been reported in the adrenal gland. We report a case of malignant PEComa of the adrenal gland posing diagnostic challenge and compare its morphological and immunohistochemical features with those of sarcomatoid ACC.

Diagnostic and prognostic features in adrenocortical carcinoma: a single institution case series and review of the literature

Background

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare cancer, with an incidence in the literature of 0.5 to 2 cases per million population per year. Adult adrenocortical carcinoma has a poor prognosis, underscoring the importance of identifying diagnostic and prognostic markers.

Methods

We searched our laboratory database for all cases in the past 15 years with a diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma. The original slides were then reviewed for their histopathological features. A representative paraffin block was subjected to further immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67, inhibin, steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), p53, and Β-catenin. These slides were scored by the study pathologist who was blinded to all clinicopathological data. In addition, a comprehensive review of the relevant English literature in the past 15 years was conducted.

Results

Eight cases were identified, including two adrenal sarcomatoid carcinomas. Seven of the eight cases had a disrupted reticulin network. Six of the eight tumors had >10% Ki-67 expression. Five of the eight tumors had >10% p53 expression. Positive inhibin immunohistochemical staining was seen in three of the eight tumors, and positive SF-1 staining was seen in five of the seven stained tumors. Abnormal Β-catenin intracellular accumulation was noted in four of the eight tumors. The two tumors in our series with sarcomatoid histology did not stain positively for SF-1 or inhibin.

Conclusions

Eight cases of adrenocortical carcinoma, including two with sarcomatoid features are presented. The two sarcomatoid adrenocortical carcinomas in our series did not stain for SF-1 which suggests a possible de novo pathway of tumorigenesis for this rare variant. The reticulin staining method was a useful tool for rapid differentiation of adrenocortical adenomas and carcinomas. Diffuse p53 staining showed a trend for positive correlation with increased Ki-67 expression. Inhibin staining was inconsistently expressed in our cases of adrenocortical carcinoma. In conclusion, as adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare disease, we recommend future multicenter studies with appropriate sample sizes to further evaluate the efficacy of these diagnostic and prognostic markers.

Immunohistochemical distinction of metastases of renal cell carcinoma to the adrenal from primary adrenal nodules, including oncocytic tumor

Metastases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma to the adrenal can mimic primary adrenal cortical neoplasms or normal adrenal, especially in biopsy material. We compared 34 cases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma metastasis to the adrenal with 49 primary adrenal lesions (16 carcinoma, 22 adenoma, 9 oncocytic tumor, and 2 hyperplasia). Normal adrenal was available in 59 cases. Each entity was represented on tissue microarrays by duplicate-triplicate evaluable spots taken from spatially separate areas. Two pathologists evaluated all reactivity from 0 to 3+. A panel of 12 immunohistochemical stains was performed, including the first diagnostic uses of steroid receptor coactivator (SRC1) and equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1). The most sensitive and specific renal cell carcinoma markers were membranous reactivity for carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) and RCC marker and nuclear reactivity for PAX8. For adrenal cortical carcinomas, best markers were synaptophysin, SRC1, and MelanA; and for adrenal oncocytic tumor, synaptophysin and ENT1. Optimal markers for adrenal cortical adenoma and normal adrenal were ENT1 (more specific) and either MelanA or SRC1 (more sensitive). Calretinin, cytokeratin 34βE12 and CAM5.2, inhibin, and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) proved less valuable to the panel. Nonspecific cytoplasmic biotin reactivity was frequent for CAIX and PAX8. Tumors with high-grade cytology should be worked up with 2 of the 3 stains: CAIX, PAX8, or RCC marker; and either SRC1 or MelanA. Adrenal adenoma, or normal adrenal, versus low-grade renal cell carcinoma are distinguished by a panel of: CAIX, PAX8, or RCC Marker; ENT1 and either SRC1 or MelanA.

Adrenocortical carcinoma mimicking lung cancer and responding to vinorelbine/carboplatin and pemetrexed/carboplatin

Adrenocortical carcinoma is an aggressive cancer, with an incidence of 0.5-2 per million. We present a case of adrenocortical carcinoma with all the clinical and partly immunohistochemical features of disseminated undifferentiated lung cancer, and 'accidentally' treated as such. Four cycles of carboplatin-vinorelbine conferred partial response in the adrenal, lung and disappearance of a 2 cm subcutaneous iliac nodule that had appeared suddenly before the first course. Owing to progression, four cycles of carboplatin-pemetrexed were administered inducing partial response and then stable disease for an additional 12 months. As fluoro-d-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) only showed activity in the adrenal, laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed. Three months later FDG-PET revealed a lung nodule unresponsive to carboplatin-pemetrexed, removed by wedge resection. Finally, re-evaluation by a tertiary centre confirmed adrenocortical carcinoma with Ki67-50% in the adrenal and the lung. The patient is alive and tumour free almost 3.5 years after retrospective diagnosis of metastatic adrenocortical cancer.

Search for neuro-endocrine markers (chromogranin A, synaptophysin and VGF) in breast cancers. An integrated approach using immunohistochemistry and gene expression profiling

Discordant data are reported in the literature on the definition, incidence and clinical features of neuroendocrine (NE) carcinomas of the breast. This tumour entity is currently assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) detecting "general" NE markers such as chromogranin A (CHGA) and synaptophysin (SYP), but other markers have been considered as well. In the present study, in addition to CHGA and SYP, we investigated the expression of VGF, a neurotrophin-inducible gene, which is emerging as a new specific NE marker. In order to evaluate the differential expression of these neuro-endocrine markers in breast cancers, we conducted parallel immunohistochemical and gene expression analyses, using PCR, gene array and real-time quantitative PCR procedures. Data obtained in 28 cases were further validated with a meta-analysis of published datasets of 103 breast cancer cases. The value of IHC positivity (irrespective of the percentage of positive cells) was confirmed by over-expression of the related gene. However, the genetic approach emerged as more sensitive, showing over-expression of NE markers in a subset of IHC-negative carcinomas. In conclusion, the present study confirms, by a novel approach, the occurrence of NE differentiation in breast cancers. Over-expression of one or more NE marker (CHGA and/or SYP and/or VGF) characterizes a significant fraction (approximately 10 %) of infiltrative breast cancers.

Adrenocortical Carcinoma in an Adult: Eight Months without Recurrence after Resection and Adjuvant Chemotherapy

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare, aggressive malignancy that features a correspondingly poor prognosis. The disease accounts for 0.2% of all malignancies and despite multimodal therapies, its prognosis remains poor, with a mean survival of <30 months. This paper reports on a patient submitted to surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy for adrenocortical carcinoma with an ongoing follow-up of 8 months after surgery and no signs of recurrence.

Pathology of the adrenal cortex: a reappraisal of the past 25 years focusing on adrenal cortical tumors

A reappraisal of the major advances in the diagnostic pathology of adrenal cortical lesions and tumors in the last 25 years is presented, with special reference to the definition of malignancy in primary adrenal cancer and its variants. Slightly more than 25 years ago, Weiss proposed his diagnostic scoring system for adrenal cortical carcinoma. This represented a milestone for adrenal pathologists and the starting point for further modifications of the system, either through minor changes in the scoring procedure itself or concentrating on some particular Weiss criterion such as mitotic index, integrated into alternative scoring schemes or algorithms that are currently under validation. Improvements in diagnostic immunohistochemistry have led to the identification of markers of cortical origin, such as Melan-A, alpha-inhibin, and SF-1 and of prognostic factors in carcinoma, such as the Ki-67 proliferation index and SF-1 itself. With regard to hyperplastic conditions, genetic investigations have allowed the association of the majority of cases of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD) in Carney complex to mutations in the gene encoding the regulatory subunit 1A of protein kinase A (PRKAR1A). Other hereditary conditions are also associated with adrenal cortical tumors, including the Li-Fraumeni, Beckwith-Wiedemann, Gardner, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, and neurofibromatosis type 1 syndromes. Moreover, several advances have been made in the knowledge of the molecular background of sporadic tumors, and a number of molecules/genes are of particular interest as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.