Brace yourself: an unusual case of knee pain, an extradigital glomangioma of the knee

The differential diagnosis for knee pain is extensive. Glomus tumors comprise approximately 1.6% of soft-tissue tumors in the extremities. Classic subungual tumors occur more frequently in women, whereas ectopic locations are more common in men. Unusual locations include the stomach; lungs; trachea; bones; intestines; fallopian tubes; and intraneural, neuromal, and intravenous locations. We present the case of a 50-year-old man with a 12-year history of enlarging right knee mass found to be a glomangioma. This case report discusses the incidence, presentation, imaging characteristics, histology, and management of glomus tumors of the knee.

Use of hyperspectral imaging to distinguish normal, precancerous, and cancerous cells

BACKGROUND

The objective of the current study was to test the hypothesis that the cytologic diagnosis of cancer cells can be enhanced by the technique of hyperspectral imaging (HSI).

METHODS

As a proof of principle, HSI was employed to obtain hyperspectrum from a normal human fibroblast, as well as its telomerase-immortalized and SV40-transformed derivatives. Novel algorithms were developed to differentiate among these cell models based on spectral and spatial differences. Using the same technique with modified algorithms, the authors were able to differentiate among normal and precancerous (low-grade [LG] and high-grade [HG]) cervical cells and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on liquid-based Papanicolaou (Pap) test slides.

RESULTS

The specificity for identifying normal fibroblast cell type based on spatial and spectral algorithms was 74.2%. The sensitivity for identifying telomerase-immortalized and SV40-transformed cells was 100% and 90.3%, respectively. The system identified normal cervical cells with a specificity of 95.8%. With regard to LG precancerous cells and HG precancerous cells, the sensitivity was 66.7% and 93.5%, respectively. The sensitivity detected for SCC was 98.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

HSI can be utilized in prescreening liquid-based Pap test slides to improve efficiency in Pap test diagnoses with the goal of ultimately reducing the mortality from cervical cancer while reducing health care costs.

Evaluation of electrochemiluminescence- and bioluminescence-based assays for quantitating specific DNA

The clinical value of PCR technology would be increased by development of improved quantitative methodology. Two new methods, electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and bioluminescence (BL), were evaluated for analytical dynamic range, sensitivity, and reproducibility of quantitation of specific DNA. The two assays were compared using an IL-2 template DNA amplified using one biotinylated forward primer and detected with sequence identical probes labeled in two different ways. PCR products were, captured on streptavidin-coated plates for BL and by streptavidin-coated beads for ECL. Product detection was accomplished using either a ruthenium (ECL) or a digoxigenin-labeled probe (BL). The ECL measurement was performed using the Perkin Elmer QPCR System 5000, while the BL methodology used a SeaLife Science AquaLite Aequorin-antibody conjugate, which was detected with a ML3000 luminometer. Both instruments were found to be extremely sensitive with accurate quantitation of label in the attomole range, allowing detection during the exponential phase of PCR amplification. In our hands, it was possible to detect 1.5 x 10(14) copies (18 cycles) of IL-2 PCR product using ECL and 1 x 10(13) copies (14 cycles) using BL technology. Overall, we found the BL assay to be a rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive way to quantitate PCR-generated products with a broad range of potential analytical applications.