[Multicentric inflammatory pseudotumor with asynchronic presentation in meninges, liver, spleen and lymph nodes in a patient with seronegative spondiloarthropathy. Case report and review of the literature]

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a reactive process in which the etiology and pathogenesis are not well defined, that can be found in any location. The cases with central nervous system affection have been described in meninges, brain, choroid plexus and cranial and spinal nerves. Multicentric cases, synchronous and asynchronous have been described.

CASE REPORT

A 45 years-old woman with a rheumatologic disease (a seronegative spondiloarthropathy) who developed an inflammatory pseudotumor in spleen, liver and abdominal lymph nodes in 1995, associated to fever of unknown origin, six years later she presented with an inflammatory pseudotumor of the meninges in the convexity of the right frontoparietal region, with fever, malaise, and increase of globular sedimentation rate, microcytic hypochromic anemia and thrombocytosis.

CONCLUSION

The clinicopathologic features of this lesion are revised, including the different theories in regard to the etiology and pathogenesis, and the role of cytokines produced by inflammatory cells in the tumor.

[Diagnosis of early gastric marginal zone lymphoma (MALT lymphoma) in endoscopic biopsies. Report of a case that demonstrates the utility of immunohistochemistry and the molecular analysis.]

MALT lymphomas are a subtype of low grade lymphomas that represent 7-8% of all B-cell lymphomas originated in extranodal sites. Nearly 50% of the cases present as primary gastric lymphomas.They arise from the acquired MALT developed during the course of H. pylori chronic infection. Microscopically,the presence of lymphoid follicles with follicular colonization, marginal zone ("centrocytoid")cells and lymphoepithelial lesions is characteristic.Histopathological diagnosis may result difficult in superficial endoscopic biopsies showing a typical lymphoid infiltrates. Using Wotherspoon criteria along with molecular analyses is useful in borderline lesions. We present the case of a 62 years old female with chronic gastritis. A small endoscopic biopsy was performed and the presence of a heterogeneous lymphoid infiltrate in the lamina propia was observed. Immuno histochemical profile showed focal co expression of CD20 andCD43 and kappa light chain restriction. The diagnosis of an atypical lymphoid infiltrate highly suspicious of MALT lymphoma was established. PCR molecular analysis corroborated the monoclonal pattern of the lymphoid cells and the diagnosis of lymphoma. Immunohistochemical and molecular analyses in cases of lymphoid infiltrates suspicious of malignancy (Wotherspoon 3 and 4) will aid in the adequate diagnosis between chronic gastritis and MALT lymphoma, which is crucial for prognosis,treatment and patient's outcome.Key words: Chronic reactive gastritis, marginal zone lymphoma, MALT lymphoma, gastriclym.

[José Verocay. Verocay neurinomas and bodies and other contributions to medicine]

AIMS

To describe the academic contributions to pathology and the biography of José Verocay (1876-1927), and to comment on the differential diagnosis of Verocay bodies.

DEVELOPMENT

José Juan Verocay was an Uruguayan-born pathologist that worked at the Institute of Pathology in Prague under the figures of Chiari, Kretz and Ghon. He described in 1910 the structures today known as 'Verocay bodies', in a paper on neurofibromas. During some time, schwannomas were known as 'neurinomas of Verocay'. This peculiar alienation of cells of Schwann known as Verocay bodies, is characteristic, but not exclusive of schwannomas, and may be found in other mesenchymal tumors, some carcinomas and in melanomas.

[Paraganglioma of the cauda equina with papillary pattern and cytokeratin expression: 2 potential sources of diagnostic error. Report of a case and review of the literature]

Paragangliomas are unusual neuroendocrine tumours, rare in the cauda equina and filum terminale. Due to their low frequency, no classical patterns and dual immunophenotype, may be misinterpreted as others neoplasms more frequent in this site. It is our aim to report a case of paraganglioma of the cauda equina and filum terminale (PGCCFT), standing out it's histological-immunohistochemical pattern, differential diagnosis, prognostic and treatment. We reviewed the clinical presentation, NMR features and morphological aspect of one PGCCFT, diagnosed in the ABC Medical Center's Surgical Pathology Department of Mexico City. Report of the case: 26 years old man, who had been suffering a low lumbar pain for one year before he came to our hospital. The NRM showed heterointense lesion in the level of first and second vertebra, suggesting ependymoma. The tumor was totally resected. Histologically it was papillary, the chief cells have stained with chromogranin, synaptophysin, and cytokeratin. The few sustentaculars cells were S100 positive. The patient have haven a favorable course.

CONCLUSIONS

The certainty and differential diagnosis of paragangliomas of the cauda equina and filum terminale needs correlation between histological pattern and immunophenotype, the last must be considered in the peculiar context of this anatomic region.

[An atypical rhabdoid/teratoid tumor. A presentation of three cases and review of the literature]

INTRODUCTION

The atypical rhabdoid/teratoid tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) has emerged from a variant of medulloblastoma to become a distinctive clinico-pathological condition over the past ten years. This is more than simply nosological importance, since the five year survival expected in medulloblastomas is considerably better than the 11 months (average) seen in rhabdoid/teratoid tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the main clinico-pathological characteristics of a recently recognized condition, emphasizing its polymorphism and differential diagnosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We report the clinical, radiological, cytohistopathological and immunohistopathological aspects of three atypical rhabdoid/teratoid tumors diagnosed in the Hospital A.B.C. of Mexico City.

RESULTS

The three tumors were seen in boys aged 18 months, 5 years and 14 years, localized to the right cerebellum, left cerebral hemisphere and left cerebellum, respectively. Different markers were shown including: vimentin, cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, gliofibrillare acid protein, synaptophysin, alpha fetoprotein, S100, (HHF-35) actin, cromogranin, neurofilaments, human chorionic gonadotrophin, placental alkaline phosphatase, desmin, CD99 and carcinoembryonary antigen. We established the morphological similarities and differences in our cases, and noted the profuse vascular proliferation which in one case resembled vascular neoplasia. We compared our results with other published cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The atypical rhabdoid/teratoid tumor of the CNS may easily be confused with other primary or metastatic tumors since the rhabdoid characteristics do not only occur in this tumor. Also the rhabdoid aspect may be less marked and in some cases does not predominate. Some zones of the tumor may be identical to other embryonic tumors of the CNS and the immunophenotype be superimposed on that of other neoplasias of the nervous system.

[Biomarkers in breast cancer with high over-expression of HER2 protein]

INTRODUCTION

The predictive value of the HER2 protein over-expression in order to the breast carcinomas response to dexorubicin and Herceptin therapy has been proved. DAKO Herceptest pretend to be a tool in the identification of patients for whose Herceptin might be an option. In one breast carcinoma serie studied in our laboratory we detected a high over-expression of HER2. Only four cases were recurrent tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the breast carcinoma serie assayed with DAKO Herceptest by the expression of other prognostic or predictive markers (hormone receptors, Ki-67, p53, tumoral ploidy) that are routinely tested in our laboratory.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

97 consecutive mammary carcinomas recieved between July and October, 2000 in the ABC Medical Center's Surgical Pathology Department of Mexico City, were analyzed with DAKO Herceptest, and for estrogen/progesterone receptors, p53, Ki-67 and tumoral ploidy.

RESULTS

We found HER2 over-expression in 46.3% of the cases tested. The 47.6% of this subgroup showed hormone receptors negative immunophenotype, 89.7% high cellular proliferation index (Ki-67), 72.5% of p53 expression, and tumoral aneuploidy in 72.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

The high expression of desfavorable prognostic and/or predictive factors for mammary carcinomas in the casuistic, suggest that the population in study have a particularly aggressive phenotype, where the over-expression of HER2 protein results in concordance and it is not related with tumoral relapse.

Stromal tumor of the gallbladder with phenotype of interstitial cells of Cajal: a previously unrecognized neoplasm

We report a small, well-demarcated stromal tumor of the gallbladder in a 69-year-old woman. The tumor and associated cholelithiasis led to chronic cholecystitis symptoms. The wall of the gallbladder contained a 2.4-cm hypocellular nodule composed of bland spindle-shaped cells that were immunoreactive for vimentin, CD34, and CD117. With the latter antibody, which stains interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), the neoplastic cells appear fusiform with elongated bipolar projections or dendritic-like cytoplasmic projections. The gallbladder wall adjacent to the tumor contained numerous CD117-positive cells in close contact with the normal smooth muscle cells, whereas two of 10 gallbladders with minimal chronic cholecystitis showed only a few CD117-positive cells. These findings provide evidence that this stromal tumor of the gallbladder shows ICC differentiation similar to some stromal tumors of the gut. The presence of numerous ICC in the uninvolved gallbladder wall suggests that this tumor might have evolved through hyperplasia of ICC.

[Atypical regenerative changes, dysplasia, and carcinoma in situ in chronic gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori]

In the present work we study the association between chronic active gastritis (CAG), atypical regeneration and dysplasia and gastric Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. We study two groups of endoscopic biopsies. Regenerative changes and dysplasia were evaluated according to Gandur-Maymneh et al. classification which was simplified in typical and atypical regeneration, and mild and severe dysplasia. The group I included 94 patients with CAG, 9 with chronic non active gastritis (CNAG) and 2 with normal gastric mucosa. CAG was graded according to activity in; severe 28 patients; moderate 54 patients and; mild 12 patients. HP association in these cases was 100%, 77% and 25%. In cases of CNAG HP was present in 22%, there were not HP in normal gastric mucosa. There were atypical regeneration in 25% of moderate CAG and in 42% of severe CAG. Mild dysplasia was present in 7.5 and 25% in cases of moderate and severe CAG. Two biopsies showed severe dysplasia. In addition, intestinal metaplasia was found in 15% of CAG, the metaplasia was present in 25% of cases with CAG and atypical regeneration; in 54% of cases with mild dysplasia and; in 100% on cases with severe dysplasia. The group II included 9 cases of gastric cancer of intestinal type, 7 cases of diffuse type, and 4 cases of mixed type. In all these cases there was viewed CAG associated to HP infection in non-neoplastic mucosa. In 75% of cases there were showed atypical regeneration and 60% presented some type of dysplasia. There was transition between atypical regeneration and dysplasia in 6 cases of intestinal gastric cancer and in 3 cases of mixed type. We found relationship between the intensity of CAG and HP colonization, and the association with atypical regeneration and dysplasia.

High prevalence of a 30-base pair deletion in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 gene and of strain type B EBV in Mexican classical Hodgkin's disease and reactive lymphoid tissue

Depending on geographic location and patient age Hodgkin's disease (HD) is associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), mostly type A EBV, in 20% to 100%. The highest prevalence occurs in children of developing countries. Molecular analysis of the oncogene coding for the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) revealed a 30-base pair (bp) deletion in up to 46% of EBV-positive HD. We investigated the presence of EBV in a series of Mexican classical HD (n = 57) and reactive lymphoid tissues (n = 20) from a private and a public hospital with special emphasis on the prevalence of the 30-bp deletion and the type of EBV. EBV infection was analyzed at the cellular level by Epstein-Barr encoded early RNA transcripts (EBER) in situ hybridization (ISH) and by LMP-1 protein immunohistochemistry (IHC). Molecular analysis of the LMP-1 gene configuration was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers spanning the site of the deletion and subsequent Southern and/or dot blot hybridization using wild-type and deletion-specific probes. The prevalence of type A and type B EBV was investigated by PCR-analysis for divergence in the coding region of Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA)-2. EBV was detected in Hodgkin- and Reed-Sternberg cells (H-RS) by LMP-1 IHC and/or EBER ISH in 35/57 (61%) Mexican HD including 18/32 (56%) with nodular sclerosis, 15/20 (75%) with mixed cellularity and 2/4 (50%) with lymphocyte depletion. In addition, LMP-1 gene sequences were detected by PCR in 9 cases of HD without LMP/EBER expression by H-RS cells and in 17/20 (85%) reactive lymph nodes, supposedly originating from rare latently infected B cells. Surprisingly, the 30-bp LMP-1 deletion was found in 28/35 (80%) EBV-positive HD. This deletion, however, was also found in all 9 (100%) HD with H-RS cells negative for EBV and in 10/17 (59%) reactive lymph nodes. Thus, the overall LMP-1 del prevalence in reactive tissue is 73% (19/26). Typing of EBV was successful in 26 cases of EBV-positive HD, 10 of these were infected by type B EBV (38%). Of the reactive lymphoid tissue, 9 (47%) were infected by type A, and 10 (53%) by type B; All 20 cases (100%) associated with type B, whether neoplastic or reactive, displayed the LMP-1 del variant compared with 18/25 (72%) infected by type A EBV. To our knowledge, this is the highest incidence for both the LMP-1 deletion variant and the infection by type B EBV in HD reported so far worldwide. Our data suggest that EBV infection contributes to the pathogenesis of the majority of Hodgkin's disease cases in Mexico. The specific tumorigenic role of the LMP-1 deletion variant, however, is doubtful with regard to its high frequency in nonneoplastic lesions. Moreover, type B infection frequently occurs in Mexican HD and reactive lymphoid tissue and is consistently associated with the deletion variant pointing to a pathogenetic role of this combined genotype.

[Presence of acinar pancreas in reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus]

Pancreatic metaplasia in Barrett's esophagus was originally described by Krishnamurthy et al. They found that these focal clusters of cells resemble pancreatic acinar cells by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Wang et al one year later, described these same cell clusters in normal and inflamed gastroesophageal junction. We studied 318 cases diagnosed as Barrett's esophagus (199 cases) and chronic esophagitis (119 cases) in the ABC Medical Center seen in 1996 and the first four months of 1997, to look for pancreatic acinar metaplasia. We found 14 cases of Barrett's esophagus and 11 cases of chronic esophagitis with pancreatic acinar metaplasia. By immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy that these cell clusters are actually acinar pancreatic cells. Our results are in keeping with those found by Krishnamurthy and Wang that the clusters represent pancreatic acinar cells and may be found in Barrett's esophagus and in chronic esophagitis. The significance of these findings remain to be elucidated.

The histopathology and biologic prognostic factors of Barrett's esophagus: a review

In Barrett's esophagus, stratified squamous mucosa of the lower third of the esophagus is replaced by columnar mucosa, as a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux. The presence of Barrett's esophagus appears to be a major factor in the progression to adenocarcinoma of the lower third of the esophagus. Therefore it is crucial to identify the subset of patients at risk for the development of adenocarcinoma. Dysplasia is an important histologic feature to evaluate because it identifies those patients who require follow-up. The diagnosis of biopsies with lesser degrees of abnormalities, however, makes microscopic evaluation less helpful in identifying patients who need more frequent endoscopic biopsy surveillance. DNA ploidy and the use of monoclonal antibodies, such as suppressor gene product p53, oncogene cerbB-2, and Ki-67, have added dramatically to our understanding of the biology of Barrett's metaplasia and have given us objective indicators to predict the presence of an increased risk of developing cancer.

Unilateral polycystic (dysgenetic) disease of the parotid gland

We report a case of unilateral polycystic disease of the parotid gland. Only eight cases of this disease have previously been published in the English language literature, and seven of them were bilateral. Thus, we are reporting the second case of unilateral involvement. The disease is apparently limited to the parotid gland and to women. Clinically, a fluctuating, long-standing, nontender parotid gland swelling is usually noticed in adulthood. Histologically, there are numerous epithelial-lined cysts, which appear to be derived from intercalated ducts. This disease probably represents a developmental condition.

A short history of Hodgkin's disease and Burkitt's lymphoma

Although there are convincing descriptions of primary lymph node tumors dating from 1666, research into lymphoreticular disease began in 1832 when Thomas Hodgkin gave clinical descriptions and gross post mortem findings for seven cases. Later Reed and Sternberg concluded that Hodgkin's disease was indeed a different lesion with particular microscopical features. In the late 1950s, Burkitt described a tumor he observed in Uganda that affected the jaw. Originally it was called "round cell sarcoma." In 1961 Burkitt and O'Connor described the features of the clinical syndrome known today as Burkitt's lymphoma. Soon afterward, Wright established that this lymphoma was distinguished from other forms of lymphomas based on histopathologic features.

Immunoproliferative small intestinal disease in Mexico. Report of four cases and review of the literature

The clinicopathologic findings in eight Mexican patients with immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (IPSID) are analyzed. Four of these cases have been previously reported and the remainder were found in a retrospective review of 42 lymphoproliferative disorders of the small bowel (9.5% of the cases at our institution). There were six male and two female patients with an average age of 30 years. Laparotomy with intestinal resection was performed in seven cases. Malignant lymphoma was documented in five and the early phase of IPSID in two patients. The remaining case was diagnosed by means of several endoscopic biopsies. It is concluded that although IPSID seems to be a rare disease in the mestizo population of our country, it may not be exceptional and its diagnosis has probably been overlooked.

Primary pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma of the spleen

We report a case of primary splenic T-cell lymphoma that posed difficult problems in differential diagnosis with erythrophagocytic T-gamma lymphoma and inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen. The need for immunophenotypic and molecular studies for establishing the correct diagnosis and the importance of early detection and treatment, is emphasized in the light of the relatively good prognosis of splenic lymphoma, diagnosed in the early stages of disease.

The morphological spectrum of monocytoid B-cell lymphoma and its relationship to lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

We report 10 cases of monocytoid B-cell lymphoma, five of which had extranodal lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type. In one patient the MALT lymphoma in the salivary gland was microscopic. In another, the small bowel lymphoma, which preceded the monocytoid B-cell lymphoma by 11 years, showed different clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. Attention is drawn to the extreme degree of plasmacytic differentiation and epithelioid cell infiltration that may occur in monocytoid B-cell lymphoma. In addition to the cytological and immunophenotypic likeness of monocytoid B-cells and centrocyte-like cells, monocytoid B-cell and MALT lymphomas share a number of micro-anatomical and behavioural characteristics. These include the sharp separation of the monocytoid B-cells and plasma cells, follicular colonization and progression to high-grade lymphoma. It is suggested that the frequent association of monocytoid B-cell lymphoma with Sjögren's syndrome may be due to the fact that the salivary glands drain to cervical lymph nodes that are part of the systemic, rather than the mucosal, lymphocyte circulation pathway.

Pol André Bouin, MD (1870-1962). Bouin's fixative and other contributions to medicine

Pol André Bouin was a distinguished French scientist who gained international reputation at the turn of the century for his work in histology and reproductive endocrinology. His name has been retained eponymously in the fixative he described in 1897, today known as "Bouin's fixative." The fixative that bears his name is only one of many contributions he made to academic medicine.

Early clinical pathologists 5: the man behind Hassall's corpuscles

Images

Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis and primary B-cell gastric lymphoma

Although lymphoid tissue is absent in normal gastric mucosa, primary lymphomas arise in the stomach and most of these recapitulate the features of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Gastric lymphoid tissue is known to be acquired in response to local infection by Helicobacter pylori, and we have confirmed this in 450 patients with H pylori-associated gastritis of whom 125 showed mucosal lymphoid follicles. In 8 patients, B lymphocytes infiltrated epithelium, which is a feature characteristic of MALT. We also examined 110 cases of gastric MALT lymphoma and found H pylori infection in 101 of these (92%). We conclude that gastric MALT is acquired in H pylori infection and that this provides the necessary background in which MALT lymphoma might develop.

Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis and primary B-cell gastric lymphoma

Although lymphoid tissue is absent in normal gastric mucosa, primary lymphomas arise in the stomach and most of these recapitulate the features of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Gastric lymphoid tissue is known to be acquired in response to local infection by Helicobacter pylori, and we have confirmed this in 450 patients with H pylori-associated gastritis of whom 125 showed mucosal lymphoid follicles. In 8 patients, B lymphocytes infiltrated epithelium, which is a feature characteristic of MALT. We also examined 110 cases of gastric MALT lymphoma and found H pylori infection in 101 of these (92%). We conclude that gastric MALT is acquired in H pylori infection and that this provides the necessary background in which MALT lymphoma might develop.