Malignant tumors of the sinonasal tract in children

The female reproductive tract may be the site of a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors, as well as non-neoplastic tumor-like conditions, most of which can be diagnosed by light microscopic examination including special stains and more recently immunoperoxidase techniques. Nevertheless there are situations where ultrastructural examination can contribute substantially to an accurate and specific diagnosis. It is my opinion that electron microscopy can be of greatest benefit and is most cost effective when applied in conjunction with other methodologies. Thus, I have developed an approach which has proved useful for me and may have benefit for others. In cases where it is deemed of potential value, glutaraldehyde-fixed material is obtained at the time of frozen section or otherwise at operation. Coordination with the gynecologic oncologist is required in the latter situation. This material is processed and blocked and is available if a future need arises.

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Ultrastructure of Cryptorchidism and Seminoma

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100099143 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 39 ◽

pp. 540-541

Author(s):

Shirley Siew ◽

Susan C. James

Keyword(s):

Malignant Tumors ◽

Frozen Section ◽

Malignant Potential ◽

Genetic Influences ◽

Endocrine Gland ◽

Medial Aspect ◽

Left Testis ◽

Bilateral Orchiectomy

Testicular maldescent is the most common endocrine gland abnormality, as 2.7% of mature neonates are cryptorchid. The significant complications are that there is a disturbance of normal maturation which results in diminished fertility and there is an increase in the malignant potential which is 35 times greater in the undescended than the descended testis. It is considered that genetic influences may be of etiological importance and recurrence has been described in some families. It is of interest, that the case reported here has 2 siblings who have also presented with cryptorchidism and malignant tumors.The propositus is 14 years old. He is well developed (described by some as obese) and shows normal secondary male characteristics except for an immature scrotum. Laparotomy showed both testes to be intraabdominal. A hard nodule (0.5cm) was palpated on the medial aspect of the left testis. Frozen section showed the presence of seminoma and bilateral orchiectomy was performed.

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Hepatocyte ultrastructural alterations in perimetastatic areas

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100166300 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 768-769

Author(s):

H. J. Finol ◽

M. E. Correa ◽

L.A. Sosa ◽

A. Márquez ◽

N.L. Díaz

Keyword(s):

Malignant Tumor ◽

Malignant Tumors ◽

Surrounding Tissue ◽

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Pancreas Carcinoma ◽

Duct Carcinoma ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Primary Malignant Tumor ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Remote Sites

In classical oncological literature two mechanisms for tissue aggression in patients with cancer have been described. The first is the progressive invasion, infiltration and destruction of tissues surrounding primary malignant tumor or their metastases; the other includes alterations produced in remote sites that are not directly affected by any focus of disease, the so called paraneoplastic phenomenon. The non-invaded tissue which surrounds a primary malignant tumor or its metastases has been usually considered a normal tissue . In this work we describe the ultrastructural changes observed in hepatocytes located next to metastases from diverse malignant tumors.Hepatic biopsies were obtained surgically in patients with different malignant tumors which metatastized in liver. Biopsies included tumor mass, the zone of macroscopic contact between the tumor and the surrounding tissue, and the tissue adjacent to the tumor but outside the macroscopic area of infiltration. The patients (n = 5), 36–75 years old, presented different tumors including rhabdomyosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, pancreas carcinoma, biliar duct carcinoma and colon carcinoma. Tissue samples were processed with routine techniques for transmission electron microscopy and observed in a Hitachi H-500 electron microscope.

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