Syntaxin-1 and Insulinoma-Associated Protein 1 Expression in Breast Neoplasms with Neuroendocrine Features

Introduction: A subset of breast neoplasia is characterized by features of neuroendocrine differentiation. Positivity for Neuroendocrine markers by immunohistochemistry is required for the diagnosis. Sensitivity and specificity of currently used markers are limited; based on the definitions of WHO Classification of Tumours, 5th edition, about 50% of breast tumors with features of neuroendocrine differentiation express chromogranin-A and 16% express synaptophysin. We assessed the applicability of two novel markers, syntaxin-1 and insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) in breast carcinomas.Methods: Hypercellular (Type B) mucinous carcinomas, solid papillary carcinomas, invasive carcinomas of no special type with neuroendocrine features and ductal carcinomas in situ of neuroendocrine subtype were included in our study. The immunohistochemical panel included chromogranin A, synaptophysin, CD56, syntaxin-1 and INSM1. The specificity of syntaxin-1 and INSM1 was determined using samples negative for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and CD56.Results: The sensitivity of syntaxin-1 was 84.7% (50/59), with diffuse positivity in more than 60% of the cases. Syntaxin-1 also had an excellent specificity (98.1%). Depending on the definition for positivity, the sensitivity of INSM1 was 89.8% (53/59) or 86.4% (51/59), its specificity being 57.4% or 88.9%. The sensitivities of chromogranin A, synaptophysin and CD56 were 98.3, 74.6 and 22.4%, respectively.Discussion: Syntaxin-1 and INSM1 are sensitive and specific markers of breast tumors with neuroendocrine features, outperforming chromogranin A and CD56. We recommend syntaxin-1 and INSM1 to be included in the routine neuroendocrine immunohistochemical panel.

Primary Adrenal Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor in a 14-Year-Old Female: A Case Report and Literature Review

Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a rare, SWItch/sucrose nonfermentable-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily B member 1 ( SMARCB1)-deficient, aggressive tumor, occurring predominantly in children below 3 years of age. Primary adrenal MRT is extremely rare, with only 3 cases reported in the literature. A previously healthy 14-year-old female presented with left upper quadrant/epigastric abdominal pain. Imaging studies revealed an 8.0 × 8.0 × 6.5 cm, heterogeneous, partially enhancing mass along the superior margin of the left kidney encasing the adrenal gland. Surgical resection of the tumor revealed a hypercellular heterogeneous neoplasm arising from the adrenal gland. It was composed predominantly of primitive small round blue cells with focal true rosettes and areas of vague glandular epithelial differentiation and chondroid differentiation. Classic rhabdoid-type cytoplasmic inclusions were focally present. Mitoses, tumor necrosis, and hemorrhage were readily seen. Tumor cells showed complete loss of SMARCB1 (INI1) nuclear staining, demonstrated strong, and diffuse positivity for glypican 3, patchy positivity for CD99, cytokeratin, Sal-like protein 4, Lin-28 homolog A, epithelial membrane antigen, and S100. Molecular studies revealed biallelic frameshift mutations in the SMARCB1 gene (c.673delG and c.683dupT) without pathogenic copy number aberrations. The histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings support a diagnosis of MRT. The unusual age, location, and mutations of this case expand the clinicopathologic and molecular spectrum of MRT.

Co-expression of CD34 and h-caldesmon in a benign meningioma-like dermal neoplasm, a case report

Meningioma-like dermal tumor with diffuse coexpression of CD34 and hcaldesmon is rarely reported. Herein, we report a case of a 58-years-old woman who complained of a solitary dome-shaped papule on the left hand. An ellipse of skin measuring 1 x 0.5 x 0.5 cm was excised and sent for histopathological evaluation. Upon sectioning, the specimen showed a whitish firm dermal nodule measuring 3 mm in its greatest dimension. Microscopic examination revealed a well-circumscribed barely encapsulated dermal lesion showing compact round whorled sheets formed of round to ovoid uniform cells with abundant pink cytoplasm. Occasional intranuclear vacuoles were seen. A minor capillary-sized vascular component was seen in the background. Immunohistochemical (IHC) study revealed a diffuse positivity of tumor cells to CD34 and h-caldesmon along with faint reaction to Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA) and ER. However, Desmin, S100, HMB45, EMA, Pan Cytokeratin, and Chromogranin were all negative. Ki67 was very low (1%). The main differential diagnoses of the current lesion are meningioma and glomus family tumors. While the current lesion is morphologically reminiscent of cutaneous meningioma; neither the location nor the IHC stains support that diagnosis. The glomus family is highly suggestive. However, the location, the compact nature of the proliferation, and the positivity of CD34, all are unusual in such entities.

Extramammary Borderline Phyllodes Tumor Presenting as an Umbilical Mass

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) represent a spectrum of rare, fibroepithelial neoplasms of the breast, which can be subcategorized as benign, borderline, or malignant based on their histological appearance. Accessory breast tissue may present anywhere along the embryological mammary ridge, and at distant locations as aberrant breast tissue. We present the case of a 56-year-old lady with an umbilical mass, thought to represent a strangulated hernia. Sections showed a fibroepithelial tumor with leaf-like ducts, conspicuous mitotic activity (up to 8 per 10 high-power fields), and focal infiltration into fat. Immunohistochemical studies showed diffuse positivity of epithelial cells for estrogen receptor, mammaglobin, GCDFP-15, and CK7. These findings were consistent with a borderline PT. This is the first case report of PT presenting as an umbilical mass, and the first extramammary borderline PT described.

Corded and hyalinized endometrioid carcinoma: a rare case and review of the literature

Background Corded and hyalinized endometrioid carcinoma(CHEC) is a rare morphological variation of endometrioid carcinoma(EC) in the endometrium. Reports of CHEC were very limited. We represent the clinical and pathological findings of this rare endometrioid carcinoma in a 26-year-old woman and reviews the literatures updated on CHEC. Case presentation: A 26-year-old woman presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding for 3 months and the initial cervical biopsy revealed a mullerian mixed tumor in another clinic. Abdominopelvic computed tomography revealed a mass in the uterine cavity and cervix, suggesting a malignant tumor. Histologically, the tumor showed a biphasic pattern characterized by an appearance of 2 components, the conventional endometrioid carcinoma component and sex cord-like component with hyalinization. In the areas of sex cord-like elements, the epithelioid and spindle cells were usually seen around the glands, and mostly arranged in cords or trabeculaes, sometimes embedded within a richly hyalinized collagenous or sometimes myxoid matrix. Tumor cells in the sex cord-like region show a different immunohistochemical expression pattern from conventional adenocarcinoma. Cytokeratin(CK) and vimentin are positive in both components, and vimentin shows more diffuse positivity while CK is more restricted and focally expressed in tumor cells in the sex cord-like region. Complete loss of expression of E-cadherin and epithelial membrane antigen(EMA) was seen in tumor cells in the sex cord-like region whereas it was well preserved in the area of conventional adenocarcinoma. Nuclear expression of β-catenin was noted in tumor cells in the sex cord-like region. P53 was focally positive in both components. Based on histological and immunochemical examinations, the patient was diagnosed with CHEC. Conclusions CHEC is not uncommonly mistaken for a wide variety of diseases. It’s of great significance to raise the awareness of CHEC to avoid over-treatment caused by over-diagnosis, especially in young patients and in curettage. We report one case of CHEC in a 26-year-old woman which was misdiagnosed as a mullerian mixed tumor in the initial curettage specimen. The clinicopathologic, light microscopic, immunohistochemical features of this tumor are described and the differential diagnosis is discussed.

New Application of Osteogenic Differentiation from HiPS Stem Cells for Evaluating the Osteogenic Potential of Nanomaterials in Dentistry

Objective: HiPS stem cells are commonly used for the study of medical disorders. The laboratory in which this study was conducted uses these cells for examining the treatment and cure of neurodegenerative diseases. Bone regeneration poses the greatest challenge for an oral surgeon both in terms of increased implant osseointegration and reducing bone healing times. The aim of this study was to validate the protocol in the literature to produce and then test in vitro osteoblasts with different nanomaterials to simulate bone regeneration. Method: hiPS clones (#2, #4, and #8) were differentiated into an osteoblast cell culture tested for alizarin red staining and for alkaline phosphatase testing at 14, 21 and 28 days, after the cells were plated. Results: The cells showed diffuse positivity under alizarin red staining and the alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-test, showing small formations of calcium clusters. Conclusion: Despite the limitations of our study, it is a starting point for further protocols, laying a solid foundation for research in the field of bone regeneration through the use of stem cells.

Expression of a fibronectin in the dental pulp of lead-intoxicated rats with experimentally-induced diabetes mellitus

Introduction/Objective. Lead exposure represents one of the most important factors that affect the general health, including oral health and it is associated with enamel and dentin tooth defects. The aim of this paper was to determine expression of the fibronectin in the pulp of rats with experimentally induced diabetes mellitus (DM), after lead exposure, by using immunohistochemical analysis. Methods. The study was conducted on 42 rats of Wistar strain. Intoxication of rats with lead-acetate was done via drinking water ad libitum. The first group (Exp_14) consisted of 16 rats, which received lead in water for 14 days, the second group (Exp_30) consisted of 16 rats which received lead in water for 30 days at the same concentration (1500 ppm), while the control consisted of 10 healthy rats. Groups Exp_14 and Exp_30 were induced into DM, by using the Alloxan intraperitoneally. Pathohistological and immunohistochemical analysis determined fibronectin expression in pulp, odontoblasts, predentin and dentine of the teeth. Results. High diffuse positivity of fibronectin in group Exp_14 was noticed in 63.6% of rats, in group Exp_30 in 24.0% of rats, while in the control group it was noticed in 50.0% of rats. There was no statistically significant difference in the expression of fibronectin between the examined groups. Conclusion. Lead intoxication through drinking water, for a period of 14 and 30 days, had effect on the expression of fibronectin in the pulp, odontoblasts, predentin and dentin of the teeth of animals experimentally induced DM.

Osteosarcomatous Divergence in Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma Presenting as a Colonic Mass

Dedifferentiated liposarcomas most commonly arise in the retroperitoneum, accounting for 10% of liposarcomas. Heterologous differentiation occurs in 5-10% of dedifferentiated liposarcomas; however, divergent osteosarcomatous differentiation is rare. We report a rare case of initial presentation of dedifferentiated liposarcoma with osteosarcomatous component as a colonic mass in a 72-year-old man. The tumor is mainly composed of bony trabeculae with intervening highly atypical cells and adjacent high-grade mesenchymal nonlipogenic tumor, as well as areas of well-differentiated liposarcoma. Immunohistochemical studies showed diffuse positivity for SATB2 in the atypical cells and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed high-level amplification of MDM2 gene, supporting the diagnosis of well-differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcoma with heterologous osteosarcomatous differentiation.

Intramedullary Subependymoma of the Cervical Spinal Cord: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Subependymoma is a rare tumor of the central nervous system, representing 0.2 to 0.7% of all intracranial tumors. They are usually found in the fourth ventricle or in the walls of the lateral ventricles, often remaining asymptomatic. Subependymomas occur rarely in the cervical or thoracic spinal cord. Since its first description in the spinal cord by Boykin et al in 1954, only 47 cases have been reported. A 49-year-old man presented with a 4-year-long-lasting neck pain, which radiated to the upper right extremity for 4 years. It was insidious at onset and revealed gradual progression, difficulty in performing fine hand movements, and hyperalgesia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed irregular hyperintensity of T2 and dilatation of the spinal cord from C4 to T1 with associated edema and an intramedullary lesion with central location. During the surgical event, a transoperative biopsy was performed that revealed loose fibrillary networks and groups of nuclei showing mild pleomorphism and microcystic formations. Histologically, we observed groups of cells with mild nuclear pleomorphism embedded in a dense, thin, glial fibrillar fundus, and microcystic formations. Immunohistochemical staining revealed diffuse positivity for the glial fibrillary acidic protein, and negative for the epithelial membrane antigen. Subependymoma accounts for 8.3% of all ependymal tumors. There are few descriptions of the cytologic features of the subependymoma because this neoplasm is rare and most commonly found incidentally in autopsies.

Technical note: A histochemical approach in diagnosing hanging mechanical asphyxia on cadavers undergoing advanced putrefactive phenomena

The authors used a particular protocol on putrefied corpses to highlight the cutaneous furrow. Two groups of cadavers were selected: in the first group (suicide by hanging mechanical asphyxia), the authors sampled cutaneous lozenges on the furrow still macroscopically recognisable, while in the second group (corpses deceased by different means), we sampled cutaneous lozenges in the hypostatic leaning. All specimens were divided in two: one underwent standard fixation while the other, previously rehydrated in Sandison’s solution, was then fixed in formalin. All specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Resorcin-Fuchsin. Samples processed with formalin and the H&E staining underlined various artifacts; vice versa, the Sandison solution associated with Resorcin-Fuchsin staining demonstrated the compression of the elastic fibres, with focal positivity in hanged corpses, and diffuse positivity in the entire hypostatic leaning. Sandison’s rehydrating solution and Resorcin-Fuchsin staining exalt the supposed application of an asphyctic mean even on putrefied corpses in those cases burdened by a diagnostic doubt.