Case Report: Sellar Ependymomas: A Clinic-Pathological Study and Literature Review

Ependymomas are primary glial tumors arising from cells related to the ependymal lining of the ventricular system. They are classified into at least nine different molecular subtypes according to molecular phenotype, histological morphology, and tumor location. Primary sellar ependymoma is an extremely rare malignancy of the central nervous system, with only 12 known cases reported in humans. We herein report a case of ependymoma located at the pituitary region in a 44-year-old female patient and discuss the molecular subtype, natural history, clinical presentation, radiological findings, histological features, immunohistochemical characteristics, ultrastructural examinations, treatment, and prognosis of sellar ependymoma. This case report may serve as a helpful reference for clinicians and radiologists in clinical practice.

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma with abrupt transition of low-grade and high-grade dedifferentiated components: A case report

BackgroundDedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is a unique subtype of liposarcoma, which has obvious histological heterogeneity. In affected patients, the condition typically manifests as the dedifferentiation of high-grade histological morphology, but it may also manifest as the dedifferentiation of low-grade histological morphology. In some cases, unique histological or immunophenotypic characteristics are observed. We describe, herein, a rare case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma, in which the high-grade and low-grade dedifferentiated components coexisted with a relatively sharp transition in pathology.Case presentationA 69-year-old woman with severe abdominal pain lasting for 1 hour presented to our hospital. Physical examination revealed a mobile large left abdominal mass, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a huge mass with typical fat components and the non-fatty nodule in the left retroperitoneal cavity. After laparotomy, histologic analysis of the specimens could find the atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDLPS) and DDLPS components. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis suggested the presence of MDM2 gene amplification. These findings supported a diagnosis of DDLPS.ConclusionIn our case, the high-grade and low-grade dedifferentiated components coexisted with a relatively sharp transition in pathology. We hypothesize that low-grade dedifferentiation may be a precursor to high-grade dedifferentiation. MRI images cannot distinguish the two components.

Characterization of the distributions of collagen and PGs content in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds by SR-FTIR

Background Bone-tendon interface (enthesis) plays a pivotal role in relaxing load transfer between otherwise structurally and functionally distinct tissue types. Currently, decellularized extracellular matrix (DEM) from enthesis provide a natural three-dimensional scaffold with tissue-specific orientations of extracellular matrix molecules for enthesis regeneration, however, the distributions of collagen and PGs content in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds from rabbit rotator cuff by SR-FTIR have not been reported. Methods Native enthesis tissues (NET) harvested from rabbit rotator cuff were sectioned into cuboid (about 30 mm × 1.2 mm × 10 mm) for decalcification. The decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds and intrinsic ultrastructure were evaluated by histological staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The distributions of collagen and PGs content in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds from rabbit rotator cuff were also measured innovatively by SR-FTIR. Results The decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds from rabbit rotator cuff were successfully obtained. Histomorphology and SEM evaluated the effect of decellularization and the structure of extracellular matrix during decellularization. After mechanical testing, the failure load in the NET group showed significantly higher than that in the DEM group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the stiffness of the DEM group was significantly lower than the NET group. Furthermore, the distributions of collagen and PGs content in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds were decreased obviously after decellularization by SR-FTIR quantitative analysis. Conclusion SR-FTIR was applied innovatively to characterize the histological morphology of native enthesis tissues from rabbit rotator cuff. Moreover, this technology can be applied for quantitative mapping of the distribution of collagen and PGs content in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds.

Characterization of the content and distribution of collagen and proteoglycan in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds by SR-FTIR

Background: Bone-tendon interface (enthesis) plays a pivotal role in relaxing load transfer between otherwise structurally and functionally distinct tissue types. Currently, decellularized extracellular matrix (DEM) from enthesis provide a natural three-dimensional scaffold with tissue-specific orientations of extracellular matrix molecules for enthesis regeneration, however, the content and distribution of collagen and proteoglycan in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds from rabbit rotator cuff by SR-FTIR have not been reported.Methods: Native enthesis tissues (NET) harvested from rabbit rotator cuff were sectioned into cuboid (about 30 mm × 1.2 mm × 10 mm) for decalcified. The decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds were conducted and intrinsic ultrastructure was evaluated by histological staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The content and distribution of collagen and proteoglycan in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds from rabbit rotator cuff were also measured innovatively by SR-FTIR.Results: The decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds from rabbit rotator cuff were successfully obtaine©d. Histomorphology and SEM evaluated the decellularized effect and the structure of extracellular matrix during decellularization. After mechanical test, we found the failure load in the NET group was higher than that in the DEM group (P < 0.05), reached 1.32 times as much as that in the DEM group. Meanwhile, the stiffness of the DEM group was significantly lower than the NET group. Furthermore, the distributions of collagen and PGs content in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds were decreased obviously after decellularization by SR-FTIR quantitative analysis.Conclusion: SR-FTIR was applied innovatively to characterize the histological morphology of native enthesis tissues from rabbit rotator cuff. Moreover, it can be used for quantitative mapping of the content and distribution of collagen and PGs content in the decellularized book-shaped enthesis scaffolds.

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma with abrupt transition of low-grade and high-grade dedifferentiation: A rare case report

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma is a unique subtype of liposarcoma, which has obvious histological heterogeneity. In affected patients, the condition typically manifests as the dedifferentiation of high-grade histological morphology, but it may also manifest as the dedifferentiation of low-grade histological morphology. In some cases, unique histological or immunophenotypic characteristics are observed. We describe, herein, a rare case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma, in which the high-grade and low-grade dedifferentiated components coexisted with a relatively sharp transition in pathology.

Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma with Abrupt Transition of Low-Grade and High-Grade Dedifferentiated Components ：A Case Report

Background: Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is a unique subtype ofliposarcoma, which has obvious histological heterogeneity. In affected patients, the condition typically manifests as the dedifferentiation of high-grade histological morphology, but it may also manifest as the dedifferentiation of low-grade histological morphology. In some cases, unique histological or immunophenotypic characteristics are observed. We describe, herein, a rare case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma, in which the high-grade and low-grade dedifferentiated components coexisted with a relatively sharp transition in pathology.Case presentation: A 69-year-old woman with severe abdominal pain lasting for 1 hour presented to our hospital. Physical examination revealed a mobile large left abdominal mass, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a huge mass with typical fat components and the non-fatty nodule in the left retroperitoneal cavity. After laparotomy, histologic analysis of the specimens could find the ALT/WDLPS and DDLPS components. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis suggested the presence of MDM2 gene amplification. These findings supported a diagnosis of DDLPS.Conclusion: In our case, the high-grade and low-grade dedifferentiated components coexisted with a relatively sharp transition in pathology. We hypothesize that low-grade dedifferentiation may be a precursor to high-grade dedifferentiation. MRI images cannot distinguish the two components.