The American journal of surgical pathology
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Am. J. Surg. Pathol. · Jun 2002
Infiltrative astrocytomas with granular cell features (granular cell astrocytomas): a study of histopathologic features, grading, and outcome.
Granular cell astrocytomas (GCAs) are rare, incompletely characterized infiltrative gliomas that contain a prominent component of granular cells. Such tumors can readily be mistaken for reactive conditions. We studied 22 cases to explore their morphologic spectrum, establish features useful in distinguishing GCA from nonneoplastic diseases, and to determine which parameters correlate with biologic behavior. ⋯ Among 18 cases with follow-up, 15 recurred after surgery and resulted in death (mean survival, 7.6 months). Two patients died postoperatively, and one was alive at 51 months. Granular cell astrocytoma is an uncommon morphologic variant that appears to be rapidly progressive and usually fatal.
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Am. J. Surg. Pathol. · May 2002
Respiratory bronchiolitis: a clinicopathologic study in current smokers, ex-smokers, and never-smokers.
The clinical and pathologic features of 109 cases of respiratory bronchiolitis (RB) identified from review of 156 consecutive surgical lung biopsy specimens were studied. A total of 107 of the 109 cases (98%) occurred in smokers, including all 83 current smokers and 24 of 49 ex-smokers (49%). RB persisted in some patients for many years after stopping smoking, occurring in one third of patients 5 years after quitting, and in one patient 32 years afterwards. ⋯ All occurred in never-smokers, and their significance is unknown. RB is an accurate histologic marker of cigarette smoking, and it may be found many years after smoking ceases. There are no reliable histologic features to distinguish RB-associated interstitial lung disease from RB or desquamative interstitial pneumonia-like reactions from desquamative interstitial pneumonia.
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Am. J. Surg. Pathol. · Sep 2001
Are myogenin and myoD1 expression specific for rhabdomyosarcoma? A study of 150 cases, with emphasis on spindle cell mimics.
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood, displays a variety of histologic patterns. Immunohistochemistry is used extensively to distinguish RMS from its mimics. Myogenin and MyoD1, myogenic transcriptional regulatory proteins expressed early in skeletal muscle differentiation, are considered sensitive and specific markers for RMS and are more specific than desmin and muscle-specific actin and more sensitive than myoglobin. ⋯ In contrast to previous studies, rare non-RMS (7 of 107) displayed focal nuclear reactivity, and entrapped atrophic or regenerative skeletal muscle fibers also stained positively. Although these are potential pitfalls in the interpretation of myogenin, careful attention to morphology and other features, to the relative paucity of myogenin-positive nuclei in non-RMS. and to the presence of entrapped muscle fibers should prevent incorrect interpretation. Because the extent of myogenin expression in RMS is much greater than in non-RMS, it is a very useful marker when interpreted in the context of other clinicopathologic data.
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Am. J. Surg. Pathol. · May 2001
Comparative StudyAbsence of estrogen receptor-alpha expression in human ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma compared with ovarian serous, endometrioid, and mucinous adenocarcinoma.
The mechanism that regulates growth in ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) is not well understood. A high incidence of concurrent endometriosis with CCA may indicate that estrogen is a growth promotor in CCA. To determine estrogen as a growth promotor, the authors investigated the presence or absence of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha), ER-beta, progesterone receptor, and dioxin receptor (i.e., aromatic hydrocarbon receptor) in clinically resected ovarian CCA, serous adenocarcinoma (SAC), endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EAC), and mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) specimens using an immunohistochemical method. ⋯ Aromatic hydrocarbon receptor was detected in all histologic types at an incidence of approximately 50% to 60%. Messenger ribonucleic acid of ER-alpha and ER-beta was not detected in the three CCA cell lines. These findings indicate biologic characteristics that distinguish CCA from other types of ovarian epithelial cancer.