Thalidomide for malignant melanoma.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B T Collins.
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Infrequently, patients are diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and a morphologically distinct lymphoma. While specific subtypes of lymphomas (including Hodgkin's lymphoma) may present diagnostic difficulties, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is sometimes useful in the evaluation and classification of these lymphoproliferative processes. We report a case of the blastic variant of mantle cell lymphoma following Hodgkin's lymphoma, interfollicular variant. A 66-year-old woman with a history of Hodgkin's lymphoma presented with increasing contralateral cervical adenopathy three years after receiving chemotherapy. FNAB with ancillary immunophenotypic characterization identified mantle cell lymphoma, blastic variant. Subsequent excisional biopsy confirmed this diagnosis and also aided in the exclusion of recurrent Hodgkin's lymphoma. In addition to identifying the previously unreported combination of blastic variant of mantle cell lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma, this case emphasizes the utility of FNAB in evaluation of new masses in patient's with a previous diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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Fluoride-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) can evaluate patients with new pulmonary lesions. CT-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is a well-described method in the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. In order to correlate results from these testing modalities, retrospective findings from FNA biopsies of pulmonary lesions are compared to concurrent FDG-PET scans. Files of the Saint Louis University Hospital were retrospectively searched for patients with CT-guided FNA biopsies of the lung during a consecutive 3-yr period. Patients were collected, and corresponding FDG-PET scans were identified. Only new pulmonary lesions presenting for initial evaluation were included. Findings were correlated. Forty patients with a total number of 41 CT-guided FNA biopsies of the lung and thoracic cavity had corresponding FDG-PET scans. The combined positivity of the two testing modalities, i.e., cases where both FNA and FDG-PET scan were positive, yielded a sensitivity of 100% (37/37). Four patients had infectious/inflammatory processes by CT-guided FNA biopsy that were FDG-PET-positive for malignancy. CT-guided FNA biopsies with FDG-PET scans of pulmonary lesions are important, complementary diagnostic tools which can contribute significantly to the management and treatment of pulmonary disease. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2000;22:92-96.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake allows estimation of glucose metabolism by tumor cells using positron emission tomography (PET). We evaluated the role of PET imaging in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: PET images were collected after intravenous injection of 8-12 mCi of 18F-FDG in 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PET tumor activity level was assessed on a scale of 1 to 4 compared to normal liver tissue. The PET score was compared with abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan results and between tumors of different grades and differentiation. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients studied, 11 (55%) had positive PET scans (PET score: 3 or 4) while nine (45%) were negative (PET score: 1 or 2). CT scan was positive in 18 patients (90%) and negative in two (10%). PET, however, revealed metastases in three patients that were not seen on CT. On pathological review, well-differentiated and low-grade tumors had lower PET scores. Comparison of the well-differentiated with the moderately- and poorly-differentiated tumors revealed a statistically significant difference. No statistical significance was observed between the moderately- and poorly-differentiated tumors or between different tumor grades and PET scores. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of PET in diagnosis of HCC was 55% compared to 90% for CT scanning, although only PET detected some tumors (including distant metastases). Well-differentiated and low tumor grades had lower activity on PET and correspondingly lower PET scores. PET imaging may help assess tumor differentiation and may be useful in the diagnosis and staging and prognostication of HCC as an adjunct to CT.
PURPOSE: Earlier detection of head and neck cancer recurrence may improve survival. We evaluated the ability of [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) to detect recurrence in a prospective trial using sequential PET scans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serial posttherapy FDG-PET was prospectively performed in 44 patients with stage III or IV head and neck cancer. PET was performed twice during the first posttreatment year (at 2 and 10 months after therapy) and thereafter as needed. After therapy, patients were grouped, based on tissue biopsies, into those who achieved a complete response (CR) and those who had residual disease (RD). Patients who achieved a CR were further grouped into those without evidence of disease and those who had recurrence by 1 year after completion of therapy. Disease status as determined by physical examination (PE), PET, and correlative imaging was compared. RESULTS: Eight patients were lost to follow-up and six had RD after therapy. Of the remaining 30 patients with a CR, 16 had recurrence in the first year after therapy. Five of these 16 patients had recurrence detected by PET only, four by PET and correlative imaging only, five by PE and PET only, and two by PE, correlative imaging, and PET. Only PET detected all recurrences in the first year. PET performed better than correlative imaging (P =.013) or PE (P =.002) in the detection of recurrence. CONCLUSION: PET can detect head and neck tumor recurrence when it may be undetectable by other clinical methods. FDG-PET permits highly accurate detection of head and neck cancer recurrence in the posttherapy period.
The cell biology of intravascular tumor cells is clinically important but the many important variables of this environment have proved difficult to model. We studied the effects of repetitive mechanical deformation, a phenomenon affecting all intravascular cells, on human colon cancer cell line HCT 116 in vitro. Cell proliferation, assessed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell count, increased by about 30% at two days in cells subjected to deformation at 30 cycles/min as compared to controls; levels of the nuclear proliferation antigen detected by monoclonal antibody MIB-1 were also increased. Deformation increased transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene expression sevenfold at two days, but mannose-6-phosphate did not affect cell proliferation, indicating that endogenous TGF-beta is not involved in the proliferative response. HCT 116 cells lack TGF-beta type II receptors, but stable transfection of TGF-beta type II receptor cDNA did not alter the cellular response to mechanical deformation, as assessed by cell proliferation, morphology, or gene expression. Mechanical deformation affects several important aspects of HCT 116 cell biology, suggesting that the intravascular environment may regulate tumor cell biology in general. Endogenous TGF-beta and TGF-beta receptor-mediated signaling are not responsible for the deformation-induced proliferative response in HCT 116.
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Imaging studies using the fluoride-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan have recently become available for patient neoplasia evaluation. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is a well-described diagnostic method for hepatic lesion evaluation. Correlation of these testing modalities in hepatic abnormalities has not been previously reported. Pathology files of Saint Louis University Hospital were retrospectively searched for patients with FNA biopsy of the liver. Thirty-one patients with a total of 32 FNA biopsies of the liver with corresponding FDG-PET scans were identified. Twenty-five patients had 25 cases of metastatic malignant neoplasia diagnosed by FNA biopsy. Of these cases, all but one had an FDG-PET scan positive for malignancy, yielding a sensitivity of 96% (24/25) for the FDG-PET scan. Combined positivity of the two testing modalities yielded a sensitivity of 100% (24/24). Seven patients did not demonstrate neoplasia by FNA biopsy, and the FDG-PET scan was negative in 6 of these 7 cases. The FDG-PET scan is an important imaging technique and, combined with FNA biopsy, can provide reliable diagnostic results and assist in the guidance of oncologic patient management.
The diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) can be problematic. A case of Hodgkin's disease, lymphocyte depleted subtype, sample by FNA biopsy is presented. We describe the cytomorphologic features present in this unusual subtype of Hodgkin's disease and discuss the differential diagnosis. Immunohistochemical and morphologic findings of a subsequent biopsy specimen supported the diagnosis. Although FNA is an increasingly used diagnostic modality to evaluate tumors including malignant lymphomas, Hodgkin's disease remains, as in this case, a difficult diagnosis by FNA.
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the skin is a rare, primary malignant skin neoplasm which can present as a cutaneous nodule. These neoplasms are seen primarily in the elderly and located in the head and neck area or extremities. Twenty-nine aspirates from primary and metastatic lesions obtained by percutaneous fine-needle aspiration in 19 patients have been studied. The cytomorphologic features, clinical information, and immunocytochemical (ICC) findings are detailed. Aspirate smears demonstrated small-to-intermediate-sized cells with a loosely cohesive pattern. Nuclei were round with finely granular chromatin and multiple, small nucleoli. Cells possessed a thin rim of cytoplasm, and infrequent pseudorosette formations were noted in cell groups. ICC results were universally positive for cytokeratin, which showed a paranuclear "dot-like" pattern. Neuron-specific enolase, epithelial membrane antigen, and S-100 protein were positive in varying degrees. Leukocyte common antigen was universally negative. The diagnosis of MCC of the skin by FNA can be made by applying cytologic features in addition to ancillary studies and clinical information.
The use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has been infrequently described as a diagnostic modality for Ewing's sarcoma (ES) patient follow-up and management. The purpose of this study is to examine the use and accuracy of FNAB combined with MIC2 immunocytochemistry for evaluating metastases in patients with ES. Records from Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center and Indiana University Medical Centers identified patients with known ES who had undergone FNAB for evaluation of potential metastases. Immunocytochemical analysis for MIC2 (CD99) was performed retrospectively on cell blocks and direct aspirate smears. FNABs from nine patients were procured either percutaneously or under radiologic guidance and in all cases a definitive cytologic diagnosis of metastatic ES was rendered. Aspirates were cellular with many single discohesive small round cells and occasional loosely cohesive clusters. The nuclei were round with a fine chromatin pattern and small nucleoli. The cytoplasm was scanty and the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio was high. Six of six cases showed strongly positive immunocytochemical labeling for MIC2. Immunocytochemistry with MIC2 in FNAB aspirate smears can provide supportive evidence of ES in patients with known disease.
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of dermal origin. Treatment recommendations are limited owing to a paucity of retrospective data and an absence of prospective data. The objective of this study was to determine current therapeutic trends and their impact upon outcome. METHODS: A retrospective study (1983 to 1996) was performed with patients from the Department of Defense and our University-affiliated hospitals. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 31 months. Overall, 1- and 2-year survival rates were 80% and 50%, respectively. Patients undergoing wide local excision, prophylactic lymph node dissection, and adjuvant radiotherapy had significantly decreased locoregional and distant recurrence rates and improved survival when compared with their counterparts. Adjuvant chemotherapy did not diminish recurrence rates nor improve survival. Both locoregional and distant recurrence significantly decreased survival. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that early aggressive treatment for MCC improves both tumor control and survival, whereas the early use of chemotherapy does not improve outcome.
Islet cell tumors of the pancreas are neuroendocrine neoplasms whose biologic behavior has been well characterized. Frequently, these tumors produce one or more hormones which may strongly affect the patients' clinical presentation. In this study, we have examined fine-needle aspirates (FNA) from 13 islet cell tumors and have summarized their cytomorphologic appearances. The smears prepared from aspirates of the islet cell tumors displayed loose cellular arrangements and numerous single cells, with most cases demonstrating a predominance of single cells over the loose groups. An important diagnostic feature was the uniform appearance of the neoplastic cells. Nuclei were small to moderate in size, always round to oval in shape, and frequently contained small nucleoli. In 11 cases, the nuclear chromatin pattern was finely granular and evenly-distributed while in two cases the chromatin was coarser. Eccentrically located nuclei were commonly found and binucleated cells were seen in one-half of the aspirates. At least a moderate amount of finely granular cytoplasm was always identifiable. Immunocytochemical stains for neuron-specific enolase were positive in all five of our cases in which staining for this marker was attempted and chromogranin was positive in five of six cases. Generally, our cytomorphologic observations were supported by the findings of other investigators as reported in the cytology literature. The cytomorphologic characteristics of islet cell tumors are distinctive, and appropriate ancillary studies can be used to support the FNA diagnosis of this entity.
In avian toxicology, it is customary to extrapolate between species on the basis of acute toxicity measurements expressed in mg/kg body weight. Recently, it has been suggested that extrapolations should be on the basis of weight raised to the 0.6-0.7 power because there is good empirical evidence that, for mammals, this produces the best agreement between species. We used an avian LD50 database to derive empirically the appropriate scaling factor for birds. With a subset of 37 pesticides of varying structures but heavily weighted to cholinesterase inhibitors, we found that the appropriate scaling factor in birds is usually higher than 1 and can be as high as 1.55. Extrapolations on the basis of weight alone or, worse, the use of inappropriate mammalian scaling factors could lead to serious underprotection of small-bodied bird species modeled in the course of risk assessment procedures.
Rapid and sensitive methods for measuring ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) induction and total intracellular porphyrin accumulation in cultured chicken embryo hepatocytes exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are described. Cells were cultured in 48-well cell culture plates, and EROD assays were carried out directly within the wells. EROD activity and porphyrin concentrations were determined with a computer-operated fluorescence multiwell plate reader. Porphyrin and EROD assays could be carried out on the same plates or on separate plates. The assays allow one to obtain dose-response curves at rates that are approximately 100 times faster than conventional methods.
Malignant eccrine adenocarcinoma of the lower eyelids is described in a 16-year-old girl. This rare tumor has previously been reported only in males, whose average age was 64 years. Our patient remains tumor free 7 years after wide resection of the eyelid and reconstruction.
Levels of Ag, Ca, Cd, cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Se and Zn were determined in livers of polar bears collected in 1984 in six zones in the Lancaster Sound. Baffin Bay and Hudson Bay areas of the Northwest Territories of Canada and compared with data collected in 1982 for the western part of the Canadian Arctic. Only levels of Cu, K and Zn were found to have no statistically significant differences among zones. The lowest levels of Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na and P were found in the western Arctic, but geographical differences were probably inconsequential. Cadmium levels were significantly lower in the western Arctic zones than in the other areas, and reverse was true for levels of Hg and Se. Levels of Cd, Hg and Se in polar bear liver were positively correlated with age, whereas K, Mn, Mg and P were negatively correlated with age. Iron was significantly higher in females than males. Rates of accumulation of Cd with age were 2 3 times lower in polar bears from zones west of approximately 95 degrees W than the other areas, whereas Hg and Se rates of accumulation were about 7 and 10 times higher in bears from the zones near the Beaufort Sea than from Hudson Bay. The Hg/Se molar ratios averaged 1.10 +/- 0.19 for most of the surveyed zones excluding Hudson Bay, where the average ratio was almost two-fold higher (2.13 +/- 1.58). It is probable that natural variation in Hg levels in the marine environment due to geological or atmospheric deposition factors, and differences in polar bear feeding ecology among zones, account for the differences in the geographical distribution of Hg. The distribution of Cd is more likely to be related to differences in feeding ecology of the bear's principal prey, the ringed seal.