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C Ceccarelli

Publications and source records attributed to C Ceccarelli.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Squamous cell carcinoma with prominent myxoid stroma.

Three cases of a squamous cell carcinoma with a prominent myxoid stroma are reported. One case in a 70-year-old woman had presented as a lump in the breast, the other two presented as polypoid lesions of the larynx and cervix uteri in a 65-year-old man and 61-year-old woman, respectively. The carcinomatous component was immersed in abundant extracellular mucosubstances. In addition to occasional squamous pearls, it displayed immunocytochemical evidence of high-weight keratin present in the neoplastic cells and, in one case, desmosomal attachment under electron microscopy. The extracellular mucosubstances proved to be similar to those seen in connective tissue. The differential diagnosis with histologically similar lesions has been taken into consideration, and it has been suggested that this newly described entity showing abundant myxoid stroma has to be distinguished from numerous benign and malignant myxoid soft tissue tumors.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Nucleolar organizer regions in normal skeletal muscle and benign and malignant rhabdomyoblastic tumors.

The silver staining of interphase nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) has been shown to have an important application in diagnostic histopathology for distinguishing some benign from malignant conditions. In this study, normal fetal and adult skeletal muscles and tissue from fetal and adult rhabdomyomas as well as rhabdomyosarcomas were stained with the silver method for NORs. The morphologic distribution of NORs in rhabdomyosarcomas was found to be very different from that in normal skeletal muscles. In addition, cases of rhabdomyoma were easily differentiated from rhabdomyosarcomas. Statistical analysis of data, from all cases, regarding the diameter of NORs and number per nucleus confirmed these observations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and spindle cell sarcomas: an immunohistochemical analysis of multiple markers.

An immunocytochemical study using a panel of commercially available antisera, has been performed to distinguish on the basis of their immunoreactivity a series of spindle cell sarcomas diagnosed solely on the histologic features: 11 malignant schwannomas (MS), 8 leiomyosarcomas (LMS) and 3 malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH). The results have been compared with those obtained in 12 benign and 8 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) in which the microscopic diagnosis was supported by their origin in a nerve trunk and/or in von Recklinghausen's (vR) disease. The following antisera were used: anti-S-100 protein, anti-Leu-7, anti-neuron specific enolase (NSE), anti-myelin basic protein (MBP), anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and anti-actin. S-100 protein was present in 100% of benign and malignant peripheral nerve tumors and in 7/11 (63%) of MS diagnosed on histological basis only and in 3/8 (37%) LMS. MFH were negative. Leu-7 positivity was observed in 8/12 (66%) and 6/8 (75%), respectively, in benign and malignant PNS neoplasms, in 5/11 (45%) MS, 4/8 (50%) LMS and 2/3 (66%) MFH. NSE was present in 7/12 (58%) and 6/8 (75%), respectively, in benign and malignant PNS tumors, in 6/11 (54%) MS and in 1/8 (12%) LMS. MFH were negative. MBP resulted negative in peripheral nerve neoplasms and spindle cell sarcomas. GFAP positivity was observed in 2/12 (16%) and 1/8 (12%), respectively, in benign and malignant PNS neoplasms. All spindle cell sarcomas were negative. All cases of MPNST and spindle cell sarcomas showed actin immunoreactivity. These results indicate that: (1) MBP, Leu-7 and NSE do not represent markers of schwannian differentiation; (2) GFAP, although rarely expressed, may indicate schwannian differentiation, and (3) malignant peripheral nerve neoplasms and LMS share immunoreactivity for S-100, Leu-7, NSE and actin, therefore they cannot be differentiated on immunocytochemical basis using commercially available antisera.

Actins↗
PubMed1989

Clinical and biologic behavior of bone metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Thirty (3.8%) of 780 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer seen between 1970 and 1987 had bone metastases. The primary tumor was follicular in 26 patients and papillary in four. Mean age at diagnosis was 61 years. The manifestation of bone metastases was the presenting symptom in 18 patients (60%). Treatment included total thyroidectomy, levothyroxine sodium therapy, and radioactive iodine treatments. Twenty-seven patients had bone metastases from the initial observation, with 44 sites involved. Of the sites, 27 (61%) were shown both on iodine 131 whole-body scan (WBS) and on x-ray film, 11 (25%) only on WBS, and six (14%) only on x-ray film. Multiple involvement was observed in 11 patients. The radiologic appearance was invariably osteolytic. Serum thyroglobulin was elevated in all patients. After radioactive iodine, no WBS+/X-ray+ metastases showed a complete response, although a sclerotic border was noted in several cases, whereas six WBS+/X-ray- lesions were no longer detectable by WBS. Treatment with radioactive iodine and bone surgery resulted in a complete cure in three patients and in a reduction of tumor mass in three. Twenty-one (70%) of the patients died of thyroid cancer after a mean survival of 86 months. Of the nine patients still alive, two are free of disease, three have a good quality of life, and four have severe disability.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

An unusual case of a false-positive iodine-131 whole body scan in a patient with papillary thyroid cancer.

A false-positive I-131 whole body scan (WBS) for lung uptake in a patient with papillary thyroid cancer, with replacement of his infiltrated esophagus with a left colon graft, is presented. The I-131 image, seen in the upper right lung field, was due to the contaminated colon graft lacking normal peristaltic movements, which was located in the right paramediastinal region. This finding was demonstrated by imaging the upper digestive tract with orally administered Tc-99m DTPA and by a barium x-ray.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Alveolar soft part sarcoma: immunological evidence of rhabdomyoblastic differentiation.

Two cases of alveolar soft part sarcoma have been studied immunocytochemically using antisera against epithelial membrane antigen, lysozyme, keratins, S-100 protein, desmin, vimentin, fetal myosin, slow myosin, alpha-skeletal muscle actin, alpha-smooth muscle actin and myoglobin. The neoplastic cells were negative with all antisera employed with the exception of the alpha-skeletal muscle actin antiserum which stained the cytoplasm of numerous neoplastic elements, including the crystalloid rods, typical cytoplasmic inclusions of these tumours. It is suggested that the presence of this protein indicates rhabdomyoblastic differentiation of these tumours.

Actins↗
PubMed1988

Radioactive iodine thyroid uptake in patients with amiodarone-iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction.

Amiodarone, an iodine-rich drug, represents at the present, at least in Europe, one of the most common sources of iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction. The drug may induce both hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis. In spite of the large iodine intake occurring during amiodarone therapy, 131I thyroid uptake is detectable in patients with amiodarone-iodine-induced hypothyroidism, irrespective of the presence or absence of underlying thyroid disease. In contrast, in patients with amiodarone-iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis, 131I thyroid uptake is normal or even elevated in those with co-existent underlying thyroid disorders, whereas it is very low in those with an apparently normal thyroid gland. Perchlorate discharge test was performed in 8 patients with hypothyroidism and in 5 patients with hyperthyroidism induced by amiodarone: a positive test was found in all hypothyroid patients and a negative test in all hyperthyroid patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Extracardiac rhabdomyoma: An immunocytochemical study and review of the literature.

Two cases of 'adult' rhabdomyoma and 2 of 'fetal' rhabdomyoma have been immunologically studied using several antisera specific of skeletal muscle fibers proteins. This paper also deals with a review of the literature on these rare benign skeletal muscle proliferations. It is concluded that 'adult' rhabdomyoma contains fetal myosin and therefore the term 'adult' does not seem immunologically appropriate any longer. In addition the tumoral cells show the same level of differentiation as seen in neonatal skeletal muscle. Therefore it seems that the definition of neonatal rhabdomyoma is more appropriate for these benign muscular proliferations. The 2 cases of fetal rhabdomyoma appear phenotypically similar to normally developing myoblasts and contain fetal myosin. Therefore it seems that the definition 'fetal' is here appropriate for what appears to be a disorganized proliferation of otherwise normal fetal skeletal muscle fibers. The differential diagnosis between these latter tumors and rhabdomyosarcomas has been discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Thyroid cancer in children and adolescents.

We report on 49 patients younger than 18 years at diagnosis, of 776 patients with thyroid cancer, seen in our institution in the last 17 years. Female/male ratio was 2.2:1. Histologic type was papillary in 44, follicular in 4, and medullary in 1. Initial treatment was near-total thyroidectomy with or without neck dissection. Surgical complications (vocal cord palsy, permanent hypoparathyroidism, or both) were found in 25 patients and were usually associated with more advanced primary tumors. At surgery, node metastases were present in 73% of the patients and lung metastases, detected by chest x ray films, in 6%. Patients were treated with thyroid suppressive therapy and, except the one with medullary cancer, with radioiodine (131I) therapy. After a mean follow-up of 7.7 +/- 4.4 years (range, 1 to 17 years), one patient with lung metastases died of respiratory failure. Of 36 patients who have been followed up more than 4 years, 22 (61.1%) are now cured, and 14 have metastases (to lymph nodes, 2; to nodes and lung, 10; and to lung, 2). Since 1977 serum thyroglobulin (Tg) was used routinely as a tumor marker for differentiated thyroid cancer. After operation, Tg was elevated in all patients both not receiving (mean +/- SE, 902 +/- 380 ng/ml) and receiving (44 +/- 15 ng/ml) suppressive therapy; after 131I treatment, serum Tg dropped to 104 +/- 50 and 7.3 +/- 1.7 ng/ml, without and with suppressive therapy, respectively. Of 11 patients with lung metastases treated with 131I, respiratory function, as assessed by means of spirometry, was normal in three, mildly reduced in six, and severely impaired in two (including the one who died). In conclusion, our study indicates that thyroid cancer in young patients is rather advanced at initial examination and usually associated with node and, less frequently, lung metastases. Total thyroidectomy, radioiodine treatment, and thyroid suppressive therapy represent an effective combination of treatments for this disease and allow a good quality of life. The most serious adverse effect is represented by the high incidence of surgical complications and by pulmonary restrictive disease in relation to lung metastases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Amiodarone iodine-induced hypothyroidism: risk factors and follow-up in 28 cases.

Amiodarone, an iodine-rich drug widely used for the treatment of cardiac tachyarrhythmias, may induce either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Of 467 patients chronically treated with this drug referred to our institution, amiodarone iodine-induced hypothyroidism (AIIH) developed in 28 patients (6%). AIIH patients were subdivided into two groups according to the presence (group A) or absence (group B) of underlying thyroid abnormalities. Thyroid autoantibodies were present in 10 of 19 patients from group A and 0 of 9 patients from group B. The thyroid 24-h radioiodine uptake (RAIU) was evaluated in 15 patients: low values (less than 4%) were found in three patients and detectable values (7-50%) were observed in 12. Perchlorate discharge tests were positive in all four patients tested. Follow-up data were available in 20 patients (16 in group A and four in group B). Hypothyroidism was transient in 12 (60%) and persistent for several months after amiodarone withdrawal in eight (40%). While all patients in group B had transient hypothyroidism, 50% of patients with underlying thyroid abnormalities (group A) had persistent hypothyroidism. Thyroid autoantibodies were found in seven of eight patients with persistent hypothyroidism and in only three of 12 patients with transient hypothyroidism. Conversely, seven of 10 patients with positive thyroid autoantibodies had persistent hypothyroidism and 9 of 10 patients with undetectable thyroid autoantibodies had transient hypothyroidism. These data indicate that: (i) AIIH may develop in patients with or without underlying thyroid abnormalities; (ii) RAIU is inappropriately elevated in many patients with AIIH; (iii) intrathyroidal iodine is not organified; (iv) serum thyroid autoantibodies represent a risk factor for the development of AIIH; (v) AIIH spontaneously remits after amiodarone withdrawal in patients without thyroid abnormalities, but may persist in patients with concomitant thyroid disorders, especially those with circulating thyroid autoantibodies.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

DNA cytofluorometry in micro-dissected paraffin embedded breast tissue: description of a method.

DNA microfluorometry on smears obtained from paraffin embedded tissue has been shown to be a distinctive possibility. In this paper a simple method for the detachment of cells from mammary ducts and ductules is described. Areas of interest were selected in conventional slides stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. The corresponding paraffin embedded block was then dewaxed. The areas under study were retraced with a stereomicroscope and the cells within ducts and ductules were scraped out with a 0.4 mm diameter fine needle. Cells were isolated with mechanical and enzymatic procedures and stained with the Feulgen reaction. The DNA content of single cells was then measured using a microfluorometer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1987

Therapeutic doses of iodine-131 reveal undiagnosed metastases in thyroid cancer patients with detectable serum thyroglobulin levels.

Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurements in patients with treated differentiated thyroid cancer are usually well correlated with the presence or absence of residual or metastatic thyroid tissue. However, it is not rare to find a patient with detectable serum Tg levels but negative 131I whole-body scan (WBS) and no evidence of disease activity. To clarify the reason for this discrepancy, we decided to perform the WBS after the administration of a therapeutic dose of 131I in 17 consecutive patients in whom serum Tg was detectable while the WBS performed with a 5 mCi tracer dose was negative (12.6% of 135 patients studied with both WBS and serum Tg). The result of this study demonstrated that after this procedure the WBS became positive for significant residual or metastatic areas of radioiodine uptake in all patients but one. Such data indicate that in our patients the presence of circulating Tg is not a false-positive Tg result, but is due to the presence of residual or metastatic tissue that is not detected in the conventional WBS, that can be visualized using therapeutic doses. Preliminary follow-up data indicate that this procedure may also have therapeutic effect, although the relevance of this aspect remains to be established.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Ultrastructural organization of nucleoli in benign naevi and malignant melanomas.

We have studied the ultrastructural organization of nucleoli in benign naevi and malignant melanomas. In benign naevus cells the nucleoli displayed a compact ribonucleoprotein distribution, with one or two large fibrillar centres. In malignant melanoma cells the nucleoli were large with an irregular, nucleolonema-like ribonucleoprotein distribution and they exhibited numerous, small fibrillar centres. Statistical evaluation of the size of fibrillar centres indicated a mean value of 0.482 micron 2 +/- 0.136 SD for naevi and 0.221 micron 2 +/- 0.128 SD for malignant melanomas. These features, together with the more dispersed chromatin pattern of malignant melanoma nuclei compared with those of benign naevus cells, are proposed as diagnostic parameters which differentiate benign naevi from malignant melanomas at the ultrastructural level.

Cell Nucleolus↗
PubMed1986

Role of autoimmune and familial factors in goiter prevalence. Studies performed in a moderately endemic area.

The goitrogenic role of autoimmune phenomena in endemic goiter is still uncertain. Scanty and discrepant results have been reported in different areas of the world. This prompted us to evaluate the prevalence of circulating thyroid antibodies in an area of North-Western Tuscany during a survey for endemic goiter. The survey was carried out according to the P.A.H.O. criteria in a stable community. In all schoolchildren (n = 142, age range 7-15 yr) and in most of their parents (n = 159), thyroid size was evaluated and urine was collected for iodine determination. Blood was drawn for determination of circulating thyroid microsomal (MAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb), TT3, TT4 and TSH. Prevalence of goiter in schoolchildren was 77.9% and 94.8% in their parents. Mean (+/- SD) urinary iodine excretion was 55.0 +/- 2.1 micrograms/24 h. The overall frequency of TgAb and MAb in the adult population was 14.4%, statistically higher than that of control subjects matched for sex and age. The frequency in schoolchildren was 4.3%. The presence of goiter in children was unrelated to the presence of thyroid antibodies in parents, whether goitrous or nongoitrous. A higher prevalence of goiter was found in children with goitrous parents as compared to children with nongoitrous parents (p less than 0.005). In conclusion, the frequency of thyroid autoantibodies in the adult population of the endemic area studied was increased, but showed no relation with the presence of goiter. The prevalence of goiter in children was associated with the presence of goiter but not of thyroid autoantibodies in parents. These data suggest that autoimmune phenomena are of limited importance in the development of endemic goiter.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

RMZ: a new cell line from a human alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. In vitro expression of embryonic myosin.

The RMZ cell line was established from a bone marrow metastasis of a human alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Since the beginning of the in vitro culture, RMZ cells showed differentiation-related morphological heterogeneity: actively proliferating polygonal or spindle-shaped cells were observed along with a few multinucleated myotube-like structures and giant cells, frequently multinucleated. All these cell types were still present after over 40 passages. A set of clonal derivatives has been obtained from the second in vitro subculture. All the clones showed the same morphological heterogeneity of the parental cells, but differed from one another in the degree of differentiation. Multinucleated myotube-like structures were strongly stained by anti-desmin antibody; most mononuclear cells were weakly stained. About 80% of RMZ and cloned cells were scored as desmin-positive in cytocentrifuged preparations. The expression of embryonic myosin heavy chain, specifically recognized by the monoclonal antibody BF-G6, was found in RMZ cell line and was localised in the myotube-like structures. Only a few giant cells and rare mononucleated polygonal cells were stained. The average proportion of BF-G6 positive cells in cytocentrifuged preparations was of about 6% of the total RMZ cells. In the two RMZ clones studied, the expression of embryonic myosin was correlated to the proportion of myotube-like structures: a BF-G6 positivity of 35% was found in the most differentiated one.

Cell Count↗
PubMed1986

Fetal heavy chain skeletal myosin. An oncofetal antigen expressed by rhabdomyosarcoma.

Fetal heavy chain skeletal myosin is normally present in fetal skeletal muscle. The study of 21 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma using specific antisera for fetal myosin, as well as for slow myosin, myoglobin, and desmin, led to positive findings in all cases with at least one antiserum. Desmin was localized in all cases and fetal myosin in 17 cases (81%), while myoglobin and slow myosin were present in 11 and eight cases, respectively. The localization of fetal myosin in rhabdomyosarcoma indicates that it is a type of oncofetal antigen. Because fetal myosin is found in small rhabdomyoblasts, it can be a useful marker in cases that usually constitute diagnostic problems.

Adult↗