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D V Spagnolo

Publications and source records attributed to D V Spagnolo.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Distinguishing between monoclonal rearrangements and allelic forms of the immunoglobulin lambda light chain constant region genes. Significance in the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Four allelic forms of the immunoglobulin lambda light chain constant region (C lambda) genes are found in the caucasoid population and are recognised by the presence of Eco RI restriction fragments of sizes 8, 13, 18, and 23 kb hybridising with a C lambda probe. The less common allelic forms of the C lambda genes are marked by the 13, 18, and 23 kb fragments, and these may be misinterpreted as rearranged fragments derived from a monoclonal population of B-cells. The 13, 18, and 23 kb alleles result from the insertion of one, two, and three copies, respectively, of a 5.2 kb repeat unit that can be demonstrated by hybridising genomic DNA digested with Hind III with a C lambda probe. Using selected histologically and immunophenotypically well-defined cases, we assessed the usefulness of the 5.2 kb Hind III/C lambda fragment in distinguishing between rearrangements indicative of a B-cell lymphoma and germline configurations representing uncommon allelic forms of the C lambda genes. From these studies, we conclude that Hind III digestion should routinely be performed when using the C lambda probe to assess B-cell monoclonality. Identification of the 5.2 kb Hind III fragment obviates the need to examine DNA from normal peripheral blood granulocytes to exclude allelism of the C lambda genes in cases exhibiting the uncommon restriction fragments after Eco RI digestion.

Adult

The use of monoclonal antibody 44-3A6 in cell blocks in the diagnosis of lung carcinoma, carcinomas metastatic to lung and pleura, and pleural malignant mesothelioma.

Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 44-3A6 recognizes a glandular differentiation-associated antigen and has been used to identify exocrine differentiation in pulmonary carcinomas. The authors assessed its value in the diagnosis of lung carcinomas metastatic to lung/pleura and pleural malignant mesothelioma (MM), using cell blocks derived from cytologic specimens. Sixty-three primary lung carcinomas, 31 metastatic adenocarcinomas (ACs) (from breast, gastrointestinal tract, or genitourinary tract), and 36 MMs were immunostained with 44-3A6, Leu-M1, and anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The results confirm the value of 44-3A6 in identifying ACs but do not allow distinction between those of pulmonary, breast, GIT, or ovarian mucinous derivation. Endometrial, ovarian serous, and renal ACs are essentially nonreactive, as are almost all MMs. The occurrence of one positive MM predicates caution in interpreting 44-3A6 positivity in isolation, but, judiciously used with other discriminating antibodies such as Leu-M1 and anti-CEA, 44-3A6 is of value in the differential diagnosis of ACs and MMs. Further, its applicability to cytologic specimens may obviate the need for more invasive diagnostic procedures and lead to rapid, accurate diagnosis.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma (Merkel cell tumor). An adnexal epithelial neoplasm.

We report 18 cases of primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma (CNEC, Merkel cell tumor) that occurred mainly in the sun-exposed skin of elderly patients as dermal and subcutaneous masses of generally monomorphic cells with foci of pronounced pleomorphism. All 18 cases showed immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), whereas 16 of them showed immunoreactivity for another neuroendocrine marker, protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5). Positivity for PGP 9.5 was more intense and more sharply localized to tumor cells than the staining for NSE. Immunoreactivity for keratins detected by AE1/AE3 and CAM 5.2 monoclonal antibodies was found in 16 and 15 cases, respectively, with prominent paranuclear globular staining. One case stained positively for S-100 protein; all were negative for leukocyte common antigen (LCA). Typical ultrastructural features of neuroendocrine differentiation were noted in all of 14 tumors examined. Morphological and immunohistochemical similarities between these neoplasms and pulmonary small-cell anaplastic carcinoma, now thought to be of bronchial basal cell origin, suggest that CNEC are also derived from epithelium. In addition, their dermal location suggests that this epithelium is likely to be adnexal rather than epidermal.

Adnexal Diseases

Mycobacterium terrae tenosynovitis.

Atypical mycobacteria causing extra-pulmonary disease in man are well documented. These infections are manifested by the presence of ulcers, abscesses and lymphadenitis. Mycobacterium marinum is particularly noted for infections involving the synovium, tendon sheaths, bursae and bone. Of lesser note is Mycobacterium terrae (radish bacillus), a nonchromogen also associated with tenosynovitis. We are not aware of any previous report of the association of M. terrae with synovitis in Australia. This case report describes a culture-proven case of tenosynovitis caused by M. terrae.

Female

A panel approach to the evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of antibodies for the diagnosis of routinely processed histologically undifferentiated human neoplasms.

The evaluation of antibodies for diagnostic purposes on routinely processed sections of histologically undiagnosable neoplasms presents special problems. The authors have addressed this problem by constructing a panel of putatively mutually exclusive antibodies and testing it on sections of anaplastic neoplasms. Tissue sections of 120 routinely processed histologically undifferentiated large cell human neoplasms with a histologic differential diagnosis of carcinoma versus lymphoma and/or melanoma were stained with a panel of antibodies composed of monoclonal antikeratin AE1, monoclonal antileukocyte common antigens PD7/26 and 2B11, and rabbit anti-S-100 protein. Only cases not diagnosable by routine morphologic examination were included. PD7/26 and/or 2B11 were positive in 61 cases (supporting lymphoma), AE1 was positive in 17 cases (supporting carcinoma), and anti-S-100 was positive in 25 cases (supporting melanoma). Seventeen neoplasms failed to react with any of the panel antibodies. None of the neoplasms reacted with antibodies directed against two or more different antigens. These results indicate excellent specificity (100%) and good sensitivity (86%) of the panel antibodies on histologically undifferentiated neoplasms. These results are significant on two levels: first, as a test of the panel approach to evaluate antibodies on anaplastic neoplasms, and, second, as a demonstration of the diagnostic utility of the specific panel the authors have employed in such cases.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Palisades in primary cerebral neuroblastoma simulating so-called polar spongioblastoma. A light and electron microscopical study of an adult case.

A frontal lobe neoplasm in a 25-year-old Caucasian man showed the typical histological pattern of a "polar spongioblastoma." Immunoperoxidase staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was negative while silver stains in paraffin-embedded tissue, and electron microscopy displayed neoplastic cells with neuritic processes. Ultrastructurally there were microtubules, synapses and dense-core neurosecretory granules, all features of a neuroblastic neoplasm. It is suggested that this new growth with its polar spongioblastic appearance is, in fact, a moderately malignant primary cerebral neuroblastoma.

Adult

Cerebral gliomas with palisading necrosis: glioblastoma multiforme or high grade cerebral neuroblastoma? A light and electron microscopical study of three cases.

Three adult patients had cerebral malignant gliomas composed predominantly of small cells and displaying many areas of palisading necrosis, which are usually characteristic of glioblastoma multiforme. Light and electron microscopy, however, revealed tumour cells with neuritic processes, while astrocytic differentiation was convincingly excluded. It is suggested that palisading necrosis is not pathognomonic of glioblastoma multiforme and that high grade cerebral neuroblastoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis. The need for comprehensive light and electron microscopic studies for the accurate classification of gliomas is stressed.

Aged

Bladder granulomata after bladder surgery.

Bladder granulomata were found in 17 (3%) of 539 patients who had bladder biopsy or resection. The finding of granulomata in 13.6% of patients who had at least two surgical procedures, but never in the first biopsy specimen of any patient was highly significant statistically (P much less than 0.001). The occurrence of granulomata exclusively in patients with bladder carcinoma was related to the significantly greater number of biopsies performed in these patients and not to carcinoma, per se. There were two types of granulomata: necrotizing, palisading granulomata (NPG) resembling rheumatoid granulomata; and foreign-body-type granulomata (FBG). They often occurred together in the same specimen, and transitions from FBG to NPG were evident histologically. The granulomata apparently healed by fibrous scarring. Energy-dispersive analysis of x-rays (EDAX) did not reveal any inorganic foreign material, but showed sulphur in some granulomata, possibly released from necrotic stroma and urothelium. Clinical and morphologic evidence is presented indicating that the granulomata arose as a local reaction to tissue necrosis caused by surgery and/or cautery.

Biopsy

Monoclonal anti-keratin (AE1) reactivity in routinely processed tissue from 166 human neoplasms.

A large number of human neoplasms were tested for their keratin expression in routinely processed tissues by a simple, three-stage immunoperoxidase method using a broadly reactive monoclonal anti-keratin antibody AE1, which recognizes a number of keratin polypeptides distributed in a wide variety of epithelia. All carcinomas, with the exception of hepatocellular, adrenocortical, and basal cell carcinomas and occasional renal cell, pulmonary small-cell, and pulmonary large-cell anaplastic carcinomas, reacted with this antibody irrespective of differentiation, in most instances displaying staining of strong or moderate intensity in the majority of tumor cells. Equivocal results were obtained in some seminomas and dysgerminomas. Malignant melanoma, large-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, malignant histiocytosis, and stromal mesenchymal elements in all tumors did not show any reactivity with AE1. Even after routine processing, the determinant detected by AE1 is conserved and restricted to epithelial neoplasms. This suggests that AE1 would be valuable in the diagnostic distinction of anaplastic carcinoma from lymphoma and melanoma in routinely processed tissues.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Laryngeal neuroendocrine tumour with features of a paraganglioma, intracytoplasmic lumina and acinar formation.

A supraglottic laryngeal neuroendocrine tumour in a 71-year-old female is presented. In addition to the typical features of extra-adrenal paragangliomas it showed unusual, numerous intracytoplasmic lumina and occasional true acini with accumulation of alcian blue and PAS positive secretory product in them which led originally to an erroneous diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma. Ultrastructurally, the tumour was composed of light and dark chief cells containing varying numbers of dense-core secretory granules. Intracytoplasmic lumina and true acini contained microvilli with glycocalyceal material and varying amounts of membranous and amorphous material, possibly secreted via small, smooth-surfaced cytoplasmic vesicles but typical mucin granules were not seen. These features have not been previously described in laryngeal paragangliomas but are seen in endocrine tumours of other sites and have been used as an argument in favour of an endodermal rather than ectodermal origin for endocrine cells in those sites. Laryngeal paragangliomas are often malignant and the presence of spasmodic pain appears to be the most reliable indication of possible malignancy, histological criteria being as yet poorly defined.

Aged