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F B Askin

Publications and source records attributed to F B Askin.

121 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

The fine structure of so-called minute pulmonary chemodectomas.

Electron microscopy was performed on several minute tumors of the type called chemodectomas, all from the lung of a single patient. The cells had a whorling pattern with extensive interdigitating cytoplasmic processes joined by desmosomes. Except for tangles of cytoplasmic fibrils, the tumor cells had few distinctive organelles. They had no endocrine-like granules and were not associated with nerves or basement membranes. The tumors had little resemblance to paragangliomas, but displayed a puzzling similarity to meningiomas. Our observations permit no definite conclusions as to the histogenesis of these lung tumors. Viewed in the light of recent physiologic studies, they cast doubt on the presence of special chemoreceptive paraganglia in the lung.

Aged↗

Crohn's disease of the vulva.

Over the past 10 years, it has been well established that Crohn's disease may involve any segment of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus and may also cause destructive extraintestinal lesions. Extensive cutaneous ulceration has recently been recognized as one of the rare extraintestinal complications. A case of chronic vulvar ulceration due to Crohn's disease is reported. The clinical manifestations and management of such a lesion are discussed.

Abscess↗

Cytomegalovirus endometritis: report of a case associated with spontaneous abortion.

Maternal cytomegalovirus infection is a relatively common, yet very often silent complication of pregnancy. The association between early gestational wastage and cytomegalovirus endometritis has been documented in recent tissue culture studies without the morphologic demonstration of the virus. This case study presents the clinical and pathologic findings of a young, secundigravida female with cytomegalovirus endometritis and spontaneous abortion. The intranuclear inclusions were restricted to the endometrial glands; Involvement of the endocervix by cytomegalovirus has been the only site in the female reproductive tract, excluding fetal tissues, affected by this virus which has been demonstrated histologically. The data are still incomplete regarding the etiologic role, if any, of cytomegalovirus and the occurrence of spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Occult pulmonary synovial sarcoma confirmed by molecular techniques.

We report a unique case of a minute, occult synovial sarcoma of the lung detected intraoperatively during a pneumothorax repair in a 17-year-old boy. No alternative primary site could be detected upon complete body imaging studies and physical examinations. The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstration of the characteristic SYT/SSX gene fusion by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) performed upon RNA extracted from the paraffin block of the biopsy. This case demonstrates the utility of this technique in diagnostic pathology.

Adolescent↗

Localized benign pleural mesothelioma arising in a radiation field.

Localized benign pleural mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm representing less than 5% of all pleural tumors. Unlike the malignant diffuse pleural mesothelioma, there is no evidence of a relationship to asbestos exposure. Essentially, the cause of localized benign pleural mesotheliomas remains obscure. We propose that one mechanism of the development of this tumor is prior ionizing radiation to the tumor field. Ionizing radiation is a well-known human oncogen and leads to an increased incidence of benign tumors as well. A 65-year-old woman had a localized benign pleural mesothelioma of her left upper chest 22 years following adjuvant radiation therapy to the left breast and axillary region for a breast carcinoma.

Aged↗

CT findings in bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) with radiographic, clinical, and histologic correlation.

The CT features of 12 patients with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) were reviewed and correlated with clinical history, histologic specimens, and chest radiography. From our series, a spectrum of CT findings of parenchymal lung involvement in BOOP emerged. Focal nodular or mass-like opacities were found in 42% (5 of 12). Areas of consolidation resembling pneumonia were seen in 33% (4 of 12). Peripheral subpleural reticular opacities were identified in 25% (3 of 12). Patchy ground glass infiltrates were seen in 8% (1 of 12). One patient demonstrated a mixed pattern consisting of nodular opacities and areas of pneumonic consolidation. In 4 of the 5 cases demonstrating the nodular form of BOOP either a feeding vessel or bronchus sign could be identified. This feature consisted of a pulmonary vessel leading to a nodular opacity or an air bronchogram entering into a nodular opacity. Correlation of the CT findings of BOOP with histologic specimens showed nodular opacities and areas of consolidation to be associated with classic pathologic features of BOOP including bronchiolar plugs of granulation tissue and surrounding organizing pneumonia. Cases demonstrating peripheral subpleural reticular opacities showed, in addition to pathologic evidence of BOOP, other features such as interstitial disease and fibrosis.

Adult↗

Hepatic teratomas in children.

This report describes a hepatic teratoma in a newborn child. Microscopic examination showed a predominantly immature teratoma containing tissue representative of all three germ layers. No evidence of malignant tissue was found in the tumor, and no clinical evidence of metastasis was found in the child. A markedly elevated serum alpha fetoprotein was documented. A review of the literature on hepatic teratomas in children is also presented.

Humans↗

High CD44 expression on human mesotheliomas mediates association with hyaluronan.

PURPOSE: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare malignancy with major environmental implications regarding passive asbestos exposure. We have conducted an immunohistochemical and functional study to address three questions: (1) What is the representation of CD44 on tumor cells as detected by immunohistochemistry? (2) Do cultured cell lines derived from malignant pleural mesothelioma tissue express the same CD44 phenotypes as the original tumors, and can they serve as a model for the study of CD44 in mesotheliomas? (3) What is the functional status of the CD44 expressed on mesotheliomas, with regard to hyaluronan anchorage? MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven samples of pleural mesothelioma were obtained from patients entered on phase I/II protocols conducted in the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute since 1991. The diagnosis was confirmed in all 37 patients by means of a battery of immunohistochemical tests for markers differentiating malignant pleural mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma. Tumor-positive lymph nodes and distant metastases were also examined in six of the patients. Cell lines, established from tumor tissue of six of the patients described above, were used in these experiments. Four (H2596, H2461, H2373, H2452) were derived from primary solid tumors and two (HP-1 and HP-3) were derived from effusions. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody (H4C4) that recognizes a constant region of human CD44 demonstrated that 34 (92%) of the malignant pleural mesotheliomas examined expressed CD44 on 50% to 100% of their cells. The extent of CD44 expression was apparently related to histologic subtype with the highest expression seen in epithelioid mesotheliomas and the least in sarcomatoid tumors. Tumor cell lines established from the primary tumors or effusions of six of the malignant pleural mesothelioma patients showed high expression of the hematopoietic form of CD44. Four of these cell lines exhibited strong attachment to hyaluronan in an in vitro attachment assay, indicating that their CD44 was functional with respect to hyaluronan anchorage. Hyaluronan attachment was specific in that it could be abolished by preincubation with epitope-specific anti-CD44 antibodies or soluble substrate or by hyaluronidase treatment of attachment surfaces. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that CD44 is highly expressed on human mesotheliomas, that cell lines adequately represent tumor expression, and that CD44 mediates association with hyaluronan, a major component of pleural fluid.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗