PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Falconieri

Publications and source records attributed to G Falconieri.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Amyloid casts within renal tubules: a singular finding in myelomatosis.

This study was carried out in order to investigate a possible relationship between multiple myeloma and the occurrence of material exhibiting the properties of amyloid within renal tubules. Two groups of autopsied patients, with myelomatosis and benign monoclonal gammopathy were examined for the presence of amyloid deposits in renal and extra-renal sites. Urines were analysed for the presence and amount of Bence Jones protein and the pattern of the associated proteinuria was characterized. Renal tubular casts exhibiting the histochemical characteristics of immuno-amyloid were found exclusively in myeloma patients with Bence Jones proteinuria but without the renal lesions classically described as "myeloma kidney". This finding was independent of the occurrence of immuno-amyloid deposits in other renal and extra-renal sites, suggesting involvement of local factors in the pathogenesis of amyloid formation and deposition within renal tubular lumina. The results of present study suggest the conclusion that the presence of amyloid intratubular casts is to be regarded as a peculiar finding in myelomatosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Nodular lymphoma eventuating into lymphoplasmocytic lymphoma with monoclonal IgM/lambda cold agglutinin and Bence-Jones proteinuria.

A case of nodular lymphocytic (centroblastic/centrocytic) lymphoma that developed within 5 months after the initial diagnosis of lymphoplasmocytic lymphoma is described. The change in the histopathological picture, consisting of the development of a functionally more differentiated B cell neoplasm, occurred in the abdominal lymph nodes while the original pattern persisted in the bone marrow, liver and spleen. The patient was also found to have a serum IgM/lambda monoclonal immunoglobulin exhibiting cold agglutinin activity with specificity for the 'non-I' erythrocyte antigens.

Agglutinins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Time trends of benign/malignant breast biopsy ratios a multicenter Italian study.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Although they have been decreasing over time due to improved specificity of diagnostic assessment, benign biopsies of the breast are still common. Benign biopsies should be regarded as negative events, due to their economical and psychological cost and their possible negative impact on cosmesis and on further diagnostic evaluation. METHODS: Retrospective data on benign/malignant breast biopsies ratio (B/M) were collected in 9 Italian centers for a period of 10-15 years. The time trend of B/M and its association to age or to single centers was evaluated. RESULTS: Overall 31,001 cases were considered. A strong association of B/M to age was evident (average B/M values were 5.0, 1.3, 0.6, and 0.2 for women aged < 40, 40-49, 50-59, and > 59 years). A significant trend of decreasing B/M over time was observed only for one center. Age standardized B/M was significantly different (P < 0.000001) between centers, ranging between 0.34 and 1.69. Multivariate analysis confirmed an independent significant association of age and center to B/M. CONCLUSIONS: Marked differences in B/M are evident between centers, which cannot be explained by the confounding effect of age or by any apparent difference in the diagnostic protocol. The observed differences are likely ascribed to individual variations in diagnostic aggressivity. A progressive increase of the predictive value of calls for surgical biopsy may be achieved over time and centers with a high B/M should make every effort to optimize their performance. Acceptable (< 40 = 5, 40-49 = 1.5, 50-59 = 0.75, > 59 = 0.3) and desirable (2.5, 0.75, 0.35, 0.15) age specific reference standards for B/M are proposed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinicopathologic correlations in acute renal graft rejection].

Although the diagnostic and therapeutic outcome of renal transplantation has successfully improved during the last decades, acute graft rejection (AGR) is still an ongoing cause of concern being often associated with irreversible graft dysfunction. Renal biopsy remains a valuable tool in the initial assessment of the potential graft malfunction especially during the early post-transplant period. It is an accurate and sensitive means for detecting prognostically relevant microscopic abnormalities, and assisting in subsequent patient management. For long time, the histopathologic evaluation of AGR has suffered from an irreducible bias with poor interobserver rates. Nowadays, the classification schemes of AGR include the BANFF approach and the National Institute of Heath Collaborative Clinical Trials in Transplantation (NIH-CCTT) system: both have been originally designed in order to improve the diagnostic reproducibility of AGR among pathologists. Arteritis and tubulitis, along to clinical information, constitute the cardinal features of the BANFF classification. Distinguishing features of the traditional NIH-CCTT system includes microscopic criteria such as assessment of interstitial hemorrhage, extent and quality of inflammatory infiltrate, and acute glomerulitis, in addition to tubulitis and arteritis. The BANFF classification has apparently gained more popularity than the time-honored NIH-CCTT system since, if used in the appropriate clinical context, it allows a more accurate assessment of AGR, provides prognostically relevant information, and has a better reproducibility rate among pathologists. Nevertheless, the accuracy trend has not significantly improved during the last few years.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The positive pleural effusion. A retrospective study of cytopathologic diagnoses with autopsy confirmation.

We performed an investigation focusing on the distribution of tumor types responsible for positive pleural effusions in 143 patients who died of malignancy and underwent autopsy. The principal malignant tumors were lung carcinoma (41 cases, 51.2%) and pleural mesothelioma (23 cases, 28.7%) in males and breast carcinoma (24 cases, 38.2%) and lung carcinoma (13 cases, 20.6%) in females. Histologically, most of the cases belonged to the adenocarcinoma category. The first morphologic diagnosis was a cytologic one in 86 cases (60.1%), especially regarding lung cancer. In breast cancer a positive pleural effusion always preceded recurrent disease with a rapidly progressive course, even a long time after the initial surgery. The results of this study, based on both cytomorphologic features and postmortem data on the tumor sites, may be a useful working framework for the cytologist dealing with a positive pleural effusion.

Autopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytopathology of exocrine pancreatic carcinoma in effusions.

The cytomorphologic features were analyzed in 26 fluid samples (18 peritoneal and 8 pleural fluids) obtained in vivo from 20 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. All tumors were ductal adenocarcinomas, as proven histologically on autopsy samples. The basic cytomorphologic pattern in the smears was that of a malignant glandular tumor, consisting of cell groups with various degrees of cohesiveness. The most prominent feature was a linear arrangement (the so-called "Indian file") of tumor cells showing nuclear molding; these aggregates were frequently closely associated with the flat round clusters of cells. Other nonspecific features of adenocarcinoma included eccentric hyperchromatic nuclei, abundant, often well-preserved vacuolated cytoplasm, a variable amount of fibrin and a reactive background. Review of the autopsy specimens also revealed the presence of an "Indian-file" pattern in most cases, especially when a conspicuous desmoplastic reaction was present. These findings suggest that pancreatic carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of positive serous effusions showing these cytomorphologic features.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Myocardial ischemia in Vaquez's disease.

The authors report a study performed on the ECG findings in patients affected by polycythemia rubra vera. Clinicopathological correlations are made on the basis of autopsic examinations of 11 of these patients (out of the 21 subjects studied). The clinical investigation was performed on the ECG findings according to the Minnesota Code; pathologic investigation pointed out some particular lesions of myocardial district, as myocardium sclerosis, acute infarction, post-infarction scars, vascular lesions of the macro- and microcirculation. The results showed that ECG and the pathological findings in polycythemia vera appear to have a physiopathologic background although the latter is not linked to a well-defined anatomopathologic picture.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Amyloidosis and lung cancer. A morphological and histochemical study.

A study performed on a sample of 120 subjects who died of lung carcinoma and were examined at autopsy in order to verify the presence of amyloid substance particularly localized in the tumoral tissue, is reported. In the positive cases (4 oat cell carcinomas and 1 squamous cell carcinoma), the histochemical nature of depositions was investigated to assess their belonging to the primitive or secondary type, and to the APUD or immune type. The doubtful results induced the authors to suppose an analogous behaviour of oat cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The explanation of this phenomenon is still unclear and it should be looked for starting from two hypotheses: an analogy between oat cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma both belonging to the APUD system, or simply a non-specific phenomenon (intratumoral amyloid deposition).

Adenocarcinoma↗