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Biomedical subjects

J I Lopez

Publications and source records attributed to J I Lopez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Muscularis mucosa differentiates two populations with different prognosis in stage T1 bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Contrary to previous belief, the existence of a muscularis mucosa in the human urinary bladder has now been well described. Although the degree of development of this structure seems variable, it can frequently be used to differentiate two levels within the subepithelial connective tissue: the lamina propria and the submucosa. The present study evaluates whether this morphologic feature is potentially useful for the identification of two populations with Stage T1 bladder cancer: those with tumor invasion confined to the lamina propria (pT1A) and those with tumors infiltrating into the submucosa (pT1B). METHODS: A series of 170 Stage T1 papillary bladder tumors was analyzed pathologically to identify the level of subepithelial connective tissue invasion. Both the reproducibility of such a differentiation and its prognostic implication were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and the Cox regression model. RESULTS: In specimens from transurethral resection, categorization into T1A or T1B could be performed in 98 of 170 cases (58% of specimens). Such differentiation proved to be of prognostic value with significantly different 5-year survivals between the two subcategories (pT1A [n = 50] vs pT1B [n = 49]) (log-rank, P < 0.02). Cox's regression analysis of pT1 subcategory and grade was performed in the 99 cases in which the differentiation between pT1A/pT1B could be made. This demonstrated that the depth of subepithelial connective tissue invasion was an independent prognostic factor (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The depth of tumor infiltration can be assessed in a considerable proportion of Stage T1 bladder neoplasms. The present study validates the prognostic significance of such a distinction both by Mantel-Haenszel life table method and Cox's regression analysis.

Actuarial Analysis

The prognostic significance of vascular invasion in stage T1 bladder cancer.

Transurethral resection specimens from 170 T1 bladder carcinomas were reviewed for the presence of vascular (blood vessel and/or lymphatic) invasion by tumour cells. Such a finding was noted in 17 cases (10%), and occurred most frequently in high grade tumours. Tumour recurrence was documented in 11 of these cases (65%), including seven patients who showed progression to more invasive disease (T2-T4) and six patients (55%) who died of disease. Five-year survival for cases without vascular invasion was 81% versus 44% for those with. This was a statistically significant difference (log-rank, P = 0.004). Neoplasms of high grade (grades 2 to 3), without a papillary configuration, and exceeding 5 cm were associated with vascular invasion (chi-squared; P < 0.001, P = 0.043, and P = 0.061 respectively). In multivariate analysis vascular invasion proved to be an independent prognostic factor (Cox's regression, P = 0.015). We therefore stress the clinical relevance of a thorough evaluation of the state of vascular invasion in stage T1 bladder cancer.

Aged

Burned-out tumour of the testis presenting as retroperitoneal choriocarcinoma.

A case of "burned-out" tumour of the testis in a 20-year-old man is reported. The tumour presented as widespread retroperitoneal metastases. Orchiectomy displayed a subalbugineal fibrous scar close to the rete testis. Diagnostic biopsy of the unresectable retroperitoneal tumour showed a choriocarcinoma. Although appropriate chemotherapy was promptly started, the patient died 7 months after the initial complaints.

Adult

HIV infection presenting as renal polyarteritis nodosa.

We present a case of renal vasculitis (polyarteritis nodosa) in a 36-year-old female prostitute having undetected HIV infection (AIDS-related complex) and chronic B-hepatitis. The pathogenesis and significance of the association between these entities are reviewed.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections

Pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation of the bladder: report of 2 cases and literature review.

We report 2 cases of pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferations of the bladder unrelated to urological trauma. To our knowledge, these cases represent the longest followup (12 and 19 years, respectively) reported in the literature, which confirms the long-term benign nature of an entity that may be clinically and even pathologically mistaken as malignancy. A review of the literature revealed a female predominance (3:1), 50% of the cases manifested in the first 2 decades of life and mean age was significantly lower in male patients (p < 0.005). These facts suggest the existence of a hormonal factor in the pathogenesis of this entity. A predilection for fundus, and the posterior and lateral walls also is demonstrated. In light of the complex embryogenesis of the cloacal territory, it could be hypothesized that this lesion arises from embryonal mesenchymal remnants of the endodermally derived urinary tract.

Adolescent

Expression of keratin 20 in malignant eccrine poromas.

Eight cases of malignant eccrine poromas were studied immunohistochemically with a broad panel of antibodies in order to better characterise the spectrum of their differentiating pathways. Special attention was paid to the expression of cytokeratins, mainly the newly recognised keratin 20. In general, the pattern of staining agreed to previous studies. Anyway, a non-expected positivity with keratin 20 was seen in two cases. The usefulness of the immunohistochemistry to discover areas with masked differentiation in adnexal tumours of the skin was once more confirmed.

Acrospiroma

Basaloid-squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx. A clinicopathologic study of 7 cases.

During a 16-year period (1974-1989), a retrospective review of 468 surgical specimens of laryngectomy yielded 7 cases (0.66%) of basaloid-squamous cell carcinoma. They were all males between 42 and 63 years of age. Four cases were supraglottic and one transglottic. The other two arose in the left pyriform sinus and vallecula, respectively. At diagnostic time, 4 cases were Stage III and 2 Stage IV, only one being Stage II. Glanz index of histologic malignancy was high (> 5) in most cases (6/7). Mitotic rate was also high (22-78 mitoses/10 HPF). Lymph node metastases were documented at diagnosis in 5 cases, 3 of them presenting with extracapsular extension. One case developed liver metastases. During the follow-up, lymph nodes of the neck were again metastasized in 4 cases, and stomal recurrence was present in another one. Death of disease was confirmed in 5 cases after 10 to 35 months of follow-up. Overall survival was 28.5% after 3 years.

Adult

Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. A clinicopathological study of six cases.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical findings of small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the urinary bladder, and also to delineate its behaviour in comparison with transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 552 patients with bladder cancer yielded six cases (1%) of small cell carcinoma which were histologically identical to pulmonary small cell anaplastic carcinoma. Clinical data and follow-up were collected. Aside from the conventional histological parameters, an immunohistochemical study with AE1-AE3 and Cam 5.2 keratins, epithelial membrane antigen, neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin, synaptophysin, ACTH, calcitonin, and prostatic specific antigen was performed. RESULTS: The clinical presentation did not differ from conventional transitional cell carcinoma, haematuria being the most frequent complaint (four cases). All the cases presented as flat tumours. On light microscopy, there were oat cell (four cases), intermediate (one case) and mixed oat-cell/intermediate (one case) variants. Three cases were associated with transitional cell carcinoma. Dysplastic changes were observed in the adjacent urothelium in one case only. At the time of diagnosis, all tumours were deeply invasive (pT3). Three cases were Stage III and three Stage IV, with involvement of regional lymph nodes and metastases to the liver (two cases) and lung (one case). Immunohistochemically, epithelial markers were variably expressed as AE1-AE3 keratin (5/6), Cam 5.2 keratin (2/6) and epithelial membrane antigen (3/6). Neuron specific enolase was demonstrated in every case. Chromogranin, however, was expressed in only one case. Synaptophysin, ACTH, calcitonin, and prostatic specific antigen all gave negative results. All the patients died of the disease and the overall length of survival was very poor (range 5-25 months, mean 13.3). CONCLUSION: Small cell carcinomas show the same histological patterns as their pulmonary counterpart. Immunohistochemistry reveals a wide spectrum of activity, enolase and keratins being the most constant. The present study confirms that the overall prognosis of this tumour is very poor.

Aged

Lethal cytomegalovirus adrenalitis in a case of AIDS.

The clinico-pathologic report of a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) necrotizing adrenalitis arising in an intravenous drug-abuser and HIV-infected young is presented. CMV urinary tract infection, genital Kaposi's, and demyelinating changes in central nervous system were associated findings.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections

Pathogenetical considerations on a case of bilateral pelvic renal ectopia.

The clinical finding of a case of bilateral pelvic renal ectopia, incidentally discovered in a 31 year-old female, leads us to revise the current theories explaining simple renal ectopia. The pathogenesis of this anomaly of kidney position and rotation is far from being clearly understood. However, in the light of normal process of kidney ascension, we understand this entity can be regarded as an example of time-dependent developmental disorder taking place between the 6th and 9th weeks of human embryogenesis.

Adult

Gliosarcoma. Case report with immunohistochemical study.

A typical case of gliosarcoma in a 74 year-old woman is reported. The exact origin of sarcomatous areas of this tumor has been a matter of debate. Our immunohistochemical findings, using a panel of antibodies (GFAP), vimentin, keratins, F-VIII related antigen, muscle specific actin, KP-1 and HMB-45), support its undifferentiated nature. The literature concerning this topic is reviewed and briefly discussed.

Aged

A case of Whipple's disease presenting as supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. A case report.

A case of Whipple's disease occurring in a 63-year-old woman is reported. Cervical lymphadenopathy and vague constitutional symptoms were soon followed by diarrhea and weight loss. Supraclavicular lymph node exeresis suggested the initial diagnosis, which was confirmed by intestinal biopsy. The concurrence of cystic spaces, PAS-positive foamy histiocytes and epithelioid granulomas is considered by the authors to provide a useful histological clue in the diagnosis of lymph node involvement in Whipple's disease. Pathologists must be aware of such an un-conventional presentation of this rare entity and therefore include it within the differential diagnosis of cervical and/or axillary lymphadenopathies.

Diagnosis, Differential

Localized fibrous tumor of the pleura. Report of two cases with immunohistochemical study.

The light microscopy and immunohistochemical findings of two new cases of localized fibrous tumor of the pleura are reported. Both cases remained asymptomatic. One of them was incidentally found in a 69 year-old male during a thoracotomy for adenocarcinoma of the lung. The other was discovered in a 51 year-old woman in the course of a routine chest X-ray. Bundles of tightly packed benign fibroblasts within a collagen-rich stroma were the histologic hallmark. Bizarre cells and prominent sclerosis were extensive features in the first case. Only vimentin showed diffuse positive immunostaining in proliferating cells. Our results support the fibroblastic origin proposed for this lesion.

Adenocarcinoma

Intrathoracic kidney and vertebral fusion: a model of combined misdevelopment.

We report a case of right intrathoracic kidney associated with a complex somite malformation that comprised vertebral fusion and right intrathoracic supernumerary ribs. The interpretation of this association as a disease model of nature allows us to propose a unifying hypothesis on the pathogenesis of this form of renal dystopia.

Abnormalities, Multiple

A case of perineurioma with prominent myxoid changes.

A perineurioma with prominent myxoid changes is presented. The patient, a 41 year-old woman, presented with a small skin nodule on her back. Light microscopy revealed subtle cellular whorls within a myxoid background. Immunohistochemistry showed epithelial membrane antigen positivity. In contrast, S-100 protein, common leukocyte antigen, vimentin and AE1-AE3 cytokeratin were negative.

Adult

Adnexal tumour of probable Wolffian origin. Report of a case.

An adnexal tumour of probable Wolffian origin occurring in a 36 year old woman is reported. The lesion was asymptomatic and incidentally discovered during laparotomy. No recurrences have been demonstrated to date. Its origin from Wolffian remnants is briefly.

Adnexal Diseases