PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Damiani

Publications and source records attributed to S Damiani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Thyroid maltoma: report of a case without coexistent Hashimoto's thyroiditis].

Maltomas of the thyroid are rare neoplasms that originate from parafollicular B lymphocytes and are often associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease). The authors describe a case of a primary thyroid lymphoma in which no evidence for a previous thyroiditis could be found during clinical evaluation (clinical progression of the tumor, diagnostic studies, preoperative cytology, histology of the surgical specimen). Noteworthy was the development of a severe form of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) about 6 months after the operation without detectable autoantibodies or signs of previous viral infection. The aplasia resolved completely with corticosteroid therapy.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Smooth muscle cell differentiation in mammary stromo-epithelial lesions with evidence of a dual origin: stromal myofibroblasts and myoepithelial cells.

AIMS: We investigated the origin of myoid cells in benign stromo-epithelial lesions of the breast in order to ascertain their myoepithelial or myofibroblastic origin. METHODS AND RESULTS: We selected 22 stromo-epithelial lesions of the breast and reviewed their morphological features at haematoxylin-eosin (H&E) level. The lesions were classified as fibrous stromo-epithelial lesions (without evidence of myoid differentiation at H&E level) (13 cases), type 1 myoid stromo-epithelial lesions (myoid cells directly merging with the myoepithelial layer) (three cases), type 2 myoid stromo-epithelial lesions (bundles of myoid cells unrelated to the glands) (six cases). All cases were studied immunohistochemically and myoid stromo-epithelial lesions were also studied with electron microscopy. The myoid component in two out of three cases of type 1 myoid lesions showed immunohistochemically co-expression of smooth muscle and myoepithelial markers. In contrast, the remainder showed immunohistochemical results identical to those found in type 2 myoid lesions (positivity with SMA, desmin, calponin, CD34 and bcl2 and negativity with cytokeratin 14 and p63). Ultrastructural study confirmed the presence of cells with myoepithelial features in type 1 myoid lesions and of cells with myofibroblastic features in type 2 myoid lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Myoid cell differentiation is common in stromo-epithelial lesions of the breast, and is evident in H&E sections in up to 40% of cases. In addition, the origin of myoid cells is myofibroblastic in most cases, but in some cases, cells present immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evidence of myoepithelial origin.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Breast tumor resembling the tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: report of 5 cases.

Five cases of a hitherto undescribed breast tumor having histologic features similar to those of the tall cell variant papillary thyroid carcinoma are described. They were composed of columnar mitochondrion-rich to oxyphilic cells arranged in nests, papillae, and follicle-like structures. In addition, the neoplastic cells showed numerous nuclear grooves and, in two cases, nuclear pseudo-inclusions. None of the patients had previous concomitant or subsequent evidence of a thyroid tumor. Immunohistochemistry further excluded a metastasis from the thyroid in the four cases tested, as they were consistently thyroglobulin and thyroid transcription factor 1 negative.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[Surgical treatment of esophageal achalasia. Personal trend].

AIM: Achalasia of the esophagus involves the entire esophagus from the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) together with a wide spectrum of physiopathological and clinical variations. Therefore, the need to know exactly the different involvement either of the body of the esophagus or the LES for each case is underlined. In our experience, the cineradiology is the only technique that allows a complete morphologic and functional study of the disease. It is through cinesophagography that we can exactly establish the extension of myotomy according to the physiopathological aspects that will suggest the most accurate surgical treatment. It is our opinion to perform a short myotomy, to the gastroesophageal junction, through an abdominal approach in grade II and III achalasia, when the most important physiopathological aspects involve only the LES area (hypertonic LES or dischalasia). We extend the myotomy from the LES up to the aortic arch through a thoracic approach. METHODS: From 1984 to 2002, we have treated 148 achalasic patients, 90 through an abdominal approach, 22 by VALS (Video Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery) and 36 through a thoracic approach. In the first 2 groups we performed a short myotomy with a Dor antireflux procedure, in the 3rd group we performed a long myotomy with a Belsey Mark IV antireflux procedure. RESULTS: Our trend to calibrate the surgical treatment on the physiopathological and morphofunctional data, allowed to optimize the post-operative clinical results, particularly with a better control of dysphagia. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of achalasia must be differentiated according to the pathophysiological basis in order to improve the surgical results.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2002

Malignant neoplasms infiltrating pseudoangiomatous' stromal hyperplasia of the breast: an unrecognized pathway of tumour spread.

AIMS: To describe five malignant tumours in the breast (two invasive carcinomas and three non-Hodgkin's lymphomas) showing an unusual pattern of spread within anastomosing spaces consistent with those described in pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia. METHODS AND RESULTS: The histological and immunohistochemical features of the cases are presented. In all cases, the neoplasms consisted of non-cohesive E-cadherin-negative cells located within anastomosing vascular-like channels. These channels showed morphological and immunohistochemical features consistent with those seen in pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia: they were lined by flattened cells that expressed CD34, bcl2 and smooth muscle actin, while CD31 was consistently negative. CONCLUSIONS: The open channels of pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia have been regarded as spaces due to loss of cohesiveness between stromal fibroblasts if not artefacts. The fact that neoplastic cells spread through these spaces suggests that the spaces are true open channels that may represent part of a complex network of stromal channels (pre-lymphatics) connected to the main lymphatic system of the breast. This finding opens new insights into the routes of tumour spread.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[Pulmonary carcinoma with myoepithelial differentiation, analogous to basal cell adenocarcionma of the salivary glands: description of a case].

We describe a case of pulmonary carcinoma with myoepithelial differentiation, analogous to basal cell adenocarcinoma of salivary glands. The patient, a 60 year-old man, smoker, presented with three peripheral nodules of the left lung. Preoperative staging was negative for metastatic disease and the patient underwent a surgical resection of the nodules. After 22 months, the patient is alive with no evidence of disease. Microscopically, the tumours were composed of atypical cells arranged in lobules, separated by basal membrane-like material. Immunohistochemically, tumour cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, cytokeratin 14, vimentin, calponin, S-100 protein and gliofibrillary acid protein (GFAP). Electron microscopy showed features of epithelial and myoid differentiation and confirmed the myoepithelial nature of the tumour. Pulmonary tumours with myoepithelial differentiation are rare, but they have a wide and distinctive morphological spectrum.

Basement Membrane↗
PubMed2001

Gynecomastia in type-1 neurofibromatosis with features of pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia with giant cells. Report of two cases.

We describe the histological finding in two cases of gynecomastia in patients with von Recklinghausen's disease. The histological and immunohistochemical features of the two cases were reviewed and compared with those of five cases of gynecomastia in men without clinical evidence of neurofibromatosis. In both patients bearing von Recklinghausen's disease, the breast stroma showed features consistent with pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH). It was characterised by anastomosing empty spaces lined by spindle and multinucleated giant cells which were positive with CD34 and anti-vimentin antisera and negative with anti-FVIII and CD31 antisera. In two of five of the control cases without neurofibromatosis, the mammary stroma showed focal areas with features of PASH, but no multinucleated giant cells were present in any case. PASH with giant cells should be recognised as a feature of gynecomastia in von Recklinghausen's disease. The presence of multinucleated giant cells is very unusual and, although more cases have to be studied, these cells seem to be a feature of PASH occurring in patients with von Recklinghausen's disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Molecular cytogenetic comparison of apocrine hyperplasia and apocrine carcinoma of the breast.

The relationship of apocrine metaplasia to invasive breast cancer is controversial. Different authors have reported that apocrine differentiation in proliferative lesions may be a risk factor, a precursor lesion, or have no association with malignancy. The aim of this study was to compare the genetic alterations in benign apocrine hyperplasia with apocrine ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive apocrine carcinomas of the breast using comparative genomic hybridization. The mean number of alterations in apocrine hyperplasia was 4.1 (n = 10) compared to 10.2 in apocrine DCIS (n = 10) and 14.8 (n = 4) in invasive carcinoma. The most common alterations in apocrine hyperplasia were gains of 2q, 13q, and 1p and losses of 1p, 17q, 22q, 2p, 10q, and 16q. Apocrine DCIS and invasive carcinomas showed gains of 1q, 2q, 1p, and losses of 1p, 22q, 17q, 12q, and 16q as their most common DNA copy number changes. Apocrine hyperplasia is considered to be a benign lesion and its relationship to invasive carcinoma remains unclear. Our data suggest that some apocrine hyperplasias may be clonal proliferations. The mean number of alterations are lower in apocrine hyperplasia, however the changes show considerable overlap with those identified in in situ and invasive apocrine carcinoma. These alterations are also commonly seen in nonapocrine breast cancer. The data are consistent with apocrine hyperplasia as a putative nonobligate precursor of apocrine carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Acinic cell carcinoma of the breast: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

The clinicopathological features of six cases of breast carcinomas showing features of acinic cell differentiation, which are similar to those seen in homologous tumors of salivary glands, are presented. The patients, all women, were 35-80 years of age. One case recurred after 4 years, and in two cases axillary lymph node metastases were found at the time of surgery. Histologically the tumors showed a microglandular pattern merging with solid areas. Cytologically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally the tumors were very similar to cases of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland. The differential diagnostic criteria with microglandular adenosis and carcinomas showing granular cytoplasm are discussed. It seems that acinic cell carcinomas of the breast have to be added to the long list of tumors that affect the salivary glands and can also arise in the breast.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A morphometric analysis of cytological features of tall cell variant and classical papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

In order to assess whether morphometric parameters could be of value in distinguishing between tall cell variant and classical pattern of thyroid papillary carcinoma, the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) samples of 14 cases were analysed using Arcimage 5 software on an Acorn computer. Histological examination of the specimens allowe classification of nine of them as classical pattern and the remaining five as tall cell variants. The nuclear diameter (NDD) and standard deviation distribution (NDSDD), th nuclear area (NAD) and standard deviation distribution (NASDD), and the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio (NCR) were assessed on May-Grunwald-Giemsa stained smears. Statistical analysis was performed by use of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the two groups as identified by histology. Whilst NDD (P = 0.007), NAD (P = 0.015) and NADSD (P = 0.026) all appeared statistically significant, NDSD (P = 0.06) and NCR (P = 0.71) were not. The cytological diagnosis of papillary carcinoma is established and reproducible, but morphometric data on the thyroid have so far focused on the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant nodules. The choice of simple morphometric parameters appears to be helpful in the preoperative distinction between the classical pattern and tall cell variant of papillary carcinoma.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed2000

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with skeletal muscle differentiation: report of three cases.

Three cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma showing skeletal muscle differentiation are presented. The tumors were located in the skin and subcutaneous tissue, the urinary bladder, and the nasal cavity respectively, and were composed by two cell types admixed intimately with each other. One cell type had features identical to those seen in conventional small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, including scanty cytoplasm, round nuclei with fine granular chromatin, immunohistochemical reactivity for neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin and cytokeratins, and electron-dense granules on ultrastructural examination. The second cell type was either plasmacytoid or elongated and straplike, with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and irregular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. These cells showed immunohistochemical positivity for desmin, sarcomeric actin, myoglobin, and myogenin. They also exhibited ultrastructural evidence of rhabdomyoblastic differentiation in the form of contractile filaments with abortive Z-band formation. An origin from a cell capable of dual differentiation toward neuroendocrine and rhabdomyoblastic elements is postulated for these tumors.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Myoepithelial cells and basal lamina in poorly differentiated in situ duct carcinoma of the breast. An immunocytochemical study.

A retrospective study was made of 38 selected brest tumours with a poorly differentiated in situ duct component. These were classified on haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; 10 cases), DCIS with invasion (17 cases) and DCIS with features suggestive of for stromal invasion (11 cases). The last were these lesions composed of neoplastic ducts with irregular outlines and a myoepithelial layer that was not clearly evident or large neoplastic ducts growing close together or surrounded by inflammatory desmoplastic stroma. Cases of DCIS involving areas of sclerosing adenosis were included in this category. Consecutive sections obtained from each case were studied with a panel of antibodies against myoepithelial cells (alpha smooth muscle actin and calponin) and basal lamina (BL) components (laminin and type IV collagen). It was found that in situ lesions showed well-formed basal lamina and/or an evident myoepithelial layer. These features were lacking in the invasive areas. Nine of the 11 cases with suggestive features of stromal invasion were reclassified as invasive duct carcinoma (5 cases)and DCIS (4 cases), according to the absence or presence of a continuous myoepithelial layer and/or basal lamina. In 2 such cases immunohistochemistry yielded equivocal results and the label "suggestive of invasion" was therefore pertinent. Immunohistochemistry facilitates the diagnosis of breast DCIS; myoepithelial and basal lamina markers are useful in differentiating microinvasive from in situ ductal carcinomas of the breast.

Actins↗