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V Villanacci

Publications and source records attributed to V Villanacci.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

A case of gastric carcinoma with massive eosinophilia and squamous differentiation. Histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural aspects.

We report the histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features in a case of gastric carcinoma with squamous differentiation and massive eosinophil infiltration, with peripheral blood eosinophilia, without evidence of allergic or parasitic disease. The unfavourable prognostic significance of squamous differentiation and eosinophilia is pointed out. The hypothesis of more aggressive cellular clones, within the neoplasia, capable of expressing morphological changes and/or different functional activities is considered.

Aged↗

[Hamartomatous polyps of Brunner's gland. Presentation of 2 cases. Review of the literature].

Two uncommon cases of Brunner gland hyperplasia are reported. Both presented clinical symptoms simulating gastrointestinal disease caused by hyperacidity. In conjunction with clinical statistics, diagnosis based on aetiology was only formulated after a double-contrast radiological exam of the g-i tract. After treatment with antiacid and antisecretory drugs, remission of the clinical symptoms was obtained, and regression of the hamartomatous polypoid duodenal neoformation, thus confirming the hypothesis which states that hyperacidic gastric secretion is the main cause of Brunner gland hyperplasia.

Adult↗

Early gastric cancer in Italy. Clinical and pathological observations on 80 cases.

Of 542 gastric cancer patients operated in the period between 1976 and 1982, we found early gastric cancer (EGC) in 80 cases (15.3%). Patients with EGC did not show specific symptoms if compared with patients affected by gastric or duodenal peptic ulcer, gallstones, functional disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract, or advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Single-contrast radiology showed a low sensitivity, especially in the depressed lesions. In contrast, endoscopy alone diagnosed 64 EGCs (80.0%) as malignant lesions. The five-year overall survival rate of the EGC patients was 85.9% and that of AGC patients was 43.8%. From a pathological point of view, our results confirm the usefulness of the studies on EGC for the comprehension of gastric carcinogenesis. The clinical relevance of EGC is linked to the good prognosis; however, the absence of clear symptoms and lack of alternative diagnostic methods to the endoscopy cast some doubts on the feasibility of mass detection programs.

Adenoma↗

Primary liver cell carcinoma. New insight for a more correct approach to its classification.

Hepatocellular carcinomas, cholangiocellular carcinomas, and "indeterminate" forms have been studied by immunohistochemical detection of several antigens: alpha-fetoprotein and CEA, as well as type IV collagen, laminin, and keratin. While the first two antigens were variably detectable in different samples, in the poorly differentiated areas of hepatocellular carcinoma type IV collagen and laminin were both absent. These basement membrane glycoproteins constantly surrounded the cholangiocellular carcinoma tubular structures and were always present in those areas of the "indeterminate" group where the cells were organized as pseudoglandular or ductular aggregates. Keratin was absent in all cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, was variably detectable in the "indeterminate" neoplasms and was always present in cholangiocellular tumors. The neoplasias with mixed histopathological features usually showed morphological and biochemical biliary differentiation at the periphery, in contact with the collagenous stroma. We postulate that in some cases hepatocarcinoma cells undergo metaplastic transformation giving rise to cholangiocellular forms. Type IV collagen, laminin, and keratin seem to be accurate markers of phenotypical differentiation and show that a continuous phenotypical spectrum exists between hepatocellular and cholangiocellular entities.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗

Immunohistochemical study of basement membrane antigens in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), not yet completely defined as a biologic entity, has recently been classified into two different types. Immunohistochemical investigations, aimed at characterizing basement membrane (BM) behavior in the two types of BAC, revealed different distribution patterns. The first (Type I BAC) showed a linear staining for laminin and Type IV collagen similar to normal lung. Fibronectin was widely present in the septal interstitium and patchily distributed along the BM. The second (Type II BAC) showed a variable reaction for Type IV collagen and fibronectin, whereas laminin was absent or appeared as short, interrupted tracts around the epithelial neoplastic population, similar to conventional adenocarcinoma of the lung. These results suggest that only Type I BAC shows structural characteristics different from those of conventional adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Behaviour of basement membrane antigens in gastric and colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemical study.

Eighty gastric and colorectal lesions including cases of dysplasia and carcinoma were studied by immunohistochemical techniques to investigate the behaviour of laminin, type IV collagen and fibronectin. Their distribution was examined on frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples. In the same lesions, interruption, fragmentation and absence of basement membrane (BM) antigen-staining were observed. Carcinomas with well differentiated glandular structures were always surrounded by a well defined BM as in normal, non-pathological tissues. On the contrary, undifferentiated areas arranged in nests or sheets were usually negative for laminin and type IV collagen. Anomalous BM staining was strictly related to the degree of differentiation of tumor tissue, while no correlation existed between carcinoma staging and BM antigen presence, either in gastric or colorectal neoplasms. Immunostaining with antibody against type IV collagenase showed a massive positivity in the early gastric carcinomas examined, while in colorectal cancer only granulocytes showed it.

Antigens↗

Problems and variations in the interpretation of the ultrasound feature of the normal upper and lower GI tract wall.

The aim of this study was to define the various ultrasound appearances of the normal upper and lower GI tract wall and to discuss current interpretations of the relationship between each echographic layer with the real anatomical structures. We studied a total of 70 patients by means of endoscopic ultrasonography and examined in vitro some surgical specimens of the normal stomach, colon and rectum. We found a 'five layer' structure at the level of the esophageal and gastric wall. This pattern was not recognized in the duodenum during the in vivo study. Our experimental results support the hypothesis that the first and fifth hyperechoic layers of the gastric wall are partially generated by ultrasound reflection at the interface liquid/wall and that the second hypoechoic layer corresponds to the deepest part of the mucosa. Important variations in the thickness of each layer were found in different conditions during in vivo studies. The fourth hypoechoic layer becomes very thin after water distension of the stomach. The in vitro investigation of the specimen of normal colon and rectum showed some different features. At this level it is sometimes possible to distinguish a separate very thin hypoechoic layer in the deepest part of the second layer, probably corresponding to the muscularis mucosae. The muscular layer is sharply divided into two distinct layers related to the circular and longitudinal muscular coats.

Digestive System↗

Intraoperative ultrasonography in surgery for liver tumors.

Intraoperative ultrasonography was used in 37 patients during surgery for suspected liver tumors. The size, number, and site of the lesions were determined together with the relationship of the tumor to the intrahepatic vessel, as well as possible small daughter lesions within the liver. Final diagnosis in these patients was hepatocellular carcinoma in 19 cases, metastases from colorectal cancers in 15 cases, and benign lesions in three cases. Previously undetected small tumors were revealed in one patient with sigmoid cancer and in five patients with liver cell carcinoma who had cirrhosis. Vascular tumoral infiltrations were easily displayed and the surgical approach modified accordingly: a more extended resection was performed in two cases of huge central hepatic metastases. Intraoperative ultrasonography revealed seven cases of small (2 to 3 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas in cirrhotic livers that were not visible or palpable, thus allowing a subsegmentary resection. Finally, in three cases of atypical tumors, an intraoperative echo-guided biopsy specimen was required to establish the benign nature of lesions and resection was avoided. Intraoperative ultrasonography facilitates the diagnosis of small liver tumors and can also aid the surgeon in his choice of technique, especially in cases of cirrhosis of the liver. A resection can be avoided altogether when multiple lesions are involved, or echo-guided subsegmentary resections can be performed in cirrhotic livers when a less extended resection is required. This technique makes it possible to establish the relationship between the tumor and intrahepatic vessels, thus preventing vascular injury and making radical hepatic resection safer.

Biopsy↗

Detection of extracellular matrix antigens (fibronectin, laminin, type IV in collagen) in paraffin embedded sections by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex labelling.

An avidin-biotin-peroxidase labelling method was applied to frozen sections and to routine-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections, and compared with immunohistochemical results of stromal antigen detection (type IV collagen, laminin and fibronectin) obtained in parallel on different neoplasias. Lung, breast and gastrointestinal tract tumors were studied. Superimposable sections were obtained from cryostat and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens (previously digested by pepsin). The data demonstrate the potential use of immunohistochemical investigation of paraffin-embedded tissues for histological analyses of tumors.

Avidin↗

[Solitary ulcer syndrome: anatomo-clinical aspects].

The clinical, radiological, endoscopic and histological aspects of a case of Isolated Ulcer Syndrome (IUS) of the rectum are examined. For over a decade and on the basis of its clinical, radiological, endoscopic and histological features, this condition was considered Ulcerous Rectocolitis and treated as such. The case presented serves to highlight the possibility of confusing this ulcer with other inflammatory colorectal conditions if only the clinical, radiological and endoscopic pictures are taken into consideration. The importance of histological examination of numerous bioptic samples is emphasised as essential for accurate diagnosis.

Biopsy↗

Gastric carcinoids of ECL cells. Pathological and clinical analysis of eight cases.

Clinical, histological, histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of eight cases of carcinoid tumors of the non-antral portion of the stomach are presented. Four cases with multiple polypoid lesions are accompanied by an increased level of gastrin. A normal level of gastrin was present in the other four cases with isolated tumor and a normal component of endocrine cells in the uninvolved mucosa. In the first group with multiple lesions, the histological and histochemical analysis of the endocrine cells revealed a wide range of appearances: a) "simple hyperplasia", b) "nodular hyperplasia", and c) carcinoid tumor. These aspects suggested a different pathogenesis for the carcinoid tumors of the non-antral portion of the stomach with possible therapeutical implications.

Achlorhydria↗

Early gastric cancer. Clinico-pathological analysis of 125 cases of early gastric cancer (EGC).

The frequency and the pathological findings of 125 early gastric cancers (ECGs), and particularly of small and minute lesions, were evaluated in a retrospective study of 839 surgical specimens of gastric carcinoma. Sixty two ECGs were believed to have risen from gastric epithelium, 27 from areas of intestinal metaplasia, and 3 from cardio-pyloric mucosa. The remaining lesions showed mixed histological patterns. The most frequent macroscopic type was IIc (24.8%) followed by IIb (16.8%), I (16.8%), and III (14.4%). In 63 cases (50.4%) the cancer was limited to the mucosa. In all specimens, and particularly in small and minute lesions, the surrounding mucosa was accurately analyzed to detect any lesions, from which the cancer could have developed. Intestinal ECGs, especially if protruded, seem to arise from areas of intestinal metaplasia or of chronic atrophic gastritis. Rarely ECGs seem to stem from polypoid lesions both hyperplastic and adenomatous. On the contrary, most important seems to be the role of ulcerative lesions, since in 14 cases of our series, carcinomatous foci were observed within the regenerative epithelium covering the crater. No correlation was found between histologic type, size, staging, and frequency of node metastasis; this suggests the existence of ECGs with different biologic behaviour.

Adult↗