Biomedical subjects

W J Pollock

Publications and source records attributed to W J Pollock.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1989

Pituitary abscess after autologous bone marrow transplantation.

The first case of pituitary abscess arising in a patient during recovery from autologous bone marrow transplantation is reported. A 31-year-old man with a 9 month history of T-cell lymphoma died suddenly more than 60 days after successful treatment with high-dose cyclophosphamide, total body irradiation, and autologous bone marrow infusion. Autopsy revealed a pituitary abscess associated with clinically silent sphenoid sinusitis. Unique aspects of this case are presented and clinical and pathologic features of pituitary abscess are reviewed. Although rare, pituitary abscess may complicate recovery from bone marrow transplantation.

Abscess↗

PubMed1988

Virilization due to a Leydig cell adrenal adenoma.

Virilizing adrenal adenomas are rare, and Leydig cell adenomas of the adrenal rarer still. Our patient, a 60-year-old virilized woman, was found to have a Leydig cell adenoma. Virilization associated with normal 17-ketosteroid and elevated testosterone levels necessitates excluding an adrenal cause. Although one might expect high testosterone levels to suppress gonadotropins, this is not the case. In addition to other studies recommended for assessing the incidentally discovered adrenal mass, we would add a testosterone assay.

17-Ketosteroids↗

PubMed1987

Thyroid carcinosarcoma.

A thyroid carcinosarcoma composed of follicular carcinoma intermixed with osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma was studied. Results of immunoperoxidase staining for thyroglobulin were positive in the areas of follicular carcinoma and negative in the sarcomatous component. Likewise, the carcinomatous areas showed thyroid epithelial characteristics by ultrastructure, while the sarcomatous areas showed typical mesenchymal differentiation. This is an extremely rare neoplasm, with only 16 cases reported in the literature. It occurs predominantly in elderly women, is thought to arise through a process of neoplastic metaplasia, and has a uniformly dismal prognosis. Immunoperoxidase and ultrastructural studies, the first reported in such lesions, proved helpful in ascertaining the sarcomatous nature of the anaplastic, mesenchymal component of this unusual and aggressive neoplasm.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1986

Virilizing Leydig cell adenoma of adrenal gland.

We describe the third report testosterone-producing, virilizing, adrenal Leydig cell adenoma, which was identified in a oophorectomized postmenopausal female patient. Light- and electron-microscopy demonstrated typical Leydig cell differentiation, including numerous intracytoplasmic and intranuclear Reinke crystals and rice-like bodies (elementary tubular inclusions). Testosterone production by the adenoma was demonstrated by the immunoperoxidase technique. We propose that adrenal Leydig cell adenomas arise as a result of ovarian gonadal stromal metaplasia associated with elevated follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in the postmenopausal female patient. Adrenal Leydig cell lesions must be considered in the virilized woman with elevated testosterone levels and normal levels of the adrenal androgens and their 17-ketosteroid metabolites.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1986