Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Micheau.
The direct propagation of a cancer of the buccal cavity or oropharynx to the bone of a distal phalanx is demonstrated in two patients suffering from onychophagy. This exceptional way of cancer propagation must be searched for if an unusual site of metastasis is encountered.
A review of 2262 squamous cell carcinomas of the tonsillar region seen at the Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France, from 1970 to 1986 showed 1837 well- and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas and 425 undifferentiated squamous cell carcinomas. Eighteen patients with undifferentiated squamous cell carcinomas presented histologic characteristics of undifferentiated carcinomas of nasopharyngeal type. Radiosensibility and radiocurability (complete sterilization with 70 Gy administered) was found in this group with an excellent long-term control of local disease (77% at 10 years actuarial). Epstein-Barr virus-related serologic tests were performed for seven patients. Four of them presented the serologic anti-Epstein-Barr virus titer patterns, generally associated with undifferentiated carcinomas of nasopharyngeal type (1280 to 5120 for viral capsid antigen/IgG and 40 to 320 for viral capsid antigen/IgA). These observations confirm that undifferentiated carcinomas of the nasopharyngeal type may arise outside the nasopharynx.
It has been suggested that cytokeratin 13 is a useful marker of malignancy. We examined normal squamous cell epithelia, hyperplasia, dysplasias of various grades, intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the pyriform fossa using K13 and KL1. Positive staining for K13 was seen in all normal or hyperplastic benign epithelia, was inconstant in dysplasia, and intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma was negative. KL1 expression is constant and non significant. These results suggest that tumour cells are unable to synthesize keratin 13 a finding which may be valuable in surgical pathology.
Malignant change arising in pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands is uncommon, with a reported incidence of 2-10 per cent. Only one case where a pleomorphic adenoma became a clear cell carcinoma appears to have been published in the English literature. An additional case of clear cell carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma of a minor salivary gland is reported and the relevant literature discussed.
Major salivary glands are characterized by the presence of numerous excretory units that consist of acini and a peculiar duct system. Under normal conditions, sebaceous glands are annexed to the duct system in the parotid and the submaxillary glands. The excretion of the saliva is assisted by the myoepithelial cells, which play an important role in the morphology of several kinds of salivary gland tumors. Interstitial lymphocytes give rise to the formation of lymph nodes in the parotid gland. Heterotopic salivary tissue is found in many locations throughout the head and neck. Age-induced variations and reactive changes include oncocyte proliferation, fatty infiltration, squamous and mucous metaplasia, hyperplasia, atrophy, and regeneration. An analysis of the normal salivary gland structure permits a morphogenetic approach to an understanding of the variability in histologic types of salivary gland tumors.
Four new cases of carcinoid (or well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma) of the larynx are reported. This tumor has been recognized since 1969 and may be misdiagnosed as a poorly differentiated carcinoma or adenocarcinoma if the Grimelius stain is not done. Chromogranin A, detected by immunocytochemical methods, is also a good marker of these tumors. The analysis of 41 previously published cases allows a better knowledge of this clinico-pathological entity. The main locations are supraglottic and the prognosis is poor which is very different from the bronchial carcinoid.
Nevoid basal-cell carcinoma is a hereditary syndrome. Its major features are a multiple basal-cell carcinoma which appears early in childhood, skeletal and genital abnormalities and ectopic calcifications. It may be associated with malignant schwannoma, medulloblastoma and lymphoma. We report one case of nevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome associated with foetal rhabdomyoma, thyroid gland polyadenoma and benign schwannoma. The first case of foetal rhabdomyoma associated with this syndrome was described in 1976.
Between December 1979 and April 1982, 373 patients with untreated, undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx (NPC), 99 in Hong Kong, 120 in Tunis and 154 in Villejuif, entered a longitudinal study aimed at determining the clinical prognostic value of EBV serology after radiotherapy. A minimum of 3 years' follow-up was achieved for 319 patients (83 in Tunis, 95 in Hong Kong and 141 in Villejuif) who had regular clinical and serological testing at intervals of 6-8 months. No significant difference in initial serology (i.e., before any treatment) or variations of antibody titers at time of first follow-up was observed between patients who achieved complete remission after radiotherapy and those who did not. This included IgG and IgA antibodies to VCA, EA or EBNA. However, when patients with confirmed clinical remission 1 year after completion of radiotherapy were studied, the value of IgG/EA and mainly of IgA/EA increasing titers became highly significant for prediction of relapse, regardless of the initial titers. This demonstrated the clinical usefulness of EBV serology for NPC patients who have confirmed clinical remission after radiotherapy.
Olfactory esthesioneuroma is a rare malignant tumor arising in the olfactory epithelium. Forty cases observed at the Institut Gustave-Roussy from 1956 to 1987 are reported. This tumor usually grows slowly and is usually local, but it is important to be aware of the possibility of lymph node involvement (17%) and, particularly, of rapid development of distant metastases (25%), usually within 6 months. CT scan, and more recently, NMR have proved to be of value in choosing the surgical approach. In view of the usual point of departure, a combined neurosurgical and transfacial approach seems to be a satisfactory approach for obtaining oncological control of the lesion. The role of chemotherapy is discussed. The main prognostic factors seem to be the size of the lesion, the intracranial extension, and the lymph node involvement.
Bone marrow involvement was found in 21 of 56 patients with undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharyngeal type UCNT whose nasopharyngeal and bone marrow biopsies were available. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and bleomycin) were given because of distant metastases. The microscopic aspects of bone invasion were investigated and were classified into three subtypes osteolytic, osteosclerotic and mixed type. The UCNT patients population was 10 years younger than that studied previously. Both the extent of the primary tumor (T) and cervical lymph node status (N) exerted an influence on the probability of metastases developing. Chemotherapy given to patients must be improved because UCNT with bone metastases is a disease with a poor prognosis.
An immunohistochemical study of S-100 protein in 43 nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) of known clinical evolution (33 primary and 10 metastatic) is presented. Sixty per cent of primary site cases as well as all metastatic forms showed S-100 protein positive cells intermingled with tumour cells. These S-100 positive elements were identified as Langerhans cells. No significant differences were found when correlating S-100 protein positivity and histological NPC variants, neither in age nor in sex of patients. Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate any positive correlation between S-100 protein reactivity and clinical survival.
We have analyzed lymphocytes infiltrating nasopharyngeal carcinomas, using a combination of immunoperoxidase staining of frozen and paraffin-embedded sections, and immunofluorescence on lymphocyte suspensions recovered from teased tumours. A panel of monoclonal antibodies was used to define lymphocytic subsets on frozen sections of 14 different tumours. The vast majority of peri- and intra-tumoral lymphocytes were stained by OKT3 antibody. In 8 sections, T4 positive cells were largely predominant, while T8 positive cells were the majority in three sections. Twenty-nine paraffin-embedded sections from other NPC patients stained with HNK-1 antibody showed a variable percentage of positive cells reaching 6 to 15% in nine patients. Most HNK-1 positive cells had the morphology of large granular lymphocytes typical of natural killer cells. Double staining experiments on lymphocytes isolated from 7 tumours revealed a constant presence of T3 positive, HLA-DR positive lymphocytes (from 6 to 29% of mononuclear cells), and of lymphocytes coexpressing the T3 and the Tac (IL-2 receptor) antigens (from 5 to 12% of mononuclear cells). Lymphocytes with a phenotype of activated T-cells are thus constantly found in NPC tumours.
Ninety composite resections were carried out as primary treatment for a squamous carcinoma of the tonsillar region between 1970 and 1978. All patients have been followed-up for at least 3 years, except for 5 who have been lost to follow-up. All patients received postoperative radiotherapy (between 50 Gy and 65 Gy depending on the tumour resection status). Sixty-one patients received preoperative chemotherapy and 42% had clinical reduction of tumour size. The overall survival was 45.5% at 3 years and 43% at 5 years. Local recurrences were the most frequent oncological failure (25%). Tumours classed T3, insufficient tumour resection and lymph node invasion had poor prognostic value. We emphasize the necessity for primary surgery with preoperative chemotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy for squamous carcinoma of the posterior oral cavity and oropharynx.
A prospective study of 1,713 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck submitted to neck dissection between 1957 and 1973 is presented. We confirm the prognostic significance of the histological analysis of the nodal metastasis. Capsular rupture is the most important factor regardless of the primary site or tumor size. The presence of tumor emboli within lymphatics, the number of invaded nodes, and the number of nodes with capsular rupture are of significance though to a lesser extent. Classification of the clinical characteristics or the nodes provided, in 70% of the patients, a good prediction of histological involvement. In the clinical estimation of histological invasion, an important parameter is the size of the largest node detected, and we suggest this characteristic should be included in the TNM classification of UICC.
Olfactory esthesioneuroma is a rare malignant nerve tumour of the nasal fossa, generally developing from the olfactory epithelium, 45 cases seen at the Gustave-Roussy Institute between 1956 and 1986 are studied. From a clinical standpoint, this tumour usually progresses slowly and essentially locally, but it is important to be aware of the possibility of a rapid progression with diffuse bone metastases. The diagnosis, borne in mind of the presence of any tumor of the upper part of the nasal fossa, is based upon histo-pathological examination. It has benefitted from the use of new indicators. The role of CAT scan in the evaluation of spread is confirmed in the present series. Treatment is based above all on surgical excision followed by radiotherapy (the neurosurgical approach being of a certain value). The prognosis of these malignant tumors is similar to that of adenocarcinomas of the ethmoid and better than that of squamous carcinomas of the facial bone structure. The role of chemotherapy is discussed.
Ten cases of giant cell tumor of maxilla are reported, the patients being children or young adults and of principally female sex. In three cases another affection was associated: Recklinghausen's disease, Francescatti syndrome and hyperthyroidism of adenomatous origin. Histology of all tumors was similar: giant cells, fibroblastic tissue and numerous vessels: the course was benign in all cases with frequent recurrences but no metastases. The pathology of these tumors is still the subject of wide debate, although research is extensive in this field: electron microscopy, histoenzymology, monoclonal antibodies are some aspects studied but results have sofar failed to elucidate the true nature and histoprognosis of these tumors.
The authors make a report on a series of 173 supraglottal horizontal laryngectomies carried out from 1970 to 1984 at the Gustave-Roussy Institute of Villejuif. After recalling of operability conditions and tackling characteristics of this series are quoted variants required from tumours localisations diversity and importance of extension. Then are treated clinical and anatomo-pathological classification as briefly surgeries results. This work is specially concerning in survival by analysing different topographical clinical and histological criteria. Survival of 173 patients, having gone through an supra-glottal laryngectomy is 45.5% at 3 years and 31.3% at 5 years. At least, reasons of failure are analysed. This kind of partial surgery caring of voice, should be proposed to patients affected by vallecula or epiglottis carcinomas as regards of good functional and improved carcinological results.
The author makes a short review of the different histological classifications of N.P.C. used up to date, their validity and their reliability. He stresses the difficulties of recognizing the non-keratinizing carcinoma (W.H.O. type II) as a pure form of N.P.C. The A.C.I.F. test seems to be the best way to identify undifferentiated carcinomas (U.C.N.T.) in difficult cases. The lymphoid stroma of U.C.N.T. interpreted as the host reaction to the carcinoma invasion is currently studied and may perhaps provide a way to assess prognostic factors.