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Biomedical subjects

J Scurry

Publications and source records attributed to J Scurry.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinicopathologic review of malignant polyps in stage 1A carcinoma of the endometrium.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of malignant polyps in stage 1A endometrial cancer, to define the pathological features of such cancers, and to assess whether clinical outcome differs from similar cancers without a malignant polyp. METHODS: We performed a retrospective pathological review of 107 cases of stage 1A endometrial cancer treated at two centers in New South Wales between January 1988 and July 2003. The presence of a malignant polyp was determined and a pathological description made of the tumor. Clinical data were collected, including prior tamoxifen usage, tumor recurrence and survival. The outcome of the malignant polyp group was compared to the same histological subtype not involving a malignant polyp. RESULTS: The incidence of malignant polyps in our series was 32%. Malignant polyps occurred in all 8 cases involving a serous subtype. Precursor lesions of endometrial cancer were identified within malignant polyps. Three out of the four recurrences occurred in high-grade tumor subtypes and all four had a large primary tumor (size > or = 4 cm). When comparing the same subtype of tumor with and without a malignant polyp, there was no significant difference in clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of stage 1A endometrial cancers are associated with a malignant polyp. Serous carcinoma commonly arises within an otherwise benign endometrial polyp. Malignant polyps offer an opportunity to identify precursors of endometrial carcinoma. Clinical outcome of stage 1A endometrial carcinoma was related to the histological subtype and the size of the tumor rather than the presence of a malignant polyp.

Adult↗

Endometrial stromal sarcoma resembling adenomyosis and menstrual-phase endometrium.

BACKGROUND: Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS) and endometriosis are two conditions of different prognostic significance that are usually not difficult to distinguish histologically. CASE: We present the case of a 38-year-old woman who underwent laparotomy after a diagnosis of endometrial stromal neoplasm on uterine curettings. Uterine enlargement and regional and paraaortic lymphadenopathy were found. Pathology showed adenomyotic-like myometrial hypertrophy and menstrual-like shedding of tumor in involved lymph nodes. The finding of large areas of endometrial stromal cells without accompanying glands forming tumorous masses in both sites supported the diagnosis of LGESS. We believe that this is the first time that these phenomena have been reported in LGESS. CONCLUSION: In these cases, adenomyotic myometrial hypertrophy and menstrual shedding have been used to distinguish endometriosis from LGESS, but do not appear to be absolute criteria. Endometriosis and LGESS are undoubtedly separate entities, but occasionally may resemble each other.

Adult↗

Necrotizing infundibular crystalline folliculitis.

We describe a 22-year-old woman with a background of acne who developed multiple folliculocentric facial papules associated with sharply demarcated waxy, keratotic plugs. Multiple skin biopsies showed umbilicated craters that were filled with dispersed bundles of eosinophilic filaments embedded in a pale amorphous matrix forming a plug. The plugs bulged into the upper dermis. Serial sections showed vacuolar and filamentous destruction of the infundibular and adjacent perifollicular epithelium and a close relationship of the crystalline necrosis to follicles. Electron microscopy revealed that the filamentous bundles were tonofilaments. No fresh material was available for polarization and the paraffin sections failed to polarize. The clinical and pathological findings of the lesions in our patient were identical to those reported as a new perforating disorder with urate-like crystals. Our case indicates that the process may represent crystalline folliculocentric necrosis rather than a primary perforating disorder. The nature and basis of the crystals that have a urate-like appearance remain to be determined.

Adult↗

Histology of lichen sclerosus varies according to site and proximity to carcinoma.

To investigate why vulvar but not extragenital lichen sclerosus is associated with squamous cell carcinoma, we performed a histologic study of extragenital lichen sclerosus, vulvar lichen sclerosus without carcinoma, and vulvar lichen sclerosus with carcinoma adjacent to and distant from the carcinoma. We compared epidermal thickness, rete ridge length, mitotic activity, atypia, dermal collagen change, dermal inflammation, and presence of other dermatoses in 30 women in each group. Extragenital lichen sclerosus showed thinner epidermis (mean thickness of 0.13 mm versus 0.41 mm; P < 0.0005), shorter rete ridges (P = 0.0001), more dermal edema (P = 0.16), and absence of associated dermatoses of spongiotic dermatitis and lichen planus (P < 0.005) compared with vulvar lichen sclerosus. The epidermal thickening seen in vulvar lichen sclerosus was indistinguishable from lichen simplex chronicus. Vulvar lichen sclerosus without carcinoma was generally similar to that distant from carcinoma. Vulvar lichen sclerosus adjacent to carcinoma showed increased epidermal thickness (0.61 mm versus 0.26 mm; P < 0.005), more dermal fibrosis (P < 0.0005), more inflammation (P < 0.0005), and more simplex (differentiated) vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (18 cases versus 1 case; P < 0.0005) compared with that distant from carcinoma. We concluded that (1) the classic histologic features of lichen sclerosus are seen in both vulvar and extragenital sites; (2) vulvar lichen sclerosus without associated carcinoma has a mean epidermal thickness more than three times that of extragenital lichen sclerosus; (3) the epidermal thickening is histologically indistinguishable from lichen simplex chronicus; (4) there is a tendency for vulvar lichen sclerosus to have a more sclerotic and inflamed dermis; (5) lichen sclerosus 10 mm from cancer is more similar to vulvar lichen sclerosus without carcinoma than lichen sclerosus 1 mm from carcinoma; and (6) lichen sclerosus adjacent to carcinoma tends to show exaggerated epidermis thickness, basal atypia, and loss of the edematous-hyaline layer.

Adolescent↗

Classification of ovarian endometriotic cysts.

Current literature describes 3 different pathogenetic types of ovarian endometriotic cysts. Cortical invagination cysts arise when surface ovarian endometriotic deposits adhere to another structure (such as the broad ligament), blocking the egress of menstrual fluid produced by cycling endometriosis, which then collects and causes the ovarian cortex to invaginate. Surface inclusion cyst-related endometriotic cysts develop when endometriotic tissue colonizes preexisting inclusion cysts. Physiological cyst-related endometriotic cysts occur when endometriosis gains access to a follicle, such as at the time of ovulation. To determine whether routine histological examination is of use in the classification of endometriotic cysts, and if so, whether such classification is of clinical relevance, we reviewed the histology of endometriotic cysts of 29 women under 35 years of age. Young women were chosen so that ovarian cortex surrounding the endometriotic lining in invagination cysts could be identified by the finding of oocytes. Ten women (34%) had cortical invagination endometriotic cysts, but no inclusion or physiological cyst-related endometriomas were found. The remaining 19 women (66%) had unclassified endometriotic cysts, of which 14 (48% of total) had a fibrous wall between the endometriotic lining and medulla and 5 had extensive destruction of ovarian tissue. We concluded that cortical invagination cysts were the only common diagnosable sort of the 3 types currently being investigated and that unclassified cysts required further study to determine their pathogenesis. Our study highlights the need for a prospective study using standardized pathological and clinical methods.

Adult↗

The accuracy and interobserver reproducibility of endometrial dating.

Although controversial, diagnosis of luteal phase defect (LPD) includes the morphological assessment of endometrial development. This study was conducted to determine if refresher training in the histological criteria could improve the accuracy and interobserver reproducibility of endometrial dating. Seventy-eight endometrial biopsies were dated by a reference panel of two pathologists and then reviewed twice by a study panel of four pathologists. In the first review, usual practice was applied. Prior to the second review, they studied a standard document of histological criteria. Samples were dated as proliferative, secretory (post-ovulatory day, POD), menstrual, and undatable. Accuracy levels based on the reference dating and agreement levels using kappa values were calculated per review and compared. The kappa for overall dating was 0.683 in the first review and 0.696 in the second. The respective first and second review kappa values were 0.736 and 0.771 for proliferative, and 0.794 and 0.764 for secretory. Amongst those dated as secretory in the first and second reviews, respectively, 31 and 28% were assigned the same POD by any two panellists, 68 and 63% were dated to within 1 day, and 77 and 71% were dated to within 2 days. Accuracy levels per panellist for overall dating were very high in both reviews but were low for individual PODs. Accuracy and interobserver reproducibility were unaffected by refresher training, suggesting the limits of histological dating have been reached.

Biopsy↗

Small atypical leiomyomas: report of two cases.

We describe two small atypical leiomyomas. The first was a 6-mm de novo lesion in a 53-year-old woman. The second was a 3-mm focus in a 12-mm leiomyoma in a 45-year-old woman. Both lesions showed moderate atypia and a mitotic rate of six per 10 high-power fields. Coagulative necrosis was not seen. Neither patient had received exogenous oestrogen or progestogen. There was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis in either patient after 60 months of follow-up. Our report provides evidence that atypical uterine leiomyomas may arise either de novo or within a leiomyoma.

Disease-Free Survival↗

A prospective evaluation of the pathogenesis of detrusor instability in women, using electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the types of detrusor smooth muscle junctions in the bladders of women with detrusor instability and in a control group without, and to assess whether there are differences in the cell junctions between these groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 13 women with detrusor instability (median age 57 years, range 32-86) and 11 control women (median age 50 years, range 33-62). Bladder biopsies were taken from each participant, processed for electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry (using a labelled antibody to vinculin) and analysed by investigators who were unaware of the patients' diagnoses. RESULTS: Adherens (intermediate) junctions in classic and rudimentary forms were present in all biopsies from patients and controls. Adherens junctions and dense plaques occupied almost the complete cell border in most samples. Complete immunohistochemistry was possible in seven patients and five controls. In almost every detrusor smooth muscle cell studied, there was staining of the entire cell border with labelled antibody to vinculin in all biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence against an ultrastructural basis for idiopathic detrusor instability based on possible differences in detrusor smooth muscle intercellular junctions. Virtually the entire cell membrane of detrusor smooth muscle fibres is occupied by adherens junctions in classic and rudimentary forms, and with dense plaques present in samples from women with an unstable bladder and from controls. There was no junction detected in those with instability that was not present in the control group. The adherens junctions in the bladder facilitate mechanical coupling between cells.

Adult↗

Malignant mesothelioma eight years after a diagnosis of atypical mesothelial hyperplasia.

The separation of mesothelial hyperplasia from early malignant mesothelioma remains one of the most difficult problems in histopathology. Inconclusive cases are termed "atypical mesothelial hyperplasia" and treated expectantly. A 49 year old male pipeline engineer was diagnosed as having atypical mesothelial hyperplasia in appendiceal serosa by the US-Canadian Mesothelioma Panel. Eight years later, he developed overtly malignant peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma. In hindsight, histological similarities between the diffuse malignant mesothelioma and the atypical mesothelial proliferation suggested malignancy from the outset. The most important of these features were the degree of mesothelial proliferation, micronodularity, architectural complexity, superficial invasion, uniform mild cytological atypia, and the absence of a clinical cause for a benign mesothelial proliferation. Ancillary investigations including immunohistochemistry were of no benefit in determining whether the atypical mesothelial hyperplasia was benign or malignant. Careful histological examination remains the mainstay of the diagnosis of early mesothelioma.

Appendiceal Neoplasms↗

Bladder microvasculature in women with interstitial cystitis.

PURPOSE: A cardinal cystoscopic finding in women with interstitial cystitis is mucosal small vessel hemorrhage or glomerulations after hydrodistention. We quantified and compared microvascular density and endothelial proliferation in the bladder biopsies of women with interstitial cystitis and a control group of women who were undergoing incontinence or prolapse surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed computer assisted image analysis and immunohistochemical studies to compare differences in the blood vessel count, and proportional area in the bladder suburothelium and deeper submucosa of bladder biopsies of 52 women, including 26 with interstitial cystitis. Routine light microscopy features were examined and correlated with microvascular density. RESULTS: In the bladder biopsies of women with interstitial cystitis there was a lower blood vessel count (p = 0.01), and a lower proportion of the total image consisted of blood vessel wall (p = 0.03) in the suburothelium than in control biopsies. We noted no difference in the blood vessel count of the deeper submucosa or in the degree of endothelial cell proliferation. Suburothelial blood vessel differences correlated with the degree of histological change, such as edema, inflammatory infiltrate and vascular congestion. CONCLUSIONS: We found decreased microvascular density in the suburothelium but not in the deeper submucosa in bladder biopsies of women with interstitial cystitis.

Cystitis, Interstitial↗

Primary malignant mixed Müllerian tumor of the vagina.

A 74-year-old woman presented with postmenopausal bleeding. Examination showed a 5.5-cm ulcerated, partly necrotic vaginal polyp arising anteriorly near the hymenal ring. Histology showed a malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT) with squamous and glandular epithelial and undifferentiated spindle cell stromal components, cytological atypia, and frequent mitoses. The tumor was closely associated with overlying vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, grade III, from which it appeared to be arising. The patient was treated by surgical excision, followed by radiotherapy. Six months later, she developed a left supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. MMMT is a rare primary vaginal neoplasm, but, including this case, there have been at least 7 cases reported in the English language literature.

Aged↗

Ki67 expression in lichen sclerosus of vulva in patients with and without associated squamous cell carcinoma.

AIMS: To investigate the malignant potential of lichen sclerosus, a study using the cell proliferation marker Ki67 comparing lichen sclerosus with and without associated squamous cell carcinoma was performed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded slides of 13 cases of lichen sclerosus with associated carcinoma, and 31 cases without associated carcinoma, including 16 random cases, seven with epidermal thickening and eight with epidermal thinning, were examined by the immunoperoxidase technique for Ki67, a cell proliferation marker. Ki67 reactivity was mostly seen in the basal and parabasal cells in both groups of lichen sclerosus and this pattern was similar to normal skin, squamous cell hyperplasia and analogous to that of one form of squamous cell carcinoma. There was a mean of 50 Ki67 positive cells per 100 basal cells in lichen sclerosus with associated squamous cell carcinoma; however, in squamous cell hyperplasia adjacent to carcinoma this rose to 90 Ki67 positive cells per 100 basal cells. In lichen sclerosus without associated carcinoma, the random cases had a count of 53 per 100 basal cells, those with epidermal thickening 53 and those with thinning 42. Non-genital normal skin had a count of 71 per 100 basal cells. CONCLUSION: The lack of qualitative differences of Ki67 expression in normal skin, in lichen sclerosus with and without carcinoma, in squamous cell hyperplasia and in one form of squamous cell carcinoma indicates that these conditions share a common localized pattern of cell proliferation and does not support or deny the malignant potential of lichen sclerosus. The higher Ki67 count in squamous cell hyperplasia adjacent to carcinoma could indicate premalignancy or a reaction to the carcinoma. In patients without carcinoma, the higher Ki67 count in thickened lichen sclerosus compared to thinned suggests that some or all of the cases of thickened lichen sclerosus were lichen sclerosus with squamous cell hyperplasia or that lichen simplex chronicus superimposed on lichen sclerosus has a higher Ki67 expression or that the distinction between squamous cell hyperplasia and lichen simplex chronicus is only one of terminology.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗

The use of large loop excision of the transformation zone in management problems of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

We studied 2 groups of women whose management is controversial: those with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or 3 on smear, but only CIN grade 1 or no abnormality on target biopsy (Group 1), and those with persistent CIN grade 1 on smear and up to CIN 1 on biopsy (Group 2). We set out to assess whether large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) was an acceptable method of treating these 2 groups of women. A review of 100 consecutive patients was undertaken. There were 71 women in Group 1 and 29 women in Group 2. The LLETZ procedures were performed under local analgesia and no immediate problems were encountered. Delayed haemorrhage requiring vaginal packing and admission to hospital occurred in 1 patient. In Group 1, histopathology of the LLETZ biopsies showed CIN 2 or 3 in 29 (40.8%) of the women, CIN 1 in 24 (33.8%) and no CIN in 18 (25.3%), and in Group 2, CIN 2 or 3 was seen in 5 (17.2%) of the women, CIN 1 in 11 (37.9%) and no CIN in 13 (44.8%). At 12 months completed follow-up, 4 patients in Group 1 had recurrent CIN 1 or equivocal CIN 1 and 1 patient from Group 2 had recurrent CIN 1, giving an overall recurrence rate of 5 of the 94 patients who completed follow-up (5%). We concluded that LLETZ was a useful procedure in both groups. In Group 1 the provision of a histological diagnosis on the LLETZ biopsy was a check on the accuracy of the cervical smear report. In Group 2, LLETZ offered the advantage of rapidly returning the smear to normal in most patients, and the diagnosis and treatment of those women who actually had a high-grade lesion.

Adolescent↗

Cervical sarcoma botryoides and ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor.

The case of a woman who developed a cervical sarcoma botryoides tumor at age 14 years and a right ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with alpha-fetoprotein production at 27 years is presented. The sarcoma botryoides was a stage 1b, 4-cm, polypoid ectocervical tumor treated by radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. The Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor was a stage 1a, 145-g mass removed piecemeal by right oophorectomy. Histologically, it was an intermediate Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with a heterologous element composed of an endometrioid-like yolk sac tumor which was producing alpha-fetoprotein. There was no histological similarity between the two tumors. The patient is alive without evidence of disease, 16 years after diagnosis of her sarcoma botryoides and 3 years after her Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor. This is, to our knowledge, the third known association between these two rare gynecological tumors. The basis of the association remains unknown.

Adolescent↗

Identification of a cell surface protein with a role in stimulating human keratinocyte proliferation, expressed during development and carcinogenesis.

In an attempt to define cell surface molecules with an important role in the development of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), we generated monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to a human keratinocyte cell line (FEP18-11-T1) capable of giving rise to SCCs in nude mice. MoAb 10G7 was selected for further study because it bound to a cell surface component preferentially expressed by this cell line as compared with normal human foreskin keratinocytes. This MoAb recognizes a cell surface protein (10G7 antigen) that is not detectable on normal keratinocytes in the foreskin in vivo, but whose expression is induced when the keratinocytes are dissociated from this tissue and placed in culture. Interestingly, the 10G7 antigen is downregulated upon keratinocyte differentiation in vitro. Consistent with its expression in hyper-proliferative epithelia in vitro, 10G7 antigen exhibited a classic oncofetal pattern of expression in vivo. Thus, although no reactivity was obtained with MoAb 10G7 in the epithelia of normal foreskin or cervical tissue, strong reactivity was detected in epithelia from genital lesions ranging from benign warts to invasive SCCs. Epidermis from developing fetal tissue also exhibited strong reactivity with MoAb 10G7. We have been able to demonstrate that this MoAb is capable of stimulating FEP18-11-T1 keratinocyte proliferation in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner in the absence of growth factors, suggesting that the 10G7 antigen may play an important role in regulating cellular proliferation during development and in carcinogenesis in epithelial tissues.

Animals↗