Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Foucar

Publications and source records attributed to K Foucar.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Atypical cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorder resembling mycosis fungoides in AIDS. Report of a case with concurrent Kaposi's sarcoma.

A variety of neoplastic disorders have been described in patients with AIDS. Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common neoplasm and is recognized as one of the diagnostic criteria for AIDS. Unusual mucocutaneous carcinomas have also been reported in these patients, as have a variety of lymphoid neoplasms, including Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). The NHLs that occur in AIDS patients are usually of B-cell or non-B, non-T-cell phenotype. In contrast, T-cell lymphomas have only rarely been reported in this patient population. We present the clinical, morphologic, and immunologic features of an atypical, cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorder resembling mycosis fungoides that developed in a 28-year-old homosexual man with AIDS and disseminated mucocutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Flow cytometric analysis of lymphoma and lymphoma-like disorders.

The use of flow cytometry (FC) represents the most recent advance in the phenotypic analysis of lymphocyte subsets, and has emerged as a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). In a review of over 200 cases of nodal and extranodal suspected lymphomas studied in the Immunophenotyping Laboratory at the University of New Mexico, the diagnostic utility of FC was assessed. Among cases of NHL, FC was able to confirm a morphologic diagnosis of lymphoma and determine B or T cell lineage in greater than 85% of the samples submitted. Difficulty in lineage determination in the remaining cases of morphologic NHL was multifactorial. Among cases of reactive lymph nodes and Hodgkin's disease, FC showed no characteristic patterns, although several cases exhibited phenotypic profiles suggestive of B or T cell clonality. When combined with routine morphologic review and accompanied by other specialized diagnostic techniques when necessary, the use of FC represents a precise and reproducible method for rapidly and easily studying lymphoproliferative disorders in solid tissue.

Flow Cytometry↗

Hematogones: a multiparameter analysis of bone marrow precursor cells.

Morphologically distinct lymphoid cells with homogeneous, condensed chromatin and scant cytoplasm can be observed in large numbers in the bone marrow of children with a variety of hematologic and nonhematologic disorders. In some patients, these cells may account for greater than 50% of the bone marrow cells, creating a picture that can be confused with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or metastatic tumor. Although originally called hematogones (HGs), a variety of other names have been proposed for these unique cells. The clinical significance of expanded HGs has not been resolved, and the biologic features of these cells are incompletely described. In this study, we correlate the clinical, morphologic, cytochemical, flow cytometric, molecular, and cytogenetic properties of bone marrow samples from 12 children with substantial numbers of HGs (range 8% to 55% of bone marrow cells). Diagnoses in these patients included anemia, four; neutropenia, one; anemia and neutropenia, one; idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, two; retinoblastoma, two; Ewing's sarcoma, one; and germ cell tumor, one. Flow cytometric analyses of bone marrow cells demonstrated a spectrum extending from early B-cell precursors (CD10+, CD19+, TdT+, HLA-Dr+) to mature surface immunoglobulin-bearing B cells in these patients, corroborating our morphologic impression of HGs, intermediate forms, and mature lymphocytes. DNA content was normal, and no clonal abnormality was identified by either cytogenetic or immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement studies. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 3 years. None of the patients has developed acute leukemia or bone marrow involvement by solid tumor. The possible role of HGs in immune recovery and hematopoiesis is presented.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Organization and operation of a flow cytometric immunophenotyping laboratory.

Technical advances in the field of flow cytometry have made it feasible for many academic and private hospital laboratories to purchase relatively inexpensive "user friendly" flow cytometers that do not require dedicated flow cytometer operators, special rooms, or a significant amount of laboratory space. Because the financial and physical constraints in operating a flow cytometer have been substantially reduced, many pathologists may now be considering such a purchase. By chronicling the clinical activities of a single flow cytometric immunophenotyping laboratory, this report will answer a variety of questions that may be asked by pathologists regarding both the utility of flow cytometers in clinical diagnosis and the mechanics of operating an immunophenotyping laboratory. The types of tissues that can be evaluated by flow cytometry will be detailed, and we will summarize the number and type of flow cytometric clinical studies performed in our laboratory since its development in 1983. Practical aspects of laboratory operation including technical staff requirements, specimen handling and processing procedures, monoclonal antibody selection, and quality control procedures will be presented. In addition, a comprehensive review of flow cytometric immunophenotyping studies as applied to the diagnosis of leukemias, lymphomas, and immunodeficiency disorders will be presented along with case examples that illustrate our approach to the interpretation of immunophenotyping results.

Adult↗

Bone marrow examination in the diagnosis of acute and chronic leukemias.

This article presents a brief review of the morphologic and cytochemical features of acute and chronic leukemias, followed by a discussion about new techniques that can be applied to the diagnosis of leukemias. The four techniques described include immunophenotyping, DNA content and cell cycle analysis, cytogenetics, and molecular studies. The utility of these specialized techniques in establishing a diagnosis of leukemia and in predicting prognosis is presented.

Antigens, Surface↗

Nonleukemic granulocytic sarcoma of the heart: a report of a fatal case.

We report the clinical and pathological features of a cardiac fatality caused by granulocytic sarcoma in a young adult man with no evidence of leukemia involving bone marrow or peripheral blood. At autopsy, walls of the four cardiac chambers were massively infiltrated by tumor, resulting in a cardiac weight of almost three times normal. Routine cytochemical stains plus immunoperoxidase staining for OKM1 confirmed the diagnosis. Although subclinical cardiac infiltrates are commonly detected at autopsy in patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), massive cardiac granulocytic sarcoma in the absence of bone marrow disease has not been previously described. Cytochemical and immunological methods of diagnosing granulocytic sarcoma in fixed tissues are reviewed.

Adult↗

Acute myelocytic leukemia manifested by prominent generalized lymphadenopathy: report of two cases with immunological, ultrastructural, and cytochemical studies.

Although it is well recognized that granulocytic sarcoma can cause localized lymphadenopathy, widespread nodal involvement by acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), clinically mimicking non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, has only been previously described twice. We report the clinicopathological, immunological, and cytochemical features of two patients who had widespread, prominent lymphadenopathy secondary to AML as well as concurrent marrow leukemia (M1 and M2). For one patient the lymphadenopathy was the predominant abnormality prompting him to seek medical attention, while the second patient had symptoms of infection following a 9-month history of myelodysplasia. The disease in both patients was aggressive; one patient survived only 1 week and the other survived only 5 weeks after diagnosis. In both cases the granulocytic sarcoma was confirmed by cytochemistry studies (naphthol ASD-chloroacetate esterase on tissue sections and myeloperoxidase on imprint smears), and electron microscopy, including morphology (both cases) or ultrastructural localization of myeloperoxidase (case 2). Non-specific esterase activity was not detected in either patient's blasts, although serum lysozyme was elevated in both cases. Immunological studies revealed reactivity of both patients' cells with panleukocyte, MY4, MY7, OKM-1, and Leu-M1 monoclonal antibodies and with alpha-1-antitrypsin and muramidase antibodies. The cells of one of these patients also reacted with anti-S-100 protein. Although the cytochemical studies indicated that both cases exhibited only myeloid differentiation, the immunological markers suggested that the tumor cells possessed some features of monocytes, perhaps explaining their propensity for widespread tumor formation. Morphological, immunological, cytochemical, and ultrastructural methods of diagnosing granulocytic sarcoma are presented.

Aged↗

Millipore filter vs cytocentrifuge for detection of childhood central nervous system leukemia.

To evaluate the relative merits and deficiencies of Millipore filter and cytocentrifuge preparations in the detection of central nervous system (CNS) acute leukemia in pediatric patients, 300 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 17 patients were prepared by both methods. The 17 patients studied were all diagnosed and treated for CNS leukemia. Leukemic blast cells were found by at least one method in 91 CSF specimens, and the results of both techniques were positive in 77 (85%) of 91 specimens. Of the 14 specimens in which the results of only one method were positive, seven yielded positive results only by the cytocentrifuge method, and seven yielded positive results only by the Millipore filter method. In 12 of the 14 discrepant specimens, the paired specimen whose results were not interpreted as positive was technically unsatisfactory (nine specimens) or had cells suspicious for blast cells rather than unequivocal blast cells (three specimens). Blast cells were identified in specimens with low nucleated cell counts (less than or equal to 5/mm3) by both methods and usually were immediately preceded or followed by CSF specimens showing florid disease. We conclude that performance of both methods is unnecessary for routine surveillance if processing techniques yield quality preparations. Cytocentrifuge preparations stained by Wright's method allow better morphologic correlation with bone marrow blast cells and allow easier identification of blood or bone marrow contamination.

Adolescent↗

Myelodysplastic syndromes. A clinical and pathologic analysis of 109 cases.

A total of 109 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) was analyzed to determine the clinical and pathologic features of the five recently defined French-American-British Cooperative Group (FAB) subtypes, and to assess the utility of this classification system in predicting survival, evolution to acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), and cause of death. All patients with MDS presented with anemia; additional cytopenias were present in patients with refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation to ANLL (RAEB/Tr). Thirty-two patients received some form of antileukemic therapy for MDS. ANLL developed in 16 of the 77 remaining untreated patients, including 18% (2/11), 0% (0/21), 22% (5/23), 33% (2/6), and 44% (7/16) of patients with refractory anemia (RA), refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS), RAEB, CMML, and RAEB/Tr, respectively (P = 0.02). The FAB subtype was highly predictive of survival with median survivals ranging from 71 months for RARS to 5 months for RAEB/Tr (P = less than 0.0001). Patients with RAEB, CMML, and RAEB/Tr frequently died of direct consequences of MDS, while patients with RA and especially RARS generally survived or died from unrelated disorders (P = less than 0.0001). MDS encompass a spectrum of disorders. RA and RARS, are relatively indolent and often do not lead to the patient's demise. RAEB, CMML, and RAEB/Tr are aggressive disorders which are often responsible for the patient's death whether or not actual progression to overt leukemia occurs. FAB subtype predicts survival, evolution to ANLL, and cause of death, although the five morphologic subtypes appear to separate into only two disease groups, especially with regard to survival and cause of death.

Aged↗

Adult Niemann-Pick disease masquerading as sea blue histiocyte syndrome: report of a case confirmed by lipid analysis and enzyme assays.

We present the clinical, pathologic, and metabolic findings of an adult woman with debilitating coronary artery disease and hepatosplenomegaly who was discovered to have multiorgan infiltration by sea blue histiocytes. A diagnosis of sea blue histiocyte (SBH) syndrome was made and no further workup performed. The patient suffered from progressive heart failure and sepsis following coronary artery bypass surgery and died 9 months after presentation. Tissues examined at autopsy showed pronounced infiltrates of both granular sea blue histiocytes and foamy, vacuolated histiocytes, which were morphologically compatible with Niemann-Pick cells. Ultrastructural examination of these cells revealed lamellar myelin-like figures as described in Niemann-Pick (N-P) disease. Fibroblast enzyme assay studies and liver lipid analyses performed after the patient's death revealed pronounced sphingomyelinase deficiency and a lipid profile diagnostic of N-P disease, type B. This case adds further support to the claim that some cases of apparent SBH syndrome actually represent a type of N-P disease.

Biopsy↗

Nonendemic adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in the United States: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a recently described distinct clinicopathologic entity characterized by a leukemic or lymphomatous proliferation of hyperlobulated peripheral T-cells, which is usually widespread at presentation and is associated with infection by a type C retrovirus. ATLL rarely is described outside of endemic regions, which include southwestern Japan, the Caribbean region, and the southeastern United States. The authors report the clinical, pathologic, and immunologic features of two cases of nonendemic ATLL that occurred in patients from the midwest United States. One patient was a 16-year-old white girl from rural Iowa, and the other was a 46-year-old white man from rural Minnesota. The features of 13 other probable nonendemic ATLL cases from the United States were compiled and reviewed. In the United States, nonendemic ATLL occurred in widespread geographic locations, affected mostly white people, and was characterized by an aggressive course with generalized adenopathy, blood and bone marrow involvement, and hepatosplenomegaly at presentation. Skin involvement was present in one-fourth of the patients. Hypercalcemia was rare. Although antibodies to type C retrovirus were detected in three of the five patients tested, the available data is not sufficient to establish a conclusive association between nonendemic ATLL and type C retrovirus infection.

Adolescent↗

Epitheliotropic lymphoma of the small bowel. Report of a fatal case with cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell immunotype.

The authors report the clinical, pathologic, and immunologic features of a case of jejunal cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell lymphoma associated with intractable malabsorption. Histologically, the tumor exhibited striking involvement of small bowel surface and glandular epithelium, and of epithelium in sites of disease dissemination. This epitheliotropism consisted of both cell clusters resembling Pautrier 's microabscesses and single cells within epithelium. Grossly, the jejunal mucosal fold pattern was completely obliterated by lymphoma which formed miliary nodules and multiple distinct tumor masses. Despite aggressive chemotherapy the patient developed widespread disease, and died 11 months after presentation. At autopsy, in addition to disseminated lymphoma, there was a notable activation of hematopoiesis evidenced by extensive extramedullary hematopoiesis and bone marrow hypercellularity. Many lymph nodes spared by the lymphoma showed a polyclonal proliferation of plasma cells and immunoblasts. In view of recent immunologic evidence that normal cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells selectively home to the gut surface epithelium, striking tumor cell epitheliotropism may be a morphologic marker for visceral lymphomas of cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell origin. This unique case broadens the clinical and morphologic spectrum of T-cell disorders.

Epithelium↗

Large cell lymphoma complicating acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a very rare complication of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We present the pathologic, clinical, immunologic, and ultrastructural features of the third reported example of NHL following successfully treated ALL. This white girl developed ALL with predominantly L1 cells at 3.5 yr of age. The lymphoblasts were terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) positive and were non-B, non-T cells. She achieved a complete remission with standard induction therapy and has remained in continuous complete remission. Four and one-third years after the onset of ALL, she developed multifocal, pleomorphic large cell lymphoma of the small bowel, which resulted in episodes of intussusception and obstruction. These pleomorphic and frequently multinucleated lymphoma cells lacked TdT, common ALL antigen, and all tested markers of B cell, T cell, and histiocyte differentiation. Following three small bowel resections, systemic multiagent chemotherapy, and abdominal irradiation, she is currently free of disease.

Bone Marrow↗

Malignant lymphoma, diffuse mixed small and large cell. A clinicopathologic study of 47 cases.

The clinical and pathologic features of 47 cases of malignant lymphoma, diffuse mixed small and large cell (diffuse mixed lymphoma) are described. Diffuse mixed lymphomas contained approximately equal numbers of small and large cells (30-70%) and comprised 6% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. They occurred in middle-aged and elderly patients (median age = 63 years), showed a female predominance, and were clinically advanced at presentation. The majority of patients exhibited prominent extranodal disease, which frequently involved multiple unrelated sites and usually occurred in conjunction with nodal disease. A notable morphologic spectrum of lymphoma was seen within this series, including 20 cases of mixed small cleaved and large cell (with cleaved and noncleaved nuclei), eight cases of mixed small lymphocytic and large cell (transformed prolymphocytes and blast-like cells), and 12 cases of mixed small cell and large cell, "immunoblastic" lymphoma (with plasmacytoid, clear cell or hyperconvoluted features). There was no significant difference in response to treatment and survival between those cases with less than 50% large cells and those with greater than 50% large cells. The poorest treatment response appeared to be in patients with mixed small cell and large cell, "immunoblastic" lymphomas. Patients with diffuse mixed lymphoma appeared to show a favorable response to cyclphosphamide, Adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) and an unfavorable response to other treatment modalities.

Aged↗

Anaplastic myeloma with massive extramedullary involvement. Report of two cases.

Two patients developed anaplastic myeloma associated with prominent extramedullary disease one and four years after the initial diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Most tumor cells in the extramedullary sites were primitive-appearing and anaplastic, although plasmacytoid differentiation was evident. One patient had concurrent bone marrow involvement by cytologically similar cells, while the other patient was in bone marrow remission when he developed clinically evident soft tissue infiltration. Immunoperoxidase staining showed similar cytoplasmic immunoglobulin in both the mature-appearing and anaplastic cells in both patients. Electron microscopy in both cases showed a morphologic spectrum between the mature-appearing and anaplastic cells. DNA flow cytometric studies following the onset of extramedullary disease revealed a tumor cell population with a high degree hyperdiploid abnormality and unusually high proliferative activity in both cases, consistent with the morphologic anaplasia. Anaplastic myeloma appears to represent a distinct, aggressive variant of multiple myeloma which may result from a transformation of well differentiated myeloma cells to poorly differentiated immunoblast-like cells.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗