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Liron Pantanowitz

Publications and source records attributed to Liron Pantanowitz.

83 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

The impact of babesiosis on transfusion medicine.

Babesiosis is an emerging zoonotic disease that has begun to have a noticeable impact on transfusion medicine. This is reflected in the growing medical literature on the topic. There has been no review to summarize the various ways in which babesiosis influences transfusion medicine. Babesiosis is the most frequently reported tick-borne pathogen to be transmitted by blood transmission. Until recently, it has been an underrecognized complication of blood transfusion. However, the increased use of blood products for an ever-increasing elderly and immunodeficient patient population has heightened awareness about this disease. Fortunately, the risk of acquiring a symptomatic infection through a blood transfusion is surprisingly low. Nevertheless, babesiosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of a febrile hemolytic illness in recipients of blood transfusions. Infected individuals who become chronic carriers and donate blood during asymptomatic periods pose the greatest risk to the blood supply. The exact risk that this parasite poses to our blood supply remains to be accurately assessed. Reported cases of transmission, to date, have involved only the transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) and, more rarely, platelets. Transmission of these piroplasms through plasma alone has not been documented. Much of our understanding about this organism evoked host responses and its requirements for in vitro survival has come from studies on non-human vertebrates. These studies have shown that antigenic variation may play a significant role in the development of prolonged parasitemia, that complement-induced changes to erythrocytes are pivotal in facilitating protozoan entry into host RBCs, and that autoimmunity contributes to disease. Severe infections may require lifesaving exchange transfusions and even plasmapheresis. Controlled studies to clearly define specific indications, benefits, and objectives of this therapy are still needed. Despite the development of novel and improved diagnostic tests, these tests are not readily available for the mass screening of blood donors. Improved strategies to assess and prevent transfusion-associated babesiosis are required. Current measures cannot be relied on to identify infected donors with a high degree of sensitivity or to protect susceptible recipients from this parasite.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Fibroadenoma of the eyelid.

Extramammary fibroadenomas have been previously reported to mainly occur in the anogenital region, arising from mammary-like glands. The present report describes a 45-year-old woman who presented with a fibroadenoma of her eyelid that was associated with a cystadenoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a fibroadenoma of the eyelid. The differential diagnosis and histogenesis of this lesion are discussed, and the literature pertaining to cutaneous fibroadenomas arising outside the breast is reviewed.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pathology of the breast associated with HIV/AIDS.

Breast pathology that is characteristic of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has not been addressed in the literature. HIV may directly and indirectly affect the glandular, mesenchymal, and intramammary lymphoid tissue in seropositive patients. Likely infections in this setting include tuberculous mastitis and pyogenic abscesses that may lead to fatal septicemia. Benign stromal changes include gynecomastia, adipose tissue deposition as part of the fat maldistribution syndrome, and pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia. Breast carcinoma in HIV-infected patients occurs at a relatively early age, with increased bilateral disease, unusual histology, and early metastatic spread with a poor outcome. However, the link between breast cancer and HIV remains controversial. Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may also be localized to the breast in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This article reviews benign and malignant breast diseases that are likely to be encountered in patients with HIV/AIDS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnostic cytologic features of an epididymal melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy present in scrotal fluid: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The cytologic features of melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) have been described in rare cases only, and these reports have been based solely on direct smears obtained from aspirated tumor material or from touch preparations of resected tumors. CASE: We report, to our knowledge, the first documented case of an epididymal MNTI diagnosed from aspirated hydrocele fluid processed using the ThinPrep system (Cytyc Corp., Boxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.). CONCLUSION: Based on a 15 year retrospective review of scrotal fluids submitted for cytologic evaluation to our laboratory, MNTI represented the sole neoplasm that was represented in the fluid and could be specifically diagnosed. Compared to the direct smear evaluation in our case and other published reports, the ThinPrep method enables the recognition of both neuroblast-like cells and larger melanin-containing epithelial cells in scrotal fluid, thereby aiding in the specific diagnosis of MNTI and minimizing the risk of misdiagnosing this tumor as a more aggressive neoplasm.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytomorphology of verrucous carcinoma of the cervix. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Verrucous carcinoma of the uterine cervix is rare. Cytology is thought not to be helpful in the diagnosis of this lesion due to its bland morphology. The cytologic features of this lesion remain poorly defined. CASE: The cytologic findings in a Pap smear facilitated the diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma of the cervix. The features included atypical polygonal and spindle cells with abundant, keratinizing cytoplasm; atypical squamous cells with pearl formation; and frequent, nonkoilocytic cytoplasmic vacuolization. CONCLUSION: There are 30 published reports on verrucous carcinoma involving the cervix and vagina that include the cytologic findings. In 70% of these cases, cytology was abnormal. Recognition of the cytologic characteristics may help in identifying this lesion on cytology, prevent delays in diagnosis and ensure that patients receive appropriate therapy.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

AIDS-related malignancies: emerging challenges in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are at increased risk of developing cancer, particularly in the later stages of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Despite the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), malignancy in this population is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (ARL) are the most common AIDS-defining malignancies. AIDS-related KS varies from minimal to fulminant disease. Treatment decisions for AIDS-related KS are guided largely by the presence and extent of symptomatic disease. In addition to HAART, excellent treatments exist for both localized disease (topical gel, radiotherapy, and intralesional therapy) and advanced disease (liposomal anthracyclines, paclitaxel). Novel therapies that have become available to treat AIDS-related KS include angiogenesis inhibitors and antiviral agents. ARL comprises a heterogeneous group of malignancies. With the immune restoration afforded by HAART, standard-dose chemotherapies now can be safely administered to treat ARL with curative intent. The role of analogous treatments used in HIV-negative patients, including monoclonal antibodies and autologous stem cell transplantation, requires further clarification in HIV-positive patients. HIV-infected patients also appear to be at increased risk for developing certain non-AIDS-defining cancers, such as Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Although the optimal treatment of these neoplasms is at present uncertain, recent advances in chemotherapy, antiretroviral drugs, and supportive care protocols are allowing for more aggressive management of many of the AIDS-related cancers. This article provides an up-to-date review of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of various AIDS-related malignancies that are likely to be encountered by an oncologist practicing in the current HAART era.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗