Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Maldague.
Current classifications of breast cancer are based on either morphologic descriptive or histogenetic criteria. The positive features and shortcomings of the most commonly used systems are presented. Our knowledge of breast cancer leads validity to a histogenetic topographic classification, a modification of which is suggested.
The ratio of granulocyte-like cells to epithelial cells was examined in the fimbriae, ampullary, and isthmic regions of oviducts obtained from normal women of reproductive age, from postpartum women, from menopausal women, from women on combined oral contraceptives and from women with adnexal pathology. Only patients on oral contraceptives had a significantly high percentage of granulocyte-like cells as did one patient with acute salpingitis.
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The analysis of 600 subsequent endometrial biopsies from urban gynecologic outpatient clinics was carried out with special regard to nongranulomatous and nonspecific endometritis. The total incidence of inflammatory changes reached 10.8%; after excluding all postabortion and puerperal endometria 9.4% of the curettings showed endometritis. The relative occurrence of acute, subacute, and chronic disease was respectively 6.2, 30.8, and 63.0%. The etiologic factor remained obscure in 64.7% of all the cases. The influence of inflammatory changes on the hormonally induced modifications of the endometrium are discussed.
The analysis of 345 endometrial biopsies was carried out with special regard to the relation between pathologic findings and presenting symptoms or complaints. Only 52.4% of the biopsies showed microscopic features possibly related to the complaints. Endometrial polyps and chronic endometritis were diagnosed in 21.1 and 9.8%, respectively, of the entire study group. The currently accepted definitions of dysfunctional uterine bleeding raise the question whether endometrial polyps and atypical secretory changes may or may not be included in the syndrome.
In the fallopian tube there are three main epithelial cell types, i.e., ciliated and nonciliated (or secretory) cells and intercalary, or peg, cells. An additional cell type has been considered either a wandering or a progenitor cell. Our morphologic and histochemical study shows a close similarity between a fourth cell type in the fallopian epithelium and the endometrial granulocytes (K cells). It is suggested that the two cells might be of an identical nature and that granulocytes could be ubiquitous in the entire Müllerian tract.
In the search for specific staining of myoepithelial cells in human normal and pathologic mammary tissue we applied the milling dye Levanol (Supranol) Fast Cyanine 5RN. Reports from literature on this staining method were considered, and efforts were made to improve the procedure. Different fixatives were tested, and the pretreatment of the sections was modified. Five nuclear stains were tried but were finally omitted. Counterstain of the connective tissue proved useful. The advantages of the different modifications are discussed.
Ten new cases of so-called lipid-secreting carcinomas of the breast are presented. Histopathologic analysis suggests three different microscopical patterns which are all characterized by abundant intracytoplasmic neutral fat deposits. Review of the literature yielded only 15 well-documented cases. Diagnostic problems are emphasized, with special regard to the secretory differentiation of normal and neoplastic mammary cells.
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12 staining procedures for myoepithelial cells were compared on normal human breast tissue sections. From this study it appeared that general histological stains have a topographical value but lack real specificity. With other methods, which have been considered more specific, 2 types of pitfalls were encountered. Myoepithelial cells and other substances like basement membranes and reticulum fibers are both stained; in other instances perigalactophoric elastic fibers and myoepithelial fibrils have similar tinctorial properties. The fundaments of the lack of specificity of those histochemical procedures are analyzed.
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The most popular systems of histologic typing for cancer of the breast have been analyzed as far as details of construction and results of application. The constituents of all systems are debatable. Lack of uniformity and standardization is obvious, while meaningful comparisons in terms of results and prognostic evaluation are unfeasible. Although the attempts to classify histologic patterns are hampered by the observers' variability and by the existence of different patterns within the same tumor, efforts have to be made to further standardize the terms used for designating histologic types. Additional aid can be expected from histologic grading and morphologic host defense reaction evaluation to substantiate the prognostic evaluation of individual cancers of the breast.
A 2 1/2-year-old child died after an illness of three days duration, characterized by a sudden onset, vomiting, coma and a striking hyperammonemia. At autopsy, the liver was practically normal. This is a further example of Reye's syndrome with only minimal fatty infiltration of the liver. It appears that the classical massive and diffuse fatty degeneration of the liver is not an essential feature of the syndrome. The evidence for this is discussed.
The histochemical study of mucopolysaccharide components of the ground substance of the cylindroma lends force to their epithelial origine. The myoepithelial cell, which is ectodermal in origin, plays an essential role in their secretion. Silver impregnation of normal and dysplastic breast illustrates the secretory function of myoepithelial cells and their possible implication in the histogenesis of cylindroma.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.