Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ADENOMA”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Pathologic features of initial adenomas as predictors for metachronous adenomas of the rectum.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, arising mostly from pre-existing adenomatous polyps (adenomas) of the large bowel. Patients with colorectal adenomas are at increased risk of colorectal cancer because of a high recurrence rate for adenomas. We followed a cohort of 1490 patients with rectal adenomas to determine whether recurrence might be related to pathologic characteristics of the initial adenomas. METHODS: The patients were identified in Haining County, China, from 1977 through 1978 by means of examination with a 15-cm rigid sigmoidoscope. They were followed by endoscopic examination at years 2, 4, 6, 11, and 16 after their initial polypectomy. New adenomas in the rectum were identified in 280 patients in these follow-up examinations. RESULTS: Statistically significant twofold to threefold elevated risks of metachronous (recurrent) adenomas were observed for patients who had more than two initial adenomas or whose most advanced initial adenoma was more than 1.0 cm in size, was of villous/tubulovillous type, or showed moderate to severe dysplasia. Much stronger associations were observed for advanced metachronous neoplasms, which are defined as cancers or adenomas with severe dysplasia, with multivariate adjusted relative risks (95% confidence interval) of 4.2 (1.8-9.9) for a large initial adenoma (>1.0 cm), 8.1 (4.2-15.6) for villous/tubulovillous architecture, and 14.4 (5.0-41.3) for severe dysplasia. In particular, patients who had a large (>1.0 cm) adenoma with severe dysplasia at baseline had a relative risk of 37 (7.8-174.7) of developing advanced metachronous neoplasms compared with patients who had small adenoma(s) with mild dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of metachronous adenomas is closely related to the pathology of initial adenomas, thus allowing identification of a high-risk group of adenoma patients for close surveillance after their initial polypectomy.

Adenoma↗

Gastric adenomas: intestinal-type and gastric-type adenomas differ in the risk of adenocarcinoma and presence of background mucosal pathology.

Gastric adenomas are neoplastic growths characterized by localized, polypoid proliferations of dysplastic epithelium. They frequently arise in stomachs with a background of mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, and a higher risk of adenocarcinoma elsewhere in the stomach has been reported in patients with gastric adenomas. Additionally, some gastric adenomas themselves demonstrate neoplastic progression to infiltrating adenocarcinoma. However, previous studies have not comprehensively evaluated the background gastric mucosa and risk of adenocarcinoma, particularly in relation to the histologic classification of adenomas as either intestinal-type or gastric-type. We studied 61 gastric adenomas from 51 patients between 1985 and 2001. The adenomas were classified as intestinal-type (containing at least focal goblet cells and/or Paneth cells), gastric-type (lined entirely by gastric mucin cells on PAS/alcian blue stain), or indeterminate. We evaluated the histologic features of both the adenomas (location, multiplicity, degree of dysplasia, presence of adenocarcinoma within the polyp) and the surrounding gastric mucosa (presence of gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and adenocarcinoma). Gastric adenomas were distributed equally throughout the stomach, were most frequently solitary (82%), and contained adenocarcinoma in nine cases (14.8%). There were 34 intestinal-type adenomas (56%) in 31 patients, 25 gastric-type adenomas (41%) in 18 patients (including 10 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis), and 2 of indeterminate type (3%). Intestinal-type adenomas were significantly more likely than gastric-type adenomas to show high-grade dysplasia (p <0.0001), adenocarcinoma within the polyp (p = 0.016), intestinal metaplasia in the surrounding stomach (p <0.000001), and gastritis (p = 0.002). Patients with intestinal-type adenomas were also more likely to have separate adenocarcinomas (five cases vs 0 cases), although this did not reach statistical significance. Gastric adenomas are rarely truly "sporadic" lesions. In any individual patient complete removal of the adenoma should be performed, and thorough biopsy of the surrounding gastric mucosa is essential to understand the clinicopathologic context of the adenoma.

Adenoma↗

The presence of more than two index adenomas is the strongest predictor of metachronous colon adenomas.

QUESTION UNDER STUDY: To assess whether patient or adenoma characteristics at index colonoscopy could be predictors of metachronous adenomas and of advanced metachronous adenomas at first surveillance colonoscopy. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated polypectomies of 372 adenomas in 214 patients who underwent a first follow-up colonoscopy after a median of 17 months. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of baseline patient and adenoma characteristics with the development of any metachronous adenomas and of advanced adenomas (>1.0 cm, or villous component, or severe dysplasia, or early cancer). RESULTS: Eighty-one patients (38%) demonstrated 130 metachronous adenomas including 21 cases (10%) with advanced adenomas. The presence of more than 2 baseline adenomas was significantly associated with the finding of adenomas at follow-up (odds ratio 2.44, 95% confidence interval 1.27-4.68, p = 0.010). Patient age (>or= 60 versus <60) and size of largest adenoma (>1.0 cm versus <or= 1.0 cm) demonstrated borderline significance. However, neither gender, most advanced histology (tubulo-villous/villous versus tubular), nor most advanced dysplasia (severe/early cancer versus mild/moderate) at baseline colonoscopy were related with the development of metachronous adenomas. Furthermore, none of the analysed patient and polyp characteristics demonstrated an association with the development of advanced metachronous adenomas. CONCLUSION: Patients with over 2 adenomas at baseline colonoscopy are at highest risk for the finding of adenomas at follow-up.

Adenoma↗

Impact of adenoma size in distal colon on risk for advanced adenoma of the proximal colon.

Adenomas of the rectosigmoid colon are considered markers of risk for advanced adenomas of the proximal colon. However, studies report a wide variation in risk. This study was designed to determine the risk for advanced adenomas in the proximal colon in patients from a large, homogeneous population with an advanced or nonadvanced adenoma of the distal colon. We designed a prospective study of 7157 patients who were evaluated for neoplasia by flexible sigmoidoscopy and, when adenomas were found, by colonoscopy. Adenomas were considered advanced if they were > or =10 mm in size or had villous or dysplastic features. Ninety-seven patients had an advanced adenoma of the distal colon (Group A) and were compared with 183 patients who had a nonadvanced adenoma (Group B). Seven patients (7.2%) in Group A had an advanced adenoma of the proximal colon, compared with four patients (2.2%) in Group B (P < 0.05, relative risk = 3.3). When patients with adenomas of the distal colon >5 mm (Group C) were compared to patients with adenomas < or =5 mm (Group D), the prevalence of advanced adenomas of the proximal colon remained at 7% (10/143) for Group C but fell to 0.73% (1/137) for Group D (P = 0.011, relative risk = 9.6). By expanding the criteria for risk from adenomas of the distal colon to include all adenomas >5 mm, the relative risk for advanced adenoma of the proximal colon was increased threefold.

Adenoma↗

Ultrastructural characteristics of TSH-producing adenomas with special reference to its close similarity to BFA-treated pituitary adenoma cells.

Two of 420 patients with pituitary adenoma who underwent operation from 1989 to 1997 had thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) producing adenoma. We investigated these TSH cell adenomas with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural methods and compared their ultrastructural features with brefeldin A (BFA, 0.5 mg/ml) treated pituitary adenoma cells. BFA-treated pituitary adenomas include a prolactin (PRL) cell adenoma, a growth hormone (GH) cell adenoma, an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) cell adenoma, a gonadotroph adenoma, and a plurihormonal adenoma. Immunohistochemical staining disclosed that one of the TSH cell adenomas produced only TSH-beta and that another produces both TSH-beta and FSH-beta. Ultrastructural analysis showed the abundance of oval-shaped dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER). Within the dilated rER, the mistlike deposit or deposit along the inner margin of the rER membrane was observed. On the other hand, BFA-treated cultured pituitary adenoma cells showed the opening of the cavity of the rER cisterna and they enlarged to an oval form with time and revealed an accumulation of electron-dense deposits within the dilated rER. These ultrastructural similarities between TSH cell adenoma and BFA-treated pituitary adenoma cells indicate the functional disturbances in the secretory passage through the Golgi apparatus in TSH cell adenoma cells.

Adenoma↗

PLAG1 gene alterations in salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma and carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma: a combined study using chromosome banding, in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry.

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumor of the salivary glands. It has marked histological diversity with epithelial, myoepithelial and mesenchymal-type cells arranged in a variety of architectural and differentiation patterns. Pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1), shown to be consistently rearranged in pleomorphic adenomas, is activated by chromosomal translocations involving 8q12, the chromosome region that is most frequently affected in these tumors. In this study, we evaluated PLAG1 involvement in salivary gland tumorigenesis by determining the frequency of its alterations in a selected group of 20 salivary gland tumors: 16 pleomorphic adenomas and four carcinomas ex-pleomorphic adenoma, having in common the presence of karyotypic chromosome 8 deviations, either structural, with 8q12 rearrangements, or numerical, with gain of chromosome 8. PLAG1 status was analyzed using in situ hybridization techniques, on metaphase cells, by fluorescence detection and/or interphase cells in paraffin sections, by chromogenic detection. Except for one pleomorphic adenoma case (5%) that lacked PLAG1 involvement, 17 tumors (85%), (14 pleomorphic adenomas and three carcinomas ex-pleomorphic adenoma) showed intragenic rearrangements of PLAG1 and the remaining two cases (10%), (one pleomorphic adenoma and one carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma), had chromosome trisomy 8 only. To further investigate the role of PLAG1 on pleomorphic adenomas tumorigenesis, as well as the putative morphogenesis mechanism, we attempted to identify the cell types (epithelial vs myoepithelial) carrying 8q12/PLAG1 abnormalities by a combined phenotypic/genotypic analysis in four cases (three pleomorphic adenoma and one carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma) characterized by 8q12 translocations and PLAG1 rearrangement. In these cases, both cells populations carried PLAG1 rearrangements. This finding further supports the pluripotent single-cell theory, which postulates that the tumor-initiated, modified myoepithelial cell, evolves into the varied somatic cell phenotypes present in pleomorphic adenoma, and reinforces the role of PLAG1 on the tumorigenesis of benign and malignant pleomorphic adenoma.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

Invasive carcinoma in colorectal adenomas: multivariate analysis of patient and adenoma characteristics.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The risk of invasive carcinoma developing in colorectal adenomas is influenced by a number of characteristics, relating both to the patients and to the adenomas, and by the composition of the sample analyzed. The aim of the present study was use a multivariate analysis to investigate the risk of invasive carcinoma in endoscopically and surgically removed adenomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1978 and 1993, more than 20,000 polyps were prospectively documented at the Erlangen Registry of Colorectal Polyps. A multivariate analysis of 11,188 adenomas detected at the first total colonoscopy was carried out in order to investigate the risks associated with size and site--both of which can be assessed by endoscopic inspection alone- and the extent to which these may be modified by other patient and adenoma characteristics, with an influence on the risk of invasive carcinoma in colorectal adenomas. RESULTS: The size of the adenoma proved to be the most important influencing factor. Invasive carcinoma was never found in 5027 small adenomas (< or = 5 mm). Adenomas in the right colon had a lower risk than those in the left colon or rectum. But with increasing adenoma size, the malignancy rate showed a right-sided shift, with a significant interactive effect of size and right-sided location. However, the risk determined by the size and site of the adenoma was significantly modified by a number of patient and adenoma characteristics, including histological type, presence of multiple adenomas, and patient age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of invasive carcinoma in colorectal adenomas can only be adequately described by a complex model of the interactive effects of patient and adenoma characteristics on the main factors of size and site.

Adenoma↗

Clinicopathological features of serrated adenoma of the colorectum: comparison with traditional adenoma.

AIM: Serrated adenoma is a recently described category of colorectal adenoma. The aim of this study was to determine whether serrated adenomas have clinicopathological findings distinct from "traditional" adenoma. METHODS: Colonoscopy records for 1995-1998 were reviewed, and all traditional adenomas and serrated adenomas identified. Tumour site and endoscopic configuration were compared between the two types of adenoma. In polypectomised lesions, size and grade of dysplasia were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were 3305 traditional adenomas and 43 serrated adenomas. Serrated adenomas were more often found in the rectosigmoid colon than the traditional adenomas (67.5% v 41.2%, p = 0.0008). Polypectomy was more often done for serrated adenomas (27 of 43 lesions, 62.8%) than for traditional adenomas (626 of 3305 lesions, 18.9%, p < 0.0001). Size (mean (SD) maximum dimension, 12 (6) mm v 13 (3) mm) and incidence of high grade dysplasia (14.8% v 13.6%) in endoscopically removed specimens were not different between the two types. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic judgement applied to the management of traditional adenoma seems to be appropriate for serrated adenoma.

Adenoma↗

Technical considerations of transsphenoidal removal of fibrous pituitary adenomas and evaluation of collagen content and subtype in the adenomas.

Pituitary adenomas are usually soft, but 5-13.5% are fibrous adenomas which are difficult to remove. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and operative findings were evaluated in eight patients (12.1%) with fibrous pituitary adenoma among 66 patients. Tumor specimens were examined histologically and immunohistochemically for collagen content and subtypes. Seven patients had clinically inactive non-functioning pituitary adenomas and one patient growth hormone-secreting adenoma. All patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery. Four cases were giant adenomas with suprasellar extension of more than 2 cm. T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging showed the tumors as nearly isointense to the surrounding brain, except in one case where the tumor was high intense on T2-weighted MR imaging. All tumors required piecemeal resection using a micro-dissector and tumor forceps. Four tumors of maximum size more than 3 cm needed a second operation. The interface between the thinned normal pituitary gland and fibrous adenoma was intended to identify at the anterior-superior portion in recent four cases, which was helpful to remove the tumors and preserve pituitary functions. Histological examination revealed prominent deposition of collagen in the perivascular area. The percentage of collagen content in fibrous adenomas was more than 5% and significantly higher than that in soft adenomas and normal pituitary glands. Immunohistochemical examination showed positive staining for collagen types I and III in the fibrous adenomas, but only for type V collagen in the normal pituitary glands. Large fibrous adenomas can be resected by transsphenoidal surgery which may require two-stage operations. Identification of the interface between the normal pituitary gland and adenoma is helpful to remove fibrous adenomas and to preserve pituitary functions. We propose that firm adenomas containing more than 5% collagen are "fibrous" adenomas.

Adenoma↗

Expression of betacatenin in carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma, pleomorphic adenoma and normal salivary gland: an immunohistochemical study.

OBJECTIVES: Pleomorphic adenomas are the most frequent type of epithelial salivary gland neoplasms, and their malignant counterpart, the carcinoma in pleomorphic adenomas, is much less common. Beta-catenin is a cell adhesion molecule associated with the invasion and metastasis of carcinomas of the head and neck, esophagus. The objective of this study was to detect the expression of beta-catenin in pleomorphic adenomas, carcinomas in pleomorphic adenomas and normal salivary glands to discuss its role in the development of these two lesions. STUDY DESIGN: The expression of beta-catenin (BD Transduction Laboratories) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded specimens by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method in 16 pleomorphic adenomas (12 from minor salivary glands), 3 carcinomas in pleomorphic adenomas (all from palate) and 10 normal salivary glands as control group (5 from major and 5 from minor salivary glands). RESULTS: All cases of glands, adenomas and carcinomas in pleomorphic adenomas have membranous and cytoplasmic immunostaining. Nuclear beta-catenin immunostaining was not observed. The antibody presented a fine granular arrangement in the cytoplasm and cellular membrane of duct and acinic cells. Higher beta-catenin index rates were seen mainly in salivary gland ducts and in ductal structures in the adenomas and carcinomas in pleomorphic adenomas. There was protein loss in pleomorphic adenomas and cytoplasmic accumulation in carcinoma in pleomorphic adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed participation of the loss of beta-catenin adhesion molecule in the development of pleomorphic adenoma, and that the cytoplasmic accumulation of the molecule takes part in the malignant transformation of the pleomorphic adenoma into carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

Histologic and immunohistochemical study of clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas: special reference to gonadotropin-positive adenomas.

Seventy-five clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas were characterized in terms of their histologic and immunohistochemical features. Fourteen adenomas (18.7%) were positive for hormones other than gonadotropins. These included two somatotroph adenomas, three lactotroph adenomas, four thyrotroph adenomas, four corticotroph adenomas and one unusual plurihormonal adenoma. Fifty-five adenomas (73.3%) were exclusively positive for one or more gonadotropin subunits (beta-follicle stimulating hormone, beta-luteinizing hormone, and alpha-subunit of glycoprotein hormones), but negative for other hormones such as growth hormone and beta-thyrotropin. Histologically, a papillary arrangement along the capillary was most characteristically observed in the gonadotropin-positive adenomas. Five of six adenomas negative for any pituitary hormones exhibited the typical papillary structure. Thus, approximately 80% of clinically non-functioning adenomas constituted a single tumor group that shared the common histologic features of gonadotroph adenomas. These findings suggest that nearly all tumor types of clinically non-functioning adenomas can be diagnosed solely by light microscopy in combination with immunohistochemistry, and that the vast majority of them may be gonadotroph adenomas.

Adenoma↗

p53 expression patterns in colorectal adenomas and early carcinomas: a special reference to depressed adenoma and non-polypoid carcinoma.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of p53 in tumor progression of colorectal adenomas and early carcinomas, while especially focusing on flat tumors (depressed adenomas and non-polypoid carcinomas). Paraffin sections of 61 pure adenomas (33 polypoid, 28 depressed), 26 carcinomas in polypoid adenoma (CIA) and 63 pure carcinomas (36 polypoid, 27 non-polypoid) were examined for immunostaining using p53 monoclonal antibody (PAb 1801). All of the carcinomas were restricted to the mucosa. The number and distribution of the p53 positive tumor cells was evaluated, and then compared with tumor growth patterns and histological features. The incidence of p53 expression in carcinomas (58% in CIA and 51% in pure carcinomas) was significantly higher than that in polypoid adenoma (27% in CIA and 21% in pure adenomas). However, the same incidence in depressed adenomas (51%) was significantly higher than in polypoid adenomas. No correlation in carcinomas was observed between p53 expression and clinicopathologic data except for age. The distribution of p53 positive cells was different between adenomas and carcinomas. There tended to be fewer p53 positive cells in adenomas, even in depressed ones, than in carcinomas and they also tended to be confined to the superficial areas in adenomas, while they were diffusely distributed in carcinomas. Interestingly, the p53 positive cells were more frequently present in the deep mucosal areas than in the superficial areas of some non-polypoid carcinomas. In conclusion, the following hypotheses are suggested: (i) the increase of p53 expression from adenoma to carcinoma supports the hypothesis of an adenoma-carcinoma sequence in a polypoid tumor; (ii) the unique p53 expression in non-polypoid carcinoma suggests the existence of another type of carcinogenesis; and (iii) depressed adenomas are thus considered to have a high potential risk of carcinoma.

Adenoma↗

Colorectal adenomas: morphologic features and the risk of developing metachronous adenomas and carcinomas in the colorectum.

The morphologic features of 307 colorectal adenomas among 159 patients are reviewed. Most adenomas (66.4%) were located in the sigmoid colon and the rectum, and the percentage decreased proximally to the right colon. The 307 adenomas comprised 244 (79.5%) tubular, 41 (13.3%) tubulovillous, and 22 (7.2%) villous adenomas. The epithelial dysplasia was graded as mild in 260 (84.7%) adenomas, moderate in 33 (10.7%), and severe in 14 (4.6%). The percentage of severe dysplasia was greater in villous adenomas than in tubular adenomas (p less than 0.05) and correlated with the increasing size (greater than 5 mm) of the adenomas (p less than 0.01). The risk of metachronous adenomas could be evaluated among 56 patients, 34 men and 22 women with a history of removed adenoma(s). Fourteen of 56 patients (25%) with 6:1 male to female ratio developed 18 new adenomas, after an average of 34.3 months (range, from 12 to 88 months). Eleven of the 14 patients had multiple adenomas at the initial examination. In addition, a carcinoma of the rectum was found in one male patient. Of the 48 patients, 17 men and 31 women, operated on for colorectal cancer 16 patients (34%) with 1.3:1 male to female ratio had 40 new adenomas after an average of 51.8 months (range, 12 to 252 months) after the surgical excision of their carcinomas. One patient had a recurrent carcinoma at the site of the anastomosis 22 months after anterior resection of his carcinoma. Our data suggest that a history of colorectal carcinoma, multiple adenomas, and male sex predict a higher risk of having future colorectal tumours.

Adenoma↗

Tissue factor expressed in pituitary adenoma cells contributes to the development of vascular events in pituitary adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Tissue factor (TF) was initially identified as an important factor in the initiation of coagulation. TF has recently been found to be expressed highly in certain types of malignant tumors. It has also been reported to be involved in systemic coagulopathy in cancer patients and in the proliferative and invasive activities of tumor cells. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a strong biologic inhibitor of TF. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study of the expression of TF and TFPI in human pituitary adenoma. METHODS: The expression of TF and TFPI were analyzed by immunohistochemical methods in human pituitary adenoma samples. To examine whether TF and TFPI expression influence the proliferative and/or invasive character of pituitary adenomas, the authors determined the MIB-1 labeling indices and invasiveness of all the pituitary adenomas they examined. Furthermore, to determine whether TF contributes to coagulation inside adenoma tissues, the incidence of cysts or hematomas in adenomas was analyzed. RESULTS: In cells from 29 of 83 pituitary adenomas, overexpression of TF was observed. This was not the case for normal pituitary gland cells. TFPI was not expressed in either the adenomas or the normal pituitary glands from adenoma-bearing individuals. The expression of TF was significantly correlated with the formation of cysts or hematomas in pituitary adenomas. However, no such correlation with either the proliferative activity or the invasive character of the adenomas was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Locally overexpressed TF in adenoma cells may contribute to the development of vascular events, such as infarction and/or hemorrhagic infarction, in pituitary adenomas.

Adenoma↗

Composite somatotroph--ACTH-immunoreactive pituitary adenoma with transformation of hyperplasia to adenoma.

The majority of pituitary adenomas are solitary and monohormonal, producing only one hormone. Double or multiple adenomas are rare. Plurihormonal adenomas may be monomorphous consisting of one cell type producing more than one hormones or plurimorphous composed of two or more distinct cell populations each producing different hormones. Primary pituitary hyperplasia is uncommon and transformation to adenoma has rarely been documented. We describe a unique case of somatotroph adenoma combined with ACTH-immunoreactive cell hyperplasia and focal transformation to adenoma. The 53-yr-old man was presented with a 2-yr history of headaches, enlargement of the hands and feet and coarsening of facial features. His blood GH was 17.5 ng/ml and he had absence of GH suppressional oral glucose tolerance testing. MRI demonstrated a mass with maximum diameter of 1.5 cm, on the left side of the pituitary, without invasion of surrounding tissues. Transsphenoidal surgery was performed. Morphology disclosed a mostly chromophobic tumor, immunoreactive for GH with ultrastructural characteristics of sparsely granulated somatotroph adenoma. The adenoma cell population was focally admixed with hyperplastic PAS positive and ACTH immunoreactive cells showing the electron microscopic features characteristic of corticotrophs. In these areas the acini were enlarged with distorted architecture of the reticulin pattern. Dissolution of the reticulin fiber network and transformation of hyperplastic ACTH-immunoreactive cells to adenoma was evident in small areas. The hyperplastic and adenomatous ACTH-immunoreactive cells were admixed with somatotroph adenoma cells. Due to lack of biochemically obvious cortisol hypersecretion, this ACTH-immunoreactive adenoma was classified as silent "corticotroph" subtype 1. This is an unusual case of composite pituitary adenoma consisting of somatotroph cells and hyperplastic ACTH-immunoreactive cells transforming to a frank adenoma.

Adenoma↗

New technique for quantitation of pituitary adenoma size: use in evaluating treatment of gonadotroph adenomas with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist.

Because administration for 1 week of the GnRH antagonist Nal-Glu GnRH had been shown to decrease FSH secretion from supranormal to normal in men with gonadotroph adenomas, we investigated the effect of prolonged administration of Nal-Glu on the size of gonadotroph adenomas. To quantitate the effect of Nal-Glu GnRH on gonadotroph adenoma size, we first developed a technique for calculating adenoma volume. The technique involved collecting magnetic resonance (MR) imaging data from each adenoma at 1-mm slice intervals in the coronal, axial, and sagittal views and using the Softvu computer program to calculate adenoma volume from the MR data. The precision of this technique, as judged by the coefficients of variation of the calculations of the same view of the same study three times, was 1.7%, 1.0%, and 1.0% for each of three studies. When Nal-Glu GnRH (5 mg, sc, every 12 h) was self-administered for 3-12 months to five men with gonadotroph adenomas and supra-normal serum FSH concentrations, the serum FSH concentrations decreased to normal or below normal for the entire treatment period. Adenoma size, however, did not change during treatment in any of the five men. We conclude that calculating pituitary adenoma volume from MR data using the Softvu computer program is a highly reproducible technique, but that Nal-Glu GnRH is not an effective treatment for reducing gonadotroph adenoma size. The failure of Nal-Glu to reduce adenoma size despite its success in reducing FSH secretion suggests that FSH secretion from gonadotroph adenomas is dependent on endogenous GnRH, but growth of gonadotroph adenomas is not.

Adenoma↗

DNA aneuploidy in colorectal adenomas. Role in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

INTRODUCTION: Aneuploidy has been observed in 6-27% of lesions known to be precursors of colorectal cancer, such as adenomas or ulcerative colitis. It has been suggested that aneuploidy may predispose to malignancy in these cases. However, its role in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence has not been definitely established. The objective of this study was to assess the incidence of aneuploidy in colon adenomas, as well as to study its possible role in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on a series of 57 large bowel adenomas measuring 10 mm or more, collected from 54 consecutive patients. All specimens were obtained either by endoscopic or by surgical resection. There were 49 adenomas with low-grade dysplasia, two with high-grade dysplasia, two intramucous carcinomas, and four microinvasive carcinomas. A flow cytometric DNA analysis was performed in fresh specimens following Vindelov's method. RESULTS: Aneuploid DNA was detected in five out of 49 low-grade dysplasia adenomas (10%), in all four high-grade dysplasia adenomas or intramucous carcinomas (100%), and in three out of four microinvasive carcinomas (75%). The association between aneuploidy and high-grade dysplasia adenomas, intramucous, or microinvasive carcinoma was statistically significant (p < 0.001). No association was found between aneuploidy and any of the following features: age, gender, clinical symptoms of patients, and size or location of adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of aneuploidy in this series was 10% in low-grade dysplasia adenomas, and 87% in high-grade dysplasia adenomas or carcinomas, and this difference was statistically significant. These findings suggest that aneuploidy may play a role in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

Adenoma↗

Multiple adenomas and synchronous hyperplastic polyps as predictors of metachronous colorectal adenomas.

The development of metachronous adenomas was evaluated in 56 patients, 34 men and 22 women, with a history of 139 removed adenomas and non-neoplastic polyps, in order to determine whether the presence of concomitant adenomas and hyperplastic polyps at the initial examination could predict a higher risk of new adenomas. Sixteen of the 56 patients developed 21 metachronous adenomas and 1 rectal carcinoma after a median follow-up of 2.8 years. Among the 16 patients developing metachronous adenomas there were significantly more men (P less than 0.01), patients with multiple adenomas (P less than 0.05) or patients with adenomas and synchronous hyperplastic polyps at the initial examination (P = 0.043) than among the 40 patients without new adenomas. The combination of multiple adenomas with synchronous hyperplastic polyps at the initial examination predicted best the risk of developing new adenomas (P = 0.005). The results of the study suggest that patients with multiple adenomas and synchronous hyperplastic polyps at the initial examination may comprise a new higher risk group for developing metachronous colorectal adenomas.

Adenoma↗