The term amphicrine refers to cells, and tumors, which show both exocrine and endocrine features. Author s aim was to analyse the characteristics of these neoplasms. 40 suspicious cases were reviewed. Mucin-stains (PAS, diastase-PAS, Stains-all, Alcian-blue), immunohistochemistry (antibodies against Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE), and Chromogranin A (CGA), and electronmicroscopic studies were performed to demonstrate exocrine and/or endocrine features of the tumor cells. By means of these methods, 16 cases turned out to be amphicrine tumors. Among them, there were 4 sinonasal, 1 bronchial, 1 mediastinal, 8 gastrointestinal and 2 suprarenal gland neoplasms. In connection to the subject, a brief review is given of amphicrine tumor, regarding its etiological and pathological aspects. These tumors form a distinct clinicopathological entity and should be separated from both neuroendocrine tumors and adenocarcinomas. (+info)
Solitary squamous papilloma of the bronchus associated with human papilloma virus type 11.
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A 79-year-old female presented with persistent dry cough, and a chest radiograph showed a mass shadow in the right upper lung. Bronchoscopic examination revealed that the right main bronchus was severely obstructed by a polypoid tumor, which was diagnosed pathologically as squamous papilloma. After the failure of the attempted endobronchial snare to remove the tumor, right upper lobectomy was performed. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examination showed the presence of human papilloma virus type 11 DNA in the resected tumor, suggesting that this virus was the cause of this solitary squamous papilloma of the lung. (+info)
Digoxin, hypercalcaemia, and cardiac conduction.
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The cardiac effects of hypercalcaemia are usually manifest as a shortening of the QT-interval. Hypercalcaemia is infrequently associated with a clinically manifest arrhythmia. However, concomitant therapy with digoxin or underlying cardiac disease can potentiate the arrhythmogenic effects of hypercalcaemia, leading to a symptomatic rhythm disorder. We describe a symptomatic arrhythmia, which developed in a patient with hypercalcaemia secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus. The patient was on digoxin therapy at the time. The arrhythmia did not recur after discontinuation of digoxin therapy and correction of the hypercalcaemia. Because of its effect on cardiac conduction, hypercalcaemia should be considered in the evaluation of any patient with an unexplained bradyarrhythmia. Conversely, patients with hypercalcaemia should discontinue digoxin therapy and be evaluated for the presence of rhythm disorders while receiving appropriate treatment for hypercalcaemia. (+info)
Immunohistochemical analysis of Bcl-2 protein in early squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus treated with photodynamic therapy.
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Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in early squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus has been shown to result in complete response (CR) and cure. However, local recurrence after PDT develops frequently even after complete remission. Because the effect of PDT had been reported to depend on apoptosis, and apoptosis is inhibited by bcl-2 protein, the relationship between the expression of bcl-2 protein and local recurrence after PDT was examined immunohistochemically. From 1983 to 1997, 50 patients with 59 early squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus received PDT, and a CR was obtained in 43 lesions (72.8%). As there was no recurrence among tumours that were disease-free for more than 2 years, in this study the tumours were defined as cured when recurrence did not occur 2 years subsequent to the receiving of PDT. Of these CR lesions, 31 carcinomas (53.4%) resulted in a cure. Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was detected in 23 tumours (46.9%) and p53 immunoreactivity was detected in 22 tumours (44.9%). When all tumours were divided into either a large tumour with a longitudinal tumour length of 10 mm or more, or a small tumour with a length of less than 10 mm, the large tumour expressed more bcl-2 protein than the small tumour (P = 0.0155). The degree of bcl-2 expression was significantly related with tumour size (P = 0.0155). The expression of bcl-2 and p53 protein was not associated with the cure rate due to PDT. Tumour length and T status in TNM staging were significantly related to the cure by univariate analysis. T status was the only predictor of the cure according to mutivariate analysis. Of 42 CR lesions, the expression of neither bcl-2 nor p53 protein was associated with local recurrence; only T status was significantly associated (P = 0.008). The relationship between the expression of oncoprotein and local recurrence after PDT was not documented in this study. The success of PDT may depend on the exact assessment of tumour size under optimized PDT illumination. (+info)
Supplemental ascorbate in the supportive treatment of cancer: Prolongation of survival times in terminal human cancer.
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Ascorbic acid metabolism is associated with a number of mechanisms known to be involved in host resistance to malignant disease. Cancer patients are significantly depleted of ascorbic acid, and in our opinion this demonstrable biochemical characteristic indicates a substantially increased requirement and utilization of this substance to potentiate these various host resistance factors. The results of a clinical trial are presented in which 100 terminal cancer patients were given supplemental ascorbate as part of their routine management. Their progress is compared to that of 1000 similar patients treated identically, but who received no supplemental ascorbate. The mean survival time is more than 4.2 times as great for the ascorbate subjects (more than 210 days) as for the controls (50 days). Analysis of the survival-time curves indicates that deaths occur for about 90% of the ascorbate-treated patients at one-third the rate for the controls and that the other 10% have a much greater survival time, averaging more than 20 times that for the controls. The results clearly indicate that this simple and safe form of medication is of definite value in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer. (+info)
Spontaneous coughing up of a polyp.
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We report the case of an 18-year old female with right lower lobe atelectasis, who was admitted to our hospital because of a nonproductive cough. She underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy that revealed a peduncular polyp in the right truncus intermedius or middle bronchus. Before admission for laser polypectomy, she spontaneously coughed up the tissue mass, and the right lower lobe atelectasis disappeared. We report a rare case of 'autopolypectomy' of a bronchial adenoma. (+info)
Treatment of endobronchial metastases with intraluminal radiotherapy.
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Metastasis to the lung occurs quite commonly from certain types of extrapulmonary primary carcinoma. Spread to the bronchial lumen is relatively rare. When this does occur, symptoms resembling those of primary bronchial carcinoma are often present, in association with partial or complete obstruction of the bronchial lumen. Palliation of such symptoms is possible with the use of intraluminal radiotherapy (ILT). Between 1990 and 1998, 37 patients with endobronchial metastases were treated using this modality; a single fraction of radiation was delivered by the remote afterloading high dose rate microSelectron system. Data regarding these patients' characteristics and outcome are presented, following a retrospective review of case notes. The commonest symptoms were dyspnoea, cough and haemoptysis; the commonest primary tumour sites were breast, colorectum, oesophagus and kidney. Twenty-four (64.9%) patients had some improvement in symptoms following treatment. Mean overall survival was 280 days, range 9-1145 days. No serious adverse effects occurred. ILT is a relatively simple, safe and effective treatment in the palliation of symptoms due to endobronchial metastases. (+info)
Malignant transient pleural transudate: a sign of early lymphatic tumoral obstruction.
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In the absence of a responsible comorbid condition, the transudative character of a pleural effusion in patients with malignancy does not imply a favorable outcome. We report a case of colon carcinoma metastatic to lung and pleura presenting as a bilateral transudative pleural effusion. Tumoral diffuse lymphatic permeation was identified as the cause of lymphatic obstruction on pleural and transbronchial biopsies. The transudative character of the pleural effusion was transient denoting its obstructive origin. (+info)