Useful histopathologic features for diagnosing focal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology: A clinicopathologic study

BackgroundFocal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology are rare in the daily practice of pathology. The differential diagnosis is broad, including both tumors and tumor-like lesions. Initial radiologic assessment is sometimes inaccurate. Histopathology is needed to arrive at the correct diagnosis. This study analyzed discrepancies between histopathology and radiologic findings of focal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology.MethodsA six-year retrospective analysis was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Thailand. All focal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology were retrieved. Clinicopathologic features of these cases were analyzed. The pathological diagnosis was rendered primarily based on routine histopathology, using other ancillary studies as an adjunct.Results287 biopsies and 151 resection specimens with focal liver lesions were identified. In 12 (2.7%) cases, tumors or tumor-like lesions with spindle cell morphology were retrieved. A total of five cases had discrepancies between histopathology and radiologic findings. These lesions encompassed primary liver tumors (EBV-associated smooth muscle tumor and leiomyosarcoma); metastatic tumors (gastrointestinal stromal tumor, small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma); and a tumor-like lesion (endometriosis). Several morphologic findings (i.e., cytologic grades, dense and loose areas, intratumoral lymphocytes, distinct perinuclear vacuoles, and hemosiderin) are important clues to diagnose these spindle cell lesions.ConclusionsPathologists play a critical role in diagnosing focal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology, particularly those with limited clinical data at the initial presentation. A thorough evaluation of histomorphology on routine hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides is essential for correct diagnosis.     

Challenges and limitation of MTAP immunohistochemistry in diagnosing desmoplastic mesothelioma/sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma with desmoplastic features

AimGenomic-based ancillary assays including immunohistochemistry (IHC) for BRCA-1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) and methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for CDKN2A are effective for differentiating pleural mesothelioma (PM) from reactive mesothelial proliferations. We previously reported a combination of MTAP and BAP1 IHC effectively distinguishes sarcomatoid PM from fibrous pleuritis (FP). Nevertheless, cases of sarcomatoid PM with desmoplastic features (desmoPM) are encountered where the IHC assessment is unclear.Methods and resultsWe evaluated assessment of MTAP IHC, BAP1 IHC, and CDKN2A FISH in 20 desmoPM compared to 24 FP. MTAP and BAP1 IHC could not be assessed in 11 (55 %) and 10 (50 %) cases, respectively, due to loss or faint immunoreactivity of internal positive control cells, while CDKN2A FISH could be evaluated in all cases. The sensitivities for MTAP loss, BAP1 loss, and CDKN2A homozygous deletion in desmoPM were 40 %, 10 %, and 100 %. A combination of MTAP loss and BAP1 loss yielded 45 % of sensitivity.ConclusionsMTAP IHC is a useful surrogate diagnostic marker in differentiating ordinary sarcomatoid PM from FP, but its effectiveness is limited in desmoPM. CDKN2A FISH is the most effective diagnostic assays with 100 % sensitivity and specificity in discriminating desmoPM from FP in the facilities where the FISH assay is available.     

新辅助化疗后门静脉系统全置换治疗局部进展期胰腺癌一例报告

患者女性,65岁,局部进展期胰腺癌伴门静脉、肠系膜上静脉和肠系膜上动脉侵犯,经6个周期奥沙利铂+氟尿嘧啶+伊立替康+亚叶酸钙(FOLFIRINOX)新辅助化疗后,肿瘤评估为部分缓解,但仍属于局部进展期胰腺癌。患者行动脉优先入路、全门静脉系统切除、异体血管置换重建的扩大胰十二指肠切除术,同时运用异体血管体外成形技术。患者术后已无瘤生存28个月。FOLFIRINOX新辅助化疗方案可使部分局部进展期胰腺癌患者疾病达到稳定状态,而异体血管体外成形技术的应用为门静脉系统全切除置换提供了一种新的方法,使患者有机会达到根治性手术切除,从而改善远期预后。     

Intrawound application of vancomycin reduces the proportion of fracture-related infections in high-risk tibial plateau fractures

IntroductionDespite the improvements in surgical techniques and the use of prophylactic intravenous antibiotics, the fracture-related infection (FRI) incidence after high-risk tibial plateau fractures remains high. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of the intrawound application of vancomycin on the FRI after high-risk tibial plateau fracture surgery.MethodsA total of 243 patients who underwent high-risk tibial plateau fracture surgery from May 2013 to June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, 233 cases were enrolled. Considering the preoperative patient condition, surgeons applied vancomycin powder directly into the surgical site before wound closure in 105 cases (intrawound application of vancomycin powder with preoperative intravenous cephalosporin). The remaining 128 cases served as the control group (preoperative intravenous cephalosporin alone). Clinical data and surgical details were recorded. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for FRI. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log rank test illustrated the infection status of patients based on the application of intrawound vancomycin. The primary outcome was an FRI within one year. Secondary outcomes included bacterial culture and vancomycin-related complications.ResultsOur study demonstrated a significant difference in the incidence of FRI between the vancomycin group and the control group (3.8% versus 10.9%; p=0.041). Multivariable Cox regression showed the intrawound application of vancomycin powder decreased the rate of FRI. There were no complications related to intrawound vancomycin observed during follow-up. The presence of Gram-positive FRI was higher in the control group compared with the vancomycin group.ConclusionsIntrawound application of vancomycin was associated with a significant lower rate of FRI after high-risk tibial plateau fracture surgery compared to the control group.     

The Viral Load of Epstein-Barr Virus in Blood of Children after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

ObjectiveTo detect the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral load of children after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using chip digital PCR (cdPCR).MethodsThe sensitivity of cdPCR was determined using EBV plasmids and the EBV B95-8 strain. The specificity of EBV cdPCR was evaluated using the EBV B95-8 strain and other herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus 1, herpes simplex virus 2, varicella zoster virus, human cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, and human herpesvirus 7). From May 2019 to September 2020, 64 serum samples of children following HSCT were collected. EBV infection and the viral load of serum samples were detected by cdPCR. The epidemiological characteristics of EBV infections were analyzed in HSCT patients.ResultsThe limit of detection of EBV cdPCR was 110 copies/mL, and the limit of detection of EBV quantitative PCR was 327 copies/mL for the pUC57-BALF5 plasmid. The result of EBV cdPCR was up to 121 copies/mL in the EBV B95-8 strain, and both were more sensitive than that of quantitative PCR. Using cdPCR, the incidence of EBV infection was 18.75% in 64 children after HSCT. The minimum EBV viral load was 140 copies/mL, and the maximum viral load was 3,209 copies/mL using cdPCR. The average hospital stay of children with EBV infection (184 ± 91 days) was longer than that of children without EBV infection (125 ± 79 days), P = 0.026.ConclusionEBV cdPCR had good sensitivity and specificity. The incidence of EBV infection was 18.75% in 64 children after HSCT from May 2019 to September 2020. EBV cdPCR could therefore be a novel method to detect EBV viral load in children after HSCT.     

婴幼儿密闭吸痰前提高吸氧浓度必要性的探讨

目的 研究机械通气下使用密闭式吸痰的婴幼儿吸痰前不常规提高吸氧浓度对患儿氧合的影响。 方法 通过对64例婴幼儿(192次吸痰操作),吸痰前不进行提高氧浓度的操作进行观察,分别记录患儿吸痰前平静时、吸痰中、吸痰后1min时患儿SpO₂的值和SpO₂恢复至平静时所需的时间。 结果 吸痰前不提高氧浓度,患儿在吸痰时及吸痰后SpO₂相对于吸痰前变化不明显。吸痰后SpO₂恢复至平静时的时间为18.00(5.25-30.00)s。 结论 吸痰前SpO₂稳定,并排除痉咳、心脏分流等原因的患儿,密闭式吸痰前没有必要常规给予提高吸氧浓度的操作。     

Supersonic Shear Imaging for Quantification of Lateral Abdominal Muscle Shear Modulus in Pediatric Population with Scoliosis: A Reliability and Agreement Study

The aim of this study was to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability/agreement of the lateral abdominal muscle (LAM) stiffness and thickness measurements at rest and during contraction and to determine the relationship between the superficial fat thickness and the LAM stiffness measurements. LAM stiffness and thickness were measured using supersonic shear wave elastography (SSI) in pediatric participants. The reliability of LAM stiffness and thickness measurements ranged from moderate to excellent. There was an inverse correlation between fat thickness and between-rater difference in the resting external oblique stiffness (r > –0.37) and the contracted external and internal oblique stiffness (r > –0.40). SSI is a reliable method for assessing LAM stiffness and thickness in pediatric populations. To remove potential systematic errors: (i) the first round of measurements should be performed to familiarize patients with procedures; (ii) the examiner should pay more attention while performing LAM measurements on the opposite side of the body.     

婴幼儿多发性大动脉炎14例临床特点分析

目的通过分析总结14例婴幼儿多发性大动脉炎(TA)的临床特点,并结合文献复习总结,以提高对该病的认识及诊疗水平。方法回顾性分析2016年7月至2019年5月在首都儿科研究所附属儿童医院住院的TA婴幼儿的临床资料及随访情况,并结合文献,分析总结该病的临床特点。结果14例患儿年龄为1个月23 d^28个月,男6例,女8例。临床表现中最常见的是发热[10例(71.4%)],高血压9例(64.3%),脉弱或无脉5例(35.7%)。按照病变血管部位的临床分型,广泛型11例(78.5%),头臂动脉型3例(21.4%),本组患儿无胸腹主动脉及单纯肺动脉型。14例TA患儿中,12例有颈总动脉、颈动脉、锁骨下动脉及冠状动脉及其分支(前降支、回旋支)受累(85.7%);11例肾动脉受累(78.6%);9例腋动脉受累(64.2%);8例腹主动脉受累(57.1%);6例降主动脉受累(42.9%);6例胸主动脉受累(42.9%);6例肠系膜上动脉受累(42.9%);5例股动脉受累(35.7%);5例肺动脉受累(35.7%);4例肱动脉受累(28.6%)。14例患儿中,误诊11例,诊断不清3例,误诊时间为18 d^2个月。误诊病例中,8例误诊为不典型川崎病。14例患儿中,7例治疗后大部分病变血管范围逐渐减少,受累较轻血管甚至可以完全恢复正常血管状态。4例患儿血管影像学检查较前无明显加重或好转。9例出现高血压患儿应用降压药血压能控制在正常范围,但不能停用降压药。5例查体发现脉弱或无脉患儿均未改善。14例患儿中7例生长发育同正常同龄儿,7例落后于正常同龄儿身高体质量第25百分位。14例患儿随访2~22个月,均规律治疗,未出现复发。结论3岁以内TA累及血管较多,病情严重,误诊率高,经过治疗病情很快能够控制,但容易遗留血管病变,部分患儿预后不佳。     

Combination of Percutaneous Rotational Thrombectomy and Drug-Coated Balloon for Treatment of Femoropopliteal Artery Nonembolic Occlusion: 12-Month Follow-up

PurposeTo evaluate safety and efficacy of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy using the Rotarex catheter combined with drug-coated balloon (DCB) in treatment of femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease.Materials and MethodsBetween January 2016 and February 2018, 81 patients with acute or subacute femoropopliteal artery occlusions were treated with the Rotarex catheter combined with DCB. Lesions were classified according to the onset of symptoms as acutely (< 14 d) or subacutely (14 d to 3 mo) occluded. The mean lesion length was 12.1 cm ± 6.7. The primary endpoint was target lesion patency at 1 year as evaluated by duplex ultrasound (peak systolic velocity ratio < 2.4) and freedom from clinically indicated target lesion revascularization. Amputation rate, major adverse events, and ankle-brachial index at 12 months were evaluated.ResultsTechnical success rate was 100% (n = 81). Bailout stents were necessary in 14 patients owing to residual stenosis or flow-limiting dissection. Additional thrombolysis was applied in 10 interventions. No major adverse events occurred during hospital stay. There were 9 restenosis cases during the 12-month follow-up period. Primary patency rate was 87.3% (62/71), and freedom from target lesion revascularization rate was 90.1% (64/71). Ankle-brachial index significantly increased from 0.46 ± 0.15 to 0.77 ± 0.14 during follow-up. The amputation rate was 1.4% at 12 months.ConclusionsThese initial data from 2 centers suggest that the combination of the Rotarex catheter and DCB may be safe and effective for treatment of acute or subacute thrombotic femoropopliteal occlusion with superior immediate and midterm results achieved.