B-cell neoplasms and Hodgkin lymphoma in the spleen

B-cell lymphoma of spleen may be primary (most commonly splenic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) or secondary (typically low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Depending on the specific lymphoma subtype, there may be a predominantly white pulp pattern of involvement, a predominantly red pulp pattern or a focal nodular pattern. Splenectomy is the ideal specimen for a multiparametric integrative diagnosis of splenic lymphoma, as it allows for a combined study of morphology, immunohistology, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular genetic techniques. This review article describes the clinicopathologic characteristics of all the relevant B-cell neoplasms that may be encountered in a splenic biopsy or a splenectomy specimen.     

Response rate,durability of response,and survival after thalidomide therapy for relapsed multiple myeloma

OBJECTIVE: To assess response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, and toxicity of thalidomide in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with relapsed multiple myeloma were entered into the study between April 29, 1999, and June 20, 2000. They were given oral thalidomide at a dosage of 200 mg/d for 2 weeks, which was then increased as tolerated to a maximum of 800 mg/d. The primary end point of the study was response rate. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 67 years (range, 36-78 years). Prior chemotherapy had failed in all patients, and stem cell transplantation had failed in 5 patients (16%). There were 10 confirmed responses, yielding a response rate of 31%. In addition, there was 1 unconfirmed partial response and 7 minimal responses with no complete responses. The median duration of response was 11.9 months (range, 3.7-203 months). Overall, 20 patients have died, and 26 patients have experienced disease progression. The median follow-up of surviving patients was 28.5 months (range, 193-34.0 months), with a median progression-free survival of 8.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.7-16 months). The median progression-free survival among the responding patients was 15.7 months (95% CI, 8.6-25.6 months). The median overall survival for the entire group was 22 months (95% CI, 10.6-35.9 months). The most common treatment-related nonhematologic toxic effects (grade >3) were neuropathy (16%), sedation (13%), febrile neutropenia (6%), and constipation (6%). CONCLUSIONS: Thalidomide is useful in the treatment of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma and produced durable response in approximately one third of patients, with median response duration of nearly 1 year.     

Clinical and radiological outcomes using the LIMA SMR stemless implant—A 2-year follow-up in 49 patients

BackgroundSince the introduction of stemless anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), many studies have been published on this specific group of TSA implants. The following study aimed to evaluate clinical and radiological short- to mid-term outcomes of the LIMA SMR stemless anatomical implant.MethodsWe prospectively evaluated the outcome of 53 TSAs in 52 patients, with a mean age of 58.45 years (range 47-78 years) at the time of implantation with a minimum follow-up of 2 years (range 24-47 months). All patients were physically and radiologically examined; the results were documented by the Constant-Murley Score and the Simple Shoulder Value.ResultsSignificant improvements from preoperative to latest follow-up were documented in Constant-Murley Score (29.0-75.84 pts; P < .001), active range of motion (abduction 84.7°-133.2°, flexion 95.3°-146.4°, and external rotation 12.7°-32.4°). The mean Simple Shoulder Value was 82.15% at the last follow-up. There was no complete loosening of the humeral component, but a lowering of bone mineral density (radiolucencies, RLL) was observed in anteroposterior or axially views—radiographs at the humeral component in 10.2% of the cases, most of them on the anteroposterior view at the calcar region. There was no statistical difference in the outcome of the patients with RLL compared with the ones without radiolucencies. Major complications or revisions did not occur.ConclusionThis study provides comparable improvement in functional, radiographic, and subjective mid-term results with other stemless anatomic implants.     

The dermal arteries in the cutaneous angiosome of the descending genicular artery

Studies examining thick skin of the thumb pad have challenged the existence of an arterial plexus in the papillary dermis. Instead of a plexus, discrete arterial units, interconnected by arterio‐arterial anastomoses, were identified. We hypothesise that the dermal arteries of thin skin are arranged likewise and that there are fewer arterio‐arterial anastomoses in the centre of an angiosome than in zones where neighbouring angiosomes overlap. To test these hypotheses, we examined the dermal arteries in the centre of the cutaneous angiosome of the descending genicular artery (DGA) and its zone of overlap with neighbouring angiosomes. Using traditional perfusion techniques, the cutaneous angiosomes of the DGA and the popliteal artery were identified in 11 fresh frozen human lower limbs. Biopsies were harvested from the centre of the cutaneous DGA angiosome and from the zone where neighbouring vascular territories overlapped. Employing high‐resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM), digital volume data were generated and the dermal arteries were three‐dimensionally reconstructed and examined. In all examined skin areas, the dermal arteries showed tree‐like ramifications. The branches of the dermal arteries were connected on average by 1.73 ± 1.01 arterio‐arterial anastomoses in the centre of the DGA angiosome and by 3.27 ± 1.27 in the zone where angiosomes overlapped. We demonstrate that discrete but overlapping dermal arterial units with a mean dimension of 1.62 ± 1.34 and 1.80 ± 1.56 mm², respectively, supply oxygen and nutrients to the superficial dermis and epidermis of the thin skin of the medial femur. This forms the basis for diagnosing and researching skin pathologies.