Small cell carcinoma of rectum： A case report

We present a case of a 40-year-old woman with small-cell carcinoma (SCC) of the rectum. She had profuse bleeding in rectum for 5 d. By colonoscopy, polyps were determined in the rectum and biopsies were carried out. Histopathologically, the polyps were adenomatous. Because of the profuse bleeding in rectum, she underwent low anterior resection. After the diagnosis of SCC, she received intravenous chemotherapy with standard doses of siklofosfamid, adriamycin, and vepesid. Nevertheless, intracranial metastases were revealed and she died 6 mo after the operation.     

Preoperative sorting of circulating T lymphocytes in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma： lts prognostic significance

AIM: To elucidate the immunologic parameters for the outcome of patients with malignant tumors, especially esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) associated with high malignant potential. METHODS: Clinicopathologic features were compared between patients with lower and higher CD4 and CD8 values as well as CD4/CD8 ratio in peripheral blood. RESULTS: The survival rate of patients with higher CD4 value was significantly better than that in patients with lower CD4 value (P = 0.039). The survival rate of patients with higher CD8 value was significantly worse than that of patients with lower CD8 value (P = 0.026). Similarly, the survival rate of patients with higher CD4/ CD8 ratio was significantly better than that of patients with lower CD4/CD8 ratio (P = 0.042). Additionally, multivariate analysis demonstrated that lower CD8 and lower CD4/CD8 ratio were factors independently associated with worse prognosis of patients. CONCLUSION: All the immunologic parameters can predict the outcome of patients with ESCC.     

Copy number changes of target genes in chromosome 3q25.3-qter of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma： TP63is amplified in early carcinogenesis but down-regulated as disease progressed

AIM: By using comparative genomic hybridization, gain of 3q was found in 45-86% cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (EC-SCC). Chromosome 3q25.3-qter is the minimal common region with several oncogenes found within this region. However, amplification patterns of these genes in EC-SCC have never been reported. The possible association of copy number changes of these genes with pathologic characteristics is still not clear. METHODS: Real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) was performed to analyze the copy number changes of 13 candidate genes within this region in 60 primary tumors of EC-SCC, and possible association of copy number changes with pathologic characteristics was analyzed by statistics. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) study was also performed on another set of 111 primary tumors of EC-SCC to verify the association between TP63 expression change and lymph node metastasis status. RESULTS: The average copy numbers (±SE) per haploid genome of individual genes in 60 samples were (from centromere to telomere): SSR3: 4.19 (±0.69); CCNL1: 5.24 (±0.67); SMC4L1: 2.01 (±0.16); EVI1: 2.02 (±0.12); hTERC. 5.28 (±0.54); SKIL 2.71 (±0.14); EIF5A2. 1.95 (±0.12); ECT2: 9.18 (±1.68); PIK3CA: 8.13 (±1.17); EIF4G1: 1.07 (±0.05); 557: 3.07 (±0.25); TP63: 2.51 (±0.22); TFRC. 2.42 (±0.19). Four clusters of amplification were found: SSR3 and CCLN1 at 3q25.31; hTERC and SKIL at 3q26.2; ECT2 and PIK3CA at 3q26.31-q26.32; and 55T, TP63 and TFRC at 3q27.3-q29. Patients with lymph node metastasis had significantly lower copy number of TP63 in the primary tumor than those without lymph node metastasis. IHC study on tissue arrays also showed that patients with lymph node metastasis have significantly lower TP63 staining score in the primary tumor than those without lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: This study showed that different amplification patterns were seen among different genes within 3q25.3-qter in EC-SCC, and several novel candidate oncogenes (SSR3, SMC4L1, ECT2, and SST) were identified. TP63 is amplified in early stage of EC-SCC carcinogenesis but down-regulated in advanced stage of disease.     

Coexistence of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and villous adenoma in the ampulla of Vater

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater is extremely rare and different from the common ampullary adenocarcinoma. The ampullary adenoma is also a rare neoplasm and has the potential to develop an adenocarcinoma. Their coexistence has been rarely reported in the literature. We herein describe an unusual case of a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma associated with a villous adenoma in the ampulla of Vater with emphasis on computed tomography （CT） and histopathological findings. We also discuss their clinical, histopathological and radiological features as well as possible histogenesis.     

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine tumors of the ampulla of Vater are extremely rare, and few cases of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the ampulla have been reported. METHODS: A 48-year-old male with obstructive jaundice was admitted to our hospital. On examination the patient was found to have a periampullary growth and subsequently underwent the Whipple's procedure. RESULTS: Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry revealed features of LCNEC of the ampulla of Vater. The patient developed multiple liver metastases 6 months after Whipple's procedure. CONCLUSION: LCNEC of the ampulla of Vater is rare and highly aggressive, with a dismal prognosis.     

Primary acinar cell carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater

Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreatobiliary system is a relatively rare malignant neoplasm arising usually in the pancreatic parenchyma. We experienced a 68-year-old woman who presented with obstructive jaundice due to an ampullary mass 1.0 cm in diameter, detected by abdominal computed tomography and endoscopic examination. The patient underwent a curative surgical operation, and histopathological examination revealed that the tumor was confined to the ampulla of Vater with no continuity to the pancreatic parenchyma. The tumor cells showed acinar or tubular arrangement with eosinophilic to basophilic granular cytoplasm, findings identical to those of acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for lipase. From these findings, we concluded that the tumor was primary acinar cell carcinoma arising in the ampulla of Vater, probably originating from heterotopic pancreatic tissue. This is the first reported case of primary acinar cell carcinoma in the ampulla of Vater.     

A case of gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the ampulla of Vater

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour rarely develops in the duodenal ampulla region. We report here a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the ampulla of Vater found in a 44-year-old Japanese man presenting with biliary obstruction. He died of hepatic failure with diffuse liver metastasis. The postmortem examination showed a large Borrman type III-like tumour in the duodenal ampullary region with direct invasion of the pancreas and extrahepatic bile duct as well as metastases to the liver and regional lymph nodes. The duct orifice was located at the centre of the tumour. Microscopically, the tumour consisted of anaplastic spindle cells with high mitotic activity (90 mitoses per 50 high-power fields). Immunohistochemically, the spindle cells were positive for KIT and CD34. The final diagnosis was high-grade malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the ampulla of Vater. Considering the recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumour, this neoplasm should be included in the differential diagnosis of the tumours appearing in the duodenal ampulla region.     

经内镜十二指肠乳头切除术治疗乳头部肿瘤的临床价值

目的 探讨经内镜十二指肠乳头切除术(EP)治疗十二指肠乳头部肿瘤的临床价值.方法 前瞻性观察研究15例经EP治疗的十二指肠乳头部肿瘤患者的临床疗效、并发症及随访观察结果,评价其临床价值.结果 所有15例患者均顺利完成EP治疗,其中4例术前病检为慢性炎症者术后病理诊断为腺瘤;11例术前病检为腺瘤者中术后病理诊断为高分化腺癌1例、低分化腺癌2例、腺瘤恶变1例.EP术后8例合并胰胆管扩张者同时行胆管及胰管塑料支架引流术,1例确诊为低分化腺癌者、1例确诊为腺瘤恶变者及1例腺瘤部分残留者术后追加外科手术治疗,另1例低分化腺癌者因年龄较大拒绝追加手术治疗.EP术后除2例患者出现黑便,2例患者出现一过性血淀粉酶升高外,无急性胰腺炎、胆管炎及穿孔等并发症发生,无患者死亡.EP术后平均随访观察23.4个月,11例(11/15,73.3％)病变完整切除者中,10例腺瘤者均未见复发,另1例乳头部高分化腺癌者术后已随访5个月,多次复查病检均未见复发.结论 EP术不仅可提高十二指肠乳头部肿瘤诊断的准确率;对于十二指肠乳头部腺瘤,EP术可将腺瘤组织完整切除达到根治的目的,是一项安全、有效的微创治疗措施.     

Allelotype of ampulla of Vater cancer: highly frequent involvement of chromosome 11

Purpose To determine the genetic differences/similarities in ampulla of Vater cancers (AVC) with respect to other pancreatic tumor types.Methods We analyzed eight cases of primary AVC by genome-wide allelotyping on DNA obtained from frozen tissue. A total of 372 microsatellite loci were used for each case, for a total of 2,976 microsatellites analyzed.Results Of the 2,159 informative markers, 400 were allelic losses and 1,759 markers were retained for an average fractional allelic loss of 0.19. Seven cases showed LOH on at least two markers on chromosomal arm 11p, while six cases showed allelic losses on 11q. The high frequency of LOH on chromosome 11 was also confirmed by analysis of an additional 17 paraffin-embedded AVC. Frequent LOH (50% or greater) was also found on chromosome arms 5q, 6q, 9p, 13, 16p, 17p, and 18p.Conclusions It can be inferred that the targets of inactivation on chromosomes 5q, 9p, and 17p appear to be APC, p16, and p53, respectively, while the critical target(s) of inactivation at the other frequently lost loci remain to be characterized. The resulting allelotype reveals that distinctive chromosomal alterations are present in these neoplasms, indicating that it is a tumor entity distinct from pancreatic adenocarcinoma.     

Carcinoid of the ampulla of Vater： Morphologic features and clinical implications

INTRODUCTION Carcinoid tumors belong to the family of neuroendocrine tumors, which usually grow slowly with distinct biologi- cal and clinical characteristics. The incidence of these tumors is approximately 2.5 in 100 000 people per year. The appendix is …     

Pancreatic invasion is a prognostic indicator after radical resection for carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater

Sixty-three patients who had undergone pancreatoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater were analyzed with respect to tumor extent and prognosis. The postoperative mortality rate was 3% and overall survival rates 3 and 5 years after surgery were 55% and 46%, respectively. pTNM stage did not reflect prognosis after resection in patients at stages 2 and 3, while pancreatic invasion and regional lymph node metastasis clearly reflected prognosis after resection. Of the 26 patients who had no pancreatic invasion, regional lymph node metastasis was seen in only 19%, whereas of the 37 patients with pancreatic invasion, 62% exhibited lymph node metastasis. These factors were significantly correlated (P<0.001). Pancreatic invasion appeared to be an indirect indicator of regional lymph node metastasis. We conclude that, to improve prognosis for patients with pancreatic invasion, extended resection including extended lymphadenectomy, is a preferable additional procedure.     

不同大小的肝细胞癌超声造影特点

目的:分析不同大小肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)的超声造影(contrast-enhanced ultrasound,CEUS)特点,提高超声对HCC的诊断水平.方法:将我院2011-01/2011-09行超声造影检查并经手术及病理证实为HCC的连续性病例75例90个病灶按照病灶最大直径分为小肝癌(≤3cm)和大肝癌(>3cm)2组,回顾性分析不同大小的HCC超声造影特点.结果:75例90个病灶小肝癌组39个,大肝癌组51个.动脉期,小HCC组39个病灶均呈高增强,其中整体均匀增强37个(94.9%),不均匀增强2个(5.1%);大HCC组51个病灶均呈高增强,其中整体均匀增强27个(52.9%),不均匀增强21个(41.2%),不典型增强3个(6%),不同大小HCC动脉期增强形态具有统计学差异(P<0.05).门脉期,小HCC组等增强10个(25.6%),低增强29个(74.4%),大HCC组高增强7个(13.7%),等增强2个(3.9%),低增强42个(82.4%),不同大小的HCC门脉期增强水平具有统计学差异(P<0.05).延迟期,小HCC组所有病灶均呈低增强,大HCC组1个(2.0%)呈等增强,50个(98.0%)呈低增强,不同大小的HCC延迟期增强水平无统计学差异.结论:HCC超声造影表现与肿瘤大小有一定的相关性,小HCC动脉期增强多为整体均匀增强,大HCC不均匀增强比例较多,门脉期和延迟期大HCC造影剂廓清可能早于小HCC.