Metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma primarily presenting in the fallopian tube

We report a 48-year-old woman presenting with gastric adenocarcinoma metastatic only to the left fallopian tube. In addition to invasive, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, there were areas simulating intraepithelial carcinoma, suggesting a primary fallopian tube lesion. The differential diagnosis included a metastatic process, based on unusual morphologic patterns with occasional signet-ring cells, single-cell linear pattern of infiltration, and abundant lymphvascular space invasion. Metastasis from an upper gastrointestinal primary was confirmed by immunostains (cytokeratin 7, CDX-2, and p53 positive in the tumor cells and cytokeratin 20, WT-1, estrogen, and progesterone receptors negative). Imaging studies and a posterior biopsy demonstrated primary gastric adenocarcinoma with similar histology and immunoprofile. We report an unusual case of primary gastric adenocarcinoma presenting only in the fallopian tube and discuss its mimics and differential diagnosis.     

Alveolar epithelial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the lung

To understand better the pathogenesis of peripherally occurring well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung in relation to alveolar epithelial hyperplasia (AEH), immunohistochemical, morphometric, and electron microscopic studies were done on surgical pathologically examined cases of lung cancer. Cases with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis were excluded so that the effects of diffuse scarring of the lung on the development of neoplasia were eliminated. Of 70 specimens with various types of pulmonary carcinomas, 15 were found to have coexistent typical or atypical AEH lesions. No area of transition from AEH to neoplasm was found. The immunohistochemistry studies showed significant differences in the reactions of carcinoembryonic and blood group antigens between typical and atypical AEH lesions, but no significant differences could be obtained between atypical AEH lesions and adenocarcinoma. However, the morphometry of the mean nuclear areas revealed a highly significant difference between atypical AEH lesions and adenocarcinoma. Electron microscopy showed many Clara granules in atypical AEH cells. The results did not prove that AEH lesions are precancerous, but the presence of Clara granules in atypical AEH cells raises speculation on the histogenetic relationship between AEH and pulmonary adenocarcinoma.     

Histochemical examination of glycoconjugates of epithelial cells in the human fallopian tube

In human fallopian tubes, secretory cells made up about 70% and ciliated cells most of the remainder of the epithelium. At the light microscopic level, lectin-peroxidase conjugates and other methods demonstrated on secretory cells a surface glycocalyx containing glycoconjugates with fucose residues, terminal sialic acid-beta-galactose disaccharides, and sulfate esters. Secretory cells also expressed ABO blood group antigens, on their surface, staining for terminal alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine and alpha-galactose in blood group A and B subjects, respectively. The glycocalyx coating the cilia of all ciliated cells contained an acidic glycoconjugate with terminal sialic acid-beta-galactose disaccharides. Ciliated cells ranged from strongly positive to negative in staining for blood group ABO antigens, fucose, and terminal beta-galactose. The glycocalyx on the surface of cilia differed from that on the secretory cell surface in lacking sulfate esters and possessing terminal sialic acid-beta-galactose disaccharides cytochemically unlike those on secretory cells. Cytoplasmic granules, presumably secretory in nature, stained for blood group antigen in secretory cells of some specimens. Two lectin conjugates with affinity for the core region of N-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides revealed bodies interpreted as lysosomes in ciliated and secretory cells of most specimens. The latter lectins also stained mast cells intensely, presumably because of affinity for N-acetylglucosamine. The luminal surface of endothelial cells stained heavily for fucose and for a terminal sialic acid-beta-galactose disaccharide like that on the surface of cilia. The staining for carbohydrate did not vary qualitatively, and the ratio of secretory to ciliated cells did not differ with the phase of the menstrual cycle. The salpingeal epithelium in two patients with inactive endometrium did not differ from the others. The epithelium in a specimen from a patient with uterine fibroids showed foci of mucous metaplasia, containing a nonsulfated sialylated glycoconjugate. At the electron microscopic level, fucosylated glycoconjugate was visualized with a specific lectin conjugate on the surface of the secretory cells but not on the surface of ciliated and endothelial cells. Infrequent cytoplasmic granules containing mucosubstance apparently provided the cell mechanism in secretory cells for collecting and transporting material from biosynthetic sites to the glycocalyx.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

人育龄期输卵管粘膜上皮细胞内粘蛋白含量的周期性变化

用阿利辛蓝(Alcian blue pH2.5)染色法及淀粉酶(diastase)消化后PAS染色法定量观察27例(侧)广州地区育龄期妇女输卵管粘膜上皮细胞内中性粘蛋白及酸性粘蛋白的含量。结果表明:输卵管粘膜上皮细胞内缺乏酸性粘蛋白,而峡部、壶腹部分泌细胞内中性粘蛋白含量随生殖周期而变化。增殖期呈逐增趋势,至分泌早期达最高峰,随后又逐渐减少。漏斗部中性粘蛋白变化不明显。     

Polyp of the fallopian tube

The case of a 34-year-old woman who had a radical hysterectomy for stage 1 b squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and in whom an epithelial polyp was identified in the left fallopian tube is presented. The case is unusual in that the polyp developed in the absence of any evidence of tubal damage as demonstrated by a history of endometriosis or tubal sterilisation.     

Adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube

Summary A case of fallopian tube adenocarcinoma was studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. The neoplastic cells contained abundant mitochondria, moderate to large amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) arranged in parallel arrays and often containing amorphous material, annulate lamellae, possible secretory vesicles, and glycogen. The presence of stacked RER and annulate lamellae together is unusual in papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary, and has not been described in Fallopian tube adenocarcinoma. Golgi complexes were are. Small acini with projecting microvilli as well as junctional complexes were present, but cilia were not found. The electron microscopic findings suggest secretory activity, and are remarkably similar to those found in papillary serous cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary. The findings also support the hypothesis that ovarian serous tumors and adenocarcinomas of the Fallopian tube are derived from coelomic epithelium.     

Complete development of Cryptosporidium parvum in bovine fallopian tube epithelial cells.

Cryptosporidium parvum is a coccidian parasite responsible for causing protracted and life-threatening diarrheal illness in immunocompromised humans, especially patients with AIDS. The lack of medications effective in treating people suffering from cryptosporidiosis has prompted the development of in vivo and in vitro models for this disease. This study is the first to demonstrate that C. parvum can complete its entire life cycle (from sporozoite to infective oocyst) in a primary culture of bovine fallopian tube epithelial (BFTE) cells. Scanning and transmission electron photomicrographs were used to detail the ultrastructure of individual parasitic stages. Successful infections were produced by inoculating cell cultures with either oocysts or purified sporozoites. Infection of BFTE cells with C. parvum close paralleled in vivo infections with regard to host cell location and chronology of parasite development. Infecting BFTE cells with sporulated oocysts provided a reproducible and quantitative cultivation system with significantly (P < or = 0.001) higher infection rates than in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Oocysts produced in BFTE cells were infective for immunosuppressed adult C57BL/6N mice. Cultivation of C. parvum in BFTE cells will facilitate the study of interactions between parasites and host cells as well as provide a reliable system for evaluating anticryptosporidial compound efficacy.     

Extraskeletal chondroma of the fallopian tube

Extraskeletal chondroma can occur in the hands, feet, head and neck. This tumor usually presents as a small solitary nodule. The histogenesis of the tumor is controversial, but some have suggested a metaplastic origin. Chondroma of the fallopian tube is very rare. There is only one report in English literature. The origin of this tumor can be subcoelomic mesenchyme of the tubal serosa or mesenchyme of the myosalpinx. We describe a case of chondroma arising from the serosal surface of the fallopian tube with a review of literature. A 30-yr-old woman visited hospital due to left adnexal mass. On operating finding, 2 x 3 cm sized nodular mass was noted on the left tubal serosal area. The excised mass showed multilobulated appearance covered with thin fibrous membrane. The cut surface was solid, grayish yellow, and myxoid with a focal gelatinous area. The microscopic finding showed islands and elongated lobules of mature benign cartilage without cytologic atypia.     

Xanthelasma or xanthoma of the fallopian tube

We report a case of a 24-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain, a tense abdomen, and rebound tenderness. A vague, ill-defined mass was palpated, and an ultrasound examination revealed a cystic lesion in the left adnexal region. At laparotomy, a slightly dilated fallopian tube was seen and excised. Light microscopy showed intact fallopian tube mucosa, with a diffuse infiltrate of foam cells in the lamina propria. There were no associated inflammatory cells. The foam cells were positive for CD68 and negative for AE1/AE3. Discontinuous areas of the epithelium also showed epithelial cells with "foamy cytoplasm." These cells were negative for CD68 but positive for AE1/AE3. To our knowledge, this represents the first case of a fallopian tube xanthelasma that shows a resemblance to lesions encountered in the stomach. Fallopian tube xanthelasma must be distinguished from xanthogranulomatous salpingitis, which is associated with an inflammatory cell infiltrate, often including giant cells. However, this lesion may share pathogenetic similarities with xanthogranulomatous salpingitis, since both processes are mediated by inflammation.     

Heterotopic mesodermal tumor of the fallopian tube

An observation of heterologous mesodermal tumor of the fallopian tube in a woman of 53 is described. The tumor had the structure of adenoacanthocarcinosarcoma with inclusions of atypical cartilage. The patient died 6 months after the operation from generalized process. The rare localization of this tumor is noted.