Irradiation induced kyphosis.

Eighty-one patients with Wilms tumor treated by irradiation and chemotherapy were studied. Despite the fact that multiple portals for irradiation were used, each crossing the midline, the amount of irradiation delivered to different parts of the vertebral body varied and it was this variation in delivered dose which produced axial skeletal deformities in 70% of the patients. Of the 57 patients with these deformities 32 had scoliosis, 22 kyphoscoliosis and 3 patients pure kyphosis; 12 patients had a kyphotic deformity of over 25 degrees, 7 patients requiring surgical correction. A high incidence of pseudarthrosis following posterior fusion has led to the preference of a 2-stage procedure, anterior interbody fusion followed by a posterior fusion with Harrington rods after 2 weeks of correction in halo femoral traction.     

Transplantation of cultured salivary gland cells into an atrophic salivary gland

Patients with dry mouth have been treated with salivary substitutes and/or medications such as pilocarpine or cevimeline hydrochloride. These treatments temporarily relieve their symptoms and induce salivation from residual tissue. However, no treatment is available for the purpose of regenerating an atrophic gland. In this study, the feasibility of a cell transplantation therapy for the atrophic submandibular glands was investigated in rats. Further, the potential of cell differentiation into a useful phenotype was assessed by immunohistochemistry together with cell tracking with the fluorescent dye PKH 26. Rat submandibular glands were excised, and the salivary gland epithelial cells were cultured for 3 weeks with 3T3 cells as a feeder layer. Ductal ligation of the submandibular gland was employed to generate an atrophic gland. One week after the operation, the ligation was removed, and the cultured cells labeled with PKH 26 were injected into the atrophic submandibular glands. As a control, the cultured cells were also injected into normal submandibular glands. Two weeks after cell transplantation, the transplanted cells were detectable in both the experimental and control groups. The cells were clustered in the connective tissue between the lobules. Four weeks after transplantation, the labeled cells were detectable in the experimental group but not in the control group. In the atrophic glands, the scattered transplanted cells were observed over a broad area of the gland but localized mainly around the acini and ductal region. Immunostaining results showed a possible involvement of the transplanted cells in ductal regeneration, while neither myoepithelial nor acinar differentiations were observed within the 4 weeks since transplantation. This study demonstrated that cell transplantation to the salivary gland is feasible, and that the transplanted cells were selectively attracted to and remained in the damaged area without affecting normal tissue.     

Malignant salivary gland neoplasms of the lip.

The charts of fourteen patients with malignant salivary gland tumors of the lip were reviewed. These patients represented 1 per cent of all patients seen during this same period of time with malignant salivary gland tumors. No specific etiologic factors were implicated except that the tumors occurred predominantly in white males. The overall results of treatment were poor, perhaps secondary to delay in diagnosis, very biologically aggressive tumors, or inadequate or improper treatment. Hopefully, the 20 per cent survival can be improved with planned combined sequential surgery and radiation in those selected high risk patients.     

Malignant lymphoepithelial lesions of the salivary gland.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a relatively large series of patients with uncommon malignant lymphoepithelial lesions (MLEL) in the salivary glands, to present treatment-outcome data to support therapeutic decision-making, and to evaluate the incidence of co-occurrence of MLEL and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Ten patients with MLEL were treated between 1987 and 2002. All lesions were surgically removed, with or without neck dissection, and the patients treated with radiotherapy or radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Histopathology and in situ hybridization studies for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER1) were performed. RESULTS: With aggressive treatment, outcomes were good, regardless of the presenting stage, except when distal metastases were present. All 10 patients tested positive for EBV. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: This and previous investigations support the use of aggressive surgical excision of the tumor and local metastases and radiotherapy or radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as optimal treatment for MLEL. The EBV finding may indicate a role for EBV in the pathogenesis of MLEL. EBM rating: C-4.     

Mixed tumour of submandibular salivary gland. Case report

The authors present the case of 14 years male child with tumour located on submandibular salivary glands. It was proceeded the biopsy and tumour excision, the tissue fragments being further processed at paraffin, sectioned and than stained HE, PAS, Alcian-Blue, Van Gieson and Gordon-Sweet. The first biopsy performed from the latero-cervical ganglion revealed the presence of an benign tumour of salivary gland. Totally excision of the tumour emphasized the presence of a salivary gland encapsulated tumour, sized 2.5/2.5/2 cm, nodule shaped, white colored, hard consistency. Histopathologic examination revealed the existence of a proliferating encapsulated tumor, well separated from the normal adjacent tissue. The small sized tumour cells with moderate cytoplasm induce formation of glandular lumens, some of them with cystic dilatation, with mucous content. Other tumour cells form small cords or nests. The tumour stroma forms mucoid areas, some with osteoid appearance. We have presented a case of a 14 years aged child with pleomorphic adenoma with rare location within the submandibular salivary gland. The post biopsy rapid increase of the tumour imposed the totally surgical gland excision.     

Chemotherapy for salivary gland cancer

Because of the scarcity of such lesions, little is known about the efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced salivary gland cancers. Although surgery and irradiation are the mainstays of treatment, patients with recurrent tumors and those with unresectable or metastatic cancer are not candidates for this usual approach. Ten patients with recurrent, metastatic, or unresectable salivary gland tumors were treated with combination chemotherapy, primarily with cisplatin, doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide, or cisplatin with 5-fluorouracil. In patients whose tumors exhibited no response, second-line drugs were used. The overall response rate was 50%--with one complete response--but the duration of response was short. This report contributes to the growing data base that demonstrates definite chemosensitivity of these tumors. To date, 116 patients have been reviewed. Adenocarcinoma-like cancers respond best to cisplatin, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and 5-fluorouracil. High-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma may show a sensitivity similar to that of squamous cell carcinoma. Multi-institutional protocols need to be developed to assess the roles of adjuvant and palliative chemotherapy in the treatment of salivary gland cancer.     

A surgical approach to the sublingual salivary gland.

A new surgical approach to the sublingual salivary gland is described, the key feature of which is the use of a flap rather than the usual incision. The flap includes the submandibular duct and, because of the relationship of the duct and lingual nerve, allows early identification of the latter before dissection of the gland. Improved access also simplifies dissection of the gland, particularly on its deep aspects where troublesome bleeding may be encountered.     

Sialography in salivary gland disease

Ninety-six consecutive patients underwent sialography over a 10 year period at North Tees District General Hospital; there were 68 parotid and 28 submandibular examinations. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1, patients with symptoms but no clinical signs (n = 27); group 2, patients with swelling of the salivary gland (n = 69). Results showed that sialography was of considerable value in group 1 patients demonstrating pathology in 33 per cent (9/27 patients). In patients with a suspected, but unusually situated, parotid tumour (n = 20) sialography was confirmatory in 10 patients but the technique failed in four, gave a false negative result in four and would seem to be of limited value. In the remaining patients in group 2 with diffuse glandular swelling (n = 49) the main contribution of sialography was in demonstrating sialectasia (9), duct strictures (4) and non-opaque parotid calculi (2), but even in this group of patients 35 per cent (17/49 patients) of the examinations were normal. When submandibular calculi were demonstrable on plain radiography sialography contributed no further relevant information.     

Hemangioendothelioma of the salivary gland

A case of benign hemangioendothelioma of the salivary glands is presented with a discussion of the gross and microscopic features involved and the possible benignancy of the tumor. A critical review of the literature reveals that these tumors are relatively infrequent.The authors wish to express their appreciation for the assistance of Dr. Ethelred L. Schafer, pathologist of the Jackson Clinic.     

Foamy gland high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia

A 60-year-old man underwent radical prostatectomy for biopsy-proved adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Histologic examination of the entirely embedded prostatectomy specimen revealed extensive ordinary adenocarcinoma, Gleason's grade 3 + 3 = 6, involving both sides of the gland, and extending into extraprostatic soft tissue at the left base. Adjacent to the carcinoma, and separately, extensive high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) was identified, much of which showed bland nuclei and abundant xanthomatous cytoplasm, identical morphologically to that seen in foamy gland prostate carcinoma. However, unlike foamy gland carcinoma, the foamy glands in the current patient were large, showed papillary infolding, and were associated with a discontinuous layer of basal cells, demonstrated by immunostaining for high-molecular weight cytokeratin. No invasive foamy gland carcinoma was identified in the prostatectomy specimen. Immunostains for Ki-67 showed an increased proliferation rate in foamy high-grade PIN glands when compared with adjacent benign glands. Review of additional outside biopsy material revealed foamy gland high-grade PIN on four of seven needle cores, two of which showed no carcinoma. This patient demonstrates a new subtype of high-grade PIN that is difficult to recognize on needle biopsy. It is important to distinguish foamy gland high-grade PIN from its infiltrating counterpart, and it is critical to recognize because of the association of high-grade PIN with prostate carcinoma.     

An artificial salivary gland. Indications. Technical note concerning installation

Idiopathic or iatrogenic aptyalism is responsible for disabling odontostomatological symptoms and constitutes a predisposing factor for bucco-dental complications. Drug treatment designed to stimulate the salivary parenchyma is doomed to failure in cases of severe, irreversible alteration of the glandular acini. The only available treatment is palliative consisting of buccal artificial salivation. Two modalities of endobuccal administration of artificial saliva have been developed: prosthesis-reservoir and "artificial salivary gland". The "artificial salivary gland" consists of a system connecting an external reservoir to the buccal cavity via a catheter implanted over part of its path. The artificial saliva stored in the reservoir is advanced mechanically as far as the mouth where it is released according to an adjustable flow rate. The insertion of a medical silicone catheter is an outpatient procedure with a simple postoperative course. Under normal conditions, one millilitre of saliva solution per hour is sufficient to ensure satisfactory humidification of the buccal mucosa. Dysfunction of the system is generally due to a mechanical problem and any consequent alterations are treated as required. The indications for "artificial salivary gland" must be reserved to semi-urgent cases with severe aptyalism and as a therapeutic relay in the context of global management of the aptyalic patient. This new modality of administration could be extended to other diseases requiring endobuccal drip treatment.     

MALT lymphoma presenting as a cystic salivary gland mass.

BACKGROUND: Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma has been noted to involve the salivary glands in chronic inflammatory conditions such as Sjogren's syndrome and in HIV infection. METHODS AND RESULTS: The authors encountered a patient with bilateral cystic changes in the parotid glands which proved to be due to MALT lymphoma. The clinical course, histopathology, and treatment options of MALT lymphoma in the salivary gland are discussed in detail. CONCLUSION: This malignant entity should be considered in the differential diagnosis of refractory cystic lesions of the salivary glands.