Metastatic carcinoma of breast simulating Crohn's disease

A 52-year-old female had radical surgery on both breasts in 1971 and 1973 for infiltrating lobular carcinoma of the breast. One year later, multiple metastases simulating Crohn's disease were found radiologically and intraoperatively in the colon and small bowel. The pathological examination revealed multiple areas of linitis plastica type carcinoma in the colon and small bowel. Review of the breast slides showed that the original breast carcinoma was morphologically identical to the metastatic lesions. The literature is reviewed and arguments are presented to attest that signet-ring-cell carcinoma of the breast is a distinct entity, which not too infrequently metastasizes to the gastrointestinal tract.     

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of an islet cell tumour simulating pancreatic carcinoma

The importance of distinguishing between malignant islet cell tumour and pancreatic carcinoma is emphasized in this report of a 57-year-old woman who presented with an epigastric mass. Clinically and radiologically it was diagnosed as a pancreatic adenocarcinoma. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimen obtained under ultrasonic guidance showed tumour cells suggestive of an islet cell tumour. Immunostaining and electron microscopy were performed on the aspirate. The tumour cells stained positive with antibodies to keratin, glucagon and gastrin; ultrastructural examination revealed neurosecretory granules, confirming the diagnosis of an islet cell tumour. Angiography was performed to assess the possibility of debulking the mass. This case demonstrates the value of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy on fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens of the pancreas to differentiate islet cell tumours, which are potentially curable, from pancreatic adenocarcinomas, which carry a 5-year survival rate of less than 2%.     

Foreign body simulating kidney tumour

A six cm kidney tumour is found in a prostate control ultrasonography, in a 70 aged men. A chirurgical remove is indicated the tumour presented a very few separation of the kidney. The kidney was only compressed by the mass which contained a chirurgical gauze inside it from a previous surgery 35 years before.     

Mediastinal gossypiboma simulating a malignant tumour

Gossypiboma or textiloma are two terms used to describe any cotton matrix such as gauze pads left behind during an operation in the body cavities. They may lead to infections or abscess formations, or may mimic malignant tumours. Here, we present a woman with a history of a previous operation on her thorax who became symptomatic 25 years after the operation because of retained surgical gauzes covered by fibrinous materials with adhesions to the left lung. The cotton matrix had developed into a gossypiboma mimicking a mediastinal tumour.     

Metastatic breast carcinoma simulating linitis plastica of the colon: Report of a case

A 48-year-old woman developed a mobile abdominal mass in the course of treatment for recurrent breast cancer. Imaging studies indicated linitis plastica of the colon. She underwent surgery because of the stenosis of the transverse colon. An examination of the resected specimen revealed a segmental stricture, thickening of the entire wall, and a granular mucosa resembling cobblestones. Microscopic findings of the colon lesion were very similar to those of her primary, invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. Atypical cells showed immunoreactivity for cytokeratin-7, but not for cytokeratin-20. These findings suggested that the lesion of the colon was a colonic metastasis of breast cancer. Metastatic gastrointestinal diseases originating from breast carcinoma are unusual, and colonic metastases are especially rare. Although colon cancer may occur in patients with a history of breast cancer, metastatic colon cancer should be suspected if linitis plastica is detected.     

Residual tumour after biopsy for non-palpable ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

In a group of 40 patients with non-palpable ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast, 41 breast specimens were available for studying residual tumour after biopsy. In one group of ten patients seen before 1977, simple histological examination revealed a 9 per cent incidence of residual tumour. However, after thorough examination residual foci of DCIS were found in 77 per cent of a subsequent group of 30 patients. This means that the majority of patients would have had to undergo reoperation if a breast-saving procedure had been performed. This fact must be taken into account when planning treatment of patients with non-palpable DCIS.     

Isolated eccentric syrinx of the conus medullaris simulating a tumour

There are many reasons for the formation of cavities in the spinal cord. A focal cavitation is distinguished from syringomyclia by the absence of an ependymal lining in the former as opposed to the latter. The authors report a case of an isolated eccentrically placed syringomyelia of the conus medullaris, which caused a cauda equina syndrome and resembled a tumour on MRI.     

Dilatation of the azygos vein simulating a mediastinal tumour.

A mediastinal tumour was simulated by gross dilatation of the azygos vein resulting from compression by enlarged hilar lymph nodes at the point where it crossed the right main bronchus to enter the superior vena cava. This cause of dilatation of the azygos vein has not previously been reported. Published reports are reviewed and attention drawn to the large proportion of patients (11/19) with this condition who had needless thoracotomies. The possibility of making a diagnosis by means of clinical observation and simple radiological techniques and thus avoiding surgical intervention is discussed.     

Perirectosigmoid endometriosis simulating carcinoma

1.

1. Endometriosis is not uncommon.