Regression of metastatic carcinoid tumors with octreotide therapy: two case reports and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND: The antiproliferative effect of the somatostatin analogue, octreotide, on metastatic carcinoid tumors is poorly understood. Partial tumor regression seen radiographically has been reported with the use of octreotide therapy for neuroendocrine tumors. Complete regression of carcinoid tumors is rarely reported. RESULTS: Two patients with metastatic midgut carcinoid tumors were treated with subcutaneous octreotide 300 microg/day for symptomatic control of their carcinoid syndrome before debulking palliative surgery. During the laporatomies, both patients were found to have complete macroscopic regression of the metastatic lesions that had been identified radiologically before surgery, including liver metastases in one patient and periportal and retrocaval lymph nodes in the other. After surgery, the patients were evaluated every 3 months, and had no detectable disease at 30 and 43 months, respectively. Thirty cases of partial tumor regression with octreotide administered with or without other treatment modalities have been reported in the literature. Most of the patients involved received other treatment modalities. Only one other case reported in the literature showed complete regression with octreotide monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: We report two cases of metastatic midgut carcinoid tumors that demonstrated a significant anti-proliferative response to octreotide monotherapy. Review of the literature failed to identify any specific prognostic factors with which the response to octreotide can be predicted. Possible mechanisms for this antiproliferative effect of octreotide on carcinoid tumors are discussed.     

Carcinoma of the gallbladder: autopsy findings in 287 cases and review of the literature

From 1950 to 1982, 287 patients with cancer of the gallbladder were autopsied. The ratio of men to women was 1:3.7. The average age of women was 70 years; that of men was 69.5 years. Most tumors (67.7%) had grown by diffuse infiltration and one-third (32.3%) were polypous-exophytic. Fundus and collum of the gallbladder showed an equal frequency (24%) of tumor localisation. The percentage of all gallbladder malignomas that were adenocarcinomas of various differentiation was 84.6, and 10.9% were anaplastic carcinomas, the rest consisted of squamous cell carcinomas (3.7%) and 0.8% sarcomas. Metastases were found in 265 cases (92.3%). Tumorous infiltration, lymph node metastases, and visceral metastases are discussed. A cholelithiasis was found in 78.4%. The results are compared with the literature.     

Duodenal and gallbladder metastasis of regressive melanoma: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Malignant melanoma involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be primary or metastatic. Small bowel is the commonest site of GI metastases from cutaneous malignant melanoma, metastatic lesion in the gallbladder is extremely rare.

Case presentation

This case report describes the presentation of metastatic melanoma in duodenum and gallbladder. A 45-year-old man has presented melena with intermittent abdominal pain. On physical examination we found a small lesion between the fourth and fifth toes, associated with inguinal lymph node. An Abdominal ultrasound revealed diffuse duodenal thickening. Upper endoscopy was performed and discovered an ulcerative lesion in the second part of the duodenum. The biopsy with immunohistochemical stains was in favor of a duodenal location of melanoma. Computed tomography (CT) revealed many circumferential thickening of ileal loops associated with a nodular lesion in the anterior wall of the gallbladder. The patient was treated by palliative chemotherapy.

Discussion

Malignant melanoma of the GI tract may be primary or secondary. The small bowel is the most affected, but it’s rare in the gallbladder. The clinical presentation can mimic the other intestinal tumors, and the diagnosis is based on imaging; CT scan and GI endoscopy have a key role on the diagnosis, and the treatment depends on the location and the number of lesions.

Conclusions

Metastases of melanoma in the GI tract are uncommon, the diagnosis must be suspected in any patient with a history of melanoma with digestive signs.     

原发性中耳炎癌复发一例报告及文献复习

目的原发性中耳类癌很少见,国内尚未见报道,现报告一例并结合文献复习进行讨论.方法患者女性,48岁,右中耳肿瘤切除术后19年复发,将活检标本作组织学(HE染色)、组织化学(奥辛蓝、PAS、嗜银染色)、免疫组化染色(SP法)检查.结果组织学,前后两次活检肿瘤形态一致,主要由实体小梁状及腺管状两种结构组成,瘤细胞异形性小,未见核分裂,但可见肿瘤呈浸润性生长.组织化学,奥辛蓝(AB)、过碘酸雪夫氏反应(PAS)染色阴性,嗜银染色胞浆内可见嗜银颗粒.免疫组化,突触素(Syn)、神经特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)、细胞角蛋白(CK)弥漫阳性,嗜铬蛋白(CgA)灶性阳性,溶菌酶(Lyz)阴性.结论原发性中耳类癌复发,同时与中耳腺瘤和中耳副节瘤等肿瘤鉴别.     

Malignant hemangiopericytoma of the gallbladder

A rare case of malignant hemangiopericytoma in the gallbladder is de scribed perhaps for the first time in the literature. Areas of necrosis, mitotic activity within the tumor, and the presence of metastases in the regional lymph nodes and right ovary suggest an aggressive behavior of the tumor and poor prognosis.     

Malignant lympho-epithelial lesion of the salivary gland: A case report and review of the literature

Malignant lympho-epithelial lesion of the salivary gland is an undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma which is associated with a prominent lymphocyte-rich stroma. This study reviews the current literature pertaining to this rare tumour with reference to the single recorded case of malignant lympho-epithelial lesion of the salivary gland presenting in Auckland, New Zealand. This 26 year old Caucasian male developed a rapidly growing lesion in the right parotid gland and multiple ipsilateral cervical lymph nodes. Treatment consisted of surgery and radiotherapy. The patient is currently disease free. One hundred and eight other cases have been reported in the literature, 82 of whom have Mongolian ancestry (Eskimos and southern Chinese) and 15 of whom are Caucasian. More than 50% of these patients (all Mongolian) have elevated titres of serum immuno-globulin A against Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen. The age at presentation is variable, ranging from 10 to 86 years, with a slight female predominance. Forty-one per cent of patients present with regional lymph node metastases and 20% with distant metastases. Given the rarity of this disease, treatment is controversial. Current data suggest that early radical combined modality treatment using surgery and radiotherapy leads to prolonged survival and cure with 5 year survival rates greater than 50%.     

Renal carcinoid and horseshoe kidney: A frequent association of two rare entities—A case report and review of the literature

We report the case of a primary renal carcinoid tumor associated with a horseshoe malformation in a 43-year-old man who presented with testicular pain. The tumor was centrally located and purely solid and had features ascribed to hindgut neuroendocrine neoplasia. The relative risk of developing a carcinoid tumor in a horseshoe kidney is estimated to be ×82. J. Surg. Oncol. 1998;68:113–119. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder: report of a case

Carcinosarcomas of the gallbladder are rare tumors characterized by malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components that grow intermingled into each other. Herein we present a case that illustrates the difficulties in the diagnosis and the clinical management of this entity.     

CARCINOSARCOMA OF GALLBLADDER： A CASE REPORT

Carcinosarcoma is a rare entity of neoplasma, and even rarte in gallbladder. The tumor is composed of both malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components that may grow intermingled or separated. The prognosis is generally poor with a median survival of 7.8 months, mimicking that of gallbladder carcinoma. Here we report one case that achieved long-term survival after surgical resection and adjuvant therapy with oxaliplatin- containing regimen. Case Report A 75 year-old man presented with a ma…     

胸腺类癌1例及文献复习

目的:探讨胸腺类癌的病理学特点及临床表现.方法:对1例胸腺类癌进行组织学表现、电镜和免疫组化染色观察及文献复习.结果:组织学特点:瘤细胞多排列为不规则巢状,条索状,伴有大量坏死,瘤细胞大小较一致,胞质弱嗜酸,颗粒状,边界不清,胞核呈圆形或椭圆.免疫组化特点:肿瘤细胞表达Syn(+)、CgA(+)、NSE(+).电镜:部分瘤细胞及突起内见有神经内分泌颗粒.结论:胸腺类癌是前纵隔一种少见的恶性肿瘤,主要与胸腺瘤相鉴别,治疗以手术切除的疗效为最好.     

支气管肺类癌的CT表现（附5例报告及文献复习）

目的分析支气管肺类癌的CT表现,探讨其CT征象。方法收集本院CT检查及病理证实的支气管肺类癌5例,结合文献回顾性分析其数目、部位、大小、形态、边界、密度、强化特征及与支气管的关系等CT表现。结果 5例均为单发,其中左上肺2例,左下肺2例,右下肺1例;中央型2例,均伴有阻塞性肺不张,周围型3例;肿块直径2.0 cm×2.6 cm～4.6 cm×6.6 cm,平均直径约3.6 cm;肿块平扫密度均匀,平均CT值为35 HU,增强后明显或中度强化,CT值平均上升21.3 HU;1例伴有肺门及纵隔淋巴结肿大。结论年龄较轻、肿块密度均匀、边缘光整、中等或明显强化及与支气管关系密切等CT表现提示支气管肺类癌可能。     

Malignant ganglioglioma: case report and review of literature

We report a case of de novo malignant ganglioglioma. A 61-year-old male presented with a 12-day history of headaches and general malaise. Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging revealed an irregular enhancing mass in the left temporal lobe with associated dural enhancement and subacute subdural hematoma. The findings at surgery were of a vascular tumor intimately involving the surrounding white matter, with central necrosis. Histological and immunohistochemical studies showed an anaplastic ganglioglioma with World Health Organization grade IV characteristics. Gangliogliomas of the central nervous system are rare and are typified by a pediatric predilection and indolent behavior. A review of the de novo anaplastic and malignant gangliogliomas is presented.     

原发性肝脏类癌的诊断一例报道

Primary hepatic carcinoid tumor (PHCT) is a extremely rare neoplasm, usually lacking specific symptoms. We present a histologically proved case and review the cases in the literature. The patient was an 65-year-old man with right upper abdominal pain and weight loss who underwent exploratory laparotomy for huge mass of the liver. Ultrasonography showed a well-demarked, cystic mass with irregular thick wall, whereas CT revealed a low-density tumor in nephrographic phase and peripheral enhanced areas in artery phase. He was diagnosed as PHCT by histological findings including positive staining of tumor cells for chromogranin A and synaptophysin, and no evidence of other primary source of tumor. Thus, a patient with this type of mass showed by imaging examination should be suspected of PHCT, for it is of great importance to clinical treatment.     

Advanced gallbladder carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

A case with carcinoma of the gallbladder and recurrent metastases to regional lymph nodes is reported. Following primary surgery, secondary resection of node recurrence, and long term combination chemotherapy, the patient is alive and disease free after 9 years. The possibility of a successful cancer suppression, as mirrored by a depressed RES-function test during the treatment with anticancer drugs, is discussed. Only nine other cases with advanced gallbladder cancer and 5 year survival are found in the literature.     

Malignant melanoma of the gallbladder: report of three cases and review of the literature.

Three cases of primary melanoma of the gallbladder are described to add to the five reported in the literature. As an organ of endodermal origin, the gallbladder appears to share the melanoblastic potentiality possessed by similarly derived organs, and hence, the development of a melanoma within the gallbladder is not unexpected. Presence of melanocytes within the gallbladder mucosa is absolute proof that the tumor is primary. Whether these cells originate from the neural crest and migrate to the gallbladder, or result from local differentiation from preexisting cells remains to be answered.     

Malignant transformation of craniopharyngioma: case report and review of the literature

Craniopharyngioma is considered to be a benign intracranial tumor. Malignant transformation of craniopharyngioma has rarely been described. In this article, we report a case of ameloblastic carcinoma arising from a previously benign craniopharyngioma in a 42-year-old woman. The patient was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma in August 2004 and underwent surgical resection of a typical craniopharyngioma, the pathological result was craniopharyngioma, papillary and adamantinomatous types. During the subsequent 5 years, this patient experienced two recurrences, for which surgical resections were performed without radiotherapy. The last two pathologic diagnoses were malignant craniopharyngiomas and there was more apparent sign of malignancy in the third pathologic section. The exact pathogenesis and the biological behavior of malignant change in craniopharyngioma are not yet clear. We review the relevant literature of malignant craniopharyngioma. Histopathologic, clinical and imaging features of malignant craniopharyngioma and the possible effect of radiotherapy on the carcinogenesis are discussed.     

Malignant glomus tumour: a case report and review of the literature

Purpose: Glomus tumours are characteristically benign solitary tumours. At our knowledge, about 23 reports are present inliterature regarding the malignant counterpart, but only a minority developed metastases. We describe a locally aggressiveglomus tumour with lymphnode metastasis.