Bilateral malignant phyllodes tumours.

We report a rare example of bilateral primary malignant phyllodes tumours. The diagnosis was supported by the identification of a benign epithelial element in each lesion. The case illustrates the typical dimorphic features of malignant phyllodes tumours. A contralateral tumour should not be regarded as metastatic without histological confirmation.     

A case of metastatic malignant melanoma of the stomach treated by a surgical operation

A metastatic malignant melanoma of the stomach is not a disease of rate occurrence, but reports of melanomas that were clinically diagnosed and were treated by a surgical operation are rare. The case presented is a 73-year-old woman, who underwent an excision of a malignant melanoma of the left sole in 1981. Subsequently, she had a subcutaneous metastasis of a melanoma three times and was treated by a resection and immunochemotherapy. In January, 1988, an X-ray examination of stomach revealed a giant elevated lesion, and an endoscopic examination of the stomach revealed a black pigmented tumor with ulceration. A biopsy taken from the tumor confirmed the diagnosis of a malignant melanoma. Thus, she was given a total gastrectomy. Reports in the Japanese literature of metastatic malignant melanomas of the stomach diagnosed while the patient was still living amount to 11 cases. Of this number, 3 patients were given a surgical operation. Further, these 3 patients lived longer than the non-surgically treated cases and had a better quality of remaining life.     

Black Pleural Effusion: A Unique Presentation of Metastatic Melanoma

Metastatic melanoma is a rare form of skin cancer, but one that comes with a high mortality rate. Pulmonary involvement is frequently seen in metastatic melanoma with only 2% of malignant melanoma patients with thorax metastasis presenting with pleural effusions. Herein, we report an extremely rare case of black pleural effusion from thoracic metastasis of cutaneous malignant melanoma. A 74-year-old man with known metastatic melanoma presented with a 1-month history of worsening lower back and hip pain and was found to have extensive osseous metastatic disease and multiple compression fractures. The patient underwent an uneventful kyphoplasty; however, the following day, he became acutely hypoxic and tachypneic with increased oxygen requirements. Radiographic evaluation revealed new bilateral pleural effusions. Bedside thoracentesis revealed a densely exudative, lymphocyte-predominant black effusion. Cytological examination showed numerous neoplastic cells with melanin deposition. A diagnosis of thoracic metastasis of malignant melanoma was established based on the gross and microscopic appearance of the pleural fluid. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of black pleural effusions secondary to metastatic melanoma in the United States. Despite the rarity of this presentation, it is important to determine the etiology of the black pleural effusion and to keep metastatic melanoma as a differential diagnosis.Key Words: Black pleural effusion, Melanoma, Metastasis, Thoracentesis     

Bone marrow necrosis and malignant tumors

Twelve patients with bone marrow necrosis were diagnosed in our hospital during the past thirteen years. All were related to malignant tumors. Bone marrow metastatic carcinoma was diagnosed in 5, suspicious metastatic carcinoma in 3, acute leukemia in 2, chronic granulocytic leukemia in 1 and malignant histiocytosis in 1. In case 1, the necrosis was secondary to gastric cancer metastasis into the bone marrow and complicated by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia; in case 3, bone marrow necrosis was the initial manifestation and a diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia was finally confirmed; in case 4 of acute monocytic leukemia, bone marrow necrosis followed intramedullary chemotherapy and in case 5, marrow necrosis was secondary to chronic granulocytic leukemia. These four manifestations mentioned above have not been reported yet at home. Three cases examined by systemic 99mTe bone scan suggest that 99mTe bone scan be useful in the diagnosis of marrow necrosis. In this paper, the causes, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and pathogenesis are discussed.     

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the jejunum metastatic to the spine

We report a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) metastatic to the spine. A 41-yr-old male was admitted to our hospital for radiation treatment of MFH of the spine. He began to show signs suggestive of partial small bowel obstruction. Computed tomography demonstated jejuno-jejunal intussusception. The patient was taken to the operating room, where the diagnosis was confirmed. Partial jejunal resection was performed. The lead point of the intussusception was histologically diagnosed to be a high-grade malignant fibrous histiocytoma. We believe that the spinal lesion was the metastatic lesion and that metastasis occurred via the vessels of Adamciewicz. To our knowledge this is the first case thus reported.     

Subcutaneous metastasis of peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosed by Fine-Needle Aspiration

Mesothelioma is a rare malignant neoplasm of the serosal membranes, which can give distant metastases in various organs in advanced stages of its course. Subcutaneous tissue is an unusual metastatic site. In the literature, only one case of metastatic mesothelioma to the skin of the face has been reported. We present a case of a 60-year-old female with a prior history of peritoneal malignant mesothelioma, who 6 months after the initial diagnosis presented with a subcutaneous nodule in the lateral chest wall. Cytological examination of the material obtained by FNA from the nodule revealed metastatic mesothelioma. Although subcutaneous metastasis of malignant mesothelioma is a rare entity, one must always keep this possibility in mind and proceed to further investigation of such lesions. In these cases, FNA is a simple diagnostic procedure for the identification of metastatic disease in patients with a prior history of malignancy.     

Bronchial malignant melanoma

We describe a case of malignant melanoma presenting initially as an endobronchial lesion located in the left main bronchus causing total atelectasis. This resolved with radiation therapy. Widespread metastases developed shortly thereafter. The differential diagnosis of primary and metastatic bronchial malignant melanoma is discussed. Other isolated case reports are reviewed.     

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma metastatic to the ovary. A report of two cases and a discussion of the differential diagnosis of small cell malignant tumors of the ovary

Two young women with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma metastatic to the ovary are reported. In each case, the ovarian involvement was detected within a few weeks of the discovery of a soft tissue mass by the patient. Symptoms attributable to the ovarian tumor dominated the initial clinical picture in one case. In the other case, the soft tissue mass was not appreciated by the treating physicians until after the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma had been established by examination of the ovarian tumor. The ovarian tumor was unilateral in one case and bilateral in the other. One primary site was the right foot and the other primary site was the left forearm. These cases illustrate that metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma rarely enters into the differential diagnosis of a small cell malignant tumor of the ovary. Both patients experienced progression of their disease and died, despite aggressive chemotherapy, within 1 year of presentation.     

Spontaneous regression of intestinal malignant melanoma from an occult primary site

A 55-year-old male patient who had melena and intussusception that proved to be due to malignant melanoma of the small intestine is described. History and close examination failed to show any evidence of a primary lesion. The diagnosis was made after a biopsy was performed on two lesions in the neck. This was followed by a palliative and incomplete resection of an involved ileal segment. The patient did not receive chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy. He is now alive 8 years after diagnosis without evidence of malignancy. This case represents spontaneous regression of malignant melanoma of the small intestine that is considered either a primary intestinal tumor or a metastatic tumor from an occult regressed primary. The latter assumption makes this case unique in that spontaneous regression occurred twice, once in the occult primary lesion and once in the intestinal metastases.     

多原发恶性肿瘤—乳腺肺四重癌1例报告并文献复习

目的:探讨多原发恶性肿瘤的发病特点,提高对该肿瘤的认识,减少临床漏诊误诊,延误治疗。方法:分析我院1例乳腺肺四原发恶性肿瘤的诊治经过,并结合文献进行回顾总结。结果:该例首患乳腺癌,17年后再同时患肺乳腺三重癌,最终确诊为乳腺肺四原发恶性肿瘤。结论:多原发恶性肿瘤发病与宿主自身状况、环境、遗传、治疗等多因素有关,临床容易漏诊或误诊为复发癌和转移癌,治疗和预后与单原发肿瘤一样,异时性好于同时性。     

Metastatic Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor Controlled by an Anthracycline-Based Regimen: Review of the Role of Chemotherapy

Desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCT) are rare and aggressive malignant neoplasms that usually occur in young males. They usually present intraabdominally with widespread peritoneal involvement at diagnosis and are sometimes associated with lymphadenopathies and liver metastases. Intraabdominal DSRCT is usually disseminated; no curative outcome has yet been achieved. We report a case of metastatic intraabdominal DSRCT controlled by an anthracycline-based regimen. A literature review of the treatment options, mainly chemotherapy, available for this unusual neoplasm, will be discussed. In patients with unresectable or metastatic disease, symptom control is most important because treatment modalities minimally impact survival. Palliative chemotherapy (mainly monotherapy) is preferable.     

甲状腺乳头状癌与甲状腺结节钙化的关系探讨

目前恶性肿瘤的诊断方法日益丰富,临床医师在选择检查手段时也面临多种选择,而对于同一个肿瘤不同的检查方法或许会出现截然不同的结果,对此临床医师需要全面思考和判断。现介绍1例天津医科大学附属肿瘤医院多学科综合讨论病例供大家参考。本例患者主因“恶性腹水”就诊,PET-CT检查发现甲状腺、腮腺和脐部等多处病变,考虑恶性,而B超检查考虑甲状腺和腮腺病变为良性,脐部病变为转移瘤。针吸活检诊断脐部病变为转移性腺癌,但所有检查未能确诊原发病灶。最终,经过分析其影像学表现、病理特征和免疫组化指标,多学科咨询委员会认为本例患者应诊断为腹膜癌。通过本病例讨论,认为病理诊断仍是恶性肿瘤诊断的金标准,合理的免疫组化结果对于确定癌灶的来源有较大的指导意义。     

Metastasising clear cell odontogenic carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

Primary odontogenic carcinomas are rare and examples which have metastasised are even more uncommon. We describe the first reported case of a clear cell odontogenic carcinoma which metastasised to distant bones, namely the 5th lumbar vertebra and hip, 3 years after initial diagnosis. The initial incisional biopsy was thought to represent a calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour, but in the subsequent resection the tumour showed a prominent clear cell component admixed with squamous cells showing peripheral palisading, widespread infiltration and necrosis indicating a malignant neoplasm. Radiologically guided biopsy revealed a metastatic lesion in L5 vertebrae and left hip, confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The metastatic lesion had similar appearances to the first biopsy, and diagnosis was confirmed by comparison of histological features, immunohistochemistry and exclusion of a second primary lesion by clinical examination and imaging. The diagnosis of clear cell odontogenic carcinoma is a difficult one to make. The behaviour of these tumours is unpredictable. This case confirms that clear cell odontogenic carcinomas have the potential for distant metastasis and require long-term follow up.     

1例恶性腹水患者诊断的多学科讨论

目前恶性肿瘤的诊断方法日益丰富,临床医师在选择检查手段时也面临多种选择,而对于同一个肿瘤不同的检查方法或许会出现截然不同的结果,对此临床医师需要全面思考和判断。现介绍1例天津医科大学附属肿瘤医院多学科综合讨论病例供大家参考。本例患者主因“恶性腹水”就诊,PET-CT检查发现甲状腺、腮腺和脐部等多处病变,考虑恶性,而B超检查考虑甲状腺和腮腺病变为良性,脐部病变为转移瘤。针吸活检诊断脐部病变为转移性腺癌,但所有检查未能确诊原发病灶。最终,经过分析其影像学表现、病理特征和免疫组化指标,多学科咨询委员会认为本例患者应诊断为腹膜癌。通过本病例讨论,认为病理诊断仍是恶性肿瘤诊断的金标准,合理的免疫组化结果对于确定癌灶的来源有较大的指导意义。      

Lung metastases from rectal adenocarcinoma: about the best diagnostic strategy

A case of suspected lung metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma is discussed. A diagnostic approach for follow-up of resected patients is proposed. It includes available diagnostic imaging for the characterization of metastatic pulmonary nodules together with methods for the differential diagnosis between primary malignant nodules and benign nodules.     

Cerebral metastases in malignant mesothelioma: a case report

A case of a 61-year-old man with metastatic malignant mesothelioma is described. Four months after diagnosis the patient commenced chemotherapy with liposomal doxorubicin as part of an EORTC phase II trial. He developed signs of intracerebral metastases after his fourth cycle of chemotherapy and died shortly after. Malignant mesothelioma is traditionally viewed as a disease that spreads locally but metastasizes rarely. We describe in detail this case and suggest that metastases in this disease are not as uncommon as originally proposed.     

A solitary functioning osseous metastasis from a malignant pheochromocytoma of the organ of Zuckerkandl

A case of a malignant phenochromocytoma of the organ of Zuckerkandl is reported. There was a solitary functional metastasis in the left femur, which was treated by hip disarticulation after removal of the primary. The patient is asymptomatic and free of further metastases after 3 years. Other reported cases of solitary metastases from malignant pheochromocytomas are cited. These occurred most frequently in the skeleton system, which is the most common site of distant metastases in malignant pheochromocytoma. The reported case and the review of the literature indicate that solitary or limited metastatic lesions should be treated surgically by partial or, when possible, complete resection.     

Extramammary carcinoid tumor metastatic to the breast. Apropos of a case]

We report the case of a 42-year-woman treated for an appendicular carcinoid tumor with bilateral ovary metastases and mesenteric node involvement. After a systematic mammography, an infraclinical lesion of the breast was detected. Mammographic and echographic images revealed nodular mass with possibly malignant features. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy indicated malignancy. The definitive diagnosis of breast metastasis of a carcinoid tumor was made by biopsy. This case is related to 14 previously published cases. The authors emphasize the importance of making a precise histological diagnosis to avoid overtreatment of a metastatic lesion.     

A case of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast first manifesting with duodenal obstruction

Lobular carcinoma of the breast presents with various clinical manifestations. Lobular carcinoma comprises about one fifth of cases of ductal carcinoma. Intestinal metastasis is dominant in cases of lobular carcinoma. Without a prior diagnosis of lobular carcinoma of the breast, the diagnosis of intestinal metastasis from breast cancer is difficult. A 52-year-old women underwent duodenogastrectomy for duodenal cancer. About 18 months later, she underwent mastectomy for lobular carcinoma of the breast. The duodenal cancer consisted mainly of malignant cells invading the submucosa that were identical to those in the breast. Immunohistochemical assays for estrogen receptor also confirmed breast cancer metastasis. Duodenal obstruction was the first sign of isolated metastatic lobular carcinoma of the breast in this case. The characteristic metastatic pattern of lobular carcinoma, which differs from that of ductal carcinoma, should be kept in mind to ensue proper diagnosis. Preceding breast surgery for lobular carcinoma should prompt investigation based on the typical metastatic pattern.     

A case of malignant neuroepithelioma in the retroperitoneum

Reported is a case of a malignant neuroepithelioma in the retroperitoneum. The patient was a 37-year-old male suffering from lumbago and edema of the lower extremities. After ultrasonography and a CT scan, a diagnosis of a retroperitoneal tumor was made and a surgical resection of the tumor was performed in October, 1985. The subsequent pathological diagnosis was malignant neuroepithelioma which showed epithelioid cell clusters that stained positively to NSE. Eleven months later, metastatic tumors were seen present in the lungs and the liver though they regressed markedly after adjuvant chemotherapy with ADM, CPM, and VCR. Forty-one months after his first operation, the patient continues to work. In this case, adjuvant chemotherapy has proved effective.