Angina bullosa haemorrhagica: Lesional immunostaining and haematological findings

The aetiology of angina bullosa haemorrhagica remains obscure. Fourteen patients with clinical features suggestive of angina bullosa haemorrhagica were investigated. Haemostatic function tests were carried out on an initial 5 patients and immunostain studies on a total of 12 patients. The results indicate that the aetiology of angina bullosa haemorrhagica is associated with neither a haemostatic defect, nor an immunopathogenic basis, and the cause is, as yet, unclear.     

Relationship of tobacco/alcohol use to p53 expression in patients with lingual squamous cell carcinomas

This study examined p53 expression immunocytochemically in 40 lingual squamous cell carcinomas from Dutch patients with known histories of smoking and/or drinking alcohol. 30% of neoplasms showed positive p53 reactivity, suggesting increased levels of p53 protein. No alcohol or tobacco risk factors were evident in 33.3% (4/12) of p53-positive neoplasms whereas only 7.1% (2/28) of p53-negative neoplasms showed an absence of these risk factors. 25% (3/12) of p53-positive neoplasms and 71.4% (20/28) of p53-negative neoplasms were found in patients who had been exposed to both alcohol and tobacco. A similar negative association with p53 reactivity was also found when either tobacco or alcohol were used in isolation. The results contrast with previous observations in head/neck and oral carcinomas and indicate that the association of alcohol/tobacco and p53 expression remains open to question.     

Cross-infection control: attitudes of patients toward the wearing of gloves and masks by dentists in the United Kingdom in 1987

Dental patients in the United Kingdom were surveyed in February 1987 with respect to their views on whether dentists should wear gloves and/or masks. Most patients believed that gloves should be worn and few saw no need for either. Patients receiving care in a dental hospital were more enthusiastic than those seen in general practice in the belief that dentists should wear gloves and/or a mask.     

The lateral medullary syndrome

The lateral medullary syndrome is a rare syndrome resulting from a cerebrovascular accident involving part of the medulla oblongata with consequent loss of pain and temperature sensation in the orofacial region, loss of taste, and palatal palsy and loss of gag reflex, together with Horner's syndrome and ataxia. A case is presented and the literature reviewed.     

Giant-cell tumor of the appendicular skeleton

The common objective of all surgical procedures in the treatment of giant-cell tumor of bone is to minimize the incidence of local recurrence. The purpose of this study was to determine what, if any, patient factors, tumor characteristics, or surgical practices correlate with local recurrence. Seventy-five patients treated for a giant-cell tumor of the appendicular skeleton were followed up for at least 2 years. The mean duration of followup was 62 months (range, 24-224 months). The highest proportion of patients had intralesional curettage, high-speed burring, and adjuvant treatment. Ten patients (13%) had a local recurrence. Bivariate analysis revealed that, with the numbers available, none of the patient variables, tumor variables, or surgical approaches correlated with local recurrence. Post hoc power analysis revealed the power of the study to be 33% to detect a clinically significant difference between treatment groups. The data presented here potentially could contribute to a metaanalysis, which would have the statistical power to determine which tumor-related factors and surgical techniques are most important in predicting recurrence in giant-cell tumor of bone.     

Ovarian endometrioid carcinomas resembling sex cord-stromal tumors. An immunohistochemical study

Ovarian endometrioid carcinomas resembling sex cord-stromal tumors (ECSCSs) may simulate Sertoli cell tumors, Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs), and adult granulosa cell tumors (AGCTs), both clinically and pathologically. Differing clinical features and histologic findings are almost always successful in distinguishing these tumor types, although in some cases the differential diagnosis is difficult. Immunohistochemical staining of 17 ECSCSs, 14 Sertoli cell tumors or SLCTs, and 15 AGCTs was performed with the use of antibodies against cytokeratins (AE1/AE3, 902, and CAM 5.2), epithelial tumor-associated antigens (EMA, OM-1, B72.3, and carcinoembryonic antigen B1.1), vimentin, S-100, neuron-specific enolase, and lysozyme to determine the immunohistochemical profile of each tumor type and to define further the nature of the sex cord-like components in ECSCSs. All 17 ECSCSs, none of the 15 AGCTs, and one of 14 Sertoli cell tumors or SLCTs stained with EMA. Staining for OM-1 was almost as helpful diagnostically, with positive results for 15 of 17 ECSCSs, 0/15 AGCTs, and 1/14 Sertoli cell or SLCTs. Antikeratins were immunoreactive with all the ECSCSs as well as some of the AGCTs and Sertoli cell tumors or SLCTs. The B72.3 and B1.1 were immunoreactive with some ECSCSs and Sertoli cell tumors, but were nonreactive with AGCTs. Neuron-specific enolase was demonstrated in 11 of 17 ECSCSs, two of 14 Sertoli cell tumors or SLCTs, and 0 of 15 AGCTs. Vimentin, S-100, and lysozyme were least helpful in the differential diagnosis. These studies suggest that an immunohistochemical approach may be useful in the differentiation of ECSCSs and sex cord-stromal tumors. Furthermore, it supports the conclusion that the sex cord-like cells in ECSCSs are not Sertoli or granulosa cells, but cells of surface epithelial type growing in architectural patterns similar to those of sex cord-stromal tumors.     

Mucinous ovarian tumors associated with mucinous adenocarcinomas of the cervix. A clinicopathological analysis of 16 cases

Sixteen cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the cervix that were associated with a mucinous tumor of one or both ovaries are reported. The patients ranged from 25 to 70 (average, 44) years of age; two of them had the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Eight patients complained of abdominal swelling; most of the remainder had symptoms of uterine origin. Twelve patients had bilateral and four had unilateral ovarian tumors, which were typically large and cystic. Microscopic examination of most of the ovarian tumors revealed various combinations of benign-appearing, borderline, and carcinomatous mucinous epithelium within the same specimen. Most of the cervical tumors were deeply invasive; 10 of them were of the adenoma malignum type. Although there were varying degrees of uncertainty in individual cases, consideration of several features including the extent and distribution of disease in the abdomen, the comparative histology of the tumors, and the pattern of ovarian involvement suggested that 10 of the ovarian tumors were independent primary tumors, three were metastatic from the cervix, and in three cases the ovaries contained both primary and metastatic tumors.