Clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes of intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus: A case series

Rationale:Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is a rare and special type of smooth muscle tumor originating in the uterus. It is classified as a benign disease according to its histological features but shows the behavioral characteristics of a malignant tumor. It is easily misdiagnosed and recurrent. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze clinicopathological data of 25 cases of IVL in order to enhance clinicians’ understanding of this rare disease.Patient concerns:We screened and identified 25 cases of IVL at our hospital from October 2013 to January 2020. Five patients had tumors.Diagnoses:The diagnosis in each case was pathologically confirmed after surgical treatment.Interventions:All patients were managed surgically. Although the surgical procedures were different, the surgical approach was geared towards achieving complete excision. Three patients received hormonal therapy with gonadotropinreleasing hormone agonists after surgery.Outcomes:We retrospectively reviewed all medical records and analyzed the clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes of this disease as well as the correlations between the clinical features and risk of recurrence. Neither the symptoms nor the preoperative imaging results were suggestive of IVL in any of the cases. Except for two patients who were lost to follow-up, twenty-three patients who were followed up are still alive. Three patients experienced a recurrence.Lessons:The clinical manifestations and ultrasound images of IVL in the early stages are not typical; thus, IVL is easily misdiagnosed as uterine leiomyoma. Radiologists, pathologists, and surgeons should have a thorough understanding of IVL and a high index of vigilance for IVL in clinical practice. Surgery should always be aimed at achieving complete tumor excision. Patients with large lesions (≥7 cm) and lesions extending to the broad ligament may have an increased risk of recurrence. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment are very important; once the diagnosis is confirmed, regular follow-ups are crucial.     

Massive mesenteric edema in a patient with type I hereditary angioedema

We report a patient with hereditary angioedema (HAE) presenting with skin edema and abdominal pain. Laboratory examination showed reduced levels of CH50, C2, C4, and C1 inhibitor (C1-INH). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed marked mesenteric edema and wall thickening of the duodenum and transverse colon. Acute abdominal pain is common in HAE and is difficult to distinguish from surgical emergency. Massive mesenteric edema on CT is a rare, but specific, sign suggesting HAE.     

遗传性非息肉病性大肠癌6家系临床分析

目的总结遗传性非息肉病性大肠癌(HNPCC)的临床特征,提高其早期诊断和治疗水平。方法对我院6个HNPCC家系进行调查,记录患者性别、发病年龄、肿瘤部位等。结果6个家系有大肠癌患者19例,占同期所有大肠癌的2.7%。其中男性10例,女性9例;发病年龄为26～74岁,中位年龄为53.4岁;共有大肠癌病灶23处,60.9%位于右半结肠,多原发大肠癌有4例。另有大肠腺瘤患者2例,白血病患者1例,原发性肝癌患者1例。结论HNPCC有明显的临床特征,利用这些特征有助于早期诊断和提高防治效果。     

Assessment of the severity of hereditary spherocytosis using routine haematological data obtained with dual angle laser scattering cytometry

Dual angle laser scattering cytometry (DALC) measures erythrocyte volume and haemoglobin concentration directly and provides spherocyte quantification. We have studied DALC red cell features in hereditary spherocytosis (HS) relating them to the clinical severity of the illness. A total of 140 controls and 80 non-splenectomized HS cases were studied, with mild (n = 32), moderate (n = 37) and severe (n = 11) disease. DALC measured mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, percentage of erythrocytes with haemoglobin concentration over 410 g/l (%Hyper), red cell volume and haemoglobin concentration distribution widths were significantly different in HS cases when compared to controls (P < 0.001). Severe HS cases had more heterogenous erythrocyte populations, both in volume and haemoglobin concentration (P < 0.001). Clinical severity of HS was best reflected by erythrocyte volume distribution width followed by %Hyper. DALC red cell features are both a diagnostic tool and an index to the severity of HS.     

Primary hepatic anaplastic large cell Ki‐1 non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma and hereditary hemochromatosis: a fortuitous association?1

Summary We report here a case of primary hepatic anaplastic large cell Ki‐1 non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma in a 60 year old patient followed for hereditary hemochromatosis.     

Absence of phosphorylation-induced gelation of erythrocyte membrane skeletons: A diagnostic tool for hereditary spherocytosis

Summary As yet there is no single test specific for the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis. In the search for a specific test, a method described by Pinder et al. [14] using a cAMP-independent protein kinase extracted from normal erythrocyte membranes was used. Membrane skeletons were prepared from erythrocyte ghosts by extraction with a non-ionic detergent, i.e., Triton X-100. Upon phosphorylation with c-AMP-independent protein kinase the suspension of normal membrane skeletons set to a gelatinous mass. Membrane skeletons from patients with spherocytosis failed to show this phenomenon. In order to clarify whether this phenomenological difference can be used as a diagnostic tool for hereditary spherocytosis, a semiquantitative method of observing the gelation process was used under definite shear stress conditions. We investigated 33 patients with different hemolytic anemias (spherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis, hereditary stomatocytosis, homozygous -thalassemia and enzymopenic hemolytic anemias). With the exception of spherocytosis, all preparations of membrane skeletons showed gelation after 30–50 min. Spherocytosis membrane skeletons did not show a significant gelation even after 12 h of incubation. Thus, the failing gelation is specific for the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis. The gelation assay might be a valuable method for defining patients with hemolytic anemias due to erythrocyte membrane defects. Its molecular basis and the possible importance for the pathogenesis of spherocytosis require further investigations.Supported by Grant Eb 99/1-1 from theDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Frequency of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer

PURPOSE: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant cancer syndrome characterized by early onset of colorectal carcinomas (CRC). Recently, two HNPCC genes have been mapped and cloned, one in the short arm of chromosome 2 and another in the short arm of chromosome 3. There has been a major controversy about the frequency of HNPCC. The few estimates available have been based on series selected by age or series representing local area. The purpose of the present study was to design a nonselected, prospective, multicenter study, taking into account the family background and other risk factors of CRC. METHODS: The proportion of HNPCC of all (N=406) CRC cases was evaluated in a prospective multicenter study. Family history and other risk factors were investigated over a 12-month period for all new CRC patients in ten hospitals. These cases constituted 23 percent of all CRCs diagnosed in Finland during the study period. RESULTS: Three (0.7 percent) cases of verified and seven (1.7 percent) cases of suspected HNPCC were identified, following the evaluation of all families with features indicative of susceptibility to cancer. The proportion of identifiable risk factors of CRC was 5.8–7.5 percent (HNPCC, 0.7-2.4 percent; previous CRC, 3.4 percent; ulcerative colitis, 1.0 percent; familial adenomatous polyposis coli, 0.7 percent). CONCLUSION. This prospective multicenter study revealed that the frequency of hereditary colorectal cancer is lower than in some previous studies, when diagnosis is based on extensive pedigree analysis. This result with recent findings of common ancestral founding mutation in Finnish HNPCC families indicates that there may be geographic differences in the occurrence of HNPCC. However, this does not change the fact that identification of HNPCC—perhaps one of the most common inherited diseases identified in humans—has become a question of vital importance now when diagnosis of the syndrome and largescale screening of gene carriers using specific tests are on the horizon.Supported by grants from the Finnish Cancer Society, the Finnish Foundation for Gastroenterological Research, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, and the Academy of Finland, Helsinki, Finland.     

Relationship of Phenotype and Genotype in X-Linked Amelogenesis Imperfecta

X-linked amelogenesis imperfectas (AI) resulting from mutations in the amelogenin gene (AMELX) are phenotypically and genetically diverse. Amelogenin is the predominant matrix protein in developing enamel and is essential for normal enamel formation. To date, 12 allelic AMELX mutations have been described that purportedly result in markedly different expressed amelogenin protein products. We hypothesize that these AMELX gene mutations result in unique and functionally altered amelogenin proteins that are associated with distinct amelogenesis imperfecta phenotypes. The AMELX mutations and associated phenotypes fall generally into three categories. (1) Mutations (e.g., signal peptide mutations) causing a total of loss of amelogenin protein are associated with a primarily hypoplastic phenotype (though mineralization defects also can occur). (2) Missense mutations affecting the N-terminal region, especially those causing changes in the putative lectin-binding domain and TRAP (tyrosine rich amelogenin protein) region of the amelogenin molecule, result in a predominantly hypomineralization/hypomaturation AI phenotype with enamel that is discolored and has retained amelogenin. (3) Mutations causing loss of the amelogenin C terminus result in a phenotype characterized by hypoplasia. The consistent association of similar hypoplastic or hypomineralization/hypomaturation AI phenotypes with specific AMELX mutations may help identify distinct functional domains of the amelogenin molecule. The phenotype-genotype correlations in this study suggest there are important functional domains of the amelogenin molecule that are critical for the development of normal enamel structure, composition, and thickness.     

Red flags for early recognition of adult patients with PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome

Patients with PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS) are at increased risk of developing cancer. Many adult PHTS patients are not recognized as such and do not receive the cancer surveillance they need. Our aim was to define phenotypic characteristics that can easily be assessed and manifest by early adulthood, and hence could serve as red flags (i.e. alerting signals) for early recognition of adult patients at high risk of PHTS. Phenotypic characteristics including macrocephaly, multinodular goitre (MNG), and oral features were examined in 81 paediatric and 86 adult PHTS patients by one of two medical experts during yearly surveillance visits at our Dutch PHTS expert centre between 1997 and 2020. MNG was defined as signs of thyroid nodules and/or goitre. Oral features included gingival hypertrophy, high palate (adults only) and oral papillomas. Based on the characteristics’ prevalence in different age groups, combinations of phenotypic characteristics were defined and evaluated on their potential to recognize individuals with PHTS. Macrocephaly was present in 100% of paediatric and 67% of adult patients. The prevalence of MNG was ∼50% in paediatric and gradually increased to >90% in adult patients. Similar percentages were observed for any of the oral features. Scoring two out of three of these characteristics yielded a sensitivity of 100% (95%CI 94–100%) in adults. The presence of the combination macrocephaly, MNG, or multiple oral features could serve as a red flag for general practitioners, medical specialists, and dentists to consider further assessment of the diagnosis PHTS in adults. In this way, recognition of adult PHTS patients might be improved and cancer surveillance can be offered timely.