Intratemporal vascular tumors: detection with CT and MR imaging

The diagnostic contributions of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were compared in 12 patients with benign intratemporal vascular tumors (hemangioma or vascular malformation). The tumors included six in the internal acoustic canal and six in the geniculate ganglion region. Clinical and histologic correlations were made. Two of the six patients with tumors in the internal acoustic canal underwent CT, and both required gas cisternography to show the tumor. Five patients in that group underwent MR imaging, and all five studies showed the tumor. All six patients with geniculate ganglion tumors underwent CT. Results in one study were questionable, and five showed the tumor. Five patients in this group underwent MR imaging, but the MR findings were positive in only two cases. MR imaging should therefore be performed before CT in the evaluation of facial nerve dysfunction, as it demonstrated all tumors in the internal acoustic canal and some in the geniculate ganglion region. If MR findings are negative, CT should then be performed to rule out a possible geniculate ganglion lesion.     

Diagnostic utility of S100A1 expression in renal cell neoplasms: an immunohistochemical and quantitative RT-PCR study.

S100A1 is a calcium-binding protein, which has been recently found in renal cell neoplasms. We evaluated the diagnostic utility of immunohistochemical detection of S100A1 in 164 renal cell neoplasms. Forty-one clear cell, 32 papillary, and 51 chromophobe renal cell carcinomas, and 40 oncocytomas, 164 samples of normal renal parenchyma adjacent to the tumors and 13 fetal kidneys were analyzed. The levels of S100A1 mRNA detected by quantitative RT-PCR analysis of frozen tissues from seven clear cell, five papillary, and six chromophobe renal cell carcinomas, four oncocytomas, and nine samples of normal renal tissues adjacent to neoplasms were compared with the immunohistochemical detection of protein expression. Clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinomas showed positive reactions for S100A1 in 30 out of 41 tumors (73%) and in 30 out of 32 (94%) tumors, respectively. Thirty-seven renal oncocytomas out of 40 (93%) were positive for S100A1, whereas 48 of 51 (94%) chromophobe renal cell carcinomas were negative. S100A1 protein was detected in all samples of unaffected and fetal kidneys. S100A1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR in all normal kidneys and renal cell neoplasms, although at very different levels. Statistical analyses comparing the different expression of S100A1 in clear cell and chromophobe renal cell carcinomas observed by immunohistochemical and RT-PCR methods showed significant values (P<0.001), such as when comparing by both techniques the different levels of S100A1 expression in chromophobe renal cell carcinomas and oncocytomas (P<0.001). Our study shows that S100A1 protein is expressed in oncocytomas, clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinomas but not in chromophobe renal cell carcinomas. Its immunodetection is potentially useful for the differential diagnosis between chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and oncocytoma. Further, S100A1 protein expression is constantly detected in the normal parenchyma of the adult and fetal kidney.     

Acute peripheral arterial and graft occlusion: treatment with selective infusion of urokinase and lysyl plasminogen

Thirty-five patients hospitalized for recent angiographically documented arterial occlusion in the legs (27 femoropopliteal arteries and eight grafts) benefited from local fibrinolytic therapy delivered at the site of the occlusion with a 4- or 5-F catheter. This therapy combined a continuous urokinase (UK) infusion of 1,000 U/kg/hour and a lysyl plasminogen (LYS-PLG) infusion of 15 microkatals every 30 minutes. Angiographically confirmed lysis was obtained in 85% of the cases. Only 3% of the patients had major and 6% had minor groin hematomas. Only two patients had concentrations of fibrinogen as low as 100 mg/dl. Intravascular infusion of UK-LYS-PLG is as effective as streptokinase. Its excellent tolerance makes it a good alternative in the treatment of acute ischemia in the lower limbs.     

Gains of chromosomes 7, 17, 12, 16, and 20 and loss of Y occur early in the evolution of papillary renal cell neoplasia: a fluorescent in situ hybridization study.

It has been suggested that gains of chromosomes 7 and 17 and loss of Y occur in renal papillary adenoma and that progression to papillary renal cell carcinoma is marked by gains of additional chromosomes, most frequently 12, 16, and 20. Previous studies have included very few lesions of <5 mm in diameter, a requirement of the present definition of papillary adenoma. Ten papillary adenomas (ranging from 1 to 5 mm in diameter) from autopsy material and 10 surgically resected papillary renal cell carcinomas were studied with fluorescence in situ hybridization in paraffin sections using centromeric probes for chromosomes 7, 12, 16, 17, 20, and Y diluted 1:100 with tDenHyb1 buffer. The signals in 50 to 150 nuclei were counted in each tumor. Controls for all the probes were normal renal tissues from the same patients. Three or more signals per nucleus were frequently observed in papillary adenomas: chromosome 7 (range, 10 to 50%; > or = 30% in 9 of 10), 17 (range, 10 to 47%; > or = 30% in 7), 16 (range, 1 to 63%; > or = 10% in 5), 12 (range, 0 to 32%; > or =10% in 4), and 20 (range, 5 to 49%; > or = 10% in 5). Loss of the Y chromosome was observed in 80 to 90% of nuclei in 9 adenomas from males. Three or more signals were frequent in papillary renal cell carcinomas: chromosome 7 (range, 32 to 63%; > or =30% in 10 of 10), 17 (range, 28 to 61%; > or = 30% in 7), 16 (range, 0 to 45%; > or = 10% in 6), 12 (range, 1 to 37, > or = 10% in 5), 20 (range, 2 to 44%; > or = 10% in 4). No signal for Y was observed in 12 to 88% (> or = 81% in 6) of nuclei in 7 carcinomas from males. Statistical analysis showed no difference between adenomas and carcinomas. Gains of chromosomes 7, 17, 16, 12, and 20 and loss of the Y chromosome occur early in the evolution of papillary renal cell neoplasia in tumors that are only a few millimeters in diameter. Progressive gains of these chromosomes do not appear to correlate with the transition from adenoma to carcinoma.     

Glycoconjugate expression in human renal oncocytomas. A lectin histochemical study

A panel of lectins chosen for its specificity for segments of the nephron was used in an avidin-biotin-peroxidase reaction to stain 13 human renal oncocytomas and a specimen of oncocytomatosis. The lectins were derived from Lotus tetragonolobus, Glycine max, Dolichos biflorus, and Arachis hypogaea. Two patterns predominated: one of staining with the lectins of D biflorus and G max, suggesting distal tubular or collecting-duct differentiation, and one of staining with the lectin of L tetragonolobus, suggesting proximal tubular differentiation.     

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of chromosome 12p in paraffin-embedded tissue is useful for establishing germ cell origin of metastatic tumors.

The over-representation of chromosome 12p sequences is crucial for the development of invasive testicular germ cell tumors. Testicular cancer patients may have metastatic tumors of diverse histologic types, including adenocarcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, sarcoma, or other malignancies that lack features of germ cell tumors. We sought to investigate the possible germ cell origin of such tumors using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. In all, 10 metastatic malignant somatic-type tumors from patients with histories of testicular cancer, as well as one malignant somatic-type tumor from a patient with primary mediastinal germ cell tumor were studied and included: adenocarcinoma (five cases), poorly differentiated carcinoma (one), sarcoma (four), and neuroendocrine carcinoma (one). The tumors were analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization using 12p spectrum green and 12 centromeric spectrum orange probes in paraffin sections. The patients ranged in age from 27 to 55 years (mean, 43). Colon and lung cancers from patients without germ cell tumors were used as controls. Adequate signals were observed in all tumors. Gain of chromosome 12p was seen in six tumors. None of the control tumors showed 12p amplification. Fluorescence in situ hybridization for 12p amplification in routinely processed surgical specimens is a useful adjuvant diagnostic tool in confirming the germ cell origin of metastatic tumors having the histologic appearance of somatic-type neoplasms.     

What some patients can eat during migraine attacks: therapeutic and conceptual implications

Although nausea and vomiting are diagnostic migraine symptoms, most patients can take tablets by mouth and a few say they can eat some food. This study was conducted to determine the proportion who could eat or drink, what was consumable and with what effect. One-hundred-and-nine migraineurs were asked what they could eat or drink at the beginning or height of their attacks; 59 could not take any food by mouth, but 50 could eat during the headache phase of their migraine attacks. Four ate normally, 5 took smaller amounts of their normal dietary intake, and 3 took lighter meals. Dry, carbohydrate foods were consumable by the remaining 38: a few had specific cravings, most stated the precise variety which, when eaten, reduced nausea, headache, other symptoms or length of attacks. Patients should therefore be encouraged to eat what they can tolerate, with their tablets taken as early as possible after the onset of attacks. Simultaneous nausea, tolerance or even craving for specific foods occur in other conditions, particularly high altitude headaches which share other features of migraine attacks. The observations in this paper support the notion that migraine is a central neuronal metabolic disturbance.