Oncocytic adencarcinoma of the rectum with diffuse intra-luminal microcalcifications: the first reported case

Several histological variants of colorectal carcinoma have been reported, some of them bearing prognostic significance, others only incidental findings showing unusual morphological features. The current report was aimed to describe the histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of an oncocytic adenocarcinoma of the rectum occurring in a 66-year-old woman. Histologically, it was a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma composed by glandular structures lined by eosinophilic cells. The latter showed abundant granular cytoplasm and large nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Several glandular structures contained intraluminal, basophilic and non-birifrangent microcalcifications. The tumour cells displayed consistent anti-mitochondrial antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, p53, CDX2 and cytokeratin 20 immunoreactivity. Ultrastructurally, more than 80% of the cytoplasmic area was occupied by abnormal mitochondria, while exocrine or endocrine granules were undetectable. The tumour infiltrated the intestinal wall through the subserosal tissue, but lymph node or distant metastases were absent. The patient is disease free 22 months after surgery. Based on the above features, this case could be appropriately named oncocytic adenocarcinoma with intraluminal microcalcifications. Like gastric neoplasms showing similar morphologic features, this tumour might have a better prognosis, and the presence of microcalcifcations could help its proper recognition at a pre-operative stage.     

Identification of early vascular calcification with 18F-sodium fluoride: potential clinical application

Vascular calcification plays a prominent role in cardiovascular disease. Once considered to be a passive consequence of aging, this pathological process is now accepted to be dynamic and tightly regulated, its onset triggered by inflammation and necrosis and its progression bearing key similarities to osteogenesis. A major potential advance in our ability to understand the natural history and clinical implications of vascular calcification is the detection of its early and dynamic stages through the use of the positron-emitting radiotracer, ¹⁸F-sodium fluoride. Alongside anatomical information gained from computed tomography, hybrid positron emission and computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging with ¹⁸F-sodium fluoride has, for the first time, enabled the non-invasive detection of microcalcification within the aortic valve, great vessels, and vulnerable coronary plaque. This has raised promise that exploring this process may allow improved risk prediction, better application of current therapies and ultimately the development of novel treatments to target this widespread pathology.     

乳腺癌线样或线样分支状钙化与病理类型和分子表达的关系

目的：探讨乳腺癌线样或线样分支状钙化与组织病理学及分子表达之间的关系及临床意义,评价微钙化预测乳腺癌组织病理类型及分子亚型的可行性。方法：回顾性分析150例钙化型乳腺癌（非肿块）患者的病例资料,由两位高年资医师根据钙化形态（线样钙化或非线样钙化）进行分组,分析钙化形态与乳腺癌病理类型（乳腺导管原位癌、浸润性导管癌）及分子表达[雌激素受体（ER）、孕激素受体（PR）和人表皮生长因子相关基因（HER2）]的关系。结果：乳腺导管原位癌（DCIS）中线样或线样分支状钙化组中伴局部微浸润的比例明显高于非线样或线样分支钙化组（27／37VS9／22,P〈0．05）;线样或线样分支状钙化组中雌激素受体（ER）的表达率低于非线样或线样分支状钙化（8／22VS22／34,P〈0．05）,而HER2的过表达率高于非线样或线样分支状钙化组（17／39VS12／17,P〈O．05）。结论：线样或线样分支状钙化与乳腺癌病理类型和分子表达具有一定的相关关系,可以为乳腺癌治疗策略的制定和预后预测的提供参考。     

计算机辅助检测对检出乳腺X线片中成簇微钙化灶的价值

目的:探讨计算机辅助检测系统(CAD)对检出乳腺X线钼靶摄影片中成簇微钙化灶的临床应用价值。方法:将22例乳腺X线钼靶片上疑有簇状钙化灶患者和13例正常对照者的140张乳腺钼靶X线片,经专业扫描仪数字化处理后,应用CAD软件标记其中的微钙化灶,由6位放射科医师分别单独阅片,再结合CAD阅片,结果采用受试者操作特性(ROC)曲线法进行分析。结果:6位放射科医师结合CAD阅片后,评价效果均优于未结合CAD时,其中3位低年资医师(有1年临床经验)和1位中年资医师(有5年以上临床经验)的两次评价结果有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论:CAD有助于提高乳腺X线片中成簇微钙化灶的检出率,尤其对缺少诊断经验医师的作用更大。     

乳腺微小钙化灶的高频超声声像图评价

目的：评价乳腺微小钙化灶在乳腺癌高频超声诊断中的价值，材料和方法：通过分析高频声像图上87例乳腺微小钙化灶(经钼靶X线片证实)的显示情况．以及局部乳腺回声特点与病理的对照研究，对乳腺微小钙化灶的高频超声检出率及良、恶性病变的超声诊断正确率进行评价。结果：乳腺微小钙化灶的高频超声检出率为81．6％，其中在恶性病例中微小钙化灶的超声检出率达927％，而良性病例中的检出率为62．5％。超声列乳腺微小钙化灶病例良、恶性诊断的敏感性、特异性分别为80％和84.4％，尤其是对伴有肿块的乳腺微小钙化灶的诊断正确率明显高于无肿块组。结论：高频超声可以有效地检出并识别乳腺内的微小钙化灶，超声微小钙化灶征象(尤其是存在于肿块内的)对乳腺癌的诊断具有很大的价值，     

Dark-field imaging in coronary atherosclerosis

ObjectivesDark-field imaging based on small angle X-ray scattering has been shown to be highly sensitive for microcalcifications, e.g. in breast tissue. We hypothesized (i) that high signal areas in dark-field imaging of atherosclerotic plaque are associated with microcalcifications and (ii) that dark-field imaging is more sensitive for microcalcifications than attenuation-based imaging.MethodsFifteen coronary artery specimens were examined at an experimental set-up consisting of X-ray tube (40 kV), grating-interferometer and detector. Tomographic dark-field-, attenuation-, and phase-contrast data were simultaneously acquired. Histopathology served as standard of reference. To explore the potential of dark field imaging in a full-body CT system, simulations were carried out with spherical calcifications of different sizes to simulate small and intermediate microcalcifications.ResultsMicrocalcifications were present in 10/10 (100%) cross-sections with high dark-field signal and without evidence of calcifications in attenuation- or phase contrast. In positive controls with high signal areas in all three modalities, 10/10 (100%) cross-sections showed macrocalcifications. In negative controls without high signal areas, no calcifications were detected. Simulations showed that the microcalcifications generate substantially higher dark-field than attenuation signal.ConclusionsDark-field imaging is highly sensitive for microcalcifications in coronary atherosclerotic plaque and might provide complementary information in the assessment of plaque instability.     

乳腺微小钙化定位切除的临床应用

目的 探讨乳腺微小钙化定位切除手术的应用及在乳腺癌早期诊断和治疗中的作用.方法 对126例乳腺微小钙化患者行X线检查确定钙化灶位置,采用金属线定位和手术切除活检,确定钙化区乳腺的病理类型.结果 126例临床触诊阴性乳腺微小钙化病例中,乳腺癌37例（27.2%）,其中0期乳腺癌11例（29.7%）,Ⅰ期乳腺癌20例（54.1%）,Ⅱ期乳腺癌6例（16.2%）.对乳腺癌病例采用保乳手术、乳腺单纯切除术和改良根治术等治疗,术后中位随访时间为36个月,只有1例（2.7%）Ⅱ期乳腺癌患者出现远处转移,其余患者无瘤生存.结论 乳腺微小钙化定位切除具有组织损伤小,可靠性高等特点,对提高乳腺癌的早期诊断率具有一定的临床应用价值.     

Screen-Film Mammography and Soft-Copy Full-Field Digital Mammography: Comparison in the Patients with Microcalcifications

Objective

We wanted to compare the ability of screen-film mammography (SFM) and soft-copy full-field digital mammography (s-FFDM) on two different monitors to detect and characterize microcalcifications.

Materials and Methods

The images of 40 patients with microcalcifications (three patients had malignant lesion and 37 patients had benign lesion), who underwent both SFM and FFDM at an interval of less than six months, were independently evaluated by three readers. Three reading sessions were undertaken for SFM and for FFDM on a mammography-dedicated review workstation (RWS, 2K×2.5K), and for FFDM on a high-resolution PACS monitor (1.7K×2.3K). The image quality, breast composition and the number and conspicuity of the microcalcifications were evaluated using a three-point rating method, and the mammographic assessment was classified into 4 categories (normal, benign, low concern and moderate to great concern).

Results

The image quality, the number and conspicuity of the microcalcifications by s-FFDM (on the RWS, PACS and both) were superior to those by SFM in 85.0%, 80.0% and 52.5% of the cases, respectively (p < 0.01), and those by the s-FFDM on the two different monitors were similar in 15.0%, 12.5% and 35.0% of the cases, respectively (p > 0.01). The mammographic assessment category for the microcalcifications in the three reading sessions was similar.

Conclusion

s-FFDM gives a superior image quality to SFM and it is better at evaluating microcalcifications. In addition, s-FFDM with the PACS monitor is comparable to s-FFDM with the RWS for evaluating microcalcifications.     

高频超声对乳腺肿块内钙化的特征性分析

目的应用高频超声观察分析乳腺肿块内钙化的大小、形状和分布特征,进一步探讨其与良恶性之间的关系.方法 51例高频超声检查具钙化显像的乳腺疾病患者,其中恶性病变30例,良性病变21例,全部病例均获病理诊断.结果根据钙化大小将病变内钙化分为三种类型:①微钙化;②粗钙化;③弧形钙化.进一步将微钙化分为a.小斑点状钙化;b.珍珠状钙化;c.簇状钙化.30例恶性病变,其中微钙化29例,粗钙化仅1例;良性21例中,微钙化13例,粗钙化4例,弧形钙化4例,微钙化多发生于恶性病变中,而粗钙化和弧形钙化则多出现于良性病变中,两组具有显著差异(χ2=12.22,P＜0.001.在有详细记录的42例微钙化中,恶性肿块钙化多呈团簇状分布(22/42),良性钙化多为单一或松散分布的珍珠状和斑点状(12/42),统计学具有显著差异(χ2＝16.44,P＜0.001 );另有7例(7/42)恶性病变亦显示松散分布的斑点状钙化.结论簇状钙化是乳腺癌的特征,单一或松散分布的珍珠状钙化、粗钙化及弧形钙化多为良性病变,值得注意的是斑点样钙化为良恶性病变所共有,单一或稀少松散分布多为良性病变,两个或以上较为聚集出现时应结合其他二维征象及彩色多普勒血流频谱特征等有助于提高乳腺癌的诊断率.     

FNAC对弥漫硬化型甲状腺乳头状癌的诊断价值

目的探讨细针穿刺细胞学检查(FNAC)对弥漫硬化型甲状腺乳头状癌(DSV-PTC)的诊断及鉴别价值。方法回顾性分析12例超声可疑DSV-PTC患者,行超声引导下病变区和可疑淋巴结FNAC,并与手术病理及临床随访对照。结果10例经手术证实为DSV-PTC,其中8例伴颈部淋巴结转移;术前甲状腺FNAC正确诊断乳头状癌9例(9/10,90%),1例重复FNAC考虑意义不明确细胞非典型病变,因颈部可疑淋巴结FNAC支持甲状腺转移癌而经手术证实;5例术前同时行异常淋巴结FNAC确诊转移性甲状腺乳头状癌(5/5,100%)。另2例超声疑似患者甲状腺FNAC细胞学病理,分别提示意义不明确细胞非典型病变及淋巴细胞性甲状腺炎,随访3~5年,病情无进展。结论对超声可疑DSV-PTC患者行甲状腺钙化密集区及异常淋巴结FNAC,有助于DSV-PTC的诊断与鉴别,可为临床治疗策略提供依据。