Epithelioid sarcoma of the upper extremity

Three cases of epithelioid sarcoma of the upper extremity are presented. Information regarding 112 previously published cases is reviewed. It is concluded that epithelioid sarcoma must be included in the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue tumors of the extremities. Moreover, the diagnosis of epithelioid sarcoma demands prompt and aggressive surgical intervention. Irradiation therapy and chemotherapy have not been proven to be of value in the management of epithelioid sarcoma.     

Epithelioid sarcoma. Report of a case with fine needle aspiration diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma affecting the extremities, particularly the hands and fingers. Though it is well described histopathologically, publications regarding its cytologic findings are limited. CASE: A 52-year-old woman presented with swelling of the left middle finger. Fine needle aspiration was performed. Smears showed oval to polygonal cells with epithelioid features. A diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma with a possibility of epithelioid sarcoma was suggested. Histopathologic examination and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In the presence of classic cytologic findings, the diagnosis of epithelioid sarcoma can be suggested. Subsequent histologic examination and immunohistochemistry can confirm the diagnosis.     

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the wrist

A rare case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma occurring at the wrist is reported. No mitoses were seen in the tissue examined, but the cell type could not be identified by frozen section. Based on the report, the remaining neoplasm was resected and no structures vital to hand function were sacrificed. There has been no recurrence of the tumor in 3 1/2 years.     

Epithelioid and fibroblastic rat kidney cell clones: epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and the effect of mouse sarcoma virus transformation.

Fibroblastic and epithelioid clones have been isolated from the normal rat kidney line, NRK. These clones were studied for their ability to bind epidermal growth factor (EGF), susceptibility to transformation by mouse sarcoma virus (MSV), and alteration in EGF binding upon sarcoma virus transformation. The epithelioid clones bound much more EGF than the fibroblastic clones; Scatchard plots on two of these clones, one epithelioid and one fibroblastic, showed that the higher EGF binding (1.3 x 10(5) molecules per cell for the epithelioid clone and 1.3 x 10(4) molecules per cell for the fibroblastic clone) was due to a greater number or receptors on the epithelioid cells rather than to a difference in the apparent affinity constant. When the clones were transformed by Moloney murine sarcoma virus the EGF binding decreased, the effect being greater with the fibroblastic clones. In 20 out of 20 independently isolated sarcoma virus transformed fibroblastic clones, the level of EGF binding was either greatly reduced or completely eliminated. In contrast to EGF, another growth factor, multiplication stimulating activity (MSA), bound to a greater extent to the fibroblastic clones than the epithelioid clones, and its binding was not decreased by sarcoma virus transformation. The results show that loss of EGF binding ability correlates with expression of the murine sarcoma virus transformation.     

Kaposi's sarcoma

A case of Kaposi's sarcoma in a 86-year female farmer is presented in view of the epidemiological data, currently changed biology of Kaposi's sarcoma, and its importance related to an association with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this particular case, the clinical course of the disease was very rapid with skin lesions on the upper and lower extremities and on mucous membranes of the oral cavity and epiglottis. Immunologic disorders caused afebrile pneumonia, prolonged healing of the post-traumatic wound and fracture of the shaft of the radius and ulna. Progressive cachexia and weakness have led to the loss of the waking ability and self-care.     

Kaposi's sarcoma biology

Cancer remains a major burden for HIV-infected individuals. The majority of cancers associated with HIV infection are driven by oncogenic viruses like Epstein-Barr virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and human papillomavirus. Kaposi's sarcoma is a tumour of endothelium and is the most common malignancy in HIV infected individuals. AIDS-related cancers are providing critical insight into cancer immunity and viral oncogenesis.     

Epithelioid cell granuloma induction in the guinea pig by haptenated Mycobacterium leprae

Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated Mycobacterium leprae (FITC-M. leprae) was injected intradermally into the ears of guinea pigs and granuloma formation in the draining postauricular lymph nodes was studied. At 2 weeks, there was an increase in weights and infiltration of the draining lymph nodes in half of the animals injected with FITC-M. leprae. At 5 weeks, there was a significant increase in the weights and infiltration of these draining lymph nodes in the guinea pigs injected with haptenated M. leprae compared with those injected with unconjugated M. leprae. At 5 weeks, there was also a significant increase in delayed type hypersensitivity responses to 25 μg purified protein derivative. Histologically, epithelioid cell granulomas were seen in these lymph nodes as early as 2 weeks when FITC-M. leprae was used as the source of antigen. Enhancement in the immunogenicity of M. leprae by conjugation with FITC has been postulated.     

甲状腺上皮样血管内皮瘤临床病理及分子生物学特点分析

为探讨甲状腺上皮样血管内皮瘤的病理形态特征、免疫表型和鉴别诊断,对2例甲状腺上皮样血管内皮瘤进行临床资料分析、随访,并观察其病理形态及免疫组织化学染色分析。2例甲状腺上皮样血管内皮瘤均位于甲状腺下极,实性,切面暗红色,镜下由增生的血管内皮细胞构成,具有上皮样细胞形态,胞浆较丰富,嗜酸性,多呈空泡状,细胞间可见血管腔,免疫组化:CD34(+)、Vim(+)、细胞角蛋白(cytokeratin,CK)(-)、甲状腺球蛋白(thyroid globulin,TG)(-)。上皮样血管内皮瘤是一种罕见的甲状腺肿瘤,其生物学行为属于低度恶性。     

Complementary RNA in the chicken sarcoma cells and Rous sarcoma virus]

The subcellular localization in chicken Rous sarcoma of nucleotide sequence, complementary to Rous sarcoma virus RNA was examined by RNA/RNA molecular hybridization. The preparations of radioiodinated virion RNA were annealed with RNAs from different fractions (nuclei, mitochondria, free and membrane-bound polyribosomes) isolated from chicken Rous sarcoma. Formation of RNA-ase resistant hybrids between the viral 125I-RNA and RNA from the mitochondria and membrane-bound polyribosomes was revealed. The latter were characterized by a higher relative redundancy of nucleotide sequences complementary to virion RNA than that in the former, by factor 446. The role of complementary ribonucleotide sequences is discussed.     

Primary mammary osteogenic sarcoma

A 78 year-old female patient underwent a total mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection for a primary breast osteosarcoma. Microscopically the tumor was identical to grade II skeletal osteosarcoma. Immunohistochemically no reactivity was detected, either for the epithelial markers EMA, AE1/AE3, CK8, 18, 19, or for HER-2/neu, estrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as fluorescent IN SITU hybridization for HER-2/neu. The diagnosis of this tumor fulfills certain clinicopathological criteria. Mammary osteosarcoma is usually developed in phyllodes tumors or carcinosarcomas of the breast as a result of metaplasia of the epithelial component. This rare tumor of the breast is occasionally associated with prior radiation therapy or well documented trauma. Mammary osteosarcoma is a biologically aggressive neoplasm with a 38% five-year survival rate. Surgical resection is the most effective therapy to date. Adjuvant treatment -chemotherapy or radiotherapy- has shown no clear benefit. An extensive review of the literature is also presented.