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Volume 41(3); June 2007
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Original Articles
Mucin Phenotype and CDX2 Expression as Prognostic Factors in Gastric Carcinomas.
Chan Kwon Jung, Kyo Young Song, Gyeongsin Park, Cho Hyun Park, Myeong Gyu Choi, Young Seon Hong, Kyo Young Lee
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):139-148.
  • 1,635 View
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
: Mucin phenotypic markers and CDX2 are widely expressed in gastric carcinomas, however, recent studies have produced conflicting results regarding whether the expression patterns of these markers have clinicopathologic significance.
Methods
: We examined samples from 217 gastric carcinoma patients immunohistochemically to determine if the expression of mucin phenotypic markers and CDX2 was correlated with postoperative survival and other clinicopathologic factors.
Results
: All tumors were phenotypically classified as gastric (type G, 81 cases), gastric and intestinal mixed (type GI, 55 cases), intestinal (type I, 43 cases), or unclassified (type U, 38 cases). The occurrence of type G and GI tumors was positively correlated with tumor progression whereas that of type U tumors was negatively correlated with tumor progression. CDX2 expression was correlated with type I tumors. Tumors that expressed MUC5AC or MUC6 had a better prognosis than those that did not. When the relationship between phenotype and prognosis was considered, type GI had the best prognosis, followed by type G, then type U.
Conclusions
: The mucin phenotypic markers may be useful for predicting tumor progression and survival in patients with gastric carcinomas. Additionally, CDX2 may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis of type I tumors.
The Clinicopathological Characteristics of Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors; An Analysis of 65 Cases.
Hyunjoo Lee, Jungwoo Choi, Jung Suk An, Hyunchul Kim, Bong Kyung Shin, Aeree Kim, Hankyeom Kim, Insun Kim
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):149-157.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
: This study was designed to investigate gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors with an emphasis on their clinicopathological characteristics.
Methods
: Sixty-five cases were reviewed and classified as typical carcinoid (TC), atypical carcinoid (AC), large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small cell carcinoma (SmCC). We performed immunohistochemistry to characterize the expression of the immunoreactivity for synaptophysin, chromogranin, gastrin, somatostatin, thyroid transcription factor-1, p53 and Ki-67.
Results
: Most commonly, the tumors were located in the rectum (54%), followed by the stomach (23%) and colon (9%). Histologically, the tumors were classified as 49 TCs, 4 ACs, 6 LCNECs and 6 SmCCs. Most tumors were stained positive for synaptophysin and/or chromogranin. Four LCNECs and one SmCC were p53-positive. The carcinoids revealed a low level (<5%) of reactivity for Ki-67, while > or =30% of the cells showed reactivity for Ki-67 in the majority of LCNECs and SmCCs. Six patients with metastatic carcinoids were older than those patients without metastasis (64 vs 48 years, respectively, p=0.004). Furthermore, the size of tumors was larger for the patients with metastatic carcinoids than for the patients with nonmetastatic carcinoids (2.3 vs 0.5 cm, respectively, p=0.005).
Conclusion
: Old age, large tumor size and muscle invasion are associated with high grade neuroendocrine tumor and lymph node metastasis for those patients with carcinoids.
Reduced Expression of Claudin-7 Correlates with Invasiveness and Nuclear Grade of Breast Carcinomas.
Sang Hee Seok, Su Hwan Kang, Soo Jung Lee, Tae Yoon Hwang, Young Kyung Bae
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):158-164.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
: Claudins are important components of the tight junctions in the intercellular barriers and cell polarity. Among them, claudin-7 is down-regulated in breast cancers compared with the normal breast epithelium. The aim of this study was to determine the expression pattern and prognostic value of claudin-7 in breast carcinomas.
Methods
: Claudin-7 expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in 42 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and in 142 cases of invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) using a tissue microarray (TMA).
Results
: Claudin- 7 was strongly expressed in the normal luminal epithelial cells in the breast lobule. The level of claudin-7 expression was significantly lower or absent in 45.2% (19/42) of DCIS and 72.5% (103/142) of IBC. A loss or reduced expression of claudin-7 correlated with the invasiveness (p=0.001) of breast carcinomas and a high nuclear grade (p=0.013) in IBC.
Conclusion
Claudin-7 is an important tight junction protein in the breast and a loss of expression may assist in the dissociation and invasion of tumor cells.
Changes in Protein Expression in Breast Cancer after Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy.
Ho chang Lee, Jae Ok Lee, In Ae Park
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):165-170.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
: Anthracyclines are the standard agents used to treat patients with advanced breast carcinoma. Some molecules are reportedly associated with anthracycline resistance; however, there has been some controversy surrounding these claims. The gain or loss of certain molecules after chemotherapy can explain the discrepancies in the results.
Methods
: We evaluated the expression levels of the estrogen receptor (ER), p53, and bcl-2 in specimens obtained from twenty patients with advanced breast cancer before and after anthracyclinebased chemotherapy using immunohistochemistry (IHC). We also examined HER2/neu expression in these specimens using IHC and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis.
Results
: After chemotherapy, one of the twenty cases (5%) showed decreased ER expression, one (5%) showed decreased p53 expression, and one (5%) showed increased bcl-2 expression. IHC and FISH analysis in pre- and post-chemotherapy specimens showed that the expression of HER2/neu changed from equivocal to negative in one case (5%).
Conclusion
: Our results showed that the expression levels of HER2/neu, ER, p53 and bcl-2 remained stable after chemotherapy, although the statistical significance of these results may not be validated due to the small number of cases. We also suggested that the resistance to anthracycline-based chemotherapy might not be associated with the modification of these molecules.
Expression of c-erbB-2 and Cyclooxygenase-2 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.
Hye Jeong Choi, Hong Jin Kim, Sung Soo Yun, Joon Hyuck Choi
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):171-175.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
: Carcinoma of the pancreas is a fatal malignant disease with limited therapeutic options. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and c-erbB-2 are known to be involved in the carcinogenesis, differentiation and invasiveness of various neoplasms. We studied the immunohistochemical expressions of c-erbB-2 and COX-2 and the correlation between these expressions and the clinicopathologic parameters and the relation between the expressions.
Methods
: Immunohistochemical staining for c-erbB-2 and COX-2 were performed on the paraffin embedded sections of 36 cases of surgically resected ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and 10 cases of non-neoplastic pancreas tissue.
Results
: The non-neoplastic control group showed a c-erbB-2 expression in the acini (8/10) and ducts (2/10), and a COX-2 expression in the acini (6/10) and ducts (3/10). The overexpression of c-erbB-2 was observed in 58% (21/36) of the carcinoma specimens. No significant correlation was found between c-erbB-2 and age, gender, tumor size, gross type, histologic grade, vascular invasion, perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis, and the TNM stage. The overexpression of COX-2 was observed in 41.7% (15/36) of the carcinoma specimens. The COX-2 expression was significantly high in the lymph node metastasis group (p<0.05), but it was not correlated with the other clinicopathologic parameters. Also there was no significant correlation between the c-erbB-2 and COX-2 expressions.
Conclusions
: In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, c-erbB-2 and COX-2 were frequently overexpressed, and COX-2 overexpression was correlated with lymph node metastasis.
Prognostic Significance of Thymosin- 4 in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Patients.
Lucia Kim, Ye Ji Kim, Suk Jin Choi, In Suh Park, Jee Young Han, Young Chae Chu, Joon Mee Kim
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):176-182.
  • 1,643 View
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
: Thymosin- 4 is an actin-sequestering protein that regulates actin polymerization. It is known to be associated with cell migration, angiogenesis and wound healing, as well as with tumor metastasis.
Methods
: We immunohistochemically evaluated the thymosin- 4 expression in gastric adenocarcinoma specimens, the relationship between this protein and the pathologic features and other tumor-related proteins, and its influence on the patient outcome.
Results
: We demonstrated that 40 specimens (26.3%) of 152 gastric adenocarcinomas showed positivity for thymosin- 4. The thymosin- 4 expression was statistically associated with advanced tumor stage (p=0.010), the nodal stage (p=0.029), the TNM stage (p=0.008), and the presence of lymphovascular invasion (p=0.009). The thymosin- 4 protein expression was closely related to the positivity for VEGF (p=0.000), c-Myc (p=0.007), and cyclin D1 (p=0.005), but it was not associated with the E-cadherin (p=0.861) or -catenin (p=0.640) expressions. The median survival and disease relapse time of patients showing thymosin-4 immunoreactivity were statistically shorter than those of patients without expression. Multivariate analysis showed that the tumor stage (p=0.003), nodal stage (p=0.005), thymosin- 4 expression (p=0.019) and Lauren's classification (p=0.037) were statistically important prognostic factors for gastric adenocarcinomas.
Conclusions
: The thymosin- 4 expression might be associated with disease progression of gastric adenocarcinomas and it should be regarded as an important prognostic factor for estimating patient survival.
Case Reports
Pediatric Pigmented Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (Bednar Tumor): A Case Report.
Dae Woon Eom, Gil Hyun Kang, Key Won Lee, Soo Jung Choi
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):183-186.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
A Bednar tumor is a rare neoplasm of intermediate malignant potential that accounts for 1-5% of all cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). This tumor is considered a pigmented variant of DFSP, because the clinical and histological findings resemble DFSP. The diagnosis is commonly made in early to middle adult life except in cases with melanin containing cells. In the case presented here, the patient was a 3-year-old male who presented with a painless slow-growing 2.0x1.5x1.0 cm mass on the dorsal aspect of his right hand. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed typical features of a Bednar tumor, which was composed of CD34 positive monomorphous spindle shaped cells arranged in a storiform fashion with moderate mitotic activity (up to 5 per 10 HPF) and scattered pigmented cells with dendritic processes. We report a rare case of Bednar tumor affecting a pediatric patient and review the medical literatures.
Pigmented Trichogerminoma: A Case Report.
Jung Ha Shin, Ji Han Jung, Jinyoung Yoo, Seok Jin Kang, Kyo Young Lee
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):187-189.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Trichogerminoma is a rare cutaneous adnexal tumor that dysplays differentiation toward the hair germ epithelium. This tumor was first described by Sau et al. in 1992 and it is characterized by densely packed round nests or cell balls resembling hair bulbs. Herein, we report on a deeply pigmented and sharply circumscribed nodular tumor that was excised on the abdomen of a 48-year-old woman. Histologically the tumor involved both dermis and subcutis without any epidermal connection. The main nodule was subdivided into the smaller lobules by fibrous stroma. The lobules were composed of masses of basaloid cells that displayed peripheral palisading. Within the lobules, the basaloid cells formed numerous cell balls. The tumor presented the characteristic features of trichogerminoma. Interestingly, our case was the pigmented type, which was remarkable by virtue of the heavy melanin deposits found within and around the tumor nests. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of pigmented trichogerminoma that has been reported worldwide.
Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Lacrimal Gland: A Case Report.
Dae Hyun Song, Gyung Hyuck Ko, Seong Wook Seo, Dong Chul Kim
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):190-192.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Primary ductal adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland is a neoplasm morphologically similar to ductal carcinoma of the salivary gland and breast. The tumor is very rare and has not been previously reported in Korea. We report a primary ductal adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland in a 75-year-old man. Computerized tomography showed a 1.5 cm-sized poorly demarcated nodule in the left upper eyelid. Microscopically, the tumor showed features similar to those of intraductal and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, including comedonecrosis. Therefore, ductal carcinoma rather than ductal adenocarcinoma appears to be a more appropriate term for these tumors.
Sclerosing Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland: A Case Report.
Hyunchul Kim, Ju Han Lee, Eung Seok Lee, Soon Young Kwon, Taik Kun Kim, Young Sik Kim
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):193-197.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Sclerosing mucoepidermoid carcinoma (SMEC) is a very rare tumor of the salivary gland. There have been eight cases of SMEC reported in the medical literature; this is the first reported case in Korea. A 51-year-old woman presented with a right infra-auricular mass that she had for 3 years. We performed superficial parotidectomy. Grossly, the resected parotid gland showed a well-circumscribed firm mass. Histologically, the tumor consisted of central solid or ductal tumor nests within a dense fibrous stroma surrounded by peripheral lymphoid infiltration. The tumor nests were composed of squamous, intermediate and mucin-secreting cells. However, the tumor cells lacked mitosis and nuclear anaplasia. The lymphoid cells were mostly composed of lymphocytes and plasma cells with occasional eosinophils and neutrophils. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for high- and low- molecular weight cytokeratins, cytokeratin 7, p16INK4A, Bcl-2 and cyclin D1. The patient also underwent radiation therapy. We report here on a case of SMEC of the parotid gland along with the immunohistochemical characteristics, and we review the relevant literature.
Epstein-Barr virus-associated Inflammatory Pseudotumor-like Follicular Dendritic Cell Tumor in the Spleen of a Patient with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Sun Och Yoon, Hyoungsuk Ko, Baek hui Kim, Ghee Young Kwon, Yoon Kyung Jeon, Chul Woo Kim
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):198-202.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
We report a case of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell tumor (IPT-like FDC tumor). The tumor occurred in the spleen of a 64-year-old woman with a history of a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of neck nodes that presented four years ago. The splenectomy specimen revealed a 5 cm-sized, tan-colored and well-circumscribed mass. Histologically, spindle or ovoid cells with large vesicular nuclei were admixed with abundant inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemically, spindle cells were positive for FDC marker CD35, but negative for CD20, CD30 and ALK. EBV was detected almost exclusively in spindle cells by EBER in situ hybridization. IPT-like FDC tumors are rare, and are recognized as a distinctive clinicopathologic variant of FDC tumors. Among only 18 similar cases reported in the English language literature, the present case is the first case of a patient with a history of DLBCL.
Acinar Cell Cystadenoma of the Pancreas: Report of a Case with Metaplastic Ossification.
Baek Hee Kim, Seog Yun Park, Bomi Kim, Gyeong Hoon Kang
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):203-206.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Acinar cell cystadenoma (ACA) is a very rare cystic lesion of the pancreas. The lining epithelium of ACA is morphologically identical to acinar cells of the pancreas. It is uncertain whether ACA is a benign neoplasm or cystic transformation of acinar glands but it is worthy to consider ACA in the differential diagnosis of other cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. We report here a 25-year old-woman who was operated on for a cystic mass of the pancreas. Grossly, a multilocular cystic mass containing clear serous fluid was observed. There was no communication between the cysts and the pancreatic ducts. Microscopically, cysts of various size were lined by columnar, cuboidal or flattened epithelial cells with a few foci of pseudostratification. The cells had granular apical cytoplasm and basally located nuclei with minimal atypia, the same as normal acinar cells. Metaplastic ossification was noted in the stroma. Immunohistochemically, the lining epithelium was positive for cytokeratin 7, antitrypsin and antichymotrypsin.
Concurrence of Spatially Separated Medullary Carcinoma and Papillary Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland: A Report of Three Cases.
Changyoung Yoo, Chan Kwon Jung, Hyeok Sang Kwon, Sung Hun Kim, Min Sik Kim, Seung Nam Kim, Kyo Young Lee
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):207-212.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Although medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) may coexist with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) as a collision tumor within the same nodule or as two or more spatially separated tumors, these two carcinomas rarely coexist. We encountered three cases of sporadic MTCs spatially separated from PTCs, which occurred concurrently, either within the same thyroid lobe or in different thyroid lobes. In each of the cases the patients underwent total thyroidectomy and neck dissection. PTC metastases of the lymph node were observed in two of the cases and MTC metastasis of the lymph node was observed in one case. Among the multiple thyroid nodules affected by both MTCs and PTCs, only the dominant nodules had spread to the lymph nodes. Because MTC has a different clinical significance from PTC, in patients with multiple thyroid nodules, appropriate diagnostic approaches, such as fine needle aspiration of all possible nodules and measurement of serum calcitonin level, should be performed.
Lipomatous Hypertrophy of the Interatrial Septum: A Case Report.
Ji Eun Kwak, Han Seong Kim, Mee Joo, Sun Hee Chang, Sang Hwa Shim, Je G Chi, Wook Sung Kim
Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(3):213-215.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is a benign cardiac mass that is characterized by excessive deposition of fat in the interatrial septum. It typically occurs in elderly, obese patients and may cause arrhythmia. We report a case of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum. A 45-year-old man was admitted for evaluation of chest discomfort. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a cardiac mass, which was suspected as a myxoma. A resection of the tumor was performed. Grossly, the mass was 1.3x1.2x0.8 cm, and showed yellow soft consistency and good demarcation. Microscopically, the mass consisted of mature adipose tissue, intermixed cardiac muscle fibers, entrapped nerve fibers and ganglion cells. Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum should be differentiated pathologically from tumorous cardiac mass such as lipoma and myxoma.

J Pathol Transl Med : Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine