Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Original Article

Revisiting human sparganosis: a pathologic review from a single institution: Jeemin Yim, Young A Kim, Jeong Hwan Park, Hye Eun Park, Hyun Beom Song, Ji Eun Kim; J Pathol Transl Med. 2026;60(1):83-91. Published online January 9, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2025.10.14

453 View
38 Download

Abstract PDF: Background
Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection caused by Spirometra species. Although it was relatively common in the past, it is now often overlooked. In this study, we review cases diagnosed through histopathological examination at a single institution in recent years to raise awareness of this neglected parasitic disease. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cases of human sparganosis identified in the pathology archives of a single institution in South Korea between 2004 and 2025. A comprehensive review was conducted, including demographic data, clinical features, lesion locations, imaging findings, exposure history (such as dietary habits), and histopathologic findings. Results: A total of 15 patients were identified, including 10 females and 5 males, with a mean age of 65.1 years. Lesions were most commonly located in the lower extremities and breast. Imaging findings were largely nonspecific, with ultrasonography being the most frequently used modality. In most cases, clinical suspicion of sparganosis was absent, and excision was performed under the impression of a benign or malignant tumor. Histologically, variably degenerated parasitic structures were identified within granulomatous inflammation. However, preserved features such as calcospherules and tegumental structures facilitated definitive diagnosis. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of recognizing the characteristic histopathological features of sparganosis, which can allow for accurate diagnosis even in the absence of clinical suspicion. Although rare, sparganosis remains a relevant diagnostic consideration in endemic regions, particularly in East Asia.

Review Article

Solitary fibrous tumor: an updated review: Joon Hyuk Choi; J Pathol Transl Med. 2026;60(1):20-46. Published online December 29, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2025.10.08

575 View
80 Download

Abstract PDF: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a fibroblastic neoplasm characterized by a branching, thin-walled dilated staghorn-shaped (hemangiopericytoma-like) vasculature and a NAB2::STAT6 gene fusion. SFTs can occur in almost any anatomical location, including superficial and deep soft tissues, visceral organs, and bone. They most commonly occur in extrapleural locations, equally affect both sexes, and are typically present in adults. Although metastasis is rare, SFTs frequently show local recurrence. The diagnosis of SFTs is difficult because of their broad histological and morphological overlap with other neoplasms. An accurate diagnosis is important for guiding disease management and prognosis. Despite advances in molecular diagnostics and therapeutic strategies, the biological complexity and unpredictable clinical behavior of SFTs present significant challenges. This review provides an updated overview of SFT, with a focus on its molecular genetics, histopathological features, and diagnostic considerations.

Case Study

Diagnostic challenge in Burkitt lymphoma of the mandible initially misdiagnosed as osteomyelitis: a case report: Jiwon Do, Jin-Young Choi; J Pathol Transl Med. 2025;59(6):460-466. Published online November 14, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2025.09.18

1,845 View
92 Download

Abstract PDF: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive B-cell neoplasm that rarely involves the mandible in elderly without apparent immunodeficiency. We report a case of a 72-year-old male who presented with persistent mandibular pain following extraction of tooth #46. Initial imaging findings were consistent with incipient osteomyelitis, and the patient was treated with antibiotics. Despite treatment, pain persisted, and follow-up imaging revealed swelling and diffusion restriction in the lateral pterygoid muscle without evidence of a distinct mass. Biopsy revealed BL confirmed by immunohistochemistry: CD10+, BCL6+, c-MYC+, Ki-67 >95%, and negative for BCL2, MUM-1, and Epstein-Barr virus. Although c-MYC immunopositivity was demonstrated, fluorescence in situ hybridization for MYC rearrangement could not be performed due to limited tissue, representing a diagnostic limitation. Notably, the patient had no trismus despite deep muscle involvement, but complained of facial paresthesia and showed remote swelling in the scapular area during hospitalization. Systemic staging with imaging, cerebrospinal fluid cytology, and imaging revealed disseminated nodal and extranodal involvement including the central nervous system, corresponding to stage IV disease by Lugano classification. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing lymphoma from osteomyelitis and underscores the importance of considering malignancy in cases of refractory mandibular inflammation with atypical features.

Original Article

Diagnostic value of cytology in detecting human papillomavirus–independent cervical malignancies: a nation-wide study in Korea: Hye-Ra Jung, Junyoung Shin, Chong Woo Yoo, Eun Na Kim, Cheol Lee, Kyeongmin Kim, Ho-chang Lee, Yonghee Lee, Ji Hye Kim, Soo Jin Jung, Yumin Chung, Joo Yeon Kim, Hye Eun Park, Tae Hoen Kim, Wonae Lee, Min-Sun Cho, Ran Hong, Yoon Jung Choi, Younghee Choi, Young Sub Lee, Sang-Ryung Lee, Myunghee Kang, Young Jin Seo, Seung-Sook Lee, Yoon-Jung Hwang, Hyun-Jung Kim; J Pathol Transl Med. 2025;59(6):444-452. Published online November 11, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2025.10.21

2,597 View
122 Download

Abstract PDF: Background
Human papillomavirus (HPV) independent cervical malignancies (HPV-IDCMs) have recently been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) 5th edition. These malignancies have historically received limited attention due to their rarity and the potential for evasion of HPV-based screening.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 5,854 biopsy-confirmed cervical malignancies from 22 institutions over 3 years (July 2020–June 2023). Histologic classification followed the WHO guidelines. HPV independence was confirmed by dual negativity for p16 and HPV; discordant cases (p16-positive/HPV-negative) underwent additional HPV testing using paraffin-embedded tissue. Cytological results were matched sequentially to histological confirmation.
Results
The prevalence of HPV-IDCM was 4.4% (257/5,854) overall and was 3.6% (208/5,805 cases) among primary cervical malignancy. Patient age of HPV-IDCM was 29 to 89 years (median, 57.79). Its histologic subtypes included primary adenocarcinoma (n = 116), endometrial adenocarcinoma (n = 35), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 72), metastatic carcinoma (n = 14), carcinoma, not otherwise specified (n = 10), neuroendocrine carcinoma (n = 3), and others (n = 7). Among 155 cytology-histological matched cases, the overall and primary Pap test detection rates were 85.2% (132/155) and 83.2% (104/125), respectively. The interval between cytology and histologic confirmation extended up to 38 months.
Conclusions
HPV-IDCMs comprised 3.6% of primary cervical malignancies with a high detection rate via cytology (83.2%). These findings affirm the value of cytological screening, particularly in patients with limited screening history or at risk for HPV-independent lesions, and may guide future screening protocols.

Review Article

Central nervous system tumors with BCOR internal tandem duplications: a systematic review of clinical, radiological, and pathological features in 69 cases: Ji Young Lee, Sung Sun Kim, Hee Jo Baek, Tae-Young Jung, Kyung-Sub Moon, Jae-Hyuk Lee, Kyung-Hwa Lee; J Pathol Transl Med. 2025;59(5):273-280. Published online September 1, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2025.07.23

3,274 View
175 Download

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Central nervous system tumors with BCL6 corepressor (BCOR) internal tandem duplications (ITDs) constitute a rare, recently characterized pediatric neoplasm with distinct molecular and histopathological features. To date, 69 cases have been documented in the literature, including our institutional case. These neoplasms predominantly occur in young children, with the cerebellum representing the most frequent anatomical location. Radiologically, these tumors present as large, well-circumscribed masses frequently demonstrating necrosis, hemorrhage, and heterogeneous enhancement. Histologically, they are characterized by a monomorphic cellular population featuring ependymoma-like perivascular pseudorosettes, myxoid stroma, and elevated mitotic activity. Immunohistochemically, these tumors exhibit sparse glial fibrillary acidic protein expression while consistently demonstrating positive staining for vimentin and CD56. The defining molecular hallmark is a heterozygous ITD within exon 15 of the BCOR gene, with insertions ranging from 9 to 42 amino acids in length. BCOR immunohistochemistry reveals nuclear positivity in 97.9% of examined cases, although this finding is not pathognomonic for BCOR ITDs. This comprehensive review synthesizes data from all published cases of this novel tumor entity, providing a detailed analysis of clinical presentation, neuroimaging findings, histopathological features with differential diagnostic considerations, therapeutic approaches, and prognostic outcomes.

Original Article

Clinicopathologic characterization of cervical metastasis from an unknown primary tumor: a multicenter study in Korea: Miseon Lee, Uiree Jo, Joon Seon Song, Youn Soo Lee, Chang Gok Woo, Dong-Hoon Kim, Jung Yeon Kim, Sun Och Yoon, Kyung-Ja Cho; J Pathol Transl Med. 2023;57(3):166-177. Published online May 10, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2023.04.12

6,160 View
171 Download
6 Web of Science
5 Crossref

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Background
Research regarding cervical metastasis from an unknown primary tumor (CUP) according to human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status in Korea has been sporadic and small-scale. This study aims to analyze and understand the characteristics of CUP in Korea according to viral and p16 and p53 status through a multicenter study.
Methods
Ninety-five cases of CUP retrieved from six hospitals in Korea between January 2006 and December 2016 were subjected to high-risk HPV detection (DNA in situ hybridization [ISH] or real-time polymerase chain reaction), EBV detection (ISH), and immunohistochemistry for p16 and p53.
Results
CUP was HPV-related in 37 cases (38.9%), EBV-related in five cases (5.3%), and unrelated to HPV or EBV in 46 cases (48.4%). HPV-related CUP cases had the best overall survival (OS) (p = .004). According to the multivariate analysis, virus-unrelated disease (p = .023) and longer smoking duration (p < .005) were prognostic factors for poor OS. Cystic change (p = .016) and basaloid pattern (p < .001) were more frequent in HPV-related cases, and lymphoepithelial lesion was frequent in EBV-related cases (p = .010). There was no significant association between viral status and p53 positivity (p = .341), smoking status (p = .728), or smoking duration (p = .187). Korean data differ from Western data in the absence of an association among HPV, p53 positivity, and smoking history.
Conclusions
Virus-unrelated CUP in Korea had the highest frequency among all CUP cases. HPV-related CUP is similar to HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer and EBVrelated CUP is similar to nasopharyngeal cancer in terms of characteristics, respectively.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Differenzierung von benignen und malignen Halszysten – eine diagnostische Herausforderung
Christina Sauter, Matthias Sand, Karim Plath, Michaela Maria Plath
Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie.2025; 104(05): 296. CrossRef
Unlocking the Hidden: Advancing Imaging Techniques in Diagnosing Cancers of Unknown Primary in the Head and Neck Region
Daniela Messineo, Filippo Valentini, Giovanni Francesco Niccolini, Federica Zoccali, Francesca Ripari, Enrico Marotta, Marcello Caratozzolo, Pasquale Frisina
Applied Sciences.2025; 15(4): 2194. CrossRef
Characterization of undifferentiated carcinoma of the salivary gland: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analyses in comparison with lymphoepithelial carcinoma
Sangjoon Choi, Gyuheon Choi, Hee Jin Lee, Joon Seon Song, Yoon Se Lee, Seung-Ho Choi, Kyung-Ja Cho
Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine.2025; 59(6): 361. CrossRef
Management of squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck: current evidence-based diagnostic and treatment strategies
Marcel Kloppenburg, Matthias Santer, Lukas Schmutzler, Felix Johnson, Benedikt Hofauer, Teresa Steinbichler
memo - Magazine of European Medical Oncology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to assess the potential of adoptive cell therapy
Sangjoon Choi, Mofazzal Hossain, Hyun Lee, Jina Baek, Hye Seon Park, Chae-Lyul Lim, DoYeon Han, Taehyun Park, Jong Hyeok Kim, Gyungyub Gong, Mi-Na Kweon, Hee Jin Lee
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy.2024;[Epub] CrossRef

Review

Neuropathologic features of central nervous system hemangioblastoma: Rebecca A. Yoda, Patrick J. Cimino; J Pathol Transl Med. 2022;56(3):115-125. Published online May 3, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2022.04.13

16,503 View
368 Download
18 Web of Science
21 Crossref

Search