Spindle cell reaction to nontuberculous mycobacteriosis in AIDS mimicking a spindle cell neoplasmBrandwein, Margaret; Choi, Ho-Soon; Strauchen, James; Stoler, Mark; Jagirdar, Jaishree
doi: 10.1007/BF01605288pmid: 2106746
We report 5 patients with AIDS who had an unusual spindle cell proliferation in the lymph nodes and skin caused by nontuberculous mycobacteriosis. The spindle cell proliferation in these tissues may mimic a spindle cell neoplasm and pose a diagnostic problem if an infectious aetiology is not suspected. The fibroblast-like spindle cells contained numerous acid fast bacilli. They were strongly positive for antibody markers of monocyte/macrophage and leukocyte derivation: Leu M3, Mo-9, T-200, and HLA-DR, and variably positive for alpha-1 anti-chymotrypsin and lysozyme. Ultrastructurally these spindle cells were predominantly fibroblast-like with poorly developed features of macrophages. These results reveal the dual macrophage and fibroblastic character of the spindle cells and probably imply a functional differentiation rather than a histogenetic one.
The surface to volume ratio of mitochondria, a suitable parameter for evaluating mitochondrial swellingSchmiedl, A.; Schnabel, Ph.; Mall, G.; Gebhard, M.; Hunneman, D.; Richter, J.; Bretschneider, H.
doi: 10.1007/BF01605291pmid: 2106748
Cellular changes occuring in the left ventricular myocardium during ischaemia after different methods of cardiac arrest have been evaluated by morphological and morphometric parameters: volume densities of mitochondria (VVMi), sarcoplasm (VVSp), myofibrils (VVMf), surface densities of mitochondria (SVMi). The surface to volume ratio of mitochondria (SVratioMi) has been used as an independent parameter of mitochondrial swelling.
Ultrastructural effects induced by global ischaemia on the AV node compared with the working myocardiumSchnabel, Ph.; Richter, J.; Gebhard, M.; Mall, G.; Schmiedl, A.; Clavien, H.; Bretschneider, H.
doi: 10.1007/BF01605292pmid: 2106749
The cardiac conduction system is considered to be particularly resistant to ischaemia. Nevertheless, following open heart surgery with short periods of ischaemia disturbances in AV conduction or ventricular arrhythmia have been reported. We compared the ultrastructure of AV node and working myocardium following 30 min global ischaemia at 25° C, during pure ischaemia and with HTK cardioplegia qualitatively and morphometrically. After 30 min of pure ischaemia, interstitial and intracellular oedema together with considerable changes in organelles in AV nodes predominate over mainly cellular oedema in working myocardium. Sometimes irregular overcontractions of sarcomeres occur in the AV node, though very seldom in working myocardium. In pure ischaemia, mitochondrial swelling is comparable in both types of tissue. Following HTK cardioplegia and 30 min ischaemia, cellular oedema and mitochondrial swelling are significantly reduced in AV nodal cells and working myocardium, but remain more extensive in the AV nodes. Irregularities in the contractile state of sarcomeres are not observed. The extent of the ultrastructural alterations corresponds to the degree of metabolic change in the working myocardium. Thus, despite considerable differences during pure ischaemia and HTK cardioplegia, ultrastructurally the AV nodal cells do not display a greater resistance to ischaemia than working myocardium.
Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in normal colorectal mucosa, adenoma, and carcinomaKoretz, Karin; Schlag, Peter; Möller, Peter
doi: 10.1007/BF01605295pmid: 2106751
Using the monoclonal antibody EGFR1, the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was investigated immunohistochemically in normal colonic mucosa distant from and adjacent to colonic neoplasms, in 25 adenomas and in 144 unselected colorectal carcinomas. EGFR expression was an inconsistant phenomenon in each of these conditions. It was not expressed in 23/44 non-neoplastic mucosa specimens distant from and in 26/44 mucosae adjacent to colon tumours; 15/25 adenomas and 71 (49.3%) of the carcinomas failed to contain detectable amounts of EGFR. In contrast, large amounts of EGFR were found in 4 non-neoplastic mucosae at both locations, in 3 adenomas and in 11 (7.6%) carcinomas. The remaining cases showed complex patterns of EGFR-expression. In comparing mucosae close to and distant from a colonic tumour, only minor differences in EGFR content were observed. The intra-individual comparison of the mode of EGFR expression in non-neoplastic and neoplastic epithelium revealed an overexpression of EGFR in carcinomas in about one third of the 44 cases examined. One third showed no obvious differences, and one third showed lower levels of EGFR expression within the tumour. We conclude that the mode of EGFR expression in normal and neoplastic colon epithelium is variable and reflective of inter-individual constitutive differences rather than of abnormalities in gene regulation. Statistical analysis failed to reveal correlations between the mode of EGFR expression and tumour grade, type or Dukes stage.
Immunohistochemical differential diagnosis of granulocytic sarcomas and malignant lymphomas on formalin-fixed materialFellbaum, C.; Hansmann, M.
doi: 10.1007/BF01605296pmid: 2106752
A panel of monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD45 [common leukocyte antigen], Ki-B3, L26, MT1, UCHL1, anti-CD15 [X-hapten], anti-neutrophil granule protein elastase [NP57]), anti-lysozyme, and the naphthol-ASD-chloroacetate reaction were applied to two cases of granulocytic sarcoma (GS) for evaluation of their utility in differentiating GS from malignant lymphoma. Lysozyme and naphthol-ASD-chloroacetate esterase were found to be the most reliable markers for detection of the myeloid nature of the tumour cells. GS infiltrated solely the mucosa of the nasal cavity in one case, while in the other it involved both the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus with simultaneous eruptions on the skin of the trunk. In both cases, peripheral blood and bone marrow findings were inconspicuous at the time of diagnosis of GS.
Subclinical course of cholesterol ester storage disease (CESD) diagnosed in adulthoodElleder, M.; Ledvinová, J.; Cieslar, P.; Kuhn, R.
doi: 10.1007/BF01605297pmid: 2106753
An extremely benign variant of cholesterol ester storage disease (CESD) was diagnosed in two female patients aged 43 and 56 years. In one of them the course was entirely subclinical until a stroke at the age of 47, most probably a complication of secondary hyperlipoproteinaemia. The diagnosis was made accidentally in vivo during extensive examination for concomitant monoclonal gammapathy. The other patient (aged 56), still displays a fairly stable course with minor dyspeptic symptoms. The clinical findings in both patients were confined to moderate well tolerated hepatomegaly, hyperlipoproteinaemia of IIb type and xanthelasmata. Acid lipase activity was markedly deficient in peripheral leukocytes and cultured fibroblasts. These cases represent a rare adult variant the existence of which should be borne in mind in the differential diagnosis of chronic liver disease in advanced age and of hyperlipoporteinaemic states. The diagnostic criteria for the routine clinicopathological steps are summarized with emphasis on a special lipopigment deposition pattern, encompassing inhibition and modification of lipofuscin generation in hepatocytes and an excess of ceroid production in both portal and intralobular histiocytes. The varied ultrastructural appearance of the lysosomal limiting membrane complex is described.