1/83. bone marrow metastases in disseminated alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: case report with ultrastructural study and review.A case of desseminated alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in an 18-year-old male with leuco-erythroblastic anaemia is described. Numerous bizarre malignant cells, including frequent multinucleated giant cells, were seen in bone marrow aspirates, and osteolytic lesions appeared late in the clinical course. The primary site of the neoplasm remained undertermined during life and also at necropsy, which revealed minute pulmonary metastases and extensive lymph nodal, pleural and skeletal deposits. The diagnosis was confirmed on necropsy tissue by ultrastructural examination which demonstrated numerous thin (5 nm) and thick (15 nm) intracytoplasmic filaments in tumour cells, sometimes organized in bundles; scattered dense Z-band-like bodies, and rod-shaped structures were also seen. The fine structure of the rhabdomyosarcoma in the present case is compared with previous ultrastructural studies. Elongated, thick intracytoplasmic filaments whose diameter corresponds to that of myosin myofilaments are strong evidence for rhabdomyoblastic differentiation and are considered to be the sine qua non of a positive electron microscopic diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. Orgaized bundles of filaments and Z-band-like dense bodies are usually present, and rod-shaped structures are found infrequently, but none of these are necessary for the ultrastructural diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/83. A staff dialogue on caring for a cancer patient who commits suicide: psychosocial issues faced by patients, their families, and caregivers.Shortly before his death in 1995, Kenneth B. Schwartz, a cancer patient at massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), founded The Kenneth B. Schwartz Center at MGH. The Schwartz Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing compassionate health care delivery which provides hope to the patient, support to caregivers, and encourages the healing process. The Center sponsors the Schwartz Center Rounds, a monthly multidisciplinary forum during which caregivers discuss a specific cancer patient, reflect on the important psychosocial issues faced by patients, their families, and their caregivers, and gain insight and support from their fellow staff members. The case presented was of a 31-year-old man who developed adenocarcinoma of the lung with painful bone metastases. His tumor was unresponsive to treatment and he subsequently committed suicide by shooting himself. The verbatim and subsequent discussion raised a number of issues. Staff were devastated by the violent way that he ended his life. They questioned whether more could have been done to prevent this outcome, yet acknowledged that it mirrored the way he had lived, and were able to discuss the values by which we live and die. Some, but not all, felt that the patient had the right to choose how and when to end his life.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/83. Metastatic spine disease in renal cell carcinoma--indication and results of surgery.Metastatic spine disease is frequent in renal cell carcinoma and 50% of osseous metastases are already found at the time of primary diagnosis. Therefore patient mobility and quality of life are threatened early in the course of disease. Surgery is able to relieve pain and to regain or to preserve mobility. Indication and technique of surgery (anterior decompression, vertebral replacement and transpedicular fixation) are explained and treatment results of eleven cases are reported. All patients with paraparesis or cord compression preoperatively were mobile when leaving our hospital after surgery. There were no severe complications, especially no neurological deteriorations or deaths. Postoperative survival time was ten months approximately in cases with multiple osseous lesions and it was several years in cases with solitary metastases. Mobility was preserved for most of the survival time. In conclusion, restabilisation of the spine proved to be a worthwhile treatment option in well-selected cases suffering from malignant spinal involvement.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/83. A case of incomplete Currarino triad with malignant transformation.A case of an incomplete Currarino triad is reported. The baby underwent an emergency laparotomy due to a life-threatening intestinal obstruction caused by severe rectal stenosis. During the posterosagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP), a presacral teratoma was identified and resected. The tumor recurred three times; she initially responded to chemotherapy, but nonetheless died at the age of 4 years. In cases with evidence of anorectal stenosis, a presacral mass should be suspected. PSARP is the best choice of treatment for both the anorectal anomaly and excision of the presacral mass. The presacral region should be followed up closely for recurrence of the tumor.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/83. Solitary fibrous tumor of the spinal nerve rootlet: case report and literature survey.Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare tumor that arises most commonly in the pleura. Recent evidence indicated that it is a tumor that originates from mesenchymal, probably fibroblastic, cells and is not restricted to the pleura. This report presents a case of primary SFT occurring as a dumbbell-shaped tumor of the cervical spine (C4/5) in a 46-year-old Japanese female, probably originating from the spinal rootlet. The tumor was predominantly extradural, loosely attached to the dura mater, with a small intradural extramedullary part attached to the C5 anterior and posterior rootlets. Histologically, the tumor was predominantly composed of a haphazard proliferation of spindle cells separated by abundant collagen. Immunohistochemically, the cells were strongly positive for CD34, bcl-2 and vimentin, but were negative for S-100 protein, neuron specific enolase, cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen. The present case and review of the literature strongly suggest that SFT is an entity that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors of the cerebrospinal region.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/83. Fibromatosis.Fibromatosis represents a diverse group of fibroproliferative tumours. Their behaviour and pathological qualities are situated in an intermediate position between benign and malignant disease. The following represents the pathological and radiological presentation of a 29-year-old female with fibromatosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/83. Extraosseous extension of vertebral hemangioma, a rare cause of spinal cord compression.STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To illustrate a rare cause of thoracic spinal cord compression, its diagnosis, and its management. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Asymptomatic vertebral hemangiomas are common, but extraosseous extension causing spinal cord compression with neurologic symptoms is rare, and few cases appear in the English-language literature. METHOD: A previously asymptomatic 63-year-old man sought medical attention for acute back pain and thoracic myelopathy of 6 week's duration. magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of a mass in the T10 vertebral body with paravertebral and intracanalicular extension contributing to cord compression. decompression and reconstructive surgery were performed and radiotherapy administered after surgery. Preoperative angiography was not performed because of the patient's rapidly progressive neurologic deterioration and the consideration that the differential diagnosis of vertebral hemangioma was less likely. RESULTS: The diagnosis of benign capillary hemangioma was made histologically. Neurologic recovery was complete except for minor residual sensory changes in the legs. At follow-up 10 months after surgery the patient had returned to his usual active life and motor mower repairing business. CONCLUSION: Extraosseous extension of vertebral hemangiomas is a rare cause of thoracic spinal cord compression. As such, the available data are derived from reports based on series involving only a small number of cases, rather than on results of randomized controlled trials. Those causing progressive neurologic symptoms should be surgically decompressed, with the specific procedure determined by the extent and site of the lesion. Preoperative angiography is recommended, but embolization is not always necessary or even possible. Postoperative radiotherapy is recommended when tumor removal is subtotal.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/83. Extrarenal nephroblastic proliferation in spinal dysraphism. A report of 4 cases.Four cases of extrarenal nephrogenic proliferation in the sacrococcygeal region with spinal dysraphism are presented. In two of the cases, features of Wilm's or incipient Wilm's tumor were present. The previous literature on sacrococcygeal nephrogenic tissue is reviewed, and the impact of these findings on the histogenesis of extrarenal sacrococcygeal Wilm's tumor is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/83. Pathologic fracture of the humerus due to metastatic cholangiocarcinoma.cholangiocarcinoma is a rare tumor of the bile duct system known to frequently metastasize to the axial skeleton, lungs, adrenal glands, brain, and lymphatic system. Spread to the long bones has not previously been reported in the literature partly because of the short life expectancies of patients with this disease. We discuss a case of a pathologic humerus fracture due to metastatic cholangiocarcinoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/83. Benign osteoblastoma.Benign osteoblastoma is a benign bone-forming lesion, seen most commonly in the first three decades of life and having a predilection for the vertebral column and the short limb bones. It is distinguishable from osteoid osteoma on the bases of size (being more than one centimetre in diameter) and the absence of surrounding sclerosis. The two lesions, however, are probably of the same origin and behave differently because of their different situations. Treatment is by operation, either excision in whole if practicable, or thorough piecemeal excision and curettage, with bone grafting of the defect if indicated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = life (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |