A case of infiltrating carcinoma of the breast with features similar to those seen in acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland is described in a 42-year-old woman. The neoplastic cells were immunoreactive with anti-lysozyme- and anti-salivary-type amylase antisera and contained electron-dense cytoplasmic globules similar to those seen in acinic cell carcinoma of salivary glands. One lymph node out of 18 was found to contain a metastatic deposit. The patient is alive and well 1 year after mastectomy. This appears to be the first case of carcinoma with acinic cell-like features reported in the breast.
We report three cases of an unusual primary carcinoma of the liver composed of small cells. The patients were adult males (56 to 89 years) who presented with jaundice, weight loss and abdominal discomfort. Surgery was attempted in one case. Clinical evolution was rapid, with death ensuing between 1 and 5 months after diagnosis. Surgical (1 case) and autopsy (2) tissues were available for review. All three tumours arose in non-cirrhotic livers. They were composed of broad nests of small epithelial cells with little supporting tissue. They were positive for low-molecular weight keratins and alpha-fetoprotein. One case was immunoreactive for erythropoietin antigen. Expression of neuroendocrine markers was focal and erratic. No immunostaining was observed for carcinoembryonic antigen or S-100 protein. In one case ultrastructural investigation disclosed canaliculi surrounded by microvilli and junctional complexes. In the light of these features, it appears that small cell carcinoma represents a rare, but definite variant of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although it does not segregate in a peculiar clinical setting, it should be distinguished from metastatic pulmonary small cell carcinoma as well as from other malignancies featuring small cells.
FNAB smears of eleven epithelioid sarcomas were reviewed and analysed. Ten cases had a very similar cytomorphologic picture composed predominantly of dissociated epithelioid-like cells with eccentrically placed nuclei. These tumors were clearly malignant but difficult to differentiate morphologically from melanoma, epithelioid leiomiosarcoma, and Schwannoma or adenocarcinoma. One case was composed of spindle cells and was reminiscent of a fibrohistiocytic tumor. Immunocytochemical reactions to vimentin and cytokeratin were performed in six cases on the Papanicolaou stained smears. The reactions to both antigens were positive in all six cases. Ultrastructural characteristics of eight of the tumors are also described. It seems that epithelioid sarcoma has a rather distinct cytomorphologic picture. Taking into consideration clinical data and using also immunocytochemistry, a definitive diagnosis of epithelioid sarcoma can probably be given from FNAB smears.
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