Pheochromocytomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that produce symptoms through the excess release of catecholamines. The treatment of choice is a complete surgical removal after pretreatment with an α-blocker, to prevent dangerous hemodynamic fluctuations. Newell and colleagues defined the rare, fatal condition of catecholamine crisis, which includes multiple organ failure (MOF), severe blood pressure variability, high fever, and encephalopathy, as pheochromocytoma multisystem crisis (PMC). The indications for emergency surgery in this unstable state still remain controversial. This report presents the case of a 52-year-old female patient with PMC who successfully underwent a surgical resection. This case showed that early tumor removal may be the only means of halting the progression of this disease.

Few reports have been concerned with the risk of needle track dissemination of tumor cells following fine-needle aspiration biopsy, especially for follicular thyroid nodules. A 61-year-old woman who underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy and surgery 5 years previously for follicular thyroid adenoma presented with nodules that had developed in the sternocleidomastoid and omohyoid muscles of the anterior neck. These nodules were located along a line from the skin to the thyroid that coincided with the needle track of the previous biopsy. Following surgical resection, histological diagnosis determined the nodules to be follicular carcinoma. The clinical course and linear arrangement of the lesions were highly suggestive of needle track dissemination of tumor cells following fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Although fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a useful tool for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, it is important to consider the risk of tumor cell dissemination.

Twenty-two cases of purely ocular myasthenia gravis were reviewed to evaluate the long-term effects of thymectomy. Remission rate increased gradually with time (11.8% at 3 years, 23.1% at 5 years, and 33.3% at 10 years). Analysis of factors influencing remission with time showed that patients with short duration of illness attained remission significantly earlier (p = 0.035 at 5-year follow-up). One of 22 patients with purely ocular myasthenia gravis (4.5%) had disease progression. Because ocular myasthenia gravis often progresses to the generalized type and because duration of illness before operation is one of important factors influencing remission, we conclude that thymectomy in the earlier stages of the disease is the preferred treatment for ocular myasthenia gravis, just as for generalized myasthenia gravis.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a newly recognized systemic fibroinflammatory disease with characteristic histological findings and high serum IgG4 levels. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a persistent herpesvirus in B lymphocytes, and we previously reported EBV reactivation-induced Ig production. We showed that EBV reactivation induced the production of thyrotropin receptor antibodies, the causative antibodies of Graves' disease. In the present study, we investigated whether EBV reactivation induced IgG4 production and if EBV-positive B cells or IgG4-positive plasma cells are present in the thyroid tissues of Graves' disease patients with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. EBV-encoded small RNA1 (EBER1) in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry for IgG and IgG4 were performed on seven resected thyroid tissues with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration collected from the thyroids of 11 Graves' disease patients. We then cultured the lymphocytes of 13 Graves' disease patients and 14 controls and induced EBV reactivation to measure IgG4 levels in culture fluids. We detected EBER1-positive cells and IgG4-positive plasma cells in the same area of thyroid tissues. EBV-reactivated cells with IgG4 on their surface were observed in culture cells, and IgG4 production was detected in culture fluids. The IgG4/IgG percentage was higher than that in normal serum level. A subset of Graves' disease is an IgG4-RD-like condition, not an IgG4-RD. EBV reactivation stimulates IgG4 production, which may result in high serum IgG4 levels and promote IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration. EBER1 needs to be examined when an increase in IgG4-positive plasma cell numbers is noted.

Laparoscopic total adrenalectomy has become a standard technique for small adrenal tumors; however, bilateral adrenalectomy results in postoperative adrenal insufficiency, necessitating lifelong steroid replacement. To preserve adrenocortical function in a 41-year-old woman with bilateral adrenocortical adenoma (BAA) causing Cushing's syndrome, we performed laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy. We based our preoperative diagnosis of bilateral adrenocortical tumors causing Cushing's syndrome on the results of endocrinological investigations and imaging findings. Thus, we performed lateral transperitoneal laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy, preserving the adrenal glands, which were normal. Pathological examination of both tumors confirmed the diagnosis of adrenocortical adenoma. The patient had no postoperative complications, and her adrenocortical function was normal without steroid replacement at her 10-month follow-up. This report shows that Cushing's syndrome resulting from bilateral adenomas can be effectively treated by laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy as a minimally invasive, adrenocortical-preserving operation.

Immune functions of peripheral blood (PBL), regional lymph node (RLNL), and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were evaluated in lung cancer patients. PBL had many natural killer (NK) cells and the highest NK activity, and it showed the highest augmentation of NK activity by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) + recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) among the three groups of lymphocytes. PBL had high lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity of against a broad spectrum of cell lines and moderate activity against autologous tumor cells by increased effector to target (ET) ratio but the lowest ability of IL-2 production of the three groups of lymphocytes. The RLNL not associated with tumor metastasis had a few NK cells and lower NK activity than PBL, but its LAK activity was almost the same but not greater than that of PBL. RLNL had the highest ability of IL-2 production among the three groups of lymphocytes. All activities of RLNL associated with tumor metastasis were lower than those not associated with tumor metastasis. TIL exclusively consisted of T-cells, especially cytotoxic/suppressor T-lymphocytes. NK activity and lymphocyte blastogenesis of TIL were lower than those of other groups. The LAK activity of TIL differed greatly with the case, and it was the highest against autologous tumor cells among the three groups of lymphocytes in three of eight cases. These findings showed that PBL, RLNL, and TIL had characteristic subpopulations of lymphocytes and different functions of host immune responses in lung cancer. Efficient augmentation of the characteristic immune responses will lead to a more effective total cancer therapy.

Anti-WDR1 antibody could be a novel approach for serological screening of PTC and UTC, and could be an efficient and inexpensive biomarker.

No abstract