Summary Deletions of tumour-suppressor genes can be detected by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies, which were performed on 23 cases of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus, using 120 microsatellite prmers coverng all non-acrocentric autosomal chromosome arms.The chromosomal arms most frequently demonstrating LOH were 3p (644% of tumours). 5q (45%), 9p (52%), lip (61%) Correspondence to: JK Field studies can lead to the identification of tumour-suppressor genes that are inactix ated in the metaplasia-dxsplasia-carcinoma progression. and may therefore be useful as biomarkers of future carcinogenesis in patients w-ith Barrett's metaplasia and dx splasia undergoing endoscopic surveillance. Previous alleleotype analx ses have detected LOH in more than 40%c of oesophageal adenocarcinomas on chromosome arms lp. 4q. 5q. 9p. 13q. 17p and 18q (Barrett et al. 1996a andHammoud et al. 1996). These allelotype studies AWere undertak-en Awith 43 and 39 microsatellite primers respectixely. We have performed the most comprehensive genomic study of oesophageal adenocarcinoma to date. coxering all of the non-acrocentnrc chromosome arms w-ith 120 microsatellite pnrmers. enabling identification of putatiVe tumour-suppressor gene sites in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS PatientsTwentv-three cases of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus diagnosed betmeen 1992 and 1996 were studied. Twenty of these patients were male and their mean age xxas 68 y-ears. At present. six of these patients are alix e w ith no signs of recurrent disease. DNA extractionTissue from the tumour and from normal gastric mucosa were obtained from endoscopic biopsies and from surgical resections. snapped frozen in liquid nitroaen and stored at -70 C. Areas of tumour containincg minimal stromal cells wxere microdissected and DNA extracted from the microdissected tissues usinc the Nucleon II extraction kit (Scotlab).950

Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, identified by their positive immunochemical reaction for neurone specific enolase, were readily demonstrable and uniformly distributed in 15 pairs of normal adult human lungs. About 65% contained gastrin releasing peptide and nearly all the rest contained calcitonin. Leucine-enkephalin was not found. Serotonin containing cells were few, and cells immunoreactive for adrenocorticotrophin and antidiuretic hormone were absent. About one in 10 cells was argyrophilic, and costorage of peptides was not seen.

Pulmonary endocrine cells have been studied according to their immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), calcitonin, leucine-enkephalin, and serotonin in the lungs of subjects with chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The overall population was significantly greater in comparison with matched controls. The change was most marked in lobes affected by pneumonic consolidation, and did not affect equally the sub-populations of cells as identified by their content of peptide; the difference was much greater for calcitonin-containing cells than for those immunoreactive for GRP. This change may be the basis of the hypercalcitoninaemia and hypercalcitoninuria which have been reported in patients with inflammatory pulmonary disease.

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The nasal and the paranasal sinuses are a rare site for solitary fibrous tumours. There have been no previously reported cases in the English literature, with eight cases in the world literature (Witkin and Rosai, 1991; Zuckerberg et al., 1991). We present a case of a solitary fibrous tumour arising in the nasal cavity and review the previous reports.

There are limited reports in the literature about Bartholin's gland leiomyoma, mainly due to its rare occurrence. This case report describes a 56-year-old woman presenting with a lump in her vulva. The initial suspicion was that of a Bartholin's gland carcinoma based on her clinical signs and symptoms. The mass was excised and the histopathology report described a leiomyoma. Differentiating between benign and malignant tumors by inspection alone can pose a diagnostic dilemma. There are no clear management guidelines but some authorities recommend that enlarged Bartholin's gland in postmenopausal women should be completely excised so as to exclude adenocarcinoma of the gland. However, other case reports and reviews have tried to justify an initial biopsy before considering complete excision to avoid unnecessary intervention in women whose biopsy confirms a benign lesion. In the case described, surgical excision was necessary and beneficial to the patient to provide symptom control.

Solitary fibrous tumor is an extremely rare clinical entity, most commonly manifested in the pleura and peritoneum. An increasing number of cases are found to occur at extrapleural sites. We report a case of solitary fibrous tumor arising from the mesentery of the small intestine. A 53-year-old man presented with a large abdominal mass which was initially thought to be a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The tumor was successfully removed surgically and the diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor was confirmed on immunohistochemical analysis. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of a solitary fibrous tumor arising from the small bowel mesentery.

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