Chattonella verruculosa Y. Hara et Chihara was re-examined by molecular methods and microscopic examination. The 18S rDNA phylogenetic analysis clearly indicated that C. verruculosa is a member of the Dictyochophyceae, with a specific affinity to Florenciella parvula. The morphological features in C. verruculosa -namely the proximal helix with two gyres and many scattered DNA-containing areas in the chloroplasts -display the evolutionary link to the Dictyochophyceae, instead of the Raphidophyceae. Similarly, unique pyrenoid morphologies are shared between C. verruculosa and the dictyochophycean algae. Combining the molecular data and morphological characteristics, C. verruculosa is transferred to Pseudochattonella gen. nov. of the class Dictyochophyceae as Pseudochattonella verruculosa (Y. Hara et Chihara) Hosoi-Tanabe, Honda, Fukaya, Inagaki et Sako comb. nov.
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer. To diagnose nodal MCC with an unknown primary disease is challenging, and it has to be separated from other nodal metastatic neoplasms. We report a unique case of nodal MCC in head and neck lesions with an unknown primary. A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our department with a right submandibular mass. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was performed and indicated malignancy. F-18fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrated abnormal accumulation in the right submandibular lymph node, right palatine tonsil, and right thyroid gland. For diagnostics and treatment, bilateral selective neck lymph node dissection, right tonsillectomy, and right thyroidectomy were performed. Histopathological examination revealed that most parts of the submandibular lymph node were occupied by diffuse sheets of tumor cells. Contrary to our expectation, malignant cells were not detected in the right palatine tonsil and right thyroid. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a marked positive reaction for AE1/ AE3, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, cytokeratin 20 (CK20) and CD56 and a negative reaction for vimentin, leucocyte common antigen (LCA), thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF1) and cytokeratin 7 (CK7) in the tumor cells. Immunostaining of Merkel cell polyomaviruslarge T antigen (MCPyV-LT) showed a positive reaction and MCPyV-positive MCCs were assessed by PCR analysis, demonstrating that viral copy number was 12.8 copies per cell. These histological findings confirmed the diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma of the lymph node. In cases of tumors in the lymph node with a neuroendocrine appearance in head and neck lesions, it is necessary to eliminate the possibility of metastasis from MCC.
<p class="abstract">Pleomorphic liposarcoma, which is the rarest of the four liposarcoma types according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of soft tissue tumors, is associated with a high rate of recurrence and poor prognosis. In the present report, we present the case of a 69-year-old male patient with pleomorphic liposarcoma arising in the right cheek. The mass was initially considered as benign such as schwannoma due to the absence of facial nerve palsy. However, the mass grew rapidly, requiring surgical removal with facial nerve preservation. Pathological and molecular examination led to the definitive diagnosis of pleomorphic liposarcoma. The postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy was added, and there were no signs of recurrence at four-year follow-up.</p>
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