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Two autopsy cases of adenoid squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa proper are presented. Consecutive histologic examinations confirmed that adenoid transformation had occurred directly from within the pre-existing usual squamous cell carcinoma during the course of the disease. The adenoid pattern was reproduced in the lymph node metastases in both cases. The behavior and autopsy findings were not significantly different from those of usual squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa.

We used magnetic resonance (MR) myelography in ten patients with injuries to the brachial plexus and compared the findings with those obtained by conventional myelography and postmyelographic CT (CTM). In the presence of complete nerve-root avulsion (seven cases), a post-traumatic meningocele was detected by MR myelography. In injuries to the upper roots (three cases) MR myelography showed abnormal findings with a high signal intensity in the nerve root, obliteration of the damaged nerve root, or enlargement and obliteration of the root sleeve. No pseudomeningoceles were detected in these upper-root injuries by MR myelography and CTM. The overall accuracy of detection of damaged nerve roots or root sleeves was better with MR myelography than with conventional myelography and was similar to that of CTM.MR myelography is non-invasive, relatively quick, requires no contrast medium, provides imaging in multiple projections, and is comparable in diagnostic ability to the more invasive, time-consuming techniques of conventional myelography and CTM.

A rare case of cavernous lymphangioma of the breast in a 16-year-old Japanese girl was investigated by light and electron microscopies, and immunohistochemistry. The patient, who had a soft breast tumor measuring 16 x 14 cm, had undergone a tumorectomy two years after she noticed the tumor. Histologically, the tumor was composed of numerous narrow spaces containing amorphous fluid lined with a monolayer of endothelial cells. Abundant collagen fibers and numerous fibroblasts were found beneath the endothelium. Histological findings confirmed a diagnosis of lymphangioma of the breast. Immunohistochemically, the endothelium showed negative immunoreaction for factor VIII-related antigen, but the discontinuous basal lamina was positive for laminin. Ultrastructurally, numerous microfilaments and pinocytotic vesicles were found in the cytoplasm of the endothelial cells, and intermediate junctions were recognized between adjacent cells. In addition, a discontinuous basal lamina was seen beneath the endothelium. Electron microscopic and immunohistochemical investigations are thus useful in confirming a diagnosis of cavernous lymphangioma of the breast.