Proliferation of osteoclast-like giant cells in a metastatic bone tumor from stomach cancer: Report of a case and analysis of the autopsy findings

Abstract

A 70-year-old man who had undergone esophagectomy with reconstructive surgery using a portion of the stomach 5 years earlier for esophageal cancer was admitted to our hospital after a routine endoscopy and histological examination of a biopsy specimen revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in the stomach. A gastrectomy and intrathoracic esophagojejunostomy was performed on January 20, 1993; however, the patient suffered a cerebral infarction and died of septic shock on April 9, 1993. At autopsy, metastatic tumors were macroscopically observed in various organs, including a bone tumor measuring 1.0 cm in diameter in the L4 vertebra. To clarify the origin of the bone tumor, we conducted histological and immunohistochemical examinations. Histological examination revealed a mixture of osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs) and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cells, although no histologic features of OGCs were observed either in a primary site or in any of the multiple metastatic lesions. On immunohistochemistry, adenocarcinoma cells in the bone stained positively for the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), whereas no staining for CEA was observed in the OGCs which demonstrated negative staining for all the antigens of epithelial markers. These findings led us to conclude that this bone tumor had metastasized from the stomach cancer and that the OGCs may have originated from mesenchymal cells reacting to the adenocarcinoma cells.

Thyroid metastasis from nasopharyngeal cancer: a case report

“…Самой частой локализацией первичной опухоли является рак почки [6]. При опухолях органов головы и шеи метастазы в щитовидную железу -это исключительная редкость, встречается в 0,02 % [6,7]. В мировой литературе нам удалось найти описание лишь 9 случаев метастаза рака носоглотки в щитовидную железу.…”

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumor arising in the soft tissue of the breast: Report of a case

“…1 Although initial reports discussed the malignant potential of GCTs, recent series have documented much less aggressive behavior. [2][3][4] Microscopically, GCTs are characterized by an even distribution of multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells surrounded by oval and spindle mononuclear cells; hence the name "osteoclast-like giant cell tumor" (OGCT) of the soft tissues. A degree of mitotic activity is usually observed within the tumor; however, a diagnosis of malignancy is made only when bizarre mitoses and cellular atypia are seen.…”