Multiple Tumor Masses Research Articles

Impact of Tumour Depth, Tumour Location and Multiple Synchronous Masses on the Prognosis of Canine Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumours

The goal of this study was to determine the significance of tumour depth, tumour location and multiple synchronous tumour masses for the prognostic evaluation of canine cutaneous mast cell tumours (MCTs). The study population consisted of 100 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cutaneous MCTs that had been surgically removed from 100 dogs and submitted to the Diagnostic Center of Population and Animal Health at Michigan State University between 1998 and 2001. None of the dogs had received chemotherapy or radiation therapy. For each case the following data were obtained from the referring veterinarians: sex, breed, weight, age at diagnosis, diagnostics performed, adjunct medications given at the time of surgery, tumour location, number of tumour masses, tumour recurrence (development of MCTs at the surgical site), development of additional MCTs at distant sites (outside the surgical margins), tumour duration before removal, survival time and cause of death, if applicable. Tumour depth was determined through microscopic evaluation of 5 microm sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Based on univariable and multivariable survival analysis, dogs with multiple synchronous cutaneous MCTs at the time of diagnosis have a worse prognosis compared with dogs with single tumours. Additional treatment beyond surgical excision alone should be considered for these animals. Older dogs and Boxers with cutaneous MCTs were at higher risk to develop additional MCTs at distant sites (outside the surgical margins), and older and male dogs with cutaneous MCTs had significantly shorter survival times. Univariable analysis also determined that dogs with cutaneous MCTs located on the head and neck had an increased risk of additional MCT development at distant sites and that sterilized dogs with cutaneous MCTs had shorter survival times. However, these findings were not confirmed by multivariable analysis. Tumour depth was of no prognostic significance for dogs with cutaneous MCTs.

Basal Cell Carcinoma With Matrical Differentiation in a Transplant Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background: Shadow cells are characteristic of pilomatricoma, a distinct neoplasm of hair matrix differentiation. Shadow cells within an otherwise classic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been referred to as “BCC with matrical differentiation”. We present a case of BCC with matrical differentiation in a transplant patient. To our knowledge, none have been reported arising on the background of immunosuppression. Methods: A 58‐year‐old male cardiac transplant patient had a left hand nodule, which was excised and submitted for routine histologic review. Results: The lesion revealed multiple basaloid tumor masses. In some areas, there was peripheral palisading with stromal retraction artifact, typical of basal cell carcinoma, extending into the deep reticular dermis. The tumor also contained a population of shadow cells, similar to those in pilomatricoma, with basaloid cells in the periphery. Trichohyaline granules were identified in many of the tumor cells. These granules are a hallmark of follicular matrix differentiation. Mitoses were rare. There was no evidence of an infiltrating growth pattern. Conclusion: Basal cell carcinoma with matrical differentiation is a rare subtype of basal cell carcinoma featuring shadow cells, such as those typically seen in pilomatricoma. This tumor has not yet been reported in an immunosuppressed transplant patient.

Unusual Metastasis of Malignant Aortic Body Tumor to <i>Multiple</i> Bones in a Dog

Unusual metastasis of malignant aortic body tumor to multiple bones was detected in a 5-year-old female English Setter dog. Radiographs exhibited an abnormal mass in the base of heart and osteolytic lesions in the bodies of T11 and L2 vertebrates, body of right femur, right proximal humoral epiphysis and infraspinous fossa near to the neck of right scapula. At necropsy, multiple tumor masses of various sizes were observed also in the bones as well as the heart base and tracheobronchial lymph node. Tumor masses of L2 and T11 protruded into the vertebral canal and compressed corresponding sites of spinal cord, leading to paraplegia. Histopathologically, the tumor cells, arranged in sheets or nests, were polyhedral, lightly eosinophilic, finely granular cytoplasm with mostly round to oval nucleus and had scattered bizarre giant cells. Ultrastructural study revealed the characteristic findings that tumor cells contained a large number of small, electron-dense, membrane-limited secretory granules in cytoplasm. This is thought to be an extremely rare case having multiple bone metastases of a malignant aortic body tumor.

Choriocarcinoma of the Mandible Developing after Odontogenic Keratocyst Excision

We describe an unusual case of metastatic choriocarcinoma of the mandible. Sixteen months after odontogenic keratocyst excision, the tumor was found growing in the left molar region of the mandible, the same site of the previously enucleated odontogenic keratocyst. Histopathological examination revealed sheets of atypical cells similar to syncytiotrophoblast or cytotrophoblast, and the tumor was diagnosed as metastatic choriocarcinoma of unknown origin. A whole-body examination was performed; however, the tumor origin was not determined. Surgical excision of the tumor was performed due to rapid growth. One month after tumor excision, multiple tumor masses were detected in both lung lobes by the chest Xray examination. In addition, a high level of serum hCG was detected. The clinical course and histopathological findings, this unusual choriocarcinoma are discussed with referring to the literature.

Bronchiolar-alveolar carcinoma in a cow

Bronchiolar-alveolar carcinoma was observed in the lung of an 8-year-old Holstein cow. Grossly, the lung contained multiple tumour masses, which were solid, yellowish-white in colour, and firm in consistency. These tumours also occurred in the liver, pancreas, uterus and lymph nodes in the thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities. Histologically, the masses were composed of abundant fibrous stroma and proliferating atypical cuboidal epithelial cells, occasionally forming glandular structures. Electron microscopy revealed that the neoplastic cells had microvilli and lamellar bodies in the cytoplasm, suggesting that they originated from immature respiratory epithelial cells differentiating towards either Clara cells or type II pneumocytes.

Computed tomography of hereditary multifocal renal cystadenocarcinomas in German shepherd dogs.

The purpose of the study was to characterize the renal lesions of hereditary renal cystadenocarcinomas in the German shepherd dog using computed tomography (CT). Fourteen dogs with renal cystadenocarcinomas and nodular dermatofibrosis, and two unaffected dogs were studied. There were nine dogs with spontaneous disease and seven dogs from a test mating. The characteristic renal CT findings of renal cystadenocarcinomas were bilateral multiple cysts and tumor masses of various sizes. The earliest changes were detected between 4 and 5 years of age and the smallest cysts measured 2-3 mm in diameter. Abdominal CT examination gives a wide field view and excellent anatomic images of the kidneys. It is easy to differentiate between cysts and solid tumors. CT examination is useful for the early detection of renal cystadenocarcinomas and for screening suspected carrier dogs before breeding.

Cardiac rhabdomyoma of a neonate: An autopsy case report

A primigravida delivered a cyanosed female infant with a very low Apgar score. Cardiac anomaly of the fetus was detected at 32 weeks of gestation by ultrasonography. The baby died on the day of delivery. Autopsy revealed multiple tumor masses in the interventricular septum and ventricular walls. The tumor originating from the interventricular septum was the largest and measured 3.7 x 3 cm. Histologically, the tumor was composed of large polygonal glycogen-laden cells and 'spider-cells'. Eosinophilic giant histiocytic cells were also observed in the spleen. Ultrastructural features of the tumor cells correlated with those of typical cardiac muscle cells.

Rapid dedifferentiating meningioma with repeated multifocal recurrences and pulmonary metastases

A 62-year-old woman presented with a convexity meningioma which, after primary surgery, was histopathologically graded as grade II. There followed three more operations due to repeated rapid local recurrences. After each of these three operations histology revealed dedifferentiated grade III tumors. At third recurrence moreover, other multiple tumor masses in the vicinity of the primary tumor site and in the lung were found. These had the same histological appearance as the local recurrences. The patient died 30 months after primary surgery from respiratory failure due to the multiple lung metastases.

Spontaneous ovarian tumour in a medaka ( Oryzias latipes)

Swelling of the abdomen was found in an adult female medaka (Oryzias latipes). Multiple tumour masses occupying most of the abdominal cavity were found at necropsy. Histologically, the tumour consisted of homogeneous round cells arranged in islands and occasional trabecular structures with thin capsules. Ova at various stages of maturation were seen in the periphery of the tumour mass. Metastasis was observed in the vicinity of the thyroid gland with accompanying infiltration by lymphocytic cells and also abdominal muscles. The tumour cells were characterized by a large ovoid nucleus with no aggregation of heterochromatin, occasional mitotic figures and prominent nucleoli. Examination by electron microscopy showed cells with scant cytoplasm but many ribosomes and a few other organelles. Annulate lamellae and dense cytoplasmic masses were also frequently observed. Based on the above features, the tumour was diagnosed as an ovarian dysgerminoma, the first reported case in a medaka.

Adjuvant perioperative hepatic arterial mitomycin C and floxuridine combined with surgical resection of metastatic colorectal cancer in the liver.

Twenty patients with colon cancer metastatic to the liver underwent successful hepatic resection and adjuvant perioperative therapy that included hepatic arterial mitomycin C and floxuridine (FUDR). The median survival for all 20 patients was 51 months: 10 are still alive with a median postoperative follow-up of 49 months; 6 are disease-free with a median postoperative follow-up of 43 months. Among 10 patients in whom the surgical margins of the specimen contained tumor cells, the median survival was 52 months. This survival was comparable to that among 10 patients in whom the surgical margins were tumor free (P = 0.22). Neither the number of metastatic liver deposits nor the disease-free interval between the primary diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma and the development of liver metastases significantly affected survival. A transient chemical hepatitis which resolved before the next scheduled treatment was associated with 50% of arterial chemotherapy cycles (approximately 70% of the patients). Gastric or duodenal ulcerations occurred in 23% of the patients. Surgical complications were either pulmonary such as pleural effusion or atelectasis, or wound infections and subphrenic abscesses. Although these results compare favorably with the results in previously published series, this aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy appears to be particularly justified in patients with tumor positive surgical margins or those with multiple tumor masses and, therefore, are characterized by a poor prognosis.