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Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous disease characterized by an abnormal growth and/or accumulation of clonal mast cells (MC) in one or more organs. The most frequent site of organ involvement is the skin. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunoreactivity to tryptase and to cathepsin-G of MC from human cutaneous mastocytosis and to compare their number in normal skin and cutaneous mastocytosis. Immunohistochemistry and dual immunofluorescence using anti-tryptase and anti-capthepsin-G antibodies was performed on biopsy specimens from 20 cases diagnosed as cutaneous mastocytosis. Tryptase-positive MC was more numerous as compared to cathepsin-G positive MC. Dual immunofluorescence for tryptase and cathepsin-G demonstrated a colocalization of tryptase and cathepsin-G in skin MC secretory granules. Morphometric evaluation of MC number demostrated that the number of both tryptase- and cathepsin-G-positive MC was significantly higher in cutaneous mastocytosis as compared to normal skin and that in both conditions the number of tryptase-positive MC was significantly higher as compared to the number of cathepsin-G-positive MC. In conclusion, in this study, for the first time we have demonstrated the presence of MC with immunoreactivity to cathepsin-G in human cutaneous mastocytosis, as well as the co-localization of tryptase and cathepsin-G in MC secretory granules.

The prognostic value of combined immunohistochemical analysis for the thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) and the proliferation marker MIB-1 was assessed in a consecutive series of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Tumor immunoreactivity for TTF-1 and MIB-1 was classified in three groups (-,+,++) and in two groups (-,+), respectively. Comparison across groups for TTF-1 reactivity showed significantly different survival curves (P=0.04). In particular, the best prognosis was associated with a TTF-1 negative pattern, whereas the TTF-1 '++' cases showed the worst prognosis. A trend towards better prognosis was observed for MIB-1 negative cases (P=0.09). Multivariate analysis confirmed independent prognostic significance of TTF-1 (P=0.002), MIB-1 (P=0.01) and pStage (P=0.04). Accordingly, analysing TTF-1 and MIB-1 together, a better prediction of survival was obtained (P=0.02), with the poorest prognosis for the 'TTF-1++/MIB-1+' cases.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of large core breast biopsy with the use of the perforated compression grid (PCG) in a series of 106 consecutive mammographically detected breast lesions. The PCG consists in a fenestrated paddle that replaces the usual mammographic compressor. Each hole in the grid is marked by letters and numbers in order to obtain the coordinates of the area to biopsy. By analysing the two orthogonal projections, the depth of the lesion in the breast is calculated. With the breast positioned in the PCG, a skin incision is made. After calculations about the depth of needle insertion, the tip of the needle is inserted proximally to the target area. In such a way, taking into consideration the total running of the needle (23 mm), a correct sampling is assured, and multiple needle passes are performed. Sensitivity was of 90.62 and 90.90%, specificity was of 100 and 95.45% and positive predictive value was of 100 and 90.90% by excluding and including suspicious diagnoses, respectively, for each computation. In conclusion, the study indicated that image-guided core biopsy performed by the approach of PCG is a cost-effective, simple and accurate technique for the diagnosis of breast lesions, and it could be proposed as a low-cost alternative where the stereotactic equipment is not available.

Multiple prognostic indicators, namely histological grade and immunostaining for estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR), MIB 1, bc1-2, and p53, were retrospectively determined on preoperative core biopsies from 75 patients with pT 1 breast carcinoma. The association of the preoperatively evaluated factors with those on the corresponding resected tumors (i.e. nodal status, histological grade, presence or absence of vascular invasion and necrosis) was assessed. In univariate analysis, histological grade on resected tumors was significantly associated with histological grade on core biopsy, p53 expression, MIB1 immunostaining. An inverse association was found between postoperative histologic grade and ER, PgR, and bc1-2. Necrosis was significantly associated with grade, p53, MIB1, and inversely with ER, PgR, and bc1-2. Nodal involvement and vascular invasion were significantly associated with MIB1. In multivariate analysis, histological grade and ER were the only independent core biopsy variables associated with postoperative histological grade and necrosis, respectively. This study showed that image-guided core biopsy is a suitable method that can be used to reveal some characteristics of the tumor biology in a preoperative stage.

TTF-1 is a tissue-specific transcription factor expressed in the epithelial cells of thyroid and lung. This study investigates the immunohistochemical expression of TTF-1 in pleural malignant mesotheliomas (MM) and adenocarcinomas (AC) of the lung, respectively. For this purpose, 33 biopsy specimens of pulmonary AC and 24 specimens of MM were studied. TTF-1 immunoreactivity was identified in 19 of 33 cases of AC (57.5%) and in none of the 24 cases of MM. Positivity for TTF-1 was 100% specific and 57.5% sensitive for lung AC. Alternatively, negativity for TTF-1 was 57.5% specific and 100% sensitive for MM. These results suggest that TTF-1 can be favourably added to the immunohistochemical diagnostic panel for distinction between AC of the lung involving the pleura and pleural MM.