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Primary malignant pericardial sarcomatoid mesothelioma (PMPSM) is an extremely rare tumor with poor prognosis. We present an autopsy case in an 80-year-old man admitted for heart failure after one month of treatment at an outpatient clinic. He died three months after symptom onset. A complete autopsy revealed localization of the tumor to the pericardium without other lesions. Histologically, mainly spindle-shaped atypical cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and nucleoli were observed. Immunohistochemical markers for mesothelioma were positive for calretinin, cytokeratin AE1/AE3, and cytokeratin CAM5.2. Thus, we diagnosed primary sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma of the pericardium. To our knowledge, only four PMPSM cases have been reported in the English literature in the past 30 years. Although PMPSM is rare, clinicians and pathologists should recognize it as a possible diagnosis of pericardial tumors. It is necessary to accumulate clinical and pathological diagnostic findings to establish early detection methods for this extremely rare disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the clinicopathological features of a case of total anomalous pulmonary vein drainage (TAPVD) associated with atresia of the common pulmonary vein (ACPV). A male Japanese infant born at 37 weeks of gestation demonstrated apnea and severe respiratory acidosis immediately after delivery. The patient died of hypoxemic respiratory failure 6 days after birth despite the initiation of artificial ventilation and administration of a surfactant. Autopsy showed the bilateral inferior pulmonary veins joined with a blind confluence, representing ACPV, accompanied by atresia of the left superior pulmonary vein. Moreover, the anomalous and small right superior pulmonary vein drained into the superior vena cava, consistent with partial and supracardiac type TAPVD. A histological examination of the lungs exhibited diffuse dilation of the lymphatic channels in the peribronchial, interlobular, hilar and focally, subpleural areas. The channels were lined with flattened endothelium which was immunohistochemically positive for D2-40. These findings conformed to a secondary form of pulmonary lymphangiectasis due to the congenital cardiovascular anomalies, including TAPVD and ACPV. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of TAPVD associated with ACPV, atresia of left superior pulmonary vein and pulmonary lymphangiectasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphohistiocytoid mesothelioma (LHM), reported to be a rare variant of sarcomatoid mesothelioma, is challenging to differentiate from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to marked lymphocytic infiltration. To aid accurate recognition of LHM, we examined immunohistochemical, in situ hybridization (ISH) of Epstein-Barr virus RNA (EBER-1) mRNA, fluorescence ISH (FISH) for homozygous deletion of 9p21, and asbestos analysis in four cases (three men and 1 woman). Three patients died, while Case 4 was still alive 19 months after extrapleural pneumonectomy. Histologically, these cases were characterized by heavy lymphocytic infiltration. All neoplastic cells were positive for calretinin, AE1/AE3, and epithelial membrane antigen, but negative for CEA. EBER1 factor was negative. FISH analysis demonstrated homozygous deletion of the 9p21 locus in three of the four cases. In Case 1: (i) autopsy findings showed mesothelioma primarily located in the right parietal pleura, but metastasized into the left lung and abdominal organs; (ii) the histological findings at autopsy indicated sarcomatoid mesothelioma; and (iii) we found asbestos bodies and fibers in extracts from lung tissue (Cases 1 & 4) using digestion with bleaching fluid. LHM, an infrequent variant of sarcomatoid mesothelioma, displayed homozygous deletion of the 9p21 locus (three of four cases), and has a relatively favorable prognosis for the sarcomatoid type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An autopsy case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) with a peculiar form of extensive portal invasion is reported here. A 76-year-old woman presented with anorexia and abdominal discomfort. A high level of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and endoscopically detected esophageal varices were found. Obvious mass lesion was not identified on CT scan and no portal blood flow was found. The patient died 6 months after admission. At autopsy multiple irregular shaped tumors in the liver were found. The size of the largest one was 3 × 2 cm. These tumors were well-differentiated adenocarcinomas with partial mucinous carcinoma morphology. Surprisingly, portal veins contained mucinous fluid and the inner surface was lined with a single layer of tumor cells but not endothelial cells. Invasion of carcinoma into the tissue outside the blood vessels was hardly observed in organs other than the liver. This form of extensive invasion of the tumor, termed intimal carcinoma spreading, caused complete obstruction of the portal system. To our knowledge there has been no report on this type of portal invasion of ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) associated with liver cirrhosis (LC) and complicated by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is reported herein. A 49-year-old Japanese man had undergone peritoneo-venous shunt against refractory ascites due to hepatitis C virus-positive uncompensated LC for 2 years. After he received a diagnosis of DLBCL of the left neck lymph node 3 months before his death, palliative care was given because of his poor general condition. He developed severe abdominal distention and pain over 1 week and was found to have marked ascites and whole bowel lumped together on abdominal CT. At autopsy, the peritoneum was covered with a thick white membrane and the bowel could not be distinguished, which was macroscopically characterized by a cocoon-like appearance. Histology indicated a proliferation of diffusely thickened or hyalinized fibrocollagenous tissue in the entire peritoneum with a slight chronic inflammatory infiltrate and without remarkable change of mucosa. A diagnosis of SEP, also known as abdominal cocoon, was established based on these features. Additionally, in the abdominal cavity, a large amount of serous ascites and multiple peritoneal nodules or masses involved by DLBCL were recognized. To the authors' knowledge this is the first case report of SEP associated with LC and complicated by the invasion of DLBCL in the abdominal cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is an uncommon finding in the breast. Sixteen cases of xanthogranulomatous mastitis were reviewed to determine the characteristic clinicopathological features. Xanthogranulomatous mastitis involved foamy histiocyte clusters interspersed with inflammatory cells. Foamy histiocytes were bland with small pyknotic nuclei. Xanthogranulomatous mastitis was associated with fat necrosis in five cases (31%), multinucleated giant-cell reactions in six cases (38%), and cholesterol crystals in five cases (31%). In three cases (19%), xanthogranulomatous mastitis coincided with ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive ductal carcinoma. Duct ectasia with foamy histiocyte aggregates were noted in five cases (31%). It is suggested that the etiology of xanthogranulomatous mastitis is obstruction and rupture of the ectatic duct with foamy histiocyte aggregates. In breast core biopsy, granular cell tumor and invasive carcinoma such as histiocytoid carcinoma and lipid-rich carcinoma could demonstrate similar pathological features to xanthogranulomatous mastitis. In conclusion, xanthogranulomatous mastitis could be encountered in breast core biopsy and surgical excision tissue. Diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous mastitis can be made by excluding other diseases that elicit xanthogranulomatous inflammation in the breast. In breast core biopsy, xanthogranulomatous mastitis could be distinguished from granular cell tumor, histiocytoid carcinoma and lipid-rich carcinoma by using cytokeratin and histiocytic marker such as α1-anti-trypsin and CD68 stain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reports a rare autopsy case of primary small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder with an emphasis on KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor- α ( PDGFRA) genes. An 81-year-old man was admitted to Shizuoka City Shimizu Hospital because of dysuria. Cytology of the urine showed small carcinoma cells. Transurethral bladder tumorectomy indicated small cell carcinoma, and the patient was treated by radiation and chemotherapy. The patient died, however, of systemic metastasis 2 months after the first presentation. An autopsy showed a bladder small cell carcinoma and it systemic metastasis. Immunohistochemistry of the tumorectomy and autopsy specimens was positive for cytokeratins, neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, CD56, KIT and PDGFRA, and negative for chromogranin and thyroid transcriptional factor-1. Polymerase chain reaction–direct sequencing showed no mutations of KIT (exons 9, 11, 13 and 17) or PDGFRA (exons 12 and 18) genes in the tumorectomy specimens and was non-contributory due to DNA damage in autopsy specimens. The present case is the first case of primary small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder involving examination of KIT and PDGFRA expression and KIT and PDGFRA gene mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An autopsy case of pulmonary zygomycosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis on immunosuppressive therapy is presented herein. There was a pulmonary cavitated infarct caused by mycotic thrombosis. Thin-walled narrow hyphae and vesicular thick-walled swollen hyphae were found on the pleural surface and in the necrotic tissue at the periphery of the cavity. Findings of such shaped fungal elements may cause erroneous histopathological diagnosis because pauciseptate broad thin-walled hyphae are usually the only detectable fungal elements in zygomycosis tissue. Although immunohistochemistry confirmed these unusual elements to be zygomycetous in the present case, it is important for the differential diagnosis to be aware that zygomycetes can form thin narrow hyphae and vesicular thick-walled swollen hyphae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of intraductal papillary–mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas associated with polycystic liver and kidney disease is reported. A 63-year-old man was admitted to hospital with heartburn and upper abdominal pain. CT indicated multiple cysts in the liver and bilateral kidneys, and also showed multiple cystic lesions in the pancreatic head. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed, and a pathological diagnosis of intraductal papillary–mucinous adenoma of branch duct type of the pancreas was made. He died of renal failure and hepatic failure due to recurrent cholangitis 12 years after the operation. An autopsy confirmed multiple cysts in the liver and kidneys. Multiple hepatic cysts were lined by biliary-type epithelium with no connection to the bile ducts. Peribiliary cysts were observed, and histology of the liver indicated von Meyenburg complexes. The kidneys showed that the cysts originated from all segments of the renal tubule. The autopsy findings suggested that the patient had suffered from autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), but he did not have a family history of ADPKD. This case demonstrates that IPMN of the pancreas can occur as an extrarenal complication in patients with polycystic liver and kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-II (CPT-II) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease involving mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid oxidation that results in a distinct clinical phenotype. Reported herein is an autopsy case of the neonatal form of CPT-II deficiency in a 2-day-old Japanese boy who died due to a severe hepatocardiomuscular disease with an extremely early onset. Autopsy examination indicated massive pulmonary atelectasis with intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and the patient had marked cardiomegaly and hepatomegaly, both of which demonstrated the presence of abundant intracytoplasmic steatosis. Three years after the autopsy examination, CPT-II deficiency was suggested by acylcarnitine analysis of dried-blood on filter paper from the patient's younger sister at the age of 1. The younger sister also died due to sudden onset of cardiopulmonary arrest; a remarkable increase of long-chain (C16–18) acylcarnitines was detected on tandem mass spectrometry (TMS). Decreased CPT-II expression was detected in the liver, heart and kidney of the patient. Furthermore, del1737C, a novel mutation of the CPT-II gene, was detected as well as a known GA transition at codon 174. Eventually, laboratory and autopsy findings led to diagnosis of the neonatal form of CPT-II deficiency. TMS can be expected to be widely used to detect metabolic disorders in neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Down syndrome with transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) is often associated with perinatal liver fibrosis. The authors recently encountered an autopsy case of this disease with a characteristic severe perisinusoidal liver fibrosis. Osteopontin (OPN) is a molecule that plays an important role in diverse fibro-inflammatory diseases. The purpose of the present report was to examine the involvement of OPN in development of the Down syndrome-associated liver fibrosis. Histology indicated severe perisinusoidal fibrosis and ductular arrangements of hepatocytes in the liver. Appearance of atypical megakaryocytes in the liver, a feature of TMD associated with Down syndrome, was not evident. On immunohistochemistry expression of OPN was observed in hepatocytes often having ductular arrangements and infiltrating macrophages. In contrast, a small number of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-positive mononuclear cells were present in the liver. Numerous activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) expressing α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were seen in the perisinusoidal area. A recent report indicated that OPN could directly activate the HSC. Thus, it is suggested that OPN produced by hepatocytes and macrophages induces activation of the HSC, and leads to the development of perisinusoidal liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein is reported the case of an 84-year-old woman who initially manifested rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis following a urinary tract infection. Laboratory findings showed a high titer of myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA). Treatment with high-dose i.v. steroids resulted in clinical recovery and an undetectable MPO-ANCA titer. Two months later the patient was readmitted in a state of severe shock. Laboratory examination showed the deterioration of renal function, leukocytosis, and coagulation abnormalities consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The patient died 12 days later. The post-mortem examination revealed necrotizing pancreatitis due to acute-stage vasculitis typified by fibrinoid necrosis of the arterioles and venules, and crescentic glomerulonephritis with healed-stage vasculitis. In the lungs, capillaritis with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was not evident, but arteriolitis and phlebitis were occasionally seen. This case represents an unusual complication of necrotizing pancreatitis in the setting of microscopic polyangiitis. Thus, it is important to consider reactivation independent of the titer of ANCA in the course of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant bone tumors with epithelial differentiation are extremely rare. Only one case of primary malignant bone tumor with distinct squamous cell carcinoma and chondrosarcoma has ever been reported. Reported herein is a case of primary malignant bone tumor with distinct squamous cell carcinoma and chondrosarcoma, so-called carcinosarcoma of bone, arising in the femur of a 53-year-old man. The tumor was located within the femur and was diagnosed by curettage as a well-differentiated chondrosarcoma. No primary tumor was detected in any other organ. Within a few months the tumor had rapidly grown toward the soft tissue, and hemipelvectomy was performed. Examination of the surgical specimen revealed that the tumor was mainly composed of undifferentiated spindle sarcoma cells with scattered foci of chondrosarcoma and of squamous cell carcinoma with keratin pearl formation. The patient died approximately 6 months postoperatively. At autopsy multiple metastases were detected in the heart, both lungs, muscles, and lymph nodes. Interestingly, the chondrosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma components were observed in several metastatic foci. The tumors in both the previously reported case and the present case contained components of chondrosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma with keratin pearl formation, and this combination of histological features may be a unique characteristic of carcinosarcoma of bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choriocarcinomas usually develop in the uterus and ovaries in the female, being extremely rare in the extragenital organs in the male. Extragenital choriocarcinomas in the male usually develop in the mediastinum or retroperitoneum. The frequency of choriocarcinoma in the urinary bladder is extremely low. The purpose of the present paper was to report an autopsy case of choriocarcinoma in the urinary bladder in the male. An 81-year-old male patient with macrohematuria was first diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). At autopsy a hemorrhagic necrotic tumor, which was found in the urinary bladder with metastatic lesions in the lungs, was diagnosed as choriocarcinoma microscopically. There was no evidence for choriocarcinoma derived from any other organs than the urinary bladder, although there were metastatic lesions in both lungs and the direct invasion into the prostate. From these findings it is concluded that the tumor was a primary choriocarcinoma in the urinary bladder in a male patient. Choriocarcinoma of the urinary bladder is very rare, but the prognosis is extremely poor in comparison with TCC even in the urinary bladder. Therefore, it is essential to clearly discriminate between choriocarcinomas and TCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the significance of autopsy on modern society. Lessons that can be learned from autopsies in veterinary medicine; Role of pathology societies as advocates for the autopsy; Characteristics of autopsy imaging; Clinically unsuspected diagnoses discovered at autopsy.