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The EGF-transgenic mouse is a genetic model of hepatocellular carcinoma that allows for a comprehensive study of signal pathways, molecular interactions and the evaluation of novel therapeutic concepts. In this regard, non-invasive imaging tools for serial in-vivo monitoring of tumor load and growth are highly desirable. This study therefore aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of non-invasive in-vivo imaging of primary liver malignancies in mice using combined contrast-enhanced microCT and F-18 FDG microPET. In our murine disease model, microCT enabled imaging of primary liver tumors down to a lesional diameter of 0.9 mm. F-18 FDG tumor-to-non-tumor ratio of HCCs was observed to be dependent on lesion size and linked to overpression of glucose transporters and hexokinase isoenzymes as determined by gene expression studies. Histopathologic analyses indicated an increased cellular dedifferentiation with increase lesion size, as well.

Histologic, immunohistologic and electron microscopic findings in three children with primary immunodeficiencies are reported. Classical X-linked infantile agammaglobulinemia Bruton was present in case 1 (male, aged 16 years), selective cellular immunodeficiency with thrombopenia in case 2 (male, aged 2 1/2 years) and non-lymphopenic severe combined immunodeficiency in case 3 (male, aged 1 3/4 years). At autopsy, all three cases exhibited unusual types of pneumonia. In case 2 a generalized cytomegalovirus infection was present. Case 3 disclosed panmyelopathia and chronic liver lesions due to severe GvH-reaction subsequent to bone marrow transplantation. A detailed morphologic study of the immune system revealed distinct alterations in the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes and the lymphatic tissues of the gastrointestinal tract characteristic of an immunodeficiency state, either humoral (case 1), cellular (case 2) or combined (case 3).