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There has been much debate as to whether the distinction between lupus nephritis class IV-S and class IV-G is clinically relevant and whether antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are pathomechanistically involved because they have been associated with the more necrotic and pauci-inflammatory phenotype of lupus nephritis that is more often seen in class IV-S. Recent data show that antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positivity indeed influences the histological pattern of lupus nephritis and is associated with worse baseline renal function and more active lupus serology.

Panniculitis is broadly defined as inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue. Although a number of diseases involve the panniculus, the spectrum of morphological patterns is limited, namely lobular and septal. Therefore, despite the perceived complexity of this topic, careful analysis of the pattern and the inflammatory infiltrate allows a histological diagnosis in a majority of cases. In this review we will cover the most important types of panniculitis, and will offer a diagnostic algorithm to help analyse this type of biopsy.

Sir,Myxoid changes in adrenocortical neoplasms are extremely rare. They were originally described in carcinomas,1,2 and account for just 4.7% of 300 adrenocortical neoplasms in the only published s...

We report one rare case of squamous cells prostate tumor. This histological pattern accounts for the 0,5-1% of all prostatic malignancies with certain clinical and evolutive aspects that are from those of prostate adenocarcinoma. Review of the literature seems to have a very poor prognosis such that occured in our patient who died after 2 month of diagnosis with a poor reponse to the habitual treatment, perhaps due to this different cell of origen.

Summary Widespread organ distribution of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, including osseous involvement, was demonstrated in two dogs. Both cases had a storiform-pleomorphic pattern histologically and immunohistochemical stains were used to differentiate this from other types of neoplasms with the same histological pattern. Radiographically the lesions were predominantly lytic in the metaphysis of long bones, although periosteal proliferation and axial skeletal involvement were seen in one dog.

Among acquired idiopathic inflammatory myopathies necrotizing auto-immune myopathy (NAM) has been recognized as distinct based on morphological features. Anti-SRP and antiHMCR antibody (Ab) are specifically associated with NAM. Data concerning histological features are sparse. We aim to describe the histological pattern of the muscle of a large series ( N = 44) of NAM-seropositive patients. Fiber necrosis and regeneration were defined based on specific histological features. For immohistochemical analysis, a semi-quantitative score (0–5) was used for MHC-I (e.g. 0: no overt expression, 2: focal over-expression more than 50%, 5: diffuse and intense over-expression). ImageJ software on digitally completely scanned slides was used. Forty-four NAM patients were included (SRP + n = 25, HMGCR + n = 19). The percentage of necrotizing fibers was 2.1 ± 1.7%. The percentage of regenerating fibers was 16 ± 12.5%. Percentages of necrosis and regeneration were strongly correlated ( r = 0.61, p 2 , but 20.4% of patients exhibited significant infiltrates (>20 CD3 + T cells/mm 2 ). A correlation between the CD3 + T cells density and CD8 + T cells density with the percentage of fibre necrosis was observed ( r = 0.5, p r = 0.4, p = 0.008). Along that line, a strong correlation between CD8 + T cell density and MHC-I over-expression was seen ( r = 0.6; p

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the magnitude of surgically produced periodontal damage to third molars before transplantation. For this purpose, 30 impacted third molars were retrieved by a tissue-conserving surgical technique whereas 30 others were removed by a conventional technique. The surgically induced damage to the periodontal membrane showed a variable histological pattern. A significant reduction of the damage to desmodontal fibers and the cementum was achieved by using a special technique of removal.

SUMMARY In gynaecological pathology it is often useful to analyse the histological pattern quantitatively. To enable the results to be generally useful certain criteria should be fulfilled—the observations should be reproducible by other pathologists in a consistent manner and should be able to be validated. Some methods of assessing the relevant features of a section, such as pattern grading, are very subjective and do not readily conform to these criteria. Mitosis counting is perhaps somewhat more objective than pattern grading but there is considerable overlap in the counts as one moves along the clinical grade, say from benign to malignant, making it necessary to analyse other features in parallel. Using stereological methods of pattern analysis, many features of the histological pictures can be analysed simultaneously with a high degree of objectivity and accuracy. Significant features of the pattern can then be identified by discriminant multivariate analysis.

Thirty-one teeth taken post-mortem from 10 subjects aged from 40 to 66 years were studied. A close relationship was found between fluoride (F) distribution and histological structure. Although, as in all mineralized tissues, F concentrations tended to be highest towards the external surface, individual patterns of F distribution also seemed to reflect the histological pattern, especially the distribution of cellular or acellular cementum. In general, F concentrations were high in acellular and low in cellular cementum.

Summary Four cases of node-based T cell lymphoma are presented. The tumours had 2 distinct morphologic patterns. Two cases showed a polymorphous proliferation of pleomorphic lymphoid cells, small lymphocytes, epithelioid cells and arborizing small vessels while the others displayed a monomorphous infiltrate of large atypical lymphoid cells characterized by granular nuclei with numerous tortuous folds to produce a ‘squiggly’ appearance. One case showed a progression from one histological pattern to the other. Confirmation of the T cell nature of these lymphomas was based on the demonstration of E-rosette formation by morphologically atypical lymphoid cells which also stained positive for acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase activity. The patients had an average age of 52 yr and presented with a variable distribution of lymphadenopathy and a predominance of extranodal involvement. Two cases disclosed hypergammaglobulinaemia, one of whom had a paraproteinaemia of IgM-k type. All patients responded poorly to standard combination chemotherapy, 2 expiring 48 and 53 mth after onset of symptoms.

The toxic side effects of many cancer chemotherapeutic agents prevent their use in high concentrations. This paper describes a technique for the administration of large doses of chemotherapeutic agents to the rat liver in an in vivo isolated perfusion system. This method is applicable for testing the effect of various agents on liver pathophysiology. No alteration in liver function, liver weight, or histological pattern was noted following perfusion with high concentrations of 5-fluorouracil.

The close similarity of the hepatic histological pattern in two conditions, I) jejunoileal bypass and 2) chronic alcoholism, is described, including the inconstancy of development of permanent hepatic changes in both conditions. It appears that serious hepatic disease develops in an incidence between 1 and 17% of patients who have received the operation. Hepatic disease presents itself as: 1) acute hepatic failure, 2) insidious development of cirrhosis, or 3) tenous hepatic functional state that reduces hepatic resistance to other insults.

Mice were sensitized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and challenged 3–7 days later with a mid tail subcutaneous injection of SRBC. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was assessed by the amount of tail swelling elicited by antigen challenge and was reflected in a histological pattern of an accumulation of lymphocytes and monocytes-macrophages. The swelling response was specific to the antigen used. The amount of swelling was dependent on the numbers of SRBC used during both sensitization and challenge. The route of administration for sensitization had a variable effect on the DTH response and had significant effects on the amount of hemagglutinating antibody to SRBC. This method of assessing delayed type hypersensitivity in the mouse is rapid, reproducible, and can be done by one individual. We have found the measurement of tail swelling to be a convenient alternative to measuring tissue swelling in a footpad or ear.

Lymphograms performed before therapy in 51 patients with Hodgkin's disease have been analysed and the results related to the histology. Although a typical appearance for each histological type is described, it is not possible to predict the histological pattern from the radiographic appearances in an individual patient.

Summary This paper reviews the clinical and histopathological features of 15 cases of recurring digital fibrous tumours. The sex incidence was approximately equal, the toes were affected almost as often as the fingers, but the thumbs and great toes were spared. Two digits were involved in 4 cases and there were separate tumours in the same digit in a further 2 cases. Bilateral lesions and simultaneous involvement of hand and foot were not seen. The lesions were intradermal, had a characteristic histological pattern and, in all but one case, exhibited intracytoplasmic inclusions. Of 10 patients for whom follow-up information was available, 9 demonstrated recurring tumours but none exhibited metastases. None of the nodules were left untreated. Nevertheless, conservative surgical correction of digital dysfunction and deformities, rather than radical excision of tumours, probably forms the treatment of choice.

Mesonephric carcinoma of the female urethra is rare arising from vestiges of the Wolffian duct and is particularly of gynaecological or urological interest. It has been treated once successfully by radical anterior pelvic exenteration. By more conservative methods of treatment such as transurethral resections, radiation or topical application of thio-tepa it is poorly controlled. The diagnosis is established by a histological pattern reminiscent of the mesonephros.

Summary A case of multiple benign pulmonary tumours is described in which the histological pattern was predominantly fibroadenomatous. Nomenclature is discussed on the basis of the original definition of harmartoma and the descriptive title “benign pulmonary fibroadenomatosis” is suggested.