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A xanthogranulomatous salpingitis, occurring in a fifty-two year old patient and appearing itself as a hydrosalpinx, is reported. The histological picture was characterized by the presence of several foamy histiocytes admixed with other inflammatory cells. Considerations about epidemiology, etiopathogenetic mechanisms and problems of differential diagnosis with other diseases are discussed.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XC) is a chronic inflammatory lesion of the gallbladder histologically characterized by the presence of varying amounts of foamy histiocytes in the inflammatory infiltrate. In this study a review of 63 cases selected from 1207 surgically removed gallbladder is presented; the percentage found (5.2%) is slightly higher than that of previous reports showing that XC is less uncommon than generally believed. A detailed microscopic study is performed: the authors observed according to the histological features particularly the different patterns of distribution of the inflammatory infiltrate and postulate the existence of three subtypes of XC: multinodular, focal and diffuse XC. Finally, the main etiopathogenetic hypotheses are briefly discussed.

Two hundred human term placentas underwent morphometric study by means of semiautomated computerized method. Outer villous perimeter per cent parenchymal area and mean chord length were the investigated parameters. The mean value of outer villous perimeter, mean chord length and per cent area were respectively 46.9 mu (X 1000 mu 2) with a standard deviation of 4.6, 57.7 mu (standard deviation 9.3) and 66.1% (standard deviation 7.4). The relative distribution of these various parameters can constitute a valid basis for a comparison in cases of placental insufficiency.

A series of 20 cases of pleomorphic adenoma and 19 cases of adenoid-cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands, and one case in the mammary location, were investigated regarding immunohistochemical reactivity for Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA), Pre-Keratins, Vimentin, S-100 Protein, and their arrangement pattern of fibronectin. As a whole, the results support the hypothesis of morpho-structural and mainly, onto-histogenetic similarities between these tumours, but they also underline the need for great care in outlining their morpho-functional features, in relation to their different prognoses.

A series of 65 cases of different histological types of breast carcinoma was investigated for the immunohistochemical location of the estrogen receptor-related, 29 kD phosphoprotein using the ER-D5 monoclonal antibody. The ER-D5 response is heterogeneous in relation to some therapeutic limitations and is correlated with histopathological features of the tumors and survival. The main parameters for evaluation of breast cancers are reviewed, both those that are statistically correlated and those that are not apparently always correlated but are known to have considerable biological meaning, such as the ER-status of tumors.

A series of 72 cases of prostatic carcinoma, together with another of 20 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia, serum PSA levels of which were available, are investigated, concerning their immunohistochemical responsiveness both to PSA and PAP. Particularly, parameters of 54 cases are statistically correlated, a significant correlation standing out between tumoral "grading" and PSA and PAP immunohistochemical patterns. Moreover, the two markers used show some useful complementary features. Concerning the serum PSA levels, they correlate more significantly with "staging" than with "grading" of the tumors. Then, the biological characterization of prostatic carcinomas, at least in the Authors' experience, should be improved any further if both the serum PSA levels and the PSA and/or PAP immunohistochemical patterns of tumors may be available together.