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Yunyi Gao,1 Dawei Chen,1 Yan Li,1 Huijiao Chen,2 Xingwu Ran1 1Diabetic Foot Care Center, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xingwu RanDiabetic Foot Care Center, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Lane, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-28-85422362 Email ranxingwu@163.comAbstract: We presented a case of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related type III cryoglobulinemia vasculitis (CryoVas) characterized by extremity gangrene in a patient with diabetes. The 60-year-old female had a 10-year history of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. She complained of sudden onset pain and swelling of toes which quickly progressed to gangrene, with fingers becoming pain and dark violet. The patient was initially misdiagnosed as diabetic foot (DF). Although DF is one of the common chronic complications of diabetes, it rarely involves the hand. What is more, the ischemic manifestations of the extremity were not consistent with the results of the vascular examination and immune system changes. The patient had Raynaud’s phenomenon, arthralgia, and extremity gangrene. Test results showed cryoglobulinemia multiple positive, polyclonal immunoglobulin with rheumatoid factor negative, lower complement 3, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and HBV infection. HBV-related type III CryoVas was finally diagnosed, and a conservative therapy strategy was given. Six months after treatment with cyclophosphamide, corticosteroid, nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy, local debridement, and dressing change, she recovered and kept no recurrence by following up for 30 months. To our knowledge, this is the first report of extremity gangrene caused by HBV-related CryoVas in a diabetic patient.Keywords: HBV, type III cryoglobulinemia vasculitis, extremity gangrene, diabetic foot

Xiaonan Yin,1,* Chaoyong Shen,1,* Yuan Yin,1 Zhaolun Cai,1 Jian Wang,1 Zhou Zhao,1 Xin Chen,1 Zhixin Chen,1 Huijiao Chen,2 Bo Zhang11Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this work Backgrounds: Accumulating evidences have demonstrated that CD55 can protect cells from complement-mediated attack, and is involved in tumor dedifferentiation, migration, invasiveness, and metastasis. However, the role of CD55 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) has not been investigated.Aims: Our study aimed to analyze the expression of CD55 in gastric GISTs and its correlations with clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis.Materials and methods: A total of 118 gastric GIST patients were included in our study. CD55 expression in GIST tissue samples was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Cumulative survival was conducted using the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with gastric GISTs.Results: Of 118 gastric GISTs patients included in our study, 44 (37.3%) were positive for CD55 expression. Positive CD55 expression in gastric GISTs was closely associated with tumor size (13.52±7.35 vs 5.07±1.90 cm, respectively; P

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a rare low-grade malignant fibroblastic tumor, harboring a characteristic FUS-CREB3L2 or FUS-CREB3L1 gene fusion. The authors presented 10 genetically confirmed cases in a Chinese population. To the best of our knowledge, the present series consists of the most genetically confirmed cases from a Chinese medical center in English literature. The clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of all cases are reviewed. The age of the patients (7 females, 3 males) ranged from 4 to 58 years old (median, 26 y; mean, 27 y). Trunk (4/10, 40%) was the most common site. Microscopically, all the cases exhibited an admixture of myxoid nodules and fibrous zones. The tumor cells were deceptively bland and nuclear pleomorphism was observed in focal areas of one case. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were focally reactive for EMA (1/9, 11.1%), and negative for S-100 protein, CD34, smooth muscle actin, and desmin (0/9). Of the 4 cases stained with MUC4, one showed focal expression and others were interpreted as indeterminate. Surgical excision was performed for all patients. Follow-up information was available for 8 cases, and none developed local recurrence or metastasis at last follow-up (mean 31 months). LGFMS is a distinctive low-grade malignant tumor. The diagnosis of this tumor might be very challenging and it is mistaken for many benign lesions. A combination of clinical studies, careful morphologic analysis, and a full panel of immunomarkers especially genetic studies is helpful in confirming the diagnosis. This tumor type is associated with favorable prognosis.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) involving thoracic region are very rare, most of which are esophageal in origin. Herein, we report a gastric GIST presenting as a posterior mediastinal mass, which provided diagnostic pitfalls due to its unusual anatomic location. The patient was a 68-year-old Chinese female, presenting with dysphagia, nausea and weight loss of 5 kg within 4 months. The contrast-enhanced thoracic computed tomography scan revealed a huge heterogeneous soft tissue mass in the posterior mediastinum. The core biopsy revealed a spindle cell tumor. The pathological features, in conjunction with the strong immunostaining pattern for CD117 and DOG-1 and the identification of KIT exon 11 mutation, confirmed the diagnosis of GIST. The subsequent surgery revealed the tumor located entirely in the abdominal cavity, laying beneath the diaphragm, and pushing the diaphragm upward into the posterior mediastinum. To our best, there has been only one similar case reported in the English literature. As patients with GISTs either resectable or not may get potential benefits from imatinib currently, the identification of GIST is very important even before surgery. Clinicians and pathologists should keep in mind that GISTs involving thoracic region do exist. The morphological features, immunohistochemical panel including CD117 and DOG-1 and molecular genetic test, in combination with clinicopathological correlation are helpful in confirming the correct diagnosis.