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Glandular structures are well documented to appear in peripheral nerve sheath tumors. These epithelial elements are usually present in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors although a few cases of glandular benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors have also been described, most of them being schwannomas. A neurofibroma with glands is considered to be a rare type of divergent differentiation, but a neurofibroma containing gland-like or pseudoglandular structures have not, to our knowledge, been described. We report a 33-year-old patient with a well-demarcated dermal neoplasm, composed of neoplastic Schwann cells, perineurial-like cells and fibroblasts in a matrix with collagen fibers and myxoid areas. A part of the tumor consisted of microcystic gland-like spaces lined by flat cells. These cells were either S100 positive or negative, with no epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin or CD31 immunostaining. Recognition of the presence of pseudoglandular elements in neurofibromas is important to distinguish them from other tumoral lesions, some of them with malignant potential.

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INTRODUCCIÓN: La afectación microscópica de los márgenes de resección es un factor pronóstico fundamental en la cirugía del cáncer de páncreas. Sin embargo, su definición anatomopatológica no está estandarizada. Este estudio pretende identificar el porcentaje real de pacientes con resecciones R1 al analizar las piezas quirúrgicas con un protocolo estandarizado y evaluar sus implicaciones sobre la supervivencia. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Serie de 100 pacientes consecutivos intervenidos por adenocarcinoma ductal de páncreas y resecciones macroscópicamente completas, divididos en 2 grupos: pre- y posprotocolo, según se intervinieran antes o después de la aplicación de un protocolo estandarizado de las piezas de resección. RESULTADOS: En el grupo preprotocolo la tasa de resecciones R0 fue del 78%, mientras que tras la aplicación del mismo, se redujo al 47% (p = 0,003). El margen posterior retroperitoneal es el que se encuentra afectado con mayor frecuencia. En los casos con tumores localizados en cabeza de páncreas y analizados con el protocolo estandarizado, la detección del margen retroperitoneal afecto (R1) influye de forma negativa en la supervivencia. La mediana de supervivencia del grupo R0 fue de 22 meses frente a 16 meses en los que presentaban margen afecto (HR: 2,044; IC 95% 1,00-4,16; p = 0,043). CONCLUSIONES: La aplicación de un protocolo estandarizado para el estudio del margen retroperitoneal en el cáncer de páncreas incrementa la proporción de pacientes R1. En los pacientes con cáncer de cabeza de páncreas, la afectación del margen posterior retroperitoneal reduce significativamente la supervivencia

INTRODUCTION: Involvement of surgical resection margins is a fundamental prognostic factor in pancreatic oncological surgery. However, there is a lack of standardized histopathology definition. The aims of this study are to investigate the real rate of R1 resections when surgical specimens are evaluated according to a standardized protocol and to study its survival implications. Patients y methods: One hundred consecutive surgically resected patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were included in the study. They were further divided in 2 groups: pre-protocol, evaluated before the introduction of the standardized protocol and post-protocol, analyzed with the standardized protocol. RESULTS: R0 resection rate in the pre-protocol group was 78%, falling to 47% after the introduction of the standardized protocol (p = 0,003). The posterior retroperitoneal margin was the most frequently involved margin. In cases with tumors located at the pancreatic head and analyzed according to the standardized protocol R1 involvement negatively affected survival. Median survival in the R0 group was 22 months versus 16 in those with the margin involved (HR: 2.044; IC 95% 1,00-4,16; P=.043). CONCLUSIONS: Standardized evaluation of the retroperitoneal margins in pancreatic cancer increases the rate of R1 patients. In cases with pancreatic cancer located at the pancreatic head involvement of posterior retroperitoneal margin significantly decreases survival

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Pancreatic cancer, with a 5% 5-year survival rate, is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Western countries. Unfortunately, only 20% of all patients benefit from surgical treatment. The need to prolong survival has prompted pathologists to develop improved protocols to evaluate pancreatic specimens and their surgical margins. Hopefully, the new protocols will provide clinicians with more powerful prognostic indicators and accurate information to guide their therapeutic decisions. Despite the availability of several guidelines for the handling and pathology reporting of duodenopancreatectomy specimens and their continual updating by expert pathologists, there is no consensus on basic issues such as surgical margins or the definition of incomplete excision (R1) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This article reviews the problems and controversies that dealing with duodenopancreatectomy specimens pose to pathologists, the various terms used to define resection margins or infiltration, and reports. After reviewing the literature, including previous guidelines and based on our own experience, we present our protocol for the pathology handling of duodenopancreatectomy specimens.

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INTRODUCTION: Involvement of surgical resection margins is a fundamental prognostic factor in pancreatic oncological surgery. However, there is a lack of standardized histopathology definition. The aims of this study are to investigate the real rate of R1 resections when surgical specimens are evaluated according to a standardized protocol and to study its survival implications. PATIENTS Y METHODS: One hundred consecutive surgically resected patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were included in the study. They were further divided in 2 groups: pre-protocol, evaluated before the introduction of the standardized protocol and post-protocol, analyzed with the standardized protocol. RESULTS: R0 resection rate in the pre-protocol group was 78%, falling to 47% after the introduction of the standardized protocol (p=0,003). The posterior retroperitoneal margin was the most frequently involved margin. In cases with tumors located at the pancreatic head and analyzed according to the standardized protocol R1 involvement negatively affected survival. Median survival in the R0 group was 22 months versus 16 in those with the margin involved (HR: 2.044; IC 95% 1,00-4,16; P=.043). CONCLUSIONS: Standardized evaluation of the retroperitoneal margins in pancreatic cancer increases the rate of R1 patients. In cases with pancreatic cancer located at the pancreatic head involvement of posterior retroperitoneal margin significantly decreases survival.

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PURPOSE: To identify quality indicators and establish acceptable quality limits (AQLs) in pancreatic oncologic surgery using a formal statistical methodology. METHODS: Indicators have been identified through systematic literature reviews and guidelines for pancreatic surgery. AQLs were determined for each indicator with confidence intervals of 99.8 and 95 % above and below the weighted average by sample size from the different series examined. RESULTS: Several indicators have been identified with the following results as AQLs: resectability rate >59 %; morbidity, mortality, and pancreatic fistula rate in pancreaticoduodenectomy <55, <5, and <16 %, respectively; morbidity, mortality, and fistula rate in distal pancreatectomy <53, <4, and <31 %, respectively; number of lymph nodes retrieved >15; R1 resection <46 %; survival at 1, 3, and 5 years >54, >19, and >8 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A series of different indicators for quality surgical care outcome in pancreatic cancer, as well as their limits, have been determined according to a standard methodology.

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El hepatocolangiocarcinoma combinado (HCC) es un tumor primario hepático poco frecuente. Se caracteriza por mostrar elementos inequívocos tanto de hepatocarcinoma (HC) como de colangiocarcinoma (CC), íntimamente relacionados entre sí. Presentamos 2 casos clínicos recientes, en los que el diagnóstico preoperatorio fue de CC en el caso 1 y de HC en el caso 2. Tras la resección quirúrgica el estudio histológico en ambos casos mostró un doble componente de hepatocarcinoma y colangiocarcinoma. Además, en el caso 2 existían áreas donde las células se hacían más indiferenciadas y expresaban marcadores de célula madre. La clasificación histológica de este tipo de tumores ha estado sometida a revisión recientemente y sería conveniente disponer de unas claves diagnósticas anatomopatológicas. En el presente trabajo se realiza una revisión de la literatura y se analizan lo que se consideran claves diagnósticas(AU)

Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma is a rare primary hepatic tumour, characterized by unmistakable, intimately mixed elements of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. We report 2 cases in which the preoperative diagnosis was cholangiocarcinoma (case 1) and hepatocellular carcinoma (case 2). However, the microscopy of the surgical specimen revealed components of typical hepatocellular carcinoma as well as cholangiocarcinoma in both cases. Moreover, case 2 showed areas of undifferentiated cells expressing stem cell markers. As the classification of these tumours has recently changed, histopathological keys for their correct diagnosis would prove helpful. To this end, we have reviewed the pertinent literature in search of such diagnostic aids(AU)

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The objectives of this work are to study angiogenesis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using computerized morphometric and image analysis and to compare the microvascular density in intratumoral and peritumoral areas and normal pancreatic tissue. Microvascular density was analyzed in 60 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and 30 samples of normal pancreatic tissue using an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique with an anti-CD31 antibody. Microvascular density (MVD) was analyzed through digital microimaging and computerized analysis. The blood vessel density in the tumor was significantly higher than in peritumoral areas and in normal pancreatic tissue. Well differentiated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas contained higher MVD than poorly differentiated carcinomas. In pancreatic adenocarcinoma, MVD is higher than in peritumoral tissue or normal pancreatic tissue.

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Recognition of the different types of multinucleated giant cells in neoplastic and pseudotumoral lesions of the skin may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of these tumors. In this review, we will analyze the different types of multinucleated giant cells that can be found in nonepithelial cutaneous tumors and, more importantly, the clinicopathological context in which they are found. Touton giant cells are typically present in juvenile xanthogranuloma, necrobiotic xanthogranuloma, and some subtypes of xanthomas. Giant cells with a ground glass appearance are typically present in the solitary reticulohistiocytoma and multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. Osteoclast-like cells are found in giant cell tumors (GCT) of soft parts, plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor, and atypical fibroxanthoma. Floret-like cells are present in giant cell fibroblastoma, pleomorphic lipoma, multinucleate cell angiohistiocytoma, and giant cell collagenoma.

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Se presentan 4 casos de actinomicosis pulmonar en pacientes mayores de 40 años, 2 de ellos con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), que mostraron un aumento de la tos productiva, episodios de disnea, hemoptisis y fiebre de larga evolución. En las radiografías de tórax de rutina se observaban imágenes segmentarias de consolidación aérea, sugestivas de cuadros neumónicos no resueltos o neoplasia. La tomografía axial computarizada (TAC) mostró hallazgos similares a los anteriores. Los cultivos de esputo y las pruebas de Mantoux fueron repetidamente negativos. Debido a la mala evolución de los pacientes y a los hallazgos radiológicos, se practicó una punción-aspiración con aguja fina (PAAF) para descartar neoplasia. En la citología se observaron conglomerados tridimensionales, de bordes filamentosos y aspecto algodonoso compatibles con Actinomyces. El tratamiento antibiótico produjo la mejoría del cuadro clínico y el seguimiento demostró la desaparición de las opacidades radiológicas. Actualmente, la actinomicosis pulmonar es infrecuente y la sintomatología inespecífica, por lo que puede confundirse con procesos neoplásicos. Por tanto, en pacientes con factores de riesgo, síntomas de neumonía subaguda e imágenes radiológicas de consolidación del parénquima es aconsejable considerar la posibilidad de actinomicosis pulmonar. Es una enfermedad tratable y su correcto diagnóstico mediante la PAAF evita al paciente pruebas diagnósticas más agresivas, retrasos en el diagnóstico y le permite una cura completa con tratamiento antibiótico.

We present four cases of pulmonary actinomycosis in patients over 40 years of age, two of them with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), showing an increase in productive cough, episodes of dyspnea, hemoptysis and long-term fever. Routine chest radiographs revealed segmental air-space consolidation, suggestive of unresolved pneumonia or neoplasm. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed similar findings to the ones previously described. Sputum cultures for mycobacteriae and Mantoux tests were constantly negative. Due to the poor clinical and radiodological outcome of the patients, a fine needle aspiration (FNA) was made to rule out a neoplasm. Tridimensional filamentous colonies of Actinomyces were observed in cytology. Antibiotic treatment resulted in an improvement of symptoms. The follow-up showed a decrease of the consolidation areas. Pulmonary actinomycosis is rare nowadays and clinical symptoms are unspecific and can be confused with a neoplasm process. Therefore, in patients with risk factors, symptoms of subacute pneumonia and radiologic findings of consolidation, it is advisable to consider pulmonary actinomycosis as a diagnostic possibility. It is a treatable disease and its correct diagnosis by FNA, avoids performing invasive diagnostic tests, delays in the diagnosis and allows for a complete cure by antibiotic therapy.

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CONTEXT: Foregut cystic malformations are common lesions in the mediastinum but are rarely found in subdiaphragmatic locations. Only a few cases have been described within the pancreas where they can easily be misdiagnosed as cystic neoplasms. CASE REPORT: We herein present the case of a 37-year-old female with acute cholangitis in whom a diagnostic work-up revealed a 1 cm solid-cystic heterogeneous lesion located at the head of the pancreas. The patient underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Pathological evaluation demonstrated a cystic cavity lined by pseudostratified tall columnar ciliated epithelium with goblet cells, but lacking cartilage or smooth muscle bundles. Thus, the final diagnosis of the lesion was a ciliated foregut cyst of the pancreas. CONCLUSIONS: A review of the cases published regarding these lesions shows great variability in the taxonomy and a lack of accuracy in the definitions of each different subtype. An easy to use algorithm for the diagnosis of foregut cystic malformations subtypes, based on epithelial lining and wall features, is presented.

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We present four cases of pulmonary actinomycosis in patients over 40 years of age, two of them with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), showing an increase in productive cough, episodes of dyspnea, hemoptysis and long-term fever. Routine chest radiographs revealed segmental air-space consolidation, suggestive of unresolved pneumonia or neoplasm. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed similar findings to the ones previously described. Sputum cultures for mycobacteriae and Mantoux tests were constantly negative. Due to the poor clinical and radiodological outcome of the patients, a fine needle aspiration (FNA) was made to rule out a neoplasm. Tridimensional filamentous colonies of Actinomyces were observed in cytology. Antibiotic treatment resulted in an improvement of symptoms. The follow-up showed a decrease of the consolidation areas. Pulmonary actinomycosis is rare nowadays and clinical symptoms are unspecific and can be confused with a neoplasm process. Therefore, in patients with risk factors, symptoms of subacute pneumonia and radiologic findings of consolidation, it is advisable to consider pulmonary actinomycosis as a diagnostic possibility. It is a treatable disease and its correct diagnosis by FNA, avoids performing invasive diagnostic tests, delays in the diagnosis and allows for a complete cure by antibiotic therapy.

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El cáncer de páncreas representa la cuarta causa de muerte por cáncer en los países desarrollados. El creciente interés por parte de cirujanos y oncólogos de mejorar las tasas de supervivencia ha incidido directamente en los laboratorios de anatomía patológica, exigiendo de los mismos una estandarización en el tallado y valoración de los márgenes de resección. En el presente trabajo analizaremos los problemas anatómicos de las piezas de duodenopancreatectomía cefálica y revisaremos las distintas nomenclaturas utilizadas para definir los diferentes márgenes de resección, así como su afectación. Finalmente presentamos el protocolo de tallado y evaluación que utilizamos en el Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, basado en trabajos previos de patólogos europeos y americanos, así como en nuestra propia experiencia(AU)

Cancer of the pancreas is the fourth cause of death due to cancer in developed countries and surgeons and oncologists are showing an increasing interest in the improvement of survival. This has prompted pathologists to develop better, standardized protocols for the evaluation of surgical specimens from pancreatectomies. The different problems that the pathologist may encounter when examining surgical specimens from pancreatoduodenectomies, as well as the different nomenclature used to define resection margins and infiltration are discussed. The protocol followed at the University Hospital of Valencia, based on European and American protocols as well as our own experience, is described(AU)

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