فهرست مطالب

Iranian Journal Of Pathology
Volume:12 Issue: 3, Summer 2017

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1396/05/24
  • تعداد عناوین: 20
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  • Hassan Ghasemi, Sajedeh Asghari Asl, Mohammad Ebrahim Yarmohammadi, Farhd Jafari, Pupak Izadi Pages 189-194
    Background And Objectives
    External dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the method of choice to treat nasolacrimal duct (NLD) obstruction and the other approaches are compared with it, with a failure rate of 4% to 13%. The current study aimed to assess the causes of failure in external DCR by postoperative endoscopic and pathological evaluation.
    Methods
    The current retrospective cross sectional study followed-up113 patients with external DCR and silicone intubation for three months. Silicone tubes were removed after the third months. Failure was confirmed based on the clinical findings and irrigation test. Paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scanning, and endoscopic and pathological evaluations were performed in the failed cases.
    Results
    Totally, 113 patients underwent external DCR. The patients included 71 females and 42 males. The mean age of the patients was 55.91 years; ranged from 18 to 86. Epiphora was the most common complaint before surgery (90.3%). Clinically, epiphora continued in 17 cases (15%), of which 94.11% had at least one sinus CT abnormality and 82.35% had at least one endoscopic abnormality. The most common endoscopic findings were deviated septum (70.6%), scar tissue (52.94%), concha bullosa (46.9%), septal adhesion (47.05%), enlarged middle turbinate (41.2%), and sump syndrome (11.7%). The failure was significantly associated with the chronicity of the initial symptoms (P-value=0.00). Pathologically, there were significant relationship amongst the failure rate, scar formation, and allergic rhinitis (P-values =0.00 and
    Conclusion
    Preoperative endonasal evaluation and consultation with an otolaryngologist can improve surgical outcomes and help to have a better conscious to intranasal abnormalities before external DCR surgery.
    Keywords: Lacrimal sac, Nasolacrimal Duct, Epiphora, Dacryocystorhinostomy
  • Amir Hossein Jafarian, Masoumeh Gharib, Nema Mohammadian Roshan, Samaneh Sherafatnia, Abbas Ali Omidi, Sahar Bagheri Pages 195-201
    Background and Objective
    The histologic distinction of small cell from non-small cell lung carcinoma and correct identification of all subtypes of lung carcinoma are very important in treatment management. The main method for histologic classification of lung tumors is based on morphology. However, in small bronchoscopic biopsies in particular, distinction is very difficult upon morphology alone. The current study aimed at evaluating the utility of a panel of antibodies, consisting of thyroid transcription factor (TTF-1), P63, high molecular weight keratin [HMWK (34βE12)], cytokeratin (CK7), and cluster of differentiation (CD56) for accurate distinction of bronchogenic carcinomas.
    Methods
    Bronchoscopic biopsies of 60 lung carcinoma cases including 20 small cell carcinomas, 20 adenocarcinomas, and 20 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) with typical morphologic features were selected. All these cases were immunohistochemically stained for TTF-1, P63, HMWK (34βE12), CK7, and CD56. All immunostained slides were scored as either positive or negative.
    Results
    The mean age of the patients was 60 years; ranged from 35 to 81. Sixteen patients were female and 44 were male. All adenocarcinomas were positive for CK7 and most of them (18/20; 90%) were positive for TTF-1. Most of small cell lung carcinomas were positive for TTF-1 (17/20; 85%), and CD56 (18/20; 90%). All squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) were negative for TTF-1, but most of them were positive for HMWK (34βE12) and P63.
    Conclusion
    The obtained data showed that TTF-1, P63, CK7, CD56 and/or 34βE12 represent a useful panel of antibodies to identify lung carcinoma subtypes in small bronchoscopic biopsies.
    Keywords: Immunohistochemistry, TTF1, P63, HMWK [34βE12], CK7, CD56, lung carcinoma
  • Fereshteh Ensani, Ramesh Omranipour, Isa Jahanzad, Azadeh Jafari, Shima Nafarzadeh, Pouyan Aminishakib Pages 202-208
    Background and Objectives
    Evaluation of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2) Her-2 on core needle biopsies (CNBs) is increasingly in use to diagnosis early breast cancer, but its concordance with surgical excision (SE) is not well documented.
    Methods
    The study included 100 formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of invasive breast carcinoma archived in Pathology Department of Cancer Institute, Tehran, Iran, from 2011 to 2014. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect ER, PR, and Her-2.
    Results
    The current study findings indicated a significant correlation of 90% between CNB and SE specimens for ER expression. The correlation between CNB and SE specimens was estimated as 81% and 97.3% for PR and Her-2, respectively.
    Discussion
    CNB can be performed confidently to determine ER and Her-2. For PR, results obtained from CNB should be considered.
    Keywords: Core Needle Biopsy, Breast Cancer, Estrogen, Progesterone, Her2
  • Farhad Shahi, Razieh Alishahi, Hossein Pashaiefar, Isa Jahanzad, Naser Kamalian, Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh, Marjan Yaghmaie Pages 209-217
    Background and Objective
    Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) constitute an uncommon and heterogeneous group of tumors of mesenchymal origin and various cytogenetic abnormalities ranging from distinct genomic rearrangements, such as chromosomal translocations and amplifications, to more intricate rearrangements involving multiple chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to identify these chromosomal translocations and amplifications, and sub classify STS precisely. The current study aimed at investigating the usefulness of FISH, as a diagnostic ancillary aid, to detect cytogenetic abnormalities such as MDM2 (murine double minute 2) amplification and CHOP(C/EBP homologous protein) rearrangement in liposarcoma, as well as SYT (synaptotagmin) rearrangement in synovial sarcoma.
    Methods
    The FISH technique was used to analyze 17 specimens of liposarcoma for MDM2 amplification and CHOP rearrangement, and 10 specimens of synovial sarcoma for SYT rearrangement. The subtypes of liposarcoma and synovial sarcomas were reclassified according to the FISH results and compared with those of the respective histological findings.
    Results
    According to the FISH results in 17 liposarcoma cases, well-differentiated liposarcoma(WDLPS), dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS), and myxoidliposarcoma (MLPS)subtypes were 41%, 53%, and 6%, respectively. In different subtypes of liposarcoma, a total of 30% mismatches were observed between pathologic and cytogenetic results. According to the histological findings from FISH analysis, SYT rearrangement was found only in three out of 10 (30%) synovial sarcomas.
    Conclusion
    The detection of cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with liposarcoma and synovial sarcoma by FISH technique provides an important objective tool to confirm sarcoma diagnosis and sub classification of specific sarcoma subtypes in such patients.
    Keywords: Liposarcoma, Synovial sarcoma, Fish, CHOP, SYT, MDM2
  • Azadeh Sadat Nazouri, Omolbanin Asadpour, Shahriar Dabiri, Bahram Pourseyedi, Mohammad Reza Lashkarizadeh, Hamid Zeinalyneghad Pages 218-224
    Background and Objective
    Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in females. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) and its product sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) are the essential key regulator molecules in breast cancer through their ability to promote cell proliferation, angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and lymphagiogenesis. SPHK1 is overexpressed in multiple types of cancer including breast cancer and is associated with resistance to treatment. The current study aimed at investigating the expression of SPHK1 in estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) negative in comparison to ER, and PR positive breast cancer and their normal controls, and also finding the relationship between SPHK1 expression and high body index (BMI) in the selected groups with breast cancer.
    Methods
    A total of 120 human breast cancer tissue specimens were analyzed for SPHK1 expression using quantitative real–time polymerase chain reaction (q RT-PCR) assay. Detection of hormonal status of breast cancer tissue samples was conducted by immunohistochemical assay.
    Result
    The current study findings showed that the level of SPHK1expression in the breast cancer tissue was significantly higher in patients with estrogen and progesterone negative receptors, compared to the ones without them (P-value 25).
    Conclusion
    The current study showed that expression of SPHK1gene was higher in the patients with ER and PR negative breast cancer and high BMI, compared with other groups.
    Keywords: Sphingosine Kinase 1 phosphate_Estrogen_Progesterone Receptors_Real –time PCR_Breast Cancer
  • Fatemeh Mashhadiabbas, Masoume Fayazi-Boroujeni Pages 225-230
    Background and Objective
    Changes in submucosal vascularization and inflammation, determined by immunohistochemistry staining, were shown to be correlated with the development of dysplasia and invasiveness of epithelial cells in premalignant and malignant lesions. This study evaluated changes in sections routinely stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) in order to investigate vascular density and intensity of inflammatory cells infiltration during the progression of oral leukoplakia with mild dysplasia to Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC).The aim of the research was to determine whether changes in sub-mucosal vascularity and inflammatory infiltration of leukoplakia in routine H&E-stained sections could contribute to the assessment of severity of the lesion.
    Methods
    In this cross-sectional, comparative and descriptive study, vascular density and inflammation intensity of 125 available samples of H&E-stained sections, consisting of 35 cases of mild and moderate dysplasia, 38 severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, and 52 SCC, were investigated. To analyze the data, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Tukey’s post hoc test, and cumulative ordinal logistic regression were conducted.
    Results
    There was a significantly higher vascular density in cases with severe dysplasia, in situ carcinoma, and SCC compared to those with mild to moderate dysplasia (P
    Conclusions
    Increased submucosal vascularization and inflammatory cells infiltration can contribute further to predicting more aggressive epithelial dysplasia.
    Keywords: Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Oral Leukoplakia, Inflammation, Blood Vessels
  • Zeeba Jairajpuri, Rekha Ghai, Sumita Saluja, Sujala Kapur, K.T. Bhowmick Pages 231-240
    Background and Objective
    The current study aimed to perform an immunohistochemical analysis of patterns of apoptotic and cell proliferative related protein expression in different histological grades and immune phenotypes of malignant lymphomas and other lymphoproliferative disorders
    Methods
    This observational study was carried on 60lymph node biopsies of lymphoproliferative disorders. The biopsies were analyzed histologically and immunohistochemically.
    Results
    A total of 60 lymph node biopsies were included in the study, of which 81.6% were of malignant lympho-proliferative lesions. The majority of the biopsies were B-cell (66%) and were grouped in the intermediate grade. Bax and BCL-2 protein expression was presented by percentage of immune positive neoplastic cells per 10fields and graded on a scale of 1 to4. A Bcl-2, Bax Protein Ratio (BBPR) was determined for each case by dividing the estimated Bcl-2 protein (percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells x Bcl-2 staining intensity) by the estimated Bax protein (percentage of Bax positive cells x Bax immunostaining intensity). The mean BBPR was found to be significantly higher in indolent lymphomas (2.64 ± 1.3) as compared to aggressive lymphomas (0.47 ± 0.9) (P
    Conclusions
    A significant correlation was found between BBPR and predicted biological behavior of indolent and aggressive lymphomas. This indicates the important role of Bcl-2 and Bax in biological behavior of lymphomas. Furthermore, P53 and PCNA expression were found to increase from low to high-grade tumors suggesting their prognostic value in NHL.
    Keywords: Apoptosis, Malignant lymphoproliferative, Bcl2, Bax
  • Sina Rostami, Alireza Pasdar, Sina Gerayli, Hamed Hatami, Samaneh Sepahi, Fatemeh Nategh, Mojtaba Meshkat, Seyed Mousalreza Hoseini, Mitra Ahadi, Hamid Reza Sima, Hasan Vosughinia, Mohammad Reza Sarvghad, Abbas Esmaeelzade, Hosein Nomani, Homan Mosanan Mozafari, Fariba Rezai Talab Pages 248-256
    Background And Objectives
    Interferon-gamma is an important cytokine, which facilitates immunity against intracellular pathogens. Several factors, including genetic variations of cytokine-producing genes have been shown to influence the progression and severity of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
    Methods
    Between January and December 2012, 87 HCV-infected individuals and 89 individuals without HCV infection were recruited for the study of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) at Interferon Gamma (IFNG)  T/A. After extraction of genomic DNA from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) in blood sample of the individuals, Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate the SNP at this position.
    Results
    The frequency of genotype TA was 62.1% in the HCV-infected group, while it was 47.2% for the control group (p=0.033). However, after adjusting for confounders (including alcohol consumption, drug addiction, transfusion, and tattoos), the genotypes at this position did not show any statistically significant association with HCV infection (adjusted P values were above 0.05). The frequency of allele A was slightly higher in patients than the controls (55.2% versus 48.3%).Carriers of A allele were more frequent in patients with HCV infection compared to the control group (55.17% in patients versus 48.31% in the control group; P=0.02). However, after adjustment for confounders, the results were no longer statistically significant (P=0.2).
    Conclusion
    A carrier status for certain alleles and genotypes at Interferon Gamma (IFNG)  T/A may lead to higher susceptibility to HCV infection in a certain population.
    Keywords: Interferon-gamma_Single Nucleotide Polymorphism_Hepatitis C virus
  • Nayere Askari, Tooba Ghazanfari, Mohammad Mehdi Naghizadeh, Athar Moin, Ali Khamesipour, Shahryar Pourfarzam, Zuhair Mohammad Hassan Pages 257-264
    Background and Objective
    Pruritus is the most frequent chronic dermal complication of sulfur mustard (SM), which negatively influences the quality of life. Exact pathophysiology of SM-induced itching is unknown. The current study aimed at evaluating the possible association between SM-induced itching and the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and their endogenous inhibitors, and serum levels of soluble forms of selectins (sL-, sP-, and sE-selectins) as adhesion molecules involved in the development of different inflammatory reactions.
    Methods
    Serum levels of MMP-9, MMP-9/ tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and selectins were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and compared between the groups (n=368) with and without itching, and matched control groups (n=126).
    Results
    Serum levels of MMP-9 were significantly higher in the SM exposed group with itching, compared with that of the group without itching (medians: 894 and 624 pg/mL respectively; P-value =0.034). There was no relationship between the serum levels of MMP-9/TIMP-1, MMP-9/TIMP-2, MMP-9/TIMP-4, and itching in the patients exposed to SM. Median serum levels of sE- and sL-selectins in the exposed group with itching were higher than those of the exposed group without itching. These differences were statistically insignificant (P-values =0.084 and 0.095, respectively).
    Conclusion
    According to the results of the current study, the increased serum levels of MMP-9 and selectins 20 years after exposure may play role in the pathogenesis and persistence of SM-induced itching in the exposed individuals.
    Keywords: Mustard Gas, Pruritus, MMP-9, MMP-9, TIMPs, Selectins
  • Hasan Jalaeikhoo, Seyed Mohammad Hossein Kashfi, Pedram Azimzadeh, Ahmad Narimani, Katayon Gouhari Moghadam, Mohsen Rajaeinejad, Mehdi Ariana, Manouchehr Keyhani Pages 265-271
    Background and Objective
    Pancytopenia is the reduction in the number of all 3 major cellular elements of blood and leads to anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. A wide variety of etiologies result in pancytopenia including leukemia, aplastic anemia, and megaloblastic anemia. The current study identified the different etiologies of pancytopenia based on bone marrow examination in Iranian patients with pancytopenia.
    Methods
    A total of 683 cases of pancytopenia with various etiologies were selected for this retrospective study. Bone marrow biopsy was performed with the standard technique using Jamshidi needle. The inclusion criteria for patients with pancytopenia were hemoglobin (Hb) 9/L, and platelet count 9/L.
    Results
    In the present study acute leukemia was the first most common etiology detected in 235 (35.4%) patients in which acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comprised the majority of cases 142 (21.4%), followed by myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) 100 (15%). In patients less than 20 years old, acute leukemia was also the commonest cause identified in 56 (57.7%) cases in which acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with 38.7% was the most common etiology; however in adults (>45 year old), AML accounted for the majority of cases 76 (53.5%).
    Conclusion
    Since acute leukemia was the commonest etiology in both young and adults in which AML accounted for the majority of cases with pancytopenia in Iranian population, there was an urgent need to identify the underlying molecular or genetic mechanism of this malignancy for better further medical management and patients` survival.
    Keywords: Pancytopenia, Acute Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, AML
  • Ramesh Omranipour, Habibollah Mahmoudzadeh, Freshteh Ensani, Samira Yadegari, Seyed Rohollah Miri Pages 272-276
    Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) metastasis to duodenum is very rare and only a few case reports are available in the literature. We here reported a patient with solitary duodenal metastasis presented with melena six years after right nephrectomy. The patient underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showing ulcerative mass at the second portion of duodenum and biopsy of this mass was consistent with metastatic RCC. Metastasis work up did not find any other site of malignancy, thus Whipple’s operation (Pancreaticoduodenectomy) was performed. In conclusion metastasis from RCC should be considered in mind in patients with history of nephrectomy presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms and a complete evaluation, especially endoscopic examination followed by biopsy, is suggested.
    Keywords: Duodenum, Renal cell carcinoma, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, melena
  • Krishnendu Mondal, Rupali Mandal Pages 277-280
    Background
    Carcinoid tumors usually originate from the enterochromaffin cells located in gastrointestinal tract and bronchopulmonary system. They may rarely arise in the urinary bladder, where this can be eventually miscued as any other commoner bladder neoplasms. The current study was conducted to connote an uncommon clinicopathological presentation by a carcinoid tumor in the urinary bladder.
    Case: A 52-year-old male, who initially experienced obstructive urinary symptoms, underwent cystourethroscopy to remove a tumor in the urinary bladder. The tumor exhibited insular, trabecular, and organoid architecture on histology without any necrosis or mitosis, stained positively with chromogranin A, and thereby, confirmed the diagnosis of a pure carcinoid tumor.
    Conclusion
    Carcinoid tumors rarely arise in the urinary bladder and other genitourinary organs. But, several other and relatively more common bladder neoplasms may often deceptively simulate it. This dilemma could be resolved easily with the application of proper immunohistochemistry (IHC) in neuroendocrine tumors.
    Keywords: Carcinoid Tumor, Chromogranin A, Cystourethroscopy, Immunohistochemistry Urinary Bladder
  • Ivonne A. Montes-Mojarro, Javier Baquera-Heredia, Juan Felipe Sanchez-Marle, Carlos Ortiz-Hidalgo Pages 281-285
    The solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) are rare tumors in the head and neck region and there have been only 5 cases reported in the literature in the soft palate. The current paper presents a unique case of a 62-year-old male with TFS arising in the soft palate. The tumor was highly cellular, composed of bland looking haphazardly arranged spindle cells. The signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-6 and nuclear β-catenin were reactive by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The current case highlights the importance of the STAT-6 and the β-catenin as IHC markers to make a differential diagnosis with other entities. In summary, the paper presents the first reported case of a SFT of the soft palate in a male patient with nuclear expression of STAT-6 and β-catenin.
    Keywords: Solitary Fibrous Tumor (SFT), Immunohistochemistry (IHQ), Mesenchymal Tumors, Soft Palate, STAT-6, β-catenin
  • Alireza Sadeghipour, Navid Abdi, Pegah Babaheidarian Pages 286-290
    Background
    Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is inherited as an autosomal dominant disease, characterized by skin lesion and tubers in vital organs, especially brain in three categories including subependymal nodules, cortical tubers and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma. Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) is an indolent neoplasm which usually arises at the cauda thalamic groove near foramen monro, although it occurs usually in the clinical settings of TSC, a few number of SEGA has been reported without such history. Its morphology with special cytoarchitecture could be mistaken with other glial brain tumors with similar morphology. Therefore, investigating new markers for differentiating SEGA from other mimickers seems logical rather than other glioneural immunohistochemical markers introduced before.
    Case: We investigated CD99 expression in SEGA as an adjunctive marker for diagnostic purposes. Five reported cases of SEGA were studied and all of them showed CD99 expression besides usual glioneural markers.
    Conclusion
    CD99 may be a useful adjunctive marker in differentiating SEGA from other mimickers.
    Keywords: Sub Ependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma, CD99, Immunohistochemical Staining, Tumor
  • Indranil Chakrabarti, Priyanka Agarwala, Pranati Bera, Sankarshan Bhaduri Pages 291-294
    Background
    Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are uncommon biphasic fibroepithelial neoplasms of the breast occurring in elderly females with a peak incidence between 45 and 49 years. Depending on various histological criteria, they are subdivided into benign, borderline, and malignant forms. Metaplastic changes occur, but are quite infrequent and cystic squamous metaplasia is very rare among the observed metaplastic changes in PT.
    Case: The current paper presents the case of a 41-year-old female with a progressively enlarging swelling in the left breast. Subsequent histopathological examination revealed benign PT with cystic squamous metaplasia. The previously done fine needle aspiration smears were also reviewed, which showed important diagnostic clues to this rare entity, but were ignored due to the rarity of the lesion.
    Conclusion
    The case was presented because of its unique cytological and histopathological morphology and also to determine the role of aspiration cytology to diagnose such a rare occurrence.
    Keywords: Benign Phyllodes Tumor, Cystic Squamous Metaplasia, Cytology
  • Chandan Kumar, Pragya Jain, Neelam Wadhwa, Preeti Diwaker, Nirupma Khan Pages 295-300
    Mucormycosis is a rare but highly invasive opportunistic fungal infection. Gastrointestinal disease although uncommon is highly fatal. We report a case of jejunal mucormycosis in a 24 year old undernourished female with preceding surgical intervention for acute intestinal obstruction of tubercular etiology. On 8th post-operative day, she developed oozing from suture line, prompting exploratory laparotomy, bowel resection, jejunostomy and ileal mucus fistula. Resected bowel showed one perforation and several areas of impending perforations. Characteristic broad, pauci-septate hyaline, empty looking hyphae with infrequent branching were found transmurally and showing angio-invasion. Local intestinal tissue trauma coupled with her sub-normal immune status permitted this unusual nosocomial infection. Histopathologic demonstration of the fungus in surgical specimens remains cornerstone of diagnosis of mucormycosis in view of its non-specific symptoms, low isolation rates of mycologic culture and lack of other rapid tests.
    Keywords: Mucormycosis, Nosocomial Infection, Jejunum, Small Bowel
  • Rupam Sinha, Soumyabrata Sarkar, Tanya Khaitan, Deepsikha Ramani Pages 301-306
    Gorham’s disease is a rare and atypical disorder epitomized by progressive osteolysis of bone with eventual total disappearance of bone. The etiology is poorly understood with variable clinical presentation. Most times it is initially misdiagnosed as temporomandibular joint dysfunction, periodontal disease or odontogenic tumors clinically and radiographically in routine dental practice. Radiographic examination, such as Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) play a vital role in diagnosing such disorder resulting in disappearance of the involved bone entirely, which is a definitive distinguishing feature of this condition. Regarding the rarity of the condition, the current study presents a case of Gorham’s disease with distinctive clinical, radiological, and histological, features involving maxilla and mandible.
    Keywords: Gorham's disease, Maxilla, Mandible, Massive Osteolysis, Resorption
  • Subrata Pal, Kingshuk Bose, Palash Ch Mondal, Srabani Chakrabarti, Mrinal Sikder Pages 307-310
    Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is a rare benign placental abnormality. It is characterized by hydropic degeneration of stem villi, placentomegaly, and increased maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP). It can be associated with different congenital abnormalities, karyotype abnormalities, and feto-maternal morbidities. It is difficult to differentiate PMDfrom partial mole, complete mole with twin pregnancy in ultrasound, and in macroscopic examination. The current paper presentsa rare case of placental mesenchymal dysplasia in a young primigravida mother who delivered a normal fetus withnormal karyotype.
    •Placental mesenchymal dysplasia is a very rare benign condition of placenta.
    •Ultrasound and gross examinations closely mimic partial mole.
    •Histopathology of the placenta is a definite methodofdiagnosis.
    •It may be associated with various congenital abnormalities.
    •If prenatal diagnosis is possible, close monitoring is necessary.
    Keywords: Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD), normal fetus, partial mole
  • Martina Montagnana, Elisa Danese, Gabriel Lima-Oliveira, Gian Luca Salvagno, Giuseppe Lippi Pages 311-312
    Beside the well-established impact on decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (1), recent attention has been paid to the relationship between cocoa-containing foods and the immune system (2), showing that dark chocolate consumption enhances the systemic defense against bacterial (3) and viral (4) infections. Hence, the current study aimed at investigating the acute effect of dark chocolate intake on peripheral blood leukocytes.
    Keywords: chocolate, cocoa, leukocytes, neutrophils, infection
  • Fatemeh Khatami, Seyed Mohammad Tavangar Pages 313-322
    Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors. The current diagnostic tools are based on biochemistry and histopathology results, but heterogeneity of diagnostic markers, signs and symptoms of PCCs bring a lot of difficulties for these two current methods. Unfortunately microscopic understanding of PCCs is not adequate for its confident prognosis and management. There are data linking specific genotypes of PCCs tumors to specific locations, typical biochemical phenotypes or future clinical behaviors. The detection of a germ-line mutation possibly can guide us to an early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and regular surveillance with better prognosis not only for the patient but also for their family members. Moreover, the latest discoveries in gene sequencing, circulating DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) will support the exact molecular pathogenesis of PCCs in order to provide an important basis for future PCCs managements.
    Keywords: Pheochromocytomas (PCCs), Histopathology, genes, catecholamines, metanephrines