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Ameloblastic fibroma (AF) is an uncommon odontogenic tumour that may present an aggressive behaviour and may have potential for malignant transformation. Ghost cell (GC) differentiation within AF is extremely rare. There are only seven cases in the international literature in which ghost cells are found in AF.In this study, we report a case of a 8-year-old female child with a cystic-solid mass, measuring 3 x 1.7 x 1.2 cm, characterised by mixed odontogenic tumour, with AF in most of the lesion, with areas characterised by GC, while ameloblastic and ameloblastic fibrodontoma areas were also detected. Other histological sections showed only AF tissue, with areas of Calcifying Odontogenic Cyst. The immunohistochemical characterisation of the lesion was also performed. A comparative table of the immunoistochemical staining of the AF and COC areas revealed some differences in the expression of markers.

The distinction between follicular adenomas (FAs) and well differentiated follicular and papillary carcinomas is often a demanding task and sometimes only intuitive.We report an histomorphological evaluation of follicular neoplasms [FAs, follicular carcinomas (FCs), and follicular variant of papillary carcinomas (FVPTCs)], supported by a qualitative and quantitative image analysis and by a molecular characterization.Tumor fibrosis and haemorrhage, neoplastic capsule thickness, follicle diameter, number of neoplastic cells, nuclear diameter of neoplastic cells, vessels density, vessels area and intratumoral distribution were evaluated. Ras and BRAF mutations, RET/PTC1, RET/PTC3, and PAX8/PPARγ rearrangements were analyzed. Correlations with clinico-pathological features have been studied.We found that FAs had a more extensive intratumoral haemorrhage, while malignant neoplasms were characterized by an evident fibrosis, higher cellularity and larger size. FVPTCs had higher nuclear diameter; cells count was higher in the minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinomas, as well as a thickener neoplastic capsule. The CD34 stain showed a higher microvessel density in the FVPTCs group. A higher peripheral vessels distribution was observed only in malignant neoplasms. We observed overall Ras mutations in 2.4% of adenomas, in 41.5% of FVPTCs, and in 44.8% of FCs. It is outstanding that there is a marked difference in the Ras mutation distribution between the benign and malignant tumors in our series.We found that genotyping of Ras gene family together with an accurate analysis of selected morphological features could help in the differential diagnosis of follicular-derived thyroid neoplasms.

Gorlin syndrome, also known as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), is a hereditary condition transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait with high penetrance and variable expressivity. The syndrome is characterized by numerous manifestations: basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are the leading ones. In this article a typical Gorlin syndrome case associated with basal cell carcinoma of the vulva is described.

Recent studies introduced the novel concept of chemical lipolysis where phosphatidylcholine (PC), an active component of commercial preparations, plays a pivotal role. Other studies suggested that sodium deoxycholate (DOC), an excipient contained in medical preparations, could be the real active component performing an adipocytolytic action. We investigated the effects of PC and DOC on human primary adipocyte cultures and on human fresh adipose tissue. Human adipocytes isolated by Rodbell's method, were cultured onto type I collagen-coated glass coverslips, placed into 24-well tissue culture plates. Cells were incubated with or without DOC (5–7–9%), PC (5%) or DOC/PC mixture and observed under phase contrast microscope. After incubation, cells were stained with Oil Red-O and with acridine orange/ethidium bromide to observe necrotic cells with phase contrast microscope and fluorescent microscope, respectively. Histological specimens from adipose tissue biopsies were observed with phase contrast microscopy and with scanning electron microscopy. To investigate the lipid pattern variability in the different experimental conditions, culture medium obtained from the different treatments was subjected to lipid extraction and subsequently to thin layer chromatography (TLC). Microscopic observation of adipocytes showed that DOC treatment led to a detrimental morphological effect in a dose-dependent manner. PC treatment did not significantly affect adipocyte viability. On the contrary, results from experiments aimed to analyze the effects of PC/DOC combined treatment suggested a PC protective role against the DOC harmful effects on adipocytes. Results indicated that clinical effects, observed in local treatment with pharmaceutical preparation, could be due only to DOC, a detergent inducing nonspecific lysis of cell membranes following adipocyte necrosis. On the other hand, PC could likely be incorporated in the lipid bilayer, thus strongly reducing the disruptive DOC effects.

In literature there are few reports about multiple CGCG. But this is the first report of bilateral CGCG of the mandibular angles in three females from the same family. This report describes three cases of females from the same family - a mother and two young daughters - with bilateral CGCG in their jaw angles. All the lesions were surgically removed and the histopathologic diagnosis was always identical: giant cell central granulomas, with patterns that were absolutely superimposable between them and with that of the mother. The hypothesis is that this presentation of CGCG may be defined as hereditary bilateral CGCG of the mandibular angles (or also, cherubism-like lesions).

Emerging evidence indicates that interactions between chemokine receptors and their ligands may have a critical role in several steps of tumor development, including tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. In this report, we retrospectively evaluated CXCR4 expression in a consecutive series of 200 papillary thyroid carcinomas. We investigated the relationship between the clinicopathological features of the tumors and mutations in the BRAF gene to verify whether overexpression of CXCR4 is linked to more aggressive behavior in thyroid tumors. CXCR4 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. A final staining score was calculated by adding the score representing the percentage of positive cells to the intensity score. The CXCR4 expression of each papillary thyroid carcinoma sample was normalized by calculating the z score for each final staining score. Univariate analysis was used to correlate CXCR4 expression with the papillary thyroid carcinoma variant, the degree of neoplastic infiltration, the American Joint Commission on Cancer stage, the presence of lymphocytic thyroiditis and the mutation status of the BRAF gene. Multiple regression analysis confirmed a strong association between CXCR4, BRAF mutation and the degree of neoplastic infiltration. These data clearly indicate that the chemokine receptor expression induced by oncogenic activation could be the major determinant of the local aggressiveness of neoplastic cells. In conclusion, our data indicate that CXCR4 expression and BRAF mutation status could cooperatively induce and promote a more aggressive phenotype in papillary thyroid carcinoma through several pathways and specifically increase the tumors' spread outside of the thyroid gland.

The diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is usually straightforward if the typical morphologic features, including a wide variety of growth patterns, are identified. We report the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of a rare case of intraoral SFT which exhibited a predominant leiomyomatous-like appearance, closely reminiscent of a leiomyoma, at both incisional and excisional biopsy. Histologically, the tumor was composed predominantly of intersecting fascicles of eosinophilic spindle-shaped cells, variably set in a fibrous stroma. A focal hemangiopericytoma-like growth pattern with alternating hypercellular and hypocellular areas, as well as the deposition of dense keloid-type collagen, raising the suspicion of SFT, could be identified only after a careful examination of the whole tumor. Immunohistochemistry was helpful in confirming the diagnosis of SFT, revealing a diffuse staining of neoplastic cells for vimentin, CD34, bcl-2 protein, and, focally, CD99. Myogenic markers (α-smooth muscle actin, desmin, h-caldesmon) were not expressed. The pathologist should be aware of this variant of intraoral leiomyomatous-like SFT to avoid a misdiagnosis of leiomyoma. The distinction of SFT from leiomyoma in the oral cavity is important to assure both correct treatment and prognostic information.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a recently identified death factor that acts as a potent apoptosis inducer in ameloblastomas.The expression of TRAIL and its receptors (TRAIL-R), and the location of apoptotic cells were evaluated in 15 cases of ameloblastoma using immunohistochemistry and an in situ DNA nick-end labeling method. The proliferative activity of ameloblastomas was analyzed by determining the Ki-67 labeling index.TRAIL and TRAIL-R were diffusely expressed in ameloblastomas, without clear correlation with the location of apoptotic cells. Apoptosis and proliferation were opposite in the peripheral and central components of the ameloblastomas. In some ameloblastoma variants, apoptosis and proliferation seemed to modify in the same direction.TRAIL and its receptors might be involved in neoplastic transformation of odontogenic epithelium and might suggest some intrinsic regulation of neoplastic cell proliferation and death in ameloblastomas, thus explaining their slow growth and inability to metastasize.

Parotid gland metastatic tumours are rare, usually arising from a primary mucosal or cutaneous cancer located in the ipsilateral head and neck region, although metastases from a primary cancer outside the head and neck region are possible. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rarely metastasizes to the head and neck region and the parotid glands are an even more unusual site. The authors describe the case of an 82-year-old male who presented with a right parotid mass. Percutaneous incisional biopsy with histological and immunohistochemical studies suggested metastatic HCC. Radiological investigations excluded other metastatic lesions. This case illustrates the difficulties that may be encountered when seeking a definitive diagnosis of parotid gland masses and underlines the need for collaboration between clinicians and pathologists when diagnosing a parotid enlargement.

Skin manifestations of tuberculous infection (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) are represented by miliary tuberculosis of the skin, tuberculous chancre, scrofuloderma, tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, periorificial tuberculosis, and lupus vulgaris (LV). Among this group, LV is the most common skin condition, diagnosed in 10% of tuberculotic patients. The authors report herein a case of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising from long-standing (50-year) LV and underline the need of an extensive follow-up of tuberculotic lesions.