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Purpose: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the ability to use human clinical positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to detect and investigate head and neck cancers chemically induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) in a rat model., Study Design: The study design was prospective animal research., Procedures: A head and neck squamous cell carcinoma was established in 20 immunocompetent rats, who drank a 4-NQO solution during 16 weeks. 2-Deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D: -glucose (FDG)-PET/CT was performed for five of them, 34 weeks after the start of the experiment to characterize the tumors. A day following the FDG-PET/CT, rats were euthanized and pathological features were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining., Results: All rats had head and neck tumor at various locations at 34 weeks. Among the five rats selected for having FDG-PET/CT, the clinical examination detected exophytic tumors grown in the oral cavity for three of them (one on the inferior lip, one on the hard palate, and one on the internal side of the cheek). FDG-PET/CT confirmed the presence of those tumors and detected ones located on the base of tongue for three of them. Tumor extensions were characterized and tumor metabolic volumes were measured. The smallest lesion detected measured 3 x 3 x 4 mm. Pathologic examination using hematoxylin-eosin staining confirmed squamous cell carcinoma., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that FDG-PET/CT is a feasible examination to detect occult primary tumors in rat models. It is useful to follow tumor progression and evaluate therapeutics efficacy.

Aim: To develop and characterize by imaging and pathological examination a new immunocompetent rat model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)., Study Design: Prospective animal research., Materials and Methods: Frozen specimens of HNSCC induced chemically by 4-nitroquinoline 1 oxide (4-NQO) in Sprague Dawley rats were used for the first graft. Serial allografts were then performed with fresh specimens of tumor in twenty-five Sprague Dawley rats. A specimen of tumor (100 mm3) was picked up by head and neck dissection during an autopsy. The graft was performed in a subcutaneous manner, in the ventral part of the neck, using an incision of 4 mm, through the masseter muscle. Tumors were clinically measured once a week and volumes were calculated. 2-[18F]Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography coupled with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) was performed on days 14 and 30 after the graft. Rats were euthanized and pathological features were assessed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry markers to characterize the tumor., Results: An 80% take rate was achieved using fresh tumor specimens. Tumors grew rapidly; the mean tumoral volume was 1.013 cm3 on day 14 and 7.994 cm3 on day 30. FDG-PET/CT imaging targeted regions of metabolically active tumor. It showed a uniform uptake of 18F-FDG on day 14 and a large area of central necrosis on day 30. Pathological examinations showed a typical squamous cell carcinoma, with similar immunohistochemical analyses to the human squamous cell carcinoma., Conclusion: We propose a new allograft HNSCC rat model which is easily reproducible and rapidly obtained in comparison to that induced chemically with 4-NQO. This model was developed in immunocompetent rats, with similar conditions to human carcinogenesis and could be used for testing new therapeutics.

Renal metastasis from carcinoma of the lung is rarely a clinical problem. Autopsic series however prove that the kidney is a frequent metastatic organ (20%). We report the case of a 43-years-old male patient affected with a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, with bilateral renal extension. These secondary localizations were detected through a left flank pain prior to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The absence of hematuria (even microscopic) contrasted with the importance of the lesions. The age, along with the poor general state of our patient and the absence of any CT specificity justified an exploratory lobotomy. The pathologic analysis of the renal biopsies confirmed the metastatic nature of the lesion.

A case of extensive squamous cell carcinoma in situ along the esophageal height in a 58-yr-old female is presented. After subtotal esophagectomy, the course was favorable 11 months later. The pathological study of the specimen showed that the tumor was confined to the epithelium. The lesion was located diffusely along the entire esophageal height and one-third of its circumference. Neither foci of dysplasia or inflammatory erosions nor metastatic nodes were observed. Problems pertaining to the terminology, histopathological interpretation, pathogenesis, and management of such unusual lesion are reviewed. The necessity of large radical resection of the esophagus was validated upon histological confirmation that the resected stump is cancer free.

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is a well-known complication of Barrett's esophagus. This report describes five patients (three men and two women) with Barrett's esophagus and squamous carcinoma of the esophagus. All patients had hiatal hernia, and three had a history of tobacco and alcohol use. The tumors were located in the Barrett's mucosa in one case, at the squamocolumnar junction in two cases, and in the squamous-lined mucosa above the Barrett's mucosa in two cases. One patient also had focal adenocarcinoma associated with the squamous carcinoma of the esophagus. Review of the literature identified 11 previously reported cases. Occurrence of esophageal squamous carcinoma in Barrett's esophagus patients suggests a possible relationship between these two conditions, and the need for a careful evaluation of the squamous esophageal mucosa and the squamocolumnar junction at the time of endoscopy.

Increased prevalence of gallbladder cancer has been related to specific occupations and suggests a possible professional exposure to carcinogens. The authors report the case of a 64-year-old woman who had a squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder with hepatic metastases, and professional exposure to trichloroethylene in a degreasing metal laboratory. Although trichlorothylene could not be assumed to be a true carcinogen for gallbladder cancer, this case underscores that epidemiologic studies taking into account professional exposure, in addition to the usual risk factors of gallbladder cancer, are requested, in order to detect a new patient group at risk for gallbladder cancer.

Two cases of gallbladder carcinoma occurring in intramural diverticulosis (adenomyomatosis) are reported. The first was adenocarcinoma associated with cholesterolosis without gallstone formation. The second was squamous cell carcinoma. Four other carcinomas developing on diverticulosis were reported in the literature, none of them being squamous cell carcinoma. Our cases and those of the literature show that diverticulosis, a benign condition, can be associated with carcinoma which can make the pathological diagnosis difficult.