Actinomycosis is a rare subacute or chronic, endogenous infection mainly by Actinomyces species, showing low virulence through fimbriae and biofilms. Cervicofacial, thoracic, abdominal, pelvic and sometimes cerebral, laryngeal, urinary and other regions can be affected. Actinomycosis mimics other diseases, often malignancy. Disease risk in immunocompromised subjects needs clarification. Diagnosis is often delayed and ‘sulfur granules’ are helpful but nonspecific. Culture requires immediate specimen transport and prolonged anaerobic incubation. Imaging, histology, cytology, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and molecular methods improve the diagnosis. Actinomycetes are β-lactam susceptible, occasionally resistant. Treatment includes surgery and/or long-term parenteral then oral antibiotics, but some 1–4-week regimens or oral therapy alone were curative. For prophylaxis, oral hygiene and regular intrauterine device replacement are important.

Actinomycosis: a frequently forgotten disease

Background Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of the breast with unknown aetiology. Its treatment is controversial and the recurrence rate is high. The objectives of this study were to examine the demographic, sociocultural and clinical characteristics observed among a large cohort of IGM patients from Turkey and to identify factors related to the recurrence of IGM. Methods The study was designed as a multicentre retrospective study including 22 breast centres in Turkey. A total of 720 IGM patients are included in the study. Patient data were obtained from the patient's files and electronic records based on the study protocol. Patients' demographic, clinical, radiological, treatment and recurrence of IGM related characteristics were recorded. Results Our results revealed a statistically significant association between IGM recurrence and history of pregnancy, breastfeeding, breast infection and smoking (P 0.05). Conclusion Our findings show that history of pregnancy, breastfeeding, breast infection and smoking were the risk factors for IGM recurrence. As current treatment methods did not affect IGM recurrence, recurrence-related factors, such as breast infection and smoking, should be considered to eliminate while focusing on less invasive local treatment research.

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Factors related to recurrence of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: what do we learn from a multicentre study?

Adenosarcomas are rare malignancies of the female genital tract, accounting for approximately 5 % of uterine sarcomas. Occasionally, adenosarcoma occurs in the ovaries or in extra-uterine tissue, which may be related to endometriosis. These tumors are characterized by benign epithelial elements and a malignant mesenchymal component. Pathologic diagnosis is dependent on the identification of the characteristic morphologic features. The most common immunohistochemical markers for adenosarcoma are CD10 and WT1, but these are not specific. The most frequent presenting symptom is abnormal uterine bleeding. The majority of patients present with stage I disease, with a 5-year overall survival of 60 to 80 %. Survival is influenced by the presence of myometrial invasion, sarcomatous overgrowth, lymphovascular invasion, necrosis, and the presence of heterologous elements including rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. Patients with sarcomatous overgrowth have significantly increased risk of recurrence 23 versus 77 % and decreased 5-year overall survival 50 to 60 %. Standard of care treatment is total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without lymphadenectomy, as the incidence of lymph node metastasis is rare. Retrospective data does not support the use of adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy in uterine adenosarcomas as no survival benefit is seen. Insufficient data exists to recommend routinely neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy for uterine adenosarcomas. Limited evidence exists for the role of hormonal therapy in uterine adenosarcomas. The PIK3/AKT/PTEN pathway is mutated in ∼70 % of adenosarcomas, and this may represent a possible therapeutic target. This article reviews the current state of knowledge concerning uterine adenosarcoma and discusses the management of this rare tumor.

Uterine Adenosarcoma: a Review

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high tissue contrast without ionizing radiation exposure and unenhanced images are often diagnostic. Therefore, MRI is especially an attractive tool for patients with allergies for gadolinium-based contrast agents or renal failure. Technical advantages have led to the increasing use of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI in abdominal imaging, which provides qualitative and quantitative information of tissue cellularity and the integrity of cellular membranes. This review article presents the current status of noncontrast MRI with the focus of DW-MRI. Technical background and clinical applications are explained and discussed.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jmri.23643

Diffusion-weighted MRI of the abdomen: current value in clinical routine.

Debate persists regarding the relationship between mucin expression and outcome in colon cancer. This arises due to discrepancy in the definition of mucinous adenocarcinoma and the combination of both colon and rectal cancers in analyses. This study examines the relationship between increased mucin production and outcomes in colon cancer. Cases were classified according to the World Health Organization classification of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon. Accordingly, tumors were categorized as either (a) mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon (greater than 50 % of the extracellular matrix occupied by mucin) or (b) non-mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon. Overall survival and disease-free survival were calculated. A stepwise Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to determine the risk of death/disease recurrence. Kaplan–Meier estimates of overall survival and disease-free survival were plotted for each group and compared using a log-rank test. On univariate analysis, mucinous adenocarcinoma was associated with reduced risk of death (P = 0.01). On multivariate analysis, mucinous adenocarcinoma was also associated with reduced risk of death (hazard ratio (HR) 0.33, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.14–0.79, P = 0.01). Kaplan–Meier estimates confirmed improved rate of survival in the mucinous vs. non-mucinous group (P = 0.01). Mucinous adenocarcinoma did not affect disease-free survival (HR 0.75, 95 % CI 0.46–1.21, P = 0.22). A comparison of Kaplan–Meier estimates for systemic recurrence demonstrated significant increases in systemic recurrence in the group with no mucin production (P = 0.04) but not for locoregional recurrence (P = 0.24). Histopathological evidence of mucinous adenocarcinoma in colon cancer is associated with improved outcomes.

Overall survival is improved in mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Background: Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are rare and constitute approximately 0.5% of all pancreatic neoplasms. Aims: The study was to describe clinicopathological features of pancreatic cystic tumors. Patients and Methods: In our retrospective study, we reviewed 10 cases of pancreatic cystic neoplasms that were diagnosed at the pathology department of Mongi Slim hospital over a 14-year period (2000-2013). We adopted the latest World Health Organization (WHO) classification (2010) in grouping all tumors. Results: There were one male and nine female patients (sex ratio M/F = 1:9) aged between 21 and 68 years (mean = 37.5 years). The most common clinical presentation was epigastric and abdominal pain ( n = 6) followed by vomiting ( n = 3). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan disclosed a cystic lesion of the pancreas ranging in size between 2 and 10 cm (mean = 6.75 cm). All patients underwent surgical treatment. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen established the diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm ( n = 2), serous cystic neoplasm ( n = 2), mucinous cystadenoma ( n = 4), mucinous cystadenocarcinoma ( n = 1), and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with invasive carcinoma ( n = 1). Conclusion: Better understanding of pancreatic cystic neoplasms is essential for clinicians to make accurate diagnosis and to provide the best management for patients.

Pancreatic cystic neoplasms.

A 77-year-old female patient with a medical history significant for hypertension and epilepsy presented with right breast pain of 6-months duration. Examination revealed a hard sub-areola tender mass with irregular borders associated with mild right nipple retraction. Mammography showed a 2.2 x 2.4 cm stellate mass of the right breast. Ultrasound-guided core biopsies of the tumour were performed. Pathological examination revealed a grade II infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The patient underwent right radical mastectomy with homolateral axillary lymphadenectomy. Histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed grade II infiltrating ductal carcinoma concomitant with granulomatous lobular mastitis. To the best of our knowledge, the coexistence of granulomatous lobular mastitis and ductal carcinoma has been described only twice in the English language literature. The theory that chronic inflammation leads to cancer is well documented. Whether our patient had developed cancer from granulomatous lobular mastitis or otherwise is a matter of debate until more cases are encountered and more research is done in the area of breast cancer pathogenesis with regards to it arising from granulomatous lobular mastitis.

Coexistence of lobular granulomatous mastitis and ductal carcinoma: a fortuitous association?

Background and aims Traditionally, a gallbladder removed for presumed benign disease is sent for histopathological examination, but this practice has been the subject of controversy. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of routine histopathological examination of cholecystectomy specimens and its impact on the management of patients. Patients and methods The histopathological reports of 1960 patients who underwent cholecystectomy from January 2011 to November 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Results : There were 519 men and 1441 women (sex-ratio M/F = 0,36) aged between 8 and 96 years (mean = 51,23 years). All patients underwent cholecystectomy (either open or laparoscopic). Histological examination of the surgical specimens showed chronic cholecystitis (n = 1319) (67,29%), acute cholecystitis (n = 117) (5,96%), cholestrolosis (n = 255) (13%), follicular cholecystitis (n = 230) (11,73%), xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (n = 6) (0,30%), cholesterol polyps (n = 5) (0,255), tubular adenoma (n = 3) (0,15%), mucocele (n = 2) (0,10%), pancreatic heterotopia (n = 2 ) (0,10%), hyperplastic Luschka ducts (n = 2) (0,10%), adenomyoma (n = 2) (0,10%), porcelain calcification (n = 2) (0,10%) and biliary-type adenocarcinoma (n = 9) (0,46%). In 9 cases (0,46%), the gallbladder was histologically normal. Conclusion Our study shows that the incidence of pre-malignant and malignant lesions of the gallbladder is very low. We therefore recommend selective histopathological examination of cholecystectomy specimens with abnormal macroscopic findings.

Routine histopathological study of cholecystectomy specimens. Useful? A retrospective study of 1960 cases.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is a rare inflammatory breast disease of unknown aetiology that is frequently mistaken for breast carcinoma both clinically and mammographically. In this paper, the authors report two cases of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis that occurred in two parous women aged 38 and 45 years. Clinically, both patients presented with a tender palpable lump in the left breast. Mammography showed an poorly-defined mass in both patients with microcalcification in the first case and skin retraction in the second case. Breast lumpectomy was performed in both patients. Histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed non-caseating granulomas confined to breast lobules. Special staining for fungi and tuberculosis were all negative. Correct diagnosis ofidiopathic granulomatous mastitis requires the exclusion of malignancy, other granulomatous disease and infectious aetiologies. Histopathologic examination remains the gold standard for diagnosis. This disease is rare, and therefore the optimum treatment protocol is still being established.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis mimicking breast cancer: report of two cases.

Adult intussusception is a relatively rare clinical entity. Almost 90% of cases of intussusception in adults are secondary to a pathologic condition that serves as a lead point. Lymphangioma of the small bowel is an unusual tumour that has been rarely reported to cause intussusception. In this paper, we present a rare case of adult intussusception due to jejunal lymphangioma. A 22-year-old female patient with a medical history significant for anaemia presented with intermittent colicky abdominal pain, diarrhoea and oedema of the inferior limbs for the past three months. Ultrasonography and CT scan revealed a typical target sign with dilated intestinal loops. At laparotomy, a jejuno-jejunal intussusception was found. Partial resection of the jejunum was performed. Macroscopic examination of the surgical specimen revealed a pedunculated polyp measuring 2 cm in diameter. Histological sections of the polyp revealed in the lamina propria and submucosal layer of the jejunum several markedly dilated thin-walled lymphatic spaces lined with single layers of flat endothelial cells. The final pathologic diagnosis was submucosal lymphangioma. This case report indicates that intussusception, although rare in adults, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. Moreover, it should be taken into consideration that lymphangioma is one of the possible lesions that can cause intussusception.

Bouraoui S

Papers

Pancreatic cystic neoplasms.

Coexistence of lobular granulomatous mastitis and ductal carcinoma: a fortuitous association?

Routine histopathological study of cholecystectomy specimens. Useful? A retrospective study of 1960 cases.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis mimicking breast cancer: report of two cases.

Jejunal lymphangioma: an unusual cause of intussusception in an adult patient.