muramidase and Hemangiosarcoma

Pathological examination in the spleen of an 81-year old female with hemoperitoneum, hypovolemic shock, anemia, thrombocytopenia and hyperglicemia revealed the presence of an angiosarcoma. On histological examination, characteristically the neoplasm was formed by vascular lumina and cystic spaces into which papillary fronds projected and solid nests. Neoplastic cells had scant cytoplasm, hyperchromatic, oval or reniform nuclei, with prominent nucleoli. The necrosis was evident and mitoses were frequent. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed positivity for endothelial (CD31, CD34) and histiocytic markers (CD68 and lysozyme) and negativity for CD21. Ultrastructural examination also disclosed a biphasic differentiation, showing the presence of organelles associated with histiocytic and endothelial differentiation. These findings suggest that this lesion can be considered a conventional splenic angiosarcoma with focal histocytic differentiation.

Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Antigens, CD; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cell Nucleus; Fatal Outcome; Female; Hemangiosarcoma; Humans; Lysosomes; Muramidase; Necrosis; Rupture, Spontaneous; Splenic Neoplasms; Splenic Rupture

Hyaline globules (HG) were detected in 51 of 54 Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions (94.4%), including all four non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases of cutaneous KS in this group of cases. Thus, there was no correlation between the presence of HG and the presence or absence of AIDS, nor could we demonstrate any relationship between the presence or prominence of HG and either the histologic pattern or anatomical distribution of KS. HG were located mainly in the cytoplasm of perivascular cells, histiocytoid cells, and spindle-shaped cells and occasionally in endothelial cells lining vessels or slit-like spaces. Extracellular HG were also seen. HG stained positively with periodic acid-Schiff with and without diastase digestion and with phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin. HG were immunohistochemically negative for alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, lysozyme, and Factor VIII-related antigen, but the cells containing HG were often positive for alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and occasionally for alpha 1-antitrypsin and Factor VIII-related antigen. HG were also detected in five of six angiosarcomas, two of ten pyogenic granulomas, and seven of 32 inflammatory granulation tissues. These were immunohistochemically similar to HG in KS. Thus, HG are not specific for KS. We support the interpretation that HG are most likely digested erythrocytes.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Female; Granulation Tissue; Granuloma; Hemangiosarcoma; Humans; Hyalin; Immunohistochemistry; Inclusion Bodies; Male; Muramidase; Sarcoma, Kaposi; von Willebrand Factor