Pathologie (Heidelberg, Germany)最新文献

Hirschsprung disease/aganglionosis of the colon is the most common form of intestinal motility disorder, especially in children. In this review article, which was presented at the specialist meeting of the German Paediatric Pathology Working Group, insight into the histopathological diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease, including the technical approach to biopsies, will be provided. In addition, differential diagnoses of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO), which can be identified with the help of histopathological diagnostics, are presented. These include-among others-hypoganglionosis, intestinal neuronal dysplasia, ganglionitis, and leiomyositis.

We describe the defined entities of intestinal T‑cell lymphomas and NK-/T-cell lymphoproliferations that occur in the gastrointestinal tract. The spectrum encompasses aggressive T‑cell lymphomas such as enteropathy-associated T‑cell lymphoma as well as in situ lymphomas like refractory celiac disease type II and essentially benign lesions like indolent NK-cell lymphoproliferation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Predictive biomarker testing is nowadays an integral part of modern diagnostics and treatment planning for esophageal and gastric cancer. It currently consists mainly of immunohistochemically determined markers, namely the PD-L1 status (stated by the Tumor Proportion Score [TPS], Combined Positivity Score [CPS] and Tumor Area Proportion [TAP] Score) in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, as well as the HER2 status (supplemented by in situ hybridization in case of equivocal results), the mismatch repair status (optionally supplemented by molecular pathological determination of microsatellite status), and, since mid-2024, the expression of claudin 18.2 in gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas. An expansion of the panel by FGFR2b is expected in the near future. In addition to the quality guideline-compliant technical performance of the tests, the biological heterogeneity of many of these biomarkers is also a diagnostic and clinical challenge. The current article provides an overview of current biomarker testing in the context of current treatment options for cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Background: Liver tumours are common and deadly diseases in humans and are often associated with a poor prognosis. To better understand the mechanisms and potential therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, experimental animal models are used in preclinical research and spontaneously occurring tumours in companion animals can also be investigated as models.

Objective: We provide an overview of commonly used animal models in hepatic cancer research, including their applications, advantages, and disadvantages. Additionally, we present pathological findings of the most frequent spontaneous liver neoplasms in dogs and cats.

Materials and methods: We performed a review of the scientific literature and of findings in animal models. Additionally, we performed an analysis of case statistics from a veterinary pathology submission laboratory.

Results: Mouse models are most frequently used in the study of hepatic tumours. These include xenografts, in which human tumour cells are injected, chemically and diet-induced models for studying environmental and metabolic factors, and genetically modified mice. In addition to mice, other species such as rats, rabbits, and woodchucks are also utilized. Woodchucks carry their own hepatitis virus, making them particularly suitable for investigating viral pathogenesis. Furthermore, domestic animals such as dogs and cats develop spontaneous liver neoplasms, which makes them valuable models. Dogs predominantly develop hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas, whereas benign, cystic bile duct lesions are more common in cats.

Conclusions: A wide range of animal models is available for various research questions. Choosing the appropriate model is crucial for the success of any study and depends on multiple factors.

The term cholangiocarcinoma covers various malignant epithelial neoplasms with biliary differentiation. The aim of this article is to provide an update with new findings and developments on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, classification, and molecular diagnostics of intra- and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas based on the last review published in this journal in 2020. The basis is the currently available specialist literature, lectures, and discussions at congresses as well as our own findings.Cholangiocarcinomas are morphologically and molecularly diverse malignant epithelial neoplasms that can develop ubiquitously in the biliary tract. As there is a broad histological and immunohistochemical overlap with the frequent metastases in the liver, the definitive diagnosis should only be made in a clinical context. According to macroanatomical criteria, cholangiocarcinomas are subclassified into intrahepatic (iCCA), perihilar (pCCA), and distal (dCCA) tumors. In the case of iCCA, a distinction can be made in particular between small duct type tumors (SD-iCCA) and large duct type tumors (LD-iCCA). LD-iCCA are morphologically and molecularly practically equivalent to extrahepatic CCA (eCCA, including pCCA and dCCA), while SD-iCCA originate from the small bile ducts or precursor cells and often exhibit druggable molecular alterations. Cholangiocarcinogenesis is now better described by morphomolecular studies of precursor lesions and the various precursor lesions can be assigned not only according to anatomical classification but also to distinct etiologies. A precise classification of these neoplasms is therefore essential, especially with regard to the use of established and the development of novel targeted therapeutic approaches.

The Gleason grading system is the cornerstone of risk stratification and clinical decision-making in prostate cancer patients. In the last decade, new insights on quantitative grading and the importance of particular growth patterns have further optimized pathological tumor grading. This review provides an update on the latest grading recommendations and discusses contemporary research directions.