malignant tumors | Acta Medica Marisiensis

Objectives: Different approaches have been made to differentiate benign from malignant cervical lymphadenopathy by Ultrasound examination. Assessment of nodal status is essential in patients with head and neck carcinomas as it predicts prognosis and helps in the selection of treatment options. The present study was designed to evaluate the role of ultrasonography in the assessment of malignant cervical lymph nodes. Grey scale Ultrasound assesses the nodal size, shape, border, internal architecture (echogenicity and necrosis).
The vascular pattern of lymph nodes is evaluated with Color Doppler Ultrasound.
Methods: 117 cervical masses evaluated by ultrasonography in 83 patients over a period of 29 mounths (between January 2008 and June 2010) were evaluated for the presence of intranodal vascular pattern, which was considered benign when it traversed through the node without disruption.
Results: Of the 117 cervical tumors evaluated, 73 were found to be malignant on pathologic review. Malign vascular markings were present in 93/117 lymph nodes evaluated. The presence of malign vascular pattern had a sensitivity of 97.3% and a negative predictive value of 91.7%. Malignant Gray scale Ultrasound martkings had a sensitivity of 23.3% and a positive predictive value of 100%.
Conclusions: The presence of normal intranodal blood flow was associated with a benign diagnosis in 91.7% of the masses evaluated. The addition of this Color Doppler Ultrasound finding improves the ability of ultrasonography to predict the likelihood of malignant involvement.

Incidence of Malignant Tumors of the Skin by Anatomic Subsite, Gender and Age

Ciortea Carmen Diana¹, Gurzu Simona², Dorobanţu D³, Jung Ioan²

1 Department of Dermatovenerology, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Târgu Mureş, Romania
2 Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu Mureş, Romania
3 Department of Plastic Surgery, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Târgu Mureş, Romania

Objective: To analyze the clinico-pathological data of the skin lesions, especially malignant tumors, this study being the first step in a future immunohistochemical and molecular analysis.
Methods: The 3582 cases of benign, malignant, premalignant and tumor-like lesions of the skin, diagnosed during January 2006–December 2010 in the Pathology Department of the County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Târgu Mureş, surgically specimens, were revised and grouped based on histopathological forms.
Results: Epithelial tumors represented 37.32% of all skin tumors. The mesenchymal tumors (30.29%) were followed by melanocytic tumors (12.45%) and lymphomas (0.39%). Synchronous tumors represented 10.24% of cases. 63.5% of epithelial tumors were malignant, in contrast to 4.52% from mesenchymal tumors. Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and basal cell carcinomas (BCC) were predominant, both of them affecting the upper half of the face. SCC especially occured in males (60.98%), but BCC were more frequent in females (50.84%).The average age was 71.30±11.92 years in SCC, and 68.15±11.29 years in BCC respectively. Regarding cutaneous melanomas, females (58.09%) were more affected than males (41.09%). The average age was 61.04±14.35 years. The trunk was the most common location in males, and the lower limb in females. Regarding lymphomas, only Mycosis fungoides was diagnosed.
Conclusions: Most tumors of the skin are malignant epithelial tumors, but mesenchymal tumors are rather benign type. Melanomas are mostly related to the sun exposure, the trunk and lower limb being more involved. In a significant percentage of cases synchronous tumors can develop. Further immunohistochemical and molecular studies are necessary to elucidate the differences between single and synchronous tumors and gender-related characteristics.