1/4. Hepatosplenic antracosilicosis: a rare cause of splenic calcifications.A case of a 62-year-old man with known longstanding pulmonary antracosilicosis, with associated hepatosplenic antracosilicosis, is presented. A CT scan of the upper abdomen revealed multiple calcifications within the spleen, and to a lesser degree within the subcapsular region of the liver, as well as "egg-shell" calcifications of abdominal lymph nodes, most noticeable at the splenic hilum. Although histopathologically not proven, the similar appearance of the calcified hepatosplenic nodules to the small round calcifications scattered throughout the lungs, as well as the typical "egg-shell" morphology of the calcified abdominal lymph nodes, should raise the suspicion of hepatosplenic antracosilicosis. ( info) |
2/4. Localised obliterative bronchitis due to non-occupational mineral dust inhalation.We present a 56-year-old woman with an infiltrate in the right middle lobe secondary to obstruction of the right middle lobe bronchus by extensive submucosal fibrosis. This unique stenotic lesion of a central bronchus was caused by a domestically acquired localised central obstructive bronchitis due to the inhalation of mixed dust fibers, in the absence of advanced silicosis. This complication is a rare presentation of the myriad of pulmonary diseases associated with mineral dust inhalation. ( info) |
3/4. A case report of anthracosilicotic spindle-cell pseudotumor of mediastinal lymph node: cytologic diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.Pigmented spindle-cell tumors of the lymph nodes have a broad differential diagnosis, including both benign and malignant neoplasms. Here, we report a case of a pigmented spindle-cell lesion in a mediastinal lymph node mimicking a spindle-cell melanoma on fine-needle aspiration cytology. Smears showed atypical polygonal and spindle cells with bland nuclear features and abundant cytoplasmic anthracotic pigment. immunohistochemistry was negative for melanoma markers, but showed positivity for histiocyte markers. Polarization microscopy revealed minute birefringent intracellular crystals consistent with silica. Electron microscopy was confirmatory and a diagnosis of anthracosilicotic spindle-cell pseudotumor was made. To the best of our knowledge, fine-needle aspiration cytology findings of this lesion have not been reported. ( info) |
4/4. Anthracotic and anthracosilicotic spindle cell pseudotumors of mediastinal lymph nodes: report of five cases of a reactive lesion that stimulates malignancy.We report five cases of reactive mediastinal spindle cell proliferations associated with anthracosis and anthracosilicosis that simulated a malignant process both on clinical and morphological grounds. Clinically, the lesions formed radiographically evident masses or were infiltrative. Microscopically, a prominent storiform pattern of intertwining spindle cells was found in four cases. This proliferation extended outside of the lymph node capsule in three cases and surrounded nerves in two. Because of this combination of features, the submitted diagnoses included a malignant neoplasm in four cases. The spindle cells were immunoreactive for histiocytic markers and focally contained fine anthracotic pigment. All cases featured nodular hyaline scars and contained polarizable material suggestive of silica, although a history of industrial exposure was obtained in only two cases. No lesion has enlarged or otherwise progressed during follow-up ranging from 6 to 48 months. The differential diagnosis includes a variety of spindle cell neoplasms, including malignant fibrous histiocytoma, follicular dendritic cell tumor, spindle cell melanoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma. ( info) |