The chick chorioallantoic membrane: a model of short-term study of Dupuytren s disease

Vol. 55 No. 2 Suppl., 2014
This supplement was not sponsored by Outside Organizations.

ROMANIAN JOURNAL of MORPHOLOGY and EMBRYOLOGY

Ion Mindrila, Horia Parvanescu, Daniel Pirici, Mihaela Niculescu, Sandra Alice Buteica, Oana Taisescu, Danut Nicolae Tarnita

Dupuytren s disease is a progressive fibroproliferative disorder that impairs hand function by altering the normal structures of the palmar fascial bands. Nodules composed almost entirely of myofibroblasts and cords are pathognomonic of Dupuytren s disease. The myofibroblasts express alpha-smooth muscle actin that is especially involved in development of the disease. We aimed to evaluate whether the xenograft of Dupuytren s fibromatosis taken from operating room and transplanted on chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) survives with its histological and immunohistological features. Fresh samples obtained from eight patients with Dupuytren s disease were minced and immediately inoculated onto 24 CAMs of 8-day-old chick embryos. The implanted CAMs were examined daily by stereomicroscopy and finally the xenografts were examined and characterized in histological sections using a panel of antibodies. The xenografts were incorporated into the CAMs 6-7 days after transplantation, continued to grow and stimulated angiogenesis in the chick embryo CAMs. The CAMs vessels entered the xenografts and anastomosed with the newly formed xenografts vessels (CD34+ and CD105+) those containing nucleated chick erythrocytes. Myofibroblasts (alpha-SMA+) and macrophages (CD68+) were readily recognized in the xenograft thickness. We concluded that the xenografts of Dupuytren s fibromatosis transplanted onto chick embryo CAMs continued to develop and preserved the histological and immunohistological features.

Corresponding author: Ion Mindrila, Professor, MD, PhD; e-mail: tutu0101@yahoo.com

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ROMANIAN JOURNAL of MORPHOLOGY and EMBRYOLOGY

Irina Margaritescu, Aurel Doru Chirita, Florina Vasilescu

Complete regression of primary cutaneous melanoma is a very rare phenomenon. Only 49 cases of well-documented completely regressed primary cutaneous melanoma have been reported to date. The clinical picture and histological findings may vary considerably. The presence of regional lymphadenopathy represents a necessary requisite for the diagnosis of completely regressed primary cutaneous melanoma. However, some cases lie outside these criteria and are difficult to diagnose and classify. Moreover, completely regressed melanoma is not specifically referred to in the current AJCC (American Joint Commission on Cancer) melanoma staging system. We report three cases of completely regressed primary cutaneous melanoma. One of the cases presented with unquestionable clinical and histopathological findings of completely regressed primary cutaneous melanoma, but without concomitant regional lymph node metastasis. As expected, this patient eventually developed nodal metastatic disease. An extraordinary case of a completely regressed melanoma that appeared in association with a congenital melanocytic nevus is also documented. This case revealed a unique type of regression that affected only the melanoma. The nevus was left undisturbed by the immunological response.

Corresponding author: Irina Margaritescu, MD, DipRCPath; e-mail: irina.margaritescu@gmail.com

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