Cerebral lymphomas: a review of 70 cases

Article Abstract:

In a review of 70 cases of lymphoma of the brain, all cases were found to be diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, despite wide variation in their gross appearance. Fifty-seven cases were examined with antibodies to determine if the lymphoma cells were of the B or T cell type. Consistent with the results of other studies, 48 were clearly of the B cell type and the remainder were indeterminate. Most, if not all, cerebral lymphomas are of the B cell type. In half the cases, microscopic deposits of lymphoma cells could be found in areas of the brain which appeared to be normal. In 23 cases, only biopsy material was available, and no determination could be made as to the presence of lymphoma elsewhere in the body. However, evidence of tumor elsewhere in the body could not be obtained in 31 of the 47 remaining cases. This observation raises interesting questions about the origin of cerebral lymphoma. It is obvious that lymphomas, which originate elsewhere, could spread to the brain. However, since the brain does not have any normal lymphoid tissue, how do primary brain lymphomas arise? One possibility is that normal B cells could enter the brain due to an infection with a virus, such as Epstein-Barr virus. Once there, the cells might become transformed into tumor cells. An alternative possibility is that a small number of transformed B cells might have specific receptors which incline them to travel into the brain from the circulation. This study and previous studies have found evidence that the incidence of cerebral lymphoma is increasing. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Statistics, Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, Brain cancer

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Laboratory detection of ciprofloxacin resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Article Abstract:

Ciprofloxacin is an antibacterial drug used in the treatment of gonorrhea caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Recently, several strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae that are resistant to ciprofloxacin have been reported. In order to determine if a particular strain of bacteria is sensitive to a particular antibiotic, the bacteria are grown on an agar culture dish. The agar contains all of the essential nutrients that the bacteria require in order to grow. A small filter disc containing the antibiotic to be tested is placed in the middle of the culture dish. If the bacteria are sensitive to the antibiotic, then the bacteria growing in the area of the disk will die and a clear area or ring around the disc will appear. This region where the bacteria have died is called the zone of inhibition. The size of the zone of inhibition tells how sensitive the bacteria are to the antibiotic. The more effective the antibiotic is in killing the bacteria, the larger the zone of inhibition. It is proposed that this method of determining the sensitivity of bacteria to a given antibiotic be used to screen patient samples for strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae that are not killed by ciprofloxacin. A disk containing nalidixic acid should be used for this purpose. This screening test will identify patients who will not respond to ciprofloxacin and who should be treated with a different antibiotic. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Testing, Drug therapy, Drug resistance in microorganisms, Microbial drug resistance, Gonorrhea, Ciprofloxacin

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Laboratory handling of impalpable breast lesions: a review

Article Abstract:

Mammography involves the use of X-rays to examine breast tissue. The procedure was discovered accidentally in 1926. In 1956 it was suggested that this technique be used in screening for breast cancer, and in 1963 the first trials began. Since that time, advances in technology have led to great improvements in the quality of mammograms. Mammography is a powerful tool because it can detect small carcinomas (cancers) before they can be felt during a routine breast examination. Studies from the United Kingdom Breast Screening Program have estimated that 15,000 biopsies will be performed in one year as a result of mammographic screening, and that 40 percent of these biopsies will identify small lesions that could not be felt or identified during a routine breast examination. Mammograms are useful for identifying the precise location of a tumor or area of suspicion so that it can be surgically removed. There are several methods for marking the tumor so that the surgeon can locate it. These include the injection of dyes or ''hooks'' into to site of the tumor. Once the area is removed, the tissue sample is sent to the pathology lab for diagnosis. The sample is sliced, similar to a loaf of bread, and sections are chosen for further examination using radiography. It is not recommended to freeze the sample prior to diagnosis (a procedure known as frozen section diagnosis). (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Medical examination, Breast examination, Mammography, Breast, Breast tumors, Breast biopsy

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