TY  - JOUR
A1  - Frings, Verena Gerlinde
A1  - Goebeler, Matthias
A1  - Schilling, Bastian
A1  - Kneitz, Hermann
T1  - Aberrant cytoplasmic connexin43 expression as a helpful marker in vascular neoplasms
JF  - Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
N2  - Background
Gap junctions consisting of connexins (Cx) are fundamental in controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Cx43 is the most broadly expressed Cx in humans and is attributed an important role in skin tumor development. Its role in cutaneous vascular neoplasms is yet unknown.

Methods
Fifteen cases each of cutaneous angiosarcoma (cAS), Kaposi sarcoma (KS), and cherry hemangioma (CH) were assessed by immunohistochemistry for expression of Cx43. Expression pattern, intensity, and percentage of positively stained cells were analyzed. Solid basal cell carcinomas served as positive and healthy skin as negative controls.

Results
Most cases of cAS presented with a strong Cx43 staining of almost all tumor cells, whereas endothelia of KS showed medium expression and CH showed mostly weak expression. In comparison with KS or cAS, the staining intensity of CH was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.001). All tissue sections of both cAS and KS were characterized by a mostly diffuse, cytoplasmic staining pattern of the vascular endothelia. None of those showed nuclear staining.

Conclusion
The high-to-intermediate expression of Cx43 observed in all cases of cAS and KS suggests that this Cx may play a role in the development of malignant vascular neoplasms and serve as a helpful diagnostic marker.
KW  - Kaposi sarcoma
KW  - cutaneous angiosarcoma
KW  - Cx43
KW  - hemangioma
KW  - immunohistochemistry
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-258412
VL  - 48
IS  - 11
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bala, Margarita
A1  - Ronchi, Cristina L.
A1  - Pichl, Josef
A1  - Wild, Vanessa
A1  - Kircher, Stefan
A1  - Allolio, Bruno
A1  - Hahner, Stefanie
T1  - Suspected metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma revealing as pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma in adrenal Cushing’s syndrome
N2  - Background

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a malignant disease most commonly diagnosed in the setting of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and in patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment. Pulmonary KS has never been reported in association with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (CS).

Case presentation

A 60-year-old woman presented with symptoms and signs of CS. Adrenal CS was confirmed by standard biochemical evaluation. Imaging revealed a right adrenal lesion (diameter 3.5 cm) and multiple pulmonary nodules, suggesting a cortisol-secreting adrenal carcinoma with pulmonary metastases. The patient underwent right adrenalectomy with a pathohistological diagnosis of an adrenal adenoma. Subsequent thoracoscopic wedge resection of one lung lesion revealed pulmonary KS with positive immunostaining for human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8). HIV-serology was negative. Hydrocortisone replacement was initiated for secondary adrenal insufficiency after surgery. Post-operative follow up imaging showed complete remission of all KS-related pulmonary nodules solely after resolution of hypercortisolism.

Conclusion

KS may occur in the setting of endogenous CS and may go into remission after cure of hypercortisolism without further specific treatment.
KW  - Cushing’s syndrome
KW  - Kaposi sarcoma
KW  - Immunosuppression
KW  - Hypercortisolism
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-110553
ER  -