Serrated lesions of the colorectum are the precursors of perhaps one-third of colorectal cancers (CRCs). Cancers arising in serrated lesions are usually in the proximal colon, and account for a ...disproportionate fraction of cancer identified after colonoscopy. We sought to provide guidance for the clinical management of serrated colorectal lesions based on current evidence and expert opinion regarding definitions, classification, and significance of serrated lesions. A consensus conference was held over 2 days reviewing the topic of serrated lesions from the perspectives of histology, molecular biology, epidemiology, clinical aspects, and serrated polyposis. Serrated lesions should be classified pathologically according to the World Health Organization criteria as hyperplastic polyp, sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P) with or without cytological dysplasia, or traditional serrated adenoma (TSA). SSA/P and TSA are premalignant lesions, but SSA/P is the principal serrated precursor of CRCs. Serrated lesions have a distinct endoscopic appearance, and several lines of evidence suggest that on average they are more difficult to detect than conventional adenomatous polyps. Effective colonoscopy requires an endoscopist trained in the endoscopic appearance of serrated lesions. We recommend that all serrated lesions proximal to the sigmoid colon and all serrated lesions in the rectosigmoid > 5 mm in size, be completely removed. Recommendations are made for post-polypectomy surveillance of serrated lesions and for surveillance of serrated polyposis patients and their relatives.
Iron can accumulate in the liver in a variety of conditions, including congenital, systemic iron-loading conditions (hereditary hemochromatosis), conditions associated with systemic macrophage iron ...accumulation (transfusions, hemolytic conditions, anemia of chronic disease, etc), in some hepatitidies (hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease, porphyria cutanea tarda), and liver-specific iron accumulation of uncertain pathogenesis in cirrhosis. The anatomic pathologist will be faced with the task of determining whether iron accumulation in the liver is significant and, if so, the nature of the disease that lead to the accumulation (ie diagnosis). The tools available to the pathologist include (most importantly) histologic examination with iron stain, quantitative iron analysis, clinical history, laboratory iron tests (serum iron and iron-binding capacity, serum ferritin) and germline genetic analysis for mutations in genes known to be associated with hemochromatosis (HFE, ferroportin, hepcidin, hemojuvelin, transferrin receptor-2). This article provides an overview of the above.
In the past 10-15 years, recognition and considerable understanding of much of the so-called 'serrated pathway' of colorectal neoplasia has emerged, although much remains to be discovered. Key ...elements appear to be a propensity for the elderly, females more than males, and right colon; precursor lesions with serrations; and frequent BRAF mutations, hypermethylation (particularly involving the MHL1 promoter), and resultant dysfunctional DNA mismatch repair and microsatellite instability (MSI) of the colorectal adenocarcinomas. For the anatomic pathologist, this has created challenges in sometimes having to morphologically subdivide once-comfortable hyperplastic polyps into hyperplastic polyps and 'sessile serrated adenoma/polyps' (SSA/Ps), learn to distinguish these from 'traditional' serrated adenomas, and learn to recognize biologically progressing forms of SSA/Ps known as 'sessile serrated adenoma with cytological dysplasia'. The goal of this article is to highlight for the practicing anatomic pathologist the current status of our understanding of serrated colorectal neoplasms from a practical perspective.
Kratom is a psychoactive substance that is isolated from the plant
. The leaves can be chewed fresh or dried, smoked, or infused similar to herbal teas. The plant leaves have been used by natives of ...Southeast Asia for centuries. The substance has been used for its stimulant activity at low doses, and as an opium substitute at higher doses due to a morphine like effect.
A 37-year-old female with a history of depression and obesity (body mass index: 32) presented to emergency room with a week-long history of nausea, decreased appetite, fatigue, and two days of jaundice. On admission bilirubin was markedly elevated. Her condition was thought to be due to consumption of Kratom 2 wk before onset of symptoms. Liver biopsy showed changes mimicking primary biliary cholangitis. Patient's symptoms and jaundice improved quickly.
The use of Kratom has been on the rise in recent years across the United States and Europe. Several case reports have associated adverse health impact of Kratom-containing products including death due to its ability to alter levels of consciousness. Only a few case reports have highlighted the hepatotoxic effects of Kratom. Even fewer reports exist describing the detailed histopathological changes.
Objectives: Sessile serrated adenomas with dysplasia (SSADs) of the colon are transitional lesions between sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) and a subset of colorectal adenocarcinomas. We wished to ...gain insight into the relative percentages and significance of SSAD subtypes. Methods: Retrospective (2007-2012) clinicopathologic review of colorectal polyps initially regarded as having mixed serrated and dysplastic elements. SSADs were subdivided into those with cap-like adenomatous dysplasia (ad1), non-cap-like adenomatous dysplasia (ad2), serrated dysplasia (ser), minimal dysplasia (min), and dysplasia not otherwise specified (nos). MLH1 immunostaining was performed on many. Results: SSADser (7.7%) had a greater propensity for right colon, women, and MLH1 loss vs the entire cohort. SSAad1 (11.6%) had the least female preponderance, was least likely to have MLH1 loss, and was most likely to affect the left colorectum. SSAD with MLH1 loss was associated with an increased burden of SSAs in the background colon (P = .0003) but not tubular adenomas or hyperplastic polyps. Most SSADs (ad2 and nos groups, 80% combined) showed difficult-to-classify dysplasia, intermediate MLH1 loss rates, and intermediate clinical features. Conclusions: While some trends exist, morphologically subclassifying SSADs is probably not justified in routine clinical practice. MLH1 loss portends a greater burden of SSAs in the background colon. KEY WORDS Sessile; Serrated; Adenoma; Lesion; Colon; Dysplasia
Serrated polyps of the large intestine, including traditional hyperplastic polyps, traditional serrated adenomas, and more recently described sessile serrated adenomas, have gained increased ...recognition in recent years because of growing evidence that one of these lesions, the sessile serrated adenoma, might be the precursor lesion for some cases of microsatellite unstable colorectal carcinoma. Nevertheless, there has been some reluctance to embrace the concept of sessile serrated adenoma, and numerous diagnostic challenges exist. This article, which grew out of the Roger C. Haggitt Gastrointestinal Pathology Society Forum presented in Vancouver, Canada, March 6, 2004 as part of the annual meeting of the United States-Canadian Academy of Pathology, reviews the morphologic and molecular evidence for the concept of various polyps in the general category of serrated polyps of the large intestine, in particular the lesion known as the sessile serrated adenoma, and provides a conceptual framework for diagnosis of these lesions.
The clinical significance of hyperplastic polyp-like histologic changes in random biopsy samples ('serrated epithelial change' or SEC) from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains ...uncertain, with some studies suggesting an increased risk of dysplasia and even carcinoma. Controlled studies are few. We studied the significance of SEC on the development of dysplasia in follow-up surveillance of IBD patients in our system.
We identified 94 IBD patients with SEC and 187 IBD patients without SEC identified in index biopsy samples, and retrospectively collated results of follow-up surveillance samples in each group, with the development of dysplasia and/or adenocarcinoma as study endpoints.
IBD patients with SEC had a 12.8% likelihood of developing dysplasia of any type within IBD-affected areas vs a 4.3% likelihood in non-SEC patients (follow-up in the 1-4 year range for each group). This was significant in univariate analysis (p = 0.013) but not in multivariate analysis, likely due to increased frequency of follow-up sampling in the SEC patients. One cancer developed in each group (p = NS).
Our data, in the context of other studies, neither prove nor conclusively exclude an increased risk of dysplasia in IBD patients with SEC. But cancer risk appears low and continued surveillance at usual intervals seems reasonable.
Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of gastroduodenal injury, gastric cancer, and lymphoma, and, thus, there is great interest in its detection and eradication. Several detection methods are ...available, including histochemical and immunohistochemical stains. Application of these stains in clinical practice is heterogenous, to say the least. Although they were developed to enhance H. pylori detection, changing practice models, financial considerations, and a perceived need for rapid case turnaround have led to their widespread use in routine staining studies ordered reflexively on all gastric biopsies. Emerging data suggest that most of these stains are not needed to establish a diagnosis of H. pylori infection, and their added value when biopsies show minimal, or no, inflammation is not clear. In this manuscript, the Rodger C. Haggitt Gastrointestinal Pathology Society puts forth recommendations regarding ancillary stain usage for H. pylori detection based upon critical literature review and collective experience. Pathologists rarely, if ever, detect H. pylori in “normal” biopsies, but readily observe them in optimally stained hematoxylin and eosin sections from infected patients. Therefore, we suggest that use of ancillary stains is appropriate when biopsies show chronic, or chronic active, gastritis without detectable H. pylori in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, but performing them “up front” on all gastric biopsies is generally unnecessary. Application of these stains to nongastric biopsies and polyps is appropriate in an extremely limited set of circumstances. It is our hope that recommendations provided herein will provide helpful information to gastroenterologists, pathologists, and others involved in the evaluation of patients for possible H. pylori infection.