Browsing by Author "Mitrović, Slobodanka (36017336100)"

Background/Aim. Drug abuse remains a significant social problem in many countries. The aim of the study was to estimate association between pulmonary histopathological changes and results of toxicological analyses in forensic autopsies of illicit drug users. Methods. This investigation was performed in the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Belgrade, and in the Clinical Center, Department of Forensic Medicine, Kragujevac, from 2000 to 2004, and included 63 medicolegal autopsies of heroin or other drug consumers who suddenly died. Autopsies, postmortem toxicological examination of drugs and serological analyses of anti- HIV/HBV/HCV antibodies were performed. Results. The deceased persons were mostly male, 46/63 (73.01%), ranged in age from 19 to 49 years (mean 31 years) and all were whites. Postmortem toxicological examination was performed on all of the deceased persons and drugs in the fatal range were identified in only eight of them (12.7%), in the toxic range in ten (15.87%), and in minimal concentrations in 35 (55.56%) of the deceased persons. Drugs identified in the fatal, toxic or minimal range included heroin-morphine (38/53), cocaine (4/53), tramadol (3/53), and lorazepam (1/53). In the 7 remaining subjects, ethanol in combination with heroin was found in 4 cases, and diazepam in combination with heroin in 3 cases. Dominant pathomorphological changes were findings in the lung tissue. Most common histological changes observed in drug users were pulmonary edema - 55/63 (87.3%), acute alveolar hemorrhages - 49/63 (77.78%), hemosiderin-laden macrophages (siderophages) - 52/63 (82,54%), and emphysematous changes - 51/63 (80,95%). Conclusion. Pulmonary edema is the frequent non-specific autopsy finding which is associated with virtually all routes of drug administration. The histopatological study is necessary to determinate a cause of death when a deceased person has the history of dependence or abouse of psychoactive drugs with negative toxicological results.

Introduction Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and very aggressive hematological malignancy derived from precursor of the plasmacytoid dendritic cell. We present a case with cervix uteri involvement without skin lesions, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of BPDCN localized in the cervix. Case outline A 66-year-old previously healthy women initially presented with a four-week history of vaginal bleeding. Gynecologic examination revealed a tumorous bleeding formation on cervix uteri. Except paleness of the skin, physical examination results were normal. Complete blood counts showed anemia and thrombocytopenia. Computed tomography scans showed an expansive tumorous formation at the level of the isthmus and cervix uteri, 60 × 42 mm in size. Cervical biopsy was done and final pathohistological diagnosis was BPDCN. Karyotype analysis results from the bone marrow aspiration specimen demonstrated tetrasomy of chromosome 2 and monosomy of chromosome 16. The patient did not accept treatment and died two months after the initial diagnosis was established. Conclusion Attributes such as aggressive clinical course of BPDCN, demonstrated unusual localization, infrequency, and the absence of consensus about standard treatment options, demand constructive clinical reasoning and tight cooperation between medical professionals of various fields. © 2020, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.

Introduction. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a fast spreading pleomorphic sarcoma with a high malignant potential. Its spreading is characterized with local invasion and distant metastazes with early onset. Most common localisations of development are extremities, trunk and retroperitoneum. Given the line of rare case and specimen, lack of a clear etiology and mechanisms of this disease, as well as adequate histopathologic findings and intraoperative documentation, we presented current status, discuss putative etiology, histopathology with variant morphology, differential diagnosis and treatment modalities. Case report. We presented a 56-years-old female Serbian with tumor in the thigh that clinically resembles incapsulated hematoma. Computed tomography revealed intramuscular tumor with a heterodense structure and compression on surround tissue. Ex tempore biopsy specimen showed malignant potential of the tumor. Wide and radical excision of the nodule has been done, and definitive histopathological verification revealed malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Conclusion. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a most common type of soft tissue sarcomas in adults. Frequent localization is on lower extremities, and every rapidly enlarging nodule in this localization that on computed tomography is like incapsulated hematoma with necrotic zone should alert suspicion on presence of this type of sarcoma. © 2018, Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer, and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for around 20 % of lung cancers. SCLC has a neuroendocrine cellular origin, and the tumor cells usually express neuroendocrine markers. There have been major recent advances in the management of SCLC, and multimodal approaches are now the norm. An improved knowledge of the prognostic variables would assist in defining which patients were better candidates to receive these newer intensive therapies. This single-center retrospective study of 97 previously untreated and histologically proven SCLC patients analysed the circulating neuroendocrine markers chromogranin A (CGA), pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in addition to the other more classical variables. Fifty patients had limitedstage disease and 47 had extensive disease. Sixty patients had an ECOG performance status (PS) of 0-1 and 37 had PS 2-4. Median survival for the whole study population was 13 months. Univariate analysis and univariate Cox regression modeling found a statistically significant association between survival and PS, disease stage, and CGA, ProGRP, and NSE levels. Age and sex were not prognostic. A shorter survival time was found in patients with a PS equal to or >2, extensive stage disease, a serum CGA level >56 ng/ml, a serum ProGRP level >58 pg/ml, and a serum NSE level >19 ng/ml. This study has found that there is a potential role for ProGRP, NSE, and CGA in both staging and prognosing survival in SCLC patients. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer, and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for around 20 % of lung cancers. SCLC has a neuroendocrine cellular origin, and the tumor cells usually express neuroendocrine markers. There have been major recent advances in the management of SCLC, and multimodal approaches are now the norm. An improved knowledge of the prognostic variables would assist in defining which patients were better candidates to receive these newer intensive therapies. This single-center retrospective study of 97 previously untreated and histologically proven SCLC patients analysed the circulating neuroendocrine markers chromogranin A (CGA), pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in addition to the other more classical variables. Fifty patients had limitedstage disease and 47 had extensive disease. Sixty patients had an ECOG performance status (PS) of 0-1 and 37 had PS 2-4. Median survival for the whole study population was 13 months. Univariate analysis and univariate Cox regression modeling found a statistically significant association between survival and PS, disease stage, and CGA, ProGRP, and NSE levels. Age and sex were not prognostic. A shorter survival time was found in patients with a PS equal to or >2, extensive stage disease, a serum CGA level >56 ng/ml, a serum ProGRP level >58 pg/ml, and a serum NSE level >19 ng/ml. This study has found that there is a potential role for ProGRP, NSE, and CGA in both staging and prognosing survival in SCLC patients. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013.

The role of vertical ex vivo dermoscopy relevant to clinical diagnosis has not been investigated yet. Study objectives were defining, describing, and determining the importance of the structures visible using vertical ex vivo dermoscopy in the diagnosis of malignant skin lesions, as well as determining their accuracy in the assessment of tumor margins. A prospective, descriptive study was conducted in two University centers. Digital images of completely excised skin lesions, fixed in formalin, before histopathological diagnosis were used for analysis. BCCs had the most diverse dermoscopic presentation on the vertical section, while SCCs showed a similar presentation in most cases. Vertical dermoscopy of thin melanomas was almost identical, unlike nodular melanomas. Thickness accuracy assessed by dermatologist was 0.753 for BCC, 0.810 for SCC, and 0.800 for melanomas, whereas assessment by pathologist was 0.654, 0.752, and 0.833, respectively. The accuracy of tumor width assessment was 0.819 for BCCs, 0.867 for SCCs and 1.000 for melanoma as estimated by a Dermatologist. Interobserver agreement was 0.71 for BCC, 0.799 for SCC and 0.832 for melanomas. Vertical ex vivo dermoscopy may contribute to the distinction between BCCs, SCCs, and melanomas. Moreover, regardless of the doctor’s specialty, it enables a good assessment of the tumor’s margins. © 2024 by the authors.

The role of vertical ex vivo dermoscopy relevant to clinical diagnosis has not been investigated yet. Study objectives were defining, describing, and determining the importance of the structures visible using vertical ex vivo dermoscopy in the diagnosis of malignant skin lesions, as well as determining their accuracy in the assessment of tumor margins. A prospective, descriptive study was conducted in two University centers. Digital images of completely excised skin lesions, fixed in formalin, before histopathological diagnosis were used for analysis. BCCs had the most diverse dermoscopic presentation on the vertical section, while SCCs showed a similar presentation in most cases. Vertical dermoscopy of thin melanomas was almost identical, unlike nodular melanomas. Thickness accuracy assessed by dermatologist was 0.753 for BCC, 0.810 for SCC, and 0.800 for melanomas, whereas assessment by pathologist was 0.654, 0.752, and 0.833, respectively. The accuracy of tumor width assessment was 0.819 for BCCs, 0.867 for SCCs and 1.000 for melanoma as estimated by a Dermatologist. Interobserver agreement was 0.71 for BCC, 0.799 for SCC and 0.832 for melanomas. Vertical ex vivo dermoscopy may contribute to the distinction between BCCs, SCCs, and melanomas. Moreover, regardless of the doctor’s specialty, it enables a good assessment of the tumor’s margins. © 2024 by the authors.