C Copyright © Royal College of pathologists of Australasia. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
ABSTRACTS S115
Epithelioid trophoblastic tumour (ETT) is a rare form of gesta-
tional trophoblastic tumour arising from intermediate trophoblas-
tic cells. The clinical course of ETT is not well-established due
to the rarity of this tumour, however the majority of ETTs pres-
ent as localised uterine tumours amenable to surgical excision and
generally are seen to have a non-aggressive course. We present
an unusual case of ETT in a 51-year-old woman with widespread
intra-abdominal tumour dissemination at time of diagnosis, as well
as radiological evidence of liver and lung metastases.
36. CROHN’S DISEASE – AN INCREASING TREND IN
NEPAL!
P. Upadhyaya, A. K. Sinha, S. Karki, M. Agrawal, Y. Agarwal, S.
Adhikari
Departments of Pathology and Surgery, B. P. Koirala Institute of
Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Background: Crohn’s disease was first described 79 years ago
yet it has not been linked to any specific aetiology besides genetic
predisposition. However, literature supports it to be a disease of
developed world due to a delayed or low level of exposure to com-
mon infectious agents during childhood. Common presentation of
Crohn’s disease includes abdominal pain, diarrhoea, rectal bleed-
ing. The usual onset is between 15 and 30 years of age. There have
been recent reports of increasing incidences of Crohn’s disease
with just two documented cases in Nepal to date. This case is yet
another evidence of increasing incidence of Crohn’s disease.
Case description: We received a resected segment of small intes-
tine measuring 90 cm in length from a 55-year-old man admitted
in the surgery ward with a clinical diagnosis of bowel obstruc-
tion with strangulation. CECT showed diffuse fluid filled dilata-
tion of bowel loops. Gross examination of the specimen revealed
multiple perforation and areas of mucosal ulceration. Microscopic
examination of representative sections showed fissure formation,
transmural inflammation with presence of lymphoid follicles.
Non-ulcerated segment showed submucosal oedema and serosi-
tis. Granulomas were not present in the specimen. A diagnosis of
Crohn’s disease was made.
Conclusion: Awareness at this point is required both for surgeons
and pathologists to pick new cases as the incidence is on the rise.
Misdiagnosing Crohn’s disease in favour of tuberculosis can be
one possibility for the rarity of this disease in our part of the world.
Clinical suspicion and histopathological examination is necessary
as the diagnosis is usually established on a biopsy sample.
37. ANGIOTROPISM IS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR
OF MICROSCOPIC SATELLITES IN PRIMARY
CUTANEOUS MELANOMA
James S. Wilmott
1,2,3
, Lauren E. Haydu
1,2
, Martine Bagot
4
,
Yuxiao E. Zhang
1
, Valerie Jakrot
1
, Stanley W. McCarthy
1,2,3
,
Claire Lugassy
4,5
, John F. Thompson
1,2,3
, Richard A. Scolyer
1,2,3
,
Raymond L. Barnhill
4,5
1
Melanoma Institute Australia,
2
University of Sydney,
3
Royal
Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia;
4
Departments of
Dermatology and Pathology, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France;
5
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA Medi-
cal Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Background: Melanomas may utilise anatomic structures such
as the external surfaces of blood vessels as tracks for progressive
tumour cell migration and the eventual establishment of metasta-
ses. Angiotropism describes melanoma cells ensheathing the ablu-
minal surfaces of microvascular channels. Microscopic satellites
(MS) in primary melanomas are considered localised micrometas-
tases developing in close proximity to the main tumoral portion of
melanomas. MS have been reported as predictors of diminished
survival in AJCC stage I and II melanoma patients, regional lymph
node metastases, and distant metastases.
Aim: This case-control study aimed to examine the relationship
between angiotropism and MS in a series of primary cutaneous
melanomas.
Methods: Patients with MS and controls without MS from 1996–
2009 were evaluated for the presence or absence of angiotropism
according to established criteria. Fourty-four cases and controls
were matched for tumour thickness, mitotic rate, ulceration, age
(by decade), gender and primary site.
Results: Factors correlating with angiotropism on univariate
analysis included increased Clark level (p = 0.046), absence of re-
gression (p = 0.02) and MS (p = 0.017). On multivariable analysis
MS formation was predicted by angiotropism (p = 0.026), Clark
level V (p = 0.01), absent regression (p = 0.009) and an acral site
(p = 0.02).
Conclusions: In conclusion, angiotropism predicts MS develop-
ment. These data provide additional evidence for the importance
of angiotropism as a means of melanoma metastasis and as a prog-
nostic factor.
38. INTRALESIONAL MOLECULAR HETEROGENEITY
IN A BRAF-MUTANT BRAF INHIBITOR RESISTANT
MELANOMA: A CASE ILLUSTRATING THE
CHALLENGES FOR PERSONALISED MEDICINE
James S. Wilmott
1,2,
Varsha Tembe
1,2,3,4
, Julie R. Howle
1,2,5
,
Raghwa Sharma
5
, John F. Thompson
1,6
, Helen Rizos
1,2,3,4
,
Richard F. Kefford
1,2,3,4,5
, Richard A. Scolyer
1,2,6
,Georgina V.
Long
1,2,3,4,5
1
Melanoma Institute Australia,
2
The University of Sydney,
3
West-
mead Institute for Cancer Research,
4
Westmead Millennium In-
stitute,
5
Westmead Hospital, and
6
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Background: Mutations of the serine/threonine-protein kinase
(BRAF) gene occur in approximately half of all patients with met-
astatic melanoma. The BRAF inhibitors have proven highly active
in treating BRAF mutant metastatic melanoma patients. Eventu-
ally, almost all patients develop resistance to BRAF inhibition and
relapse.
Aims: We sought to determine whether the patient’s initial
vemurafenib resistance developed through the reactivation of the
MAPK pathway due to additional mutations to the NRAS or BRAF
genes.
Methods: Sanger sequencing was performed on the patient’s ve-
murafenib progressing metastasis to detect somatic mutations in
exon 1 and exon 2 of the NRAS gene and in exon 11 and exon 15 of
the BRAF gene. Immunohistochemical staining, macrodissection
and RT-PCR was performed to identify any mutational heterogene-
ity within the tumour.
Results: Sequencing revealed a G13R NRAS mutation in addi-
tion to the original BRAF V600E mutation within the same vemu-
rafenib progressing metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining for
p-ERK1/2 expression clearly identified two areas within the tumour
with differential staining. Macrodissection of these areas revealed a