Slide 1 - The biopsies from
her original diagnosis were not available. The biopsies taken in Mexico at
the time of the supposed recurrence were not of reliable quality and showed
no definite cancer. This is a low power view of the gastric biopsy from the
most current endoscopy. The gastric glands are separated from each other by
a cellular infiltrate.
Slide 2 - A higher power
view of the biopsy shows that the infiltrating cells are probably malignant
adenocarcinoma of the signet ring type (arrow).
Slide 3 - There is diffuse
infiltration of the submucosa with a pleomorphic population of
cells. The pathologist would be almost certain
that these were malignant but would want a keritin stain to make sure the
cells were epithelial in origin (adenocarcinoma) and not histiocytes.
Slide 4 - These cells are
indeed staining positive with keritin stain, thus confirming the diagnosis
of adenocarcinoma.
