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Volume 40, Issue 1, 2026
Online ISSN: 3042-3511
ISSN: 3042-3503
Volume 40 , Issue 1, (2026)
Published: 31.05.2026.
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Contents
01.04.2018.
Special Session: Residents Session
Flow cytometry: a solution in diagnosis of life threatening pediatric NonHodgkin lymphomas
Aim: Evaluation of the usefulness of flow cytometry (FCM) serous effusion analysis in a diagnosis of pediatric Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). Introduction: Serous effusions are often the first, life-threatening manifestation of pediatric NHL. FCM immunophenotyping of effusions with cytological analysis could help in diagnosis of NHL, and thus enable fast initiating of cytoreductive therapy. Material and Methods: FCM analysis of serous effusions obtained from 17 children and adolescents hospitalized in Mother and Child Healthcare Institute of Serbia under clinical suspicion of NHL using the standardized panel of monoclonal antibodies: CD19, iCD79a, CD20, CD10, iIgM, kappa/lambda, iCD3, sCD3, CD7, CD2, CD5, CD4, CD8, CD1a. Cytological examination was performed on May-Grunwald-Giemsa stained slides. The results were correlated with histopathological findings of available tumor biopsies. Results: Precursor T-cell (T-III/T-IV) phenotype was confirmed in 5 samples. In 7/9 samples with mature B (B-IV) phenotype, FAB L3 cytomorphology indicated Burkitt lymphoma (BL), and in 2/8 suggested diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Tumor biopsy was available in 7/14 patients and in all cases preliminary diagnosis was confirmed. In 3 patients with no malignant cells in effusions, FCM and cytomorphologicaly only reactive changes were observed, and diagnosis had to be made by tumor biopsy (BL 2 patients, DLBCL 1 patient). Out of 7 patients diagnosed only by FCM and cytological analysis, 6 achieved a remission of the illness. Conclusion: FCM detects NHL cells in malignant serous effusions fast and accurate. In combination with cytological analysis, FCM is sufficient for diagnosis in most cases, allowing rapid initiation of therapy.
Nemanja Mitrovic, Gordana Samardzija, Slavisa Djuricic, Tatjana Terzic, Milos Kuzmanovic, Dragomir Djokic, Bojana Slavkovic
01.04.2018.
Plenary oral presentation
Simultaneous occurrence of acute myeloid leukaemia and monoclonal plasmacytosis in bone marrow biopsy: case report
Aim: We present a rare case of simultaneous occurrence Concurrent occurrence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and monoclonal plasmacitosis (MP): Introduction: The simultaneous occurrence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and monoclonal plasmacytosis (MP) in bone marrow (BM) biopsy in patient without previous exposure to chemotherapy is very rare. Case report: We reported the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with fatigue, fever, maculopapular rush, weight loss and bone pain. She was admitted to the Haematology Department of University CHC Bezanijska Kosa in November 2015. The complete blood count showed: white blood cell count 33x109/l (neutrophils 31%, myeloblasts 12%, monoblasts, promonocytes and monocytes 53%), hemoglobin 77gr/l, platelet count 34x109/l and 5% blastic cells in the peripheral smear. Serum immunoelectrophoresis showed increased monoclonal IgA (IgA 9,98, IgM 2,29, IgG 10,1), kappa/lambda 0,84, Beta2microglobulin 3,16. Biochemistry showed elevated creatinin level 93umol/l, uric acid 412 umol/l, high LDH 876U/l and sedimentation rate (50mm/h). Urine electrophoresis showed monoclonal heavy and light chains lambda type. Liquor immunophenotyping showed neuroleukemia. Skeletal survey showed no lytic lesions. The BM aspiration revealed around 10% plasma cells and BM biopsy showed infiltration by 20% monoclonal plasma cells (kappa-/lambda ) with 30% infiltration by cells with monocytes differentiation (without excess of blasts). Biopsy of skin lesion 17 MATERIA MEDICA • Vol. 34 • Issue 1, suplement 1 • april 2018. revealed myeloid sarcoma. Cytogenetic analysis detected normal karyiotype with FLT3 and NPM mutation. The patient was diagnosed as AML-M5, administered with induction therapy (DA Cytosar) and consolidation therapy (HiDAC) and she was successfully treated with allogenenic stem cell transplantation. She achieved and maintained complete remission. Conclusion: Monoclonal plasmacytosis of BM should be carefully examined due to possible association with other haematological malignancies
Mirjana Prvanovic, Natasa Stanisavljevic, Olivera Markovic, Tatjana Terzic
01.04.2018.
Poster session
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene rearrangement in benign skin tumors: Report of two cases
Aim: Report of two cases of benign skin tumors of different histogenesis with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement. Introduction: ALK gene mutation or rearrangement positive tumors (ALKomas) are heterogeneous group in which such genetic finding has diagnostic or predictive value. ALK gene fusions are associated with tumorigenesis of some cutaneous tumors, e.g. plexiform Spitz nevus (PSN) and epithelioid fibrous histiocytoma (EFH). Cases reports: Histological, immunohistochemical (IHC) and genetic characteristics were analyzed in two skin tumors with ALK gene rearrangement proved by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). First case is PSN localized on face in a 8-year-old boy. Tumor was consisted of spindle cells arranged in plexiform growth pattern throughout epidermis and dermis, with following IHC characteristics: HMB45 focally, p16 , Ki67 in 1% of cells. Deletion of CDKN2A gene was not detected in significant number, while ALK gene rearrangement was positive in 37/50 (74,2%) of cells. Second case is EFH localized on shoulder in a 16-year-old girl. This dermal based tumor was consisted of tightly packed large epithelioid cells, which were CD68 , p16 , S100-, HMB45-, SOX10-, CD1a-, Ki67 (<5% of cells). ALK gene rearrangement was positive in 24/100 (24%) of cells, and focal chromosome 2 polysomy was noted. Neither mitoses nor necrosis were present in any of presented cases. Conclusion: Skin ALKomas are tumors with heterogeneous histological and immunohistochemical characteristics, and also with variable extent of ALK rearrangement.
Milena Jovanovic, Sanja Cirovic, Martina Bosic
01.04.2018.
Poster session
A rare localization of alveolar soft part sarcoma: a case report
Aim: We present the case of a rare localization of the alveolar soft part of the sarcoma in the visceral organ. Introduction: Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare mesenchymal tumor typically occurring in young patients, more frequently in females. Common localization of ASPS is skeletal musculature of lower extremities. ASPS in visceral organs usually represents a metastasis from the more common primary location in skeletal muscles. ASPS is characterized by a tumor-specific translocation which causes the fusion of the TEF3 with a ASPL gene (also known as ASPSCR1). Case report: Female 47 years old was admitted to hospital due to abdominal pain. Urgent surgery was performed due to ileus. Ileal tumor was detected intraoperatively as a cause of ileus. Tumor was infiltrated whole intestinal circumference, with dimension 70mm x 47cm and evident perforation. Histology showed well-defined nests of pleomorphic cells separated by delicate fibrovascular septae. Within described nests there is a prominent lack of cellular cohesion, representing for the distinctive pseudoalveolar pattern. Immunohistochemical stadies were diffusely positive for TFE3 and focally positive for CD34 and alpha-SMA and negative for panCK, DOG-1, CD117, S-100, HMB45, Desmin. Immunopositivity for Ki67 was present in 20% of tumor cells. FISH analysis was done using locus specific dual color break-apart TFE3 (3 and 5 ) probe and rearrangement in the TFE3 gene was confirmed. Conclusion: Despite the fact that ASPS is rare mesenchymal tumor in visceral organs it have to be considered as possible diagnosis especially in cases with typical histological features and immunohistochemical profile. Definitive diagnosis of ASPS must be confirmed by FISH analysis.
Radmila Jankovic, Jelena Sopta, Sanja Cirovic, Martina Bosic, Jovan Jevtic, Ljubica Simic
01.04.2018.
Poster session
Cardiac sarcoidosis: Case report
Aim: We present the case of a patient aged 68 years who died of chronic heart failure caused by untreated cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by granulomatous infiltration and the development of noncaseating granulomas in many organ systems. Although the lungs, eyes, and skin are most commonly affected, virtually any body organ can be involved. Clinical evidence of CS is seen only in 5% of patients and the disease may present with tachyarrhythmias, conduction disturbance, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death. Case report: The patient was received in the hospital due to symptoms and signs of global cardiac decompensation with difficulties in the form of dyspnea, orthopnea, and edematous legs. Echocardiographic, cardiac cavities are very dilated with globally reduced systolic function, severe mitral regurgitation and ejection fraction about 20%. Very soon after receiving the patient is died. At autopsy, the heart was dilated, primarily the left ventricle. Histologically, the myocardium was infiltrated by numerous granulomas built of lymphocytes, epitheloid cells, and giant multicellular cells of the Langhans type. As a consequence of severe chronic heart failure, the lungs were edematous with both sides of massive plural effusions. The coronary arteries were non-significantly stenosed. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent significant morbidity and mortality in patients with CS. It is very important that patients with CS in the early stage of the disease be treated with corticosteroids.
Golub Samardzija, Snežana Tadic, Marija Bjelobrk, Dragana Tegeltija, Aleksandra Lovrenski, Bojana Visnjic Andrejic
01.04.2018.
Abstracts
Genetic features of selected adnexal tumors of the skin
Adnexal tumors of the skin comprise heterogenous group with over 40 defined entities, classified by predominant differentiation into lesions with apocrine and eccrine, follicular, sebaceous, or multilineage differentiation. Some, but not all these entities are represented by benign and malignant counterparts. Their occurrence may be sporadic or as a part of inherited syndromes (e.g. Muir-Torre syndrome, Brooke-Spiegler Syndrome, or Cowden’s syndrome). Adnexal tumors may arise de novo or within hamartomatous lesions such as nevus sebaceous of Jadassohn. Adnexal carcinomas are very rare tumors (the incidence is less than 0.001%), with variable local recurrence, metastatic potential, and survival. Porocarcinoma, hidradenocarcinoma and sebaceous carcinoma (especially ocular type) are considered to have a poor prognosis, with the highest risk of local recurrence and distant metastases. Mortality of the patients with porocarcinoma is very high (65-80%) if regional or distant metastases are present. The treatment of malignant adnexal tumors is usually surgical or less frequently with radiation therapy. Patients with metastases are usually treated with chemotherapy, mostly with cytotoxic reagents, and rarely with estrogen receptor antagonists. The detailed knowledge of genetic features of adnexal tumors is still lacking. Most of the studies examined only few of the genes using low throughput techniques. Development of new generations of genome sequencing methods led to better understanding of tumors with apocrine and eccrine differentiation. For many of their subtypes, it is still unknown whether there are specific genetic changes, that could even be of diagnostic significance. Hotspot mutations in HRAS (p.G13X and p.Q61X) were found in a subset of eccrine poromas and porocarcinomas. These mutations were found in tumors with other lines of differentiation and suggesting overlapping genetical characteristics among adnexal tumors. Due to their similar histological features, cylindroma and spiradenoma are usually considered as phenotypic variations of the same entity. Their histological features can be mixed, in which case a diagnosis of spiradenocylindroma is made. In cylindroma, MYB is upregulated either by mutations in CYLD gene (syndromic cases) or due to a rearrangement of MYB gene (sporadic cases). Genetic characteristics of spiradenomas, including the status of CYLD and MYB genes, are largely unknown. It is still unclear if these two are both histological and genetical “relatives” and what is the level of heterogeneity among tumors arising sporadically or within syndromes. The presence of chromosomal rearrangements in adnexal tumors is also unexplored. TORC1-MAML2 and EWSR1-POU5F1 fusions were found in significant number of hidradenomas. Initially it was thought these fusions could be characteristic for clear cell variant of hidradenomas, but no true correlation with histology was found. Molecular alterations that differ between benign and malignant counterparts and could enable targeted therapy of adnexal carcinomas are unknown. Mutations in TP53, often UV-associated, are frequent in malignant tumors with eccrine and apocrine differentiation and can drive malignant transformation in such tumors. Porocarcinomas and ABSTRACTS 96 MATERIA MEDICA • Vol. 34 • Issue 1, suplement 1 • april 2018. hidradenocarcinomas harbor various molecular alterations affecting PI3K-AKT or MAPK pathways that could enable targeted therapy in the future. Actionable mutations in EGFR were not found in carcinomas with eccrine and apocrine differentiation thus far. Her2 amplifications are rarely found, mostly in hidradenocarcinomas, but its therapeutic potential has only been utilized only once.16,25 Mutations of PTCH1 and TCF7L1 in hidradenocarcinomas could also enable the treatment with the inhibitors of Hedgehog and WNT/Hippo signaling pathways. It seems that current knowledge gained from genomic studies of adnexal tumors is only a scratch on the surface. In addition, there is no data on epigenetic characteristics or transcriptome of adnexal skin tumors. Taken altogether, further and detailed investigation of genome, epigenome and transcriptome of adnexal tumors is necessary. Such integrated knowledge could explain mechanisms of their development, malignant alteration and progression, so the treatment of patients with metastatic adnexal carcinomas could be changed toward targeted therapy.
Martina Bosic
01.12.2017.
Review Article
Kritična opstrukcija disajnog puta stranim telom u pedijatrijskog bolesnika
Strano telo u disajnim putevima predstavlja životno ugrožavajuće stanje i zahteva urgentnu evaluaciju i lečenje. Prepoznavanje kliničke slike gušenja, anestezija i uklanjanje stranog tela u dečijem uzrastu predstavljaju veliki izazov za dečijeg anesteziologa i otorinolaringologa. U slučaju organskih stranih tela iritacija, inflamacija i bubrenje mogu dodatno komplikovati situaciju. Najuži deo disajnih puteva u deteta je subglotis i rigidni bronhoskop iritira ovo područje što može uzrokovati postoperativnu opstrukciju disajnog puta. Prikazujemo slučaj 13 mesečnog deteta koje je aspiriralo strano telo u levi bronh, kliničku sliku, preoperativnu pripremu, tehniku anestezije, tok rigidne bronhoskopije, kao i probleme sa kojima smo se susretali do izlečenja deteta.
Vesna Stevanović, Lana Vranić, Marko Đurić, Miljan Milanović, Predrag Stevanović, Aleksandar Lazić
01.12.2017.
Case Report
Extrauterine mesenteric leiomyoma – case report
We present the case of a 46-year-old patient diagnosed with a large solid tumor localized in the right mesentery, and due to the mesenteric position and tumor structure, diagnostic suspicion of GIST was proposal as the most frequent tumor lesion of this localization. After a few days, the patient was discharged from the hospital without postoperative complication, in further follow-up without relapse.
Natasa Rakonjac, Nenad Janeski, Aleksandra Cvijovic, Jovana Latov Bešić, Mirjana Tubić, Svetlana Kočić, Vuk Andrejević
01.12.2016.
Review Article
Primena APACHE II skora u jedinicama medicinskih intenzivnih nega
Bojan Mitrović, Zoran Gluvić, N. Jević, Aleksandar Nešković
01.12.2017.
Case Report
Using CorMatrix for the reconstruction of the left ventricle a case report
A left ventricular aneurysm is a complication that occurs after a myocardial infarction. It usually involves apical or anterolateral wall of the left ventricle (85%) and most often follows left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. The wall of the true aneurysm contains endocardium, epicardium and fibrous scar tissue. It can be functionally akinetic or diskynetic. If patients present with symptoms such as heart failure, angina or ventricular arrhythmias, elective surgery is indicated. Surgical approach that is used most often is endoventricular circular ventriculoplasty described by Dor et al. Materials most commonly used for endoventricular repair are pericardial and polytetrafluoroethylene patches, but they are prone to calcification and retraction. CorMatrix is a tissue scaffold made from decellularized porcine small intestinal submucosa. It is rich in collagen, glycosaminoglycans and growth factors. Experimental studies performed on animals showed that implantation of extracellular matrix in the infracted area of the heart was followed by the appearance of contractile elements and altering typical scar tissue formation.
Nemanja Aleksić, Svetozar Putnik, Ilija Bilbija, Mina Zlatković, Svetozar Putnik