Daoud Rahal - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Daoud Rahal

Research paper thumbnail of A Case of Gastric Splenosis Mimicking a Stromal Tumor

Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, Jan 23, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of A prospective randomized study comparing 25-G and 22-G needles of a new platform for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of solid masses

Digestive and Liver Disease, 2015

A new needle platform for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy has been dev... more A new needle platform for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy has been developed that allows interchangeability of all needle sizes. To prospectively compare the efficacy of the new 25-G needles and 22-G needles for obtaining an adequate aspirate of solid masses. Randomized controlled trial of 144 patients referred for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of solid pancreatic masses, intraparietal tumours, or lymph-nodes, randomized to the 25-G or 22-G needle arms. An adequate specimen was obtained from 74.3% of cases. The sample tended to be more adequate in the 25-G compared to the 22-G group (81% vs. 68%; p=0.09). Crossover was required in 14 (19%) and 12 (17%) cases in the 22-G and in the 25-G groups, respectively (p=0.7). The overall rate of adequacy improved from 74% before crossover to 90% after crossover (p<0.01). When comparing the two groups after crossover, the rate of obtaining adequate samples was significantly higher in the 25-G arm than in the 22-G arm (95.8% vs. 86.1%; p=0.03). The 25-G needle was superior to the 22-G needle for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The adequacy and diagnostic accuracy improved after crossover, reaching 90%.

Research paper thumbnail of Synchronous Bilateral Primary Breast Lymphoma

Research paper thumbnail of Surgical sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer. Could it be avoided by performing a preoperative staging procedure? A pilot study

Medical Science Monitor, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Mo1423 Preliminary Data From the First Italian Experience With a New Universal Needle Delivery System for EUS-Guided FNA: a Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the 25G and 22G Needle in the EUS-FNA of Solid Lesions

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and splenic marginal-zone B-cell lymphoma: a casual correlation?

Leukemia & lymphoma, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of Complications of Therapy and a Diagnostic Dilemma Case: CASE 1. RADIATION MACULOPATHY FOLLOWING TREATMENT OF NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2003

... P. Cackett, J. Stebbing, and B. Dhillon Princess Alexandra Eye Pavillion, Edinburgh, Scotland... more ... P. Cackett, J. Stebbing, and B. Dhillon Princess Alexandra Eye Pavillion, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK Copyright © 2003 American Society of Clinical Oncology ... Paul Haluska, Patrick H. Luetmer, Carrie Y. Inwards, Bekele Afessa, Thomas C. Shives, and James N. Ingle ...

Research paper thumbnail of Prognostic and diagnostic potential of local and circulating levels of pentraxin 3 in lung cancer patients

International Journal of Cancer, 2015

There is a well-established link between inflammation and cancer of various organs, but little da... more There is a well-established link between inflammation and cancer of various organs, but little data are available on inflammation-associated markers of diagnostic and prognostic clinical utility in pulmonary malignancy. Blood samples were prospectively collected from 75 resectable lung cancer patients before surgery and in a cohort of 1,358 high-risk subjects. Serum levels of long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) were determined by high-sensitivity ELISA. PTX3 immunostaining was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in cancer tissue. Serum PTX3 levels in the high-risk population were not predictive of developing subsequent lung cancer or any other malignancy; however, serum PTX3 values in patients with lung cancer were significantly higher compared with cancer-free heavy smokers. With a cutoff of 4.5 ng/ml, specificity was 0.80, sensitivity 0.69, positive predictive value 0.15 and negative predictive value 0.98. The receiver operating curve (ROC) for serum PTX3 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 83.52%. Preoperative serum PTX3 levels in lung cancer patients did not correlate with patient outcome, but high interstitial expression of PTX3 in resected tumor specimens was a significant independent prognostic factor associated with shorter survival (p < 0.001). These results support the potential of serum PTX3 as a lung cancer biomarker in high-risk subjects. Furthermore, PTX3 immunohistochemistry findings support the role of local inflammatory mechanisms in determining clinical outcome and suggest that local expression of PTX3 may be of prognostic utility in lung cancer patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Massive liver involvement in a patient with multiple myeloma during thalidomide treatment

The activity of thalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma has been wel... more The activity of thalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma has been well confirmed. However, plasmacytomas were less responsive to thalidomide and extramedullary progression despite serological response has been observed. We described a case of massive liver in- volvement in a patient treated with thalidomide; we suggest that extramedullary progression could due to a clone selection induced by

Research paper thumbnail of 9084 Pemetrexed vs docetaxel as second-line in NSCLC: is there a difference between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma? – a retrospective analysis of a single institution

European Journal of Cancer Supplements, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Localized intra-abdominal fibromatosis of the small bowel mimicking a gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a case report

World journal of gastroenterology : WJG, Jan 7, 2005

Intra-abdominal fibromatosis (IAF) is a benign mesenchymal lesion that can occur throughout the g... more Intra-abdominal fibromatosis (IAF) is a benign mesenchymal lesion that can occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Although rare, it is the most common primary tumor of the mesentery and can develop at any age. We describe a rare case of primary IAF involving the mesentery and small bowel which clinically, macroscopically and histologically mimicked malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). This report highlights the fact that benign IAF can be misdiagnosed as a malignant GIST localized in the mesentery or arising from the intestinal wall. Their diagnostic discrimination is essential because of their very different biological behaviors and the fact that the introduction of effective therapies involving tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 (imatinib mesylate) has greatly changed the clinical approach to intra-abdominal stromal spindle cell tumors.

Research paper thumbnail of Flow sorting and exome sequencing reveal the oncogenome of primary Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells

Research paper thumbnail of function lymphomas: a potential marker of p53 tumor-suppressor gene p21/WAF1 cyclin-kinase inhibitor expression in non-Hodgkin's

Research paper thumbnail of Early Switch-on of the Chemotactic Fractalkine Axis and Its Dynamic Variation in Pancreatic Cancer Invasion and Progression

Research paper thumbnail of Toker cells of the breast. Morphological and immunohistochemical characterization of 40 cases

Research paper thumbnail of Hepatic Rosai-Dorfman Disease With Coincidental Lymphoma: Report of a Case

International Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2008

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD; sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphoadenopathy) is a rare, usually... more Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD; sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphoadenopathy) is a rare, usually nodal self-limited disease. Sometimes nodal disease is coupled with extranodal localizations, in which case the disease can follow a protracted clinical course characterized by remissions and relapses and, exceptionally, a fatal outcome. Exclusive extranodal localizations are rare and their prognosis variable. This study reports a case of RDD apparently limited to the liver coexisting with a diffuse (stage IV) relapsing follicular lymphoma. The patient is alive and well 24 months after the diagnosis of the lymphoma. It is conceivable that the lymphoma has induced RDD via an immunological disorder, possibly involving interleukin expression. The favorable outcome supports the belief that the prognosis of RDD is largely dependent on the number of extranodal sites involved, rather than on the specific sites themselves.

Research paper thumbnail of Cutaneous Melanoma Metastatic to Uterine Adenomyoma: Report of a Case

International Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2005

Rare cases of metastasis to uterine polyps have been reported in English literature but not, to t... more Rare cases of metastasis to uterine polyps have been reported in English literature but not, to the best of our knowledge, to uterine adenomyomas. All these cases are represented by breast cancer, most of them involving tamoxifen-associated polyps. We first report a case of cutaneous malignant melanoma metastatic to uterine adenomyoma. A computed tomography scan did not reveal any further evidence of disease, suggesting that this metastatic localization may represent something more than a fortuitous case. Based on these observations it is suggested that a subset of malignant melanoma and breast cancer cells share a sort of "homing'' phenomenon to polypoid lesions of uterus, due probably to the presence of some chemokines and their specific receptors. Pathologists should be aware of this possibility in order to look carefully for metastatic implants in similar lesions. It is proposed that chemokine profile of neoplastic cells can be a useful tool in predicting metastatic targets.

Research paper thumbnail of Interleukin-17-producing T-helper cells as new potential player mediating graft-versus-host disease in patients undergoing allogeneic stem-cell transplantation

Transplantation, Jan 15, 2009

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major obstacle to safe allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell t... more Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major obstacle to safe allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, leading to significant mortality. Recently, T-helper (TH)-17 cells have been shown to play a central role in mediating several autoimmune diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between TH-17 cells and GVHD occurring in transplanted patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Anatomic Location of Breast Cancer Micrometastasis in Sentinel Lymph Node Predicts Axillary Status

Research paper thumbnail of Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma with sclerosis: Report of 11 cases treated with intensified-CHOP plus radiotherapy

American Journal of Hematology, 2005

Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a clinicopathological entity with aggressive behav... more Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a clinicopathological entity with aggressive behavior. Retrospective evaluation suggests the need for intensive chemotherapy programs. From 1997 to February 2003, a total of 11 cases of previously untreated PMBCL with sclerosis were treated at our institution with 5 courses of intensified CHOP (ICHOP) regimen and mediastinal irradiation. Three patients were submitted to high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral-blood stem-cell support, followed by radiotherapy, because of intermediate-risk age-adjusted International Prognostic Index at diagnosis. After a median follow up of 30 months, all patients but one are in continuous complete remission (CR), and overall survival is 100%. Am.

Research paper thumbnail of A Case of Gastric Splenosis Mimicking a Stromal Tumor

Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, Jan 23, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of A prospective randomized study comparing 25-G and 22-G needles of a new platform for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of solid masses

Digestive and Liver Disease, 2015

A new needle platform for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy has been dev... more A new needle platform for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy has been developed that allows interchangeability of all needle sizes. To prospectively compare the efficacy of the new 25-G needles and 22-G needles for obtaining an adequate aspirate of solid masses. Randomized controlled trial of 144 patients referred for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of solid pancreatic masses, intraparietal tumours, or lymph-nodes, randomized to the 25-G or 22-G needle arms. An adequate specimen was obtained from 74.3% of cases. The sample tended to be more adequate in the 25-G compared to the 22-G group (81% vs. 68%; p=0.09). Crossover was required in 14 (19%) and 12 (17%) cases in the 22-G and in the 25-G groups, respectively (p=0.7). The overall rate of adequacy improved from 74% before crossover to 90% after crossover (p<0.01). When comparing the two groups after crossover, the rate of obtaining adequate samples was significantly higher in the 25-G arm than in the 22-G arm (95.8% vs. 86.1%; p=0.03). The 25-G needle was superior to the 22-G needle for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The adequacy and diagnostic accuracy improved after crossover, reaching 90%.

Research paper thumbnail of Synchronous Bilateral Primary Breast Lymphoma

Research paper thumbnail of Surgical sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer. Could it be avoided by performing a preoperative staging procedure? A pilot study

Medical Science Monitor, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Mo1423 Preliminary Data From the First Italian Experience With a New Universal Needle Delivery System for EUS-Guided FNA: a Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the 25G and 22G Needle in the EUS-FNA of Solid Lesions

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and splenic marginal-zone B-cell lymphoma: a casual correlation?

Leukemia & lymphoma, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of Complications of Therapy and a Diagnostic Dilemma Case: CASE 1. RADIATION MACULOPATHY FOLLOWING TREATMENT OF NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2003

... P. Cackett, J. Stebbing, and B. Dhillon Princess Alexandra Eye Pavillion, Edinburgh, Scotland... more ... P. Cackett, J. Stebbing, and B. Dhillon Princess Alexandra Eye Pavillion, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK Copyright © 2003 American Society of Clinical Oncology ... Paul Haluska, Patrick H. Luetmer, Carrie Y. Inwards, Bekele Afessa, Thomas C. Shives, and James N. Ingle ...

Research paper thumbnail of Prognostic and diagnostic potential of local and circulating levels of pentraxin 3 in lung cancer patients

International Journal of Cancer, 2015

There is a well-established link between inflammation and cancer of various organs, but little da... more There is a well-established link between inflammation and cancer of various organs, but little data are available on inflammation-associated markers of diagnostic and prognostic clinical utility in pulmonary malignancy. Blood samples were prospectively collected from 75 resectable lung cancer patients before surgery and in a cohort of 1,358 high-risk subjects. Serum levels of long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) were determined by high-sensitivity ELISA. PTX3 immunostaining was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in cancer tissue. Serum PTX3 levels in the high-risk population were not predictive of developing subsequent lung cancer or any other malignancy; however, serum PTX3 values in patients with lung cancer were significantly higher compared with cancer-free heavy smokers. With a cutoff of 4.5 ng/ml, specificity was 0.80, sensitivity 0.69, positive predictive value 0.15 and negative predictive value 0.98. The receiver operating curve (ROC) for serum PTX3 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 83.52%. Preoperative serum PTX3 levels in lung cancer patients did not correlate with patient outcome, but high interstitial expression of PTX3 in resected tumor specimens was a significant independent prognostic factor associated with shorter survival (p < 0.001). These results support the potential of serum PTX3 as a lung cancer biomarker in high-risk subjects. Furthermore, PTX3 immunohistochemistry findings support the role of local inflammatory mechanisms in determining clinical outcome and suggest that local expression of PTX3 may be of prognostic utility in lung cancer patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Massive liver involvement in a patient with multiple myeloma during thalidomide treatment

The activity of thalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma has been wel... more The activity of thalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma has been well confirmed. However, plasmacytomas were less responsive to thalidomide and extramedullary progression despite serological response has been observed. We described a case of massive liver in- volvement in a patient treated with thalidomide; we suggest that extramedullary progression could due to a clone selection induced by

Research paper thumbnail of 9084 Pemetrexed vs docetaxel as second-line in NSCLC: is there a difference between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma? – a retrospective analysis of a single institution

European Journal of Cancer Supplements, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Localized intra-abdominal fibromatosis of the small bowel mimicking a gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a case report

World journal of gastroenterology : WJG, Jan 7, 2005

Intra-abdominal fibromatosis (IAF) is a benign mesenchymal lesion that can occur throughout the g... more Intra-abdominal fibromatosis (IAF) is a benign mesenchymal lesion that can occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Although rare, it is the most common primary tumor of the mesentery and can develop at any age. We describe a rare case of primary IAF involving the mesentery and small bowel which clinically, macroscopically and histologically mimicked malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). This report highlights the fact that benign IAF can be misdiagnosed as a malignant GIST localized in the mesentery or arising from the intestinal wall. Their diagnostic discrimination is essential because of their very different biological behaviors and the fact that the introduction of effective therapies involving tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 (imatinib mesylate) has greatly changed the clinical approach to intra-abdominal stromal spindle cell tumors.

Research paper thumbnail of Flow sorting and exome sequencing reveal the oncogenome of primary Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells

Research paper thumbnail of function lymphomas: a potential marker of p53 tumor-suppressor gene p21/WAF1 cyclin-kinase inhibitor expression in non-Hodgkin's

Research paper thumbnail of Early Switch-on of the Chemotactic Fractalkine Axis and Its Dynamic Variation in Pancreatic Cancer Invasion and Progression

Research paper thumbnail of Toker cells of the breast. Morphological and immunohistochemical characterization of 40 cases

Research paper thumbnail of Hepatic Rosai-Dorfman Disease With Coincidental Lymphoma: Report of a Case

International Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2008

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD; sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphoadenopathy) is a rare, usually... more Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD; sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphoadenopathy) is a rare, usually nodal self-limited disease. Sometimes nodal disease is coupled with extranodal localizations, in which case the disease can follow a protracted clinical course characterized by remissions and relapses and, exceptionally, a fatal outcome. Exclusive extranodal localizations are rare and their prognosis variable. This study reports a case of RDD apparently limited to the liver coexisting with a diffuse (stage IV) relapsing follicular lymphoma. The patient is alive and well 24 months after the diagnosis of the lymphoma. It is conceivable that the lymphoma has induced RDD via an immunological disorder, possibly involving interleukin expression. The favorable outcome supports the belief that the prognosis of RDD is largely dependent on the number of extranodal sites involved, rather than on the specific sites themselves.

Research paper thumbnail of Cutaneous Melanoma Metastatic to Uterine Adenomyoma: Report of a Case

International Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2005

Rare cases of metastasis to uterine polyps have been reported in English literature but not, to t... more Rare cases of metastasis to uterine polyps have been reported in English literature but not, to the best of our knowledge, to uterine adenomyomas. All these cases are represented by breast cancer, most of them involving tamoxifen-associated polyps. We first report a case of cutaneous malignant melanoma metastatic to uterine adenomyoma. A computed tomography scan did not reveal any further evidence of disease, suggesting that this metastatic localization may represent something more than a fortuitous case. Based on these observations it is suggested that a subset of malignant melanoma and breast cancer cells share a sort of "homing'' phenomenon to polypoid lesions of uterus, due probably to the presence of some chemokines and their specific receptors. Pathologists should be aware of this possibility in order to look carefully for metastatic implants in similar lesions. It is proposed that chemokine profile of neoplastic cells can be a useful tool in predicting metastatic targets.

Research paper thumbnail of Interleukin-17-producing T-helper cells as new potential player mediating graft-versus-host disease in patients undergoing allogeneic stem-cell transplantation

Transplantation, Jan 15, 2009

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major obstacle to safe allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell t... more Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major obstacle to safe allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, leading to significant mortality. Recently, T-helper (TH)-17 cells have been shown to play a central role in mediating several autoimmune diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between TH-17 cells and GVHD occurring in transplanted patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Anatomic Location of Breast Cancer Micrometastasis in Sentinel Lymph Node Predicts Axillary Status

Research paper thumbnail of Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma with sclerosis: Report of 11 cases treated with intensified-CHOP plus radiotherapy

American Journal of Hematology, 2005

Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a clinicopathological entity with aggressive behav... more Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a clinicopathological entity with aggressive behavior. Retrospective evaluation suggests the need for intensive chemotherapy programs. From 1997 to February 2003, a total of 11 cases of previously untreated PMBCL with sclerosis were treated at our institution with 5 courses of intensified CHOP (ICHOP) regimen and mediastinal irradiation. Three patients were submitted to high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral-blood stem-cell support, followed by radiotherapy, because of intermediate-risk age-adjusted International Prognostic Index at diagnosis. After a median follow up of 30 months, all patients but one are in continuous complete remission (CR), and overall survival is 100%. Am.