Abnormal Wnt signaling and impaired cell–cell adhesion due to abnormal E-cadherin and β-catenin function have been implicated in many cancers, but have not been fully explored in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, β-catenin cellular location and E-cadherin expression levels were analyzed in 16 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs) (9 glottic and 7 supraglottic) and 11 samples of non-tumoral inflammatory larynx tissue, using immunohistochemical methods. All non-tumoral tissues showed equally strong membranous expression of β-catenin, while cytoplasmic expression was found in only 3 of the 11 samples. By contrast, whereas 8/9 glottic LSCCs exhibited only membranous expression of β-catenin, 6/7 supraglottic LSCCs displayed both membranous and cytoplasmic expression (p = 0.003). Strong E-cadherin staining was observed in 9/11 non-tumoral tissues and 7/9 glottic LSCCs, whereas 4/7 supraglottic LSCCs exhibited weak expression. Reduced membrane expression of E-cadherin and cytoplasmic retention of β-catenin in supraglottic LSCC seems to be related with more aggressive biological behavior which has been described in clinical studies. Further research is required to clarify the involvement of β-catenin in the mechanism associated with malignant transformation in laryngeal tissues.

A previously unreported association of Brenner and adenomatoid tumor found in the tunica vaginalis testis is presented. Many ultrastructural features found in mesothelial cells such as intercellular spaces, deeply indented nuclei, tonofilaments and tight desmosomes, were also shared by cells present in both neoplastic patterns. The previous histogenetic origins ascribed to testicular Brenner tumors are discussed and the evidence for their origin in the mesothelium considered.

We present a case of extragenital endometrioid cystadenofibroma, whose rare pelvic localization is the motive for its publication, as no similar case had been described previously. Its possible histogenesis from a pelvic mesothelium, as well as the differential diagnosis from pelvic endometriosis is discussed.