Significant regional differences exist for mean left atrial wall thickness among the different anatomic areas within the left atrium which are often targeted during catheter ablation of AF. These differences may have significant implications in determining the ideal intensity and total duration of radiofrequency energy required to achieve a safe and successful ablation.

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Using antibodies to type IV collagen, basement membrane (BM) deposition at the tumor-stromal border was studied in 163 cases of colorectal carcinomas. Immunoreactivity was scored semiquantitatively as moderate/extensive versus limited BM deposition and correlated with Dukes' stages and survival data. Cases with limited BM deposition showed an overall significant shorter survival and were overrepresented in Dukes' Stages C/D. Stratification of the cases, for limited versus moderate/extensive BM deposition and Dukes' Stages A/B and C/D, showed that in Dukes' Stages C/D, cases with moderate/extensive BM deposition reached a plateau phase in the survival curve after 2 years. Cases with limited BM deposition showed a continuous downward course on the survival curve. The results suggest that immunostaining of BM in cases in Dukes' C differentiates tumors with relatively high invasive and metastatic capacity from tumors with low invasive and metastatic capacity.

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