Best practices of handling, processing, and interpretation of small intestinal biopsies for the diagnosis and management of celiac disease: A joint consensus of Indian association of pathologists and microbiologists and Indian society of gastroenterology.

The Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists (IAPM) and Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) decided to make a joint consensus recommendation for handling, processing, and interpretation of SI biopsies for the diagnosis and management of celiac disease (CD) recognizing the inhomogeneous practice of biopsy sampling, orientation, processing, and interpretation. A modified Delphi process was used to develop this consensus document containing a total of 42 statements and recommendations, which were generated by sharing the document draft, incorporating expert's opinion, followed by three cycles of electronic voting as well as a full-day face-to-face virtual ZOOM meeting and review of supporting literature. Of the 42 statements, 7 statements are on small intestinal (SI) biopsy in suspected patients of CD, site and the number of biopsies; 7 on handling, fixative, orientation, processing, and sectioning in pathology laboratories; 2 on histological orientation; 13 statements on histological interpretation and histological grading; 3 on the assessment of follow-up biopsies; 2 statements on gluten-free diet (GFD)-nonresponsive CD; 4 on challenges in the diagnosis of CD; 2 statements each on pathology reporting protocol and training and infrastructure in this area. The goal of this guideline document is to formulate a uniform protocol agreed upon both by the experienced pathologists and gastroenterologists to standardize the practice, improve the yield of small bowel biopsy interpretation, patients' compliance, overall management in CD, and generate unified data for patient care and research in the related field.

Myxoid adrenal cortical adenoma in an infant: An unusual morphology.

Myxoid adrenal cortical neoplasms are rare. To the best of our knowledge, no such case has been reported in pediatric or infantile age group till now. Here we report a case of non-functional myxoid adrenocortical adenoma (ACA) in a 7-month-old girl, who presented with a large mass in the abdomen. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of alveolar clusters of cells with focal pseudoglandular architecture in a background of abundant alcian blue positive myxoid matrix. Compressed rim of adrenal tissue was identified at periphery. The patient was put on a close follow-up in view of scarce literature on the subject. She has been doing fine without any recurrences. Myxoid adrenal cortical tumors expand the differential diagnoses of a myxoid neoplasm in retroperitoneum.

Intra-abdominal infantile inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors: A report of three cases.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor occurring at intra-abdominal sites in children can be confused with malignancy because of its large size and location. It is a tumor classified as 'intermediate' between benign and malignant, but usually benign, with a strong tendency for recurrence. Treatment is surgical excision. Here, we present a brief outline of three such cases presenting as abdominal mass in infants.

A histopathological study of liver and biliary remnants in the long-term survivors (>10 years) of cases of biliary atresia.

CONTEXT: Biliary atresia (BA) is a destructive process affecting both extra- and intra-hepatic bile ducts leading to fibrosis and obliteration of the biliary tree and cirrhosis usually within 2 years. Factors influencing the outcome of portoenterostomy (PE) have not been clearly defined. AIMS: Our aim was to identify children with no evidence of liver disease 10 years or more after PE and to compare the pathology of liver and biliary remnants in this group with those associated with poor outcome. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wedge biopsies of liver and portal remnants, taken at the time of PE, where available, were reviewed. The parameters studied were - presence of large bile ducts (>150 µ), degree of fibrosis and bile duct proliferation (BDP), presence of ductal plate malformation (DPM) and age at operation. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Fisher's exact test with Freeman Halton extension for univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis as multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of 68 cases operated between 1995 and 2001, 14 patients survived >10 years and 54 were associated with poor outcome. Large ducts were significantly more in survivors (70% vs. 26%, P = 0.02). DPM was not seen in any of the survivors and was present in 24% of poor outcome group. Fibrosis and BDP were also significantly less among the survivors (P < 0.001, P = 0.03, respectively). The mean ages at operation in the two groups were 66.8 and 89.6 days, respectively. CONCLUSION: From this study, we feel that lower degree of fibrosis and BDP, absence of DPM, presence of large ducts and younger age at operation were associated with better long-term outcome. Of these, degree of fibrosis was the most significant factor.

Gastric fundic gland polyps in south-east Scotland: absence of adenomatous polyposis coli gene mutations and a strikingly low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Fundic gland polyps (FGP) were originally described in association with familial polyposis syndromes, but it is now accepted that the majority of FGP are picked up incidentally in up to 1.9% of routine endoscopies in dyspeptic patients. The familial adenomatous polyposis phenotype arises from germline mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. We aimed to see if there was any association between the presence of FGP, Helicobacter pylori, and two common APC gene mutations. METHODS: From a search of histopathology records in our unit, 85 consecutive patients were identified with a definite histological diagnosis of FGP between 1989 and 1997. Case notes could be retrieved in 48 cases to show the indication for endoscopy and endoscopic findings. Twenty-six patients (mean age 61 years, range 40-83 years) were tested for H. pylori status, and for the 1306 and 1061 bp deletions of the APC gene by the use of an enzyme-linked immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction techniques, respectively. RESULTS: Eighty-nine percent of patients underwent an endoscopy because of dyspepsia; 4.2% were anaemic, 4.2% had hematemesis and 1.2% had dysphagia. Only one patient was seropositive for H. pylori and no patient carried either APC gene deletion. CONCLUSIONS: This genetic information on those with FGP confirms previous phenotypic studies in that the majority of FGP are not associated with familial polyposis syndromes. The significance of such a strikingly low incidence of H. pylori infection in a dyspeptic population remains unclear.