Toward early diagnosis of oral cancer: Diagnostic utility of cytomorphological features, a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Early detection of oral cancer is one of the most efficient ways to reduce the high mortality from this disease because of the ready accessibility of the oral cavity. We need to devise urgent diagnostic tools to detect early oral premalignant and malignant lesions. AIM: The aim of the present study was to grade the oral lesions in an attempt toward developing a novel cytological grading system. Further, morphometric analysis of cellular parameters was also performed to compare their significance in differentiating benign from malignant lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital catering to the low socioeconomic population. Patients presenting in the various Out Patient Departments with suspicious oral lesions were evaluated by cytology in the Department of Pathology. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were evaluated with a mean age of 43.54 ± 10.35 years. The involvement of the buccal mucosa was the most common site of oral lesions. Cytologically, the lesions were graded according to the oral/oro-pharyngeal cytology grading system into grades A to F. Cyto-morphometric analysis showed an increasing trend in mean nuclear diameter from benign to malignant cases while the mean cytoplasmic diameter decreased, value of P < 0.05 was observed indicating a statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cytological features of pleomorphism are a unique feature in oral carcinoma reflecting intracellular alterations in cells. Grading of lesions according to cytological characteristics can be helpful in standardizing the reporting of the oral lesion. However, our study was restricted by limited data; we emphasize more extensive studies to assess the usefulness and applicability of such a grading system. We also conclude that the use of cytomorphometry can improve the diagnostic reliability of exfoliative cytology.

Pancreatic and Gastric Heterotopia in the Gallbladder: A Rare Incidental Finding.

Heterotopic or ectopic tissue is a congenital anomaly, which is defined as the presence of the tissue outside its normal location, without neural, vascular, or anatomic connection with the main body of an organ in which it normally exists. This tissue is usually discovered incidentally and may be asymptomatic or may present with nonspecific gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Pancreatic and gastric heterotopia are the two predominantly occurring heterotopic tissues in the GI tract.[12] The prevalence of ectopic pancreatic tissue in the GI tract ranges from 0.6% to 13.7% of autopsy series and it can be present anywhere in the GI tract with the most common localizations being stomach (27.5%), duodenum (25.5%), colon (15.9%), esophagus, and Meckel's diverticulum.[345] It is a rare finding in the gallbladder and its prevalence has not been ascertained due to lack of large-scale studies and systematic review of literature. Similarly, heterotopic gastric tissue is common throughout the GI tract from the tongue to the rectum,[67] but it is extremely rare in the gallbladder with only around 34 cases reported in literature so far, while other cases of different types of heterotopic tissues in the gallbladder such as liver tissue and others such as adrenal and thyroid tissues have been described.[8] The most common presentation of ectopic tissue in the gallbladder is colicky pain in the epigastrium or right upper quadrant sometimes associated with nausea and vomiting. Here, we are presenting two incidentally detected cases, each of gastric and pancreatic heterotopias in the gallbladder.

Diagnostic challenges of tubercular lesions of breast.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) in the developing countries presents with both pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations. Breast TB, however, remains a rare presentation. Its importance lies in the fact that it may mimic malignancy or present as inflammatory lump/abscess. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to highlight the importance of breast TB and its diagnostic challenges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital, over 2 years between 2013 and 2015 during which eight cases of breast lesions were diagnosed as of tubercular origin. RESULTS: Granulomas were seen in five cases while three cases revealed only few epithelioid cells, and necrosis was seen in all cases on fine-needle aspiration cytology. Histopathological evaluation was available in six out of the eight cases, while acid-fast bacilli were positive in three cases, the characteristic granulomas were seen in all the six cases evaluated. CONCLUSION: Significance of TB breast lies in the fact that it may masquerade as breast malignancy or pyogenic abscess. India is a developing country where TB is endemic, a high index of suspicion should be expressed in evaluating breast masses, and TB should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Clinicopathological Study of Eosinophilic Cholecystitis: Five Year Single Institution Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder diseases are very common in Northern India, most common of which is Chronic Cholecystitis. Rarely, histopathological diagnosis of Eosinophilic Cholecystitis (EC) is given when transmural cellular infiltrate consists of more than 90% eosinophils. AIM: To determine the prevalence and clinicopathological profile of eosinophilic cholecystitis at a tertiary care hospital of New Delhi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective clinicopathological study done on twenty two cases of eosinophilic cholecystitis over a period of five years from January 2011- December 2015. In cases diagnosed histopathologically as eosinophilic cholecystitis, clinical details were obtained from hospital records and slides were retrieved. Various histologic features, pattern of the inflammatory infiltrate and association of EC with other medical diseases, drugs and allergic states were evaluated. RESULTS: Out of a total of 1370 cholecystectomy specimens received during five year period, Eosinophilic cholecystitis was diagnosed in 22 (1.6%) of the specimens. Clinically, seven of these patients had a clinical diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Patient's age ranged from 25-64 years and male to female ratio was 1:2.7. Most common symptom reported was abdominal pain. Most of the cases showed gallstones radiologically (90%) while only two cases showed peripheral eosinophilia (9%). Histologically, mucosal and muscular eosinophilic infiltrate was seen in 72.6% of the cases. No association with drug therapy, allergies or other pre-existing medical conditions was noted. CONCLUSION: EC is a relatively uncommon entity in which histopathology remains the main stay of diagnosis. Although the presentation may be similar to general cholecystitis, if a postoperative histopathological diagnosis of EC is made, then the patient must be investigated thoroughly to rule out other associated disease conditions, which may have a worse prognosis than cholecystitis itself.

Inflammatory Pseudotumor of the Spleen Masquerading as Splenic Malignancy.

Inflammatory pseudotumors (IPTs) of the spleen are extremely rare, benign tumors of unknown etiology, and are most frequently detected incidentally. We report a case of IPT of the spleen in a 19-year-old male, who presented to the Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, New Delhi, with a history of pain and heaviness in the left hypochondrium. On clinical examination, splenomegaly was detected. Ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed an enlarged spleen with a mass lesion completely occupying the lower pole of the spleen. Therefore, a diagnosis of splenomegaly with a malignant splenic lesion was suggested. Open splenectomy was performed. On gross examination, a well-circumscribed nodular growth measuring 9 × 8 × 5 cm in diameter was seen on the lower pole of the spleen, which on cut section appeared tan white with foci of yellowish discoloration. Microscopic examination of the nodular growth revealed spindle cells in a hyalinized stroma with inflammatory infiltration of predominantly plasma cells and lymphocytes. On immunohistochemistry, the spindle cells were positive for smooth muscle actin. A diagnosis of IPT of the spleen was rendered following histopathology testing. Splenectomy is both diagnostic and curative for this rare entity, and prognosis is usually favorable following the procedure.

An Incidental Primary Papillary Carcinoma Arising in a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst: Report of a Rare Finding.

The thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDCs) are the most common congenital anomaly of the thyroid, usually manifested as painless midline neck mass. Malignancy is very rare and is reported in around 1% of cases as an incidental finding after histopathological evaluation of resected cyst. Papillary carcinoma is the most common carcinoma reported in TGDC. Here, we report a case of 17-year-old-female, who presented with a gradually increasing midline neck mass which moves with swallowing. On imaging a diagnosis of infected TGDC was made. The Sistrunk operation was done and a diagnosis of primary papillary carcinoma arising in a TGDC was rendered histopathologically. The contemporary appearance of papillary carcinoma thyroid was reported in about 20% cases of TGDC carcinoma, thus it is essential to differentiate primary papillary carcinoma arising in a TGDC from those of metastatic papillary carcinoma thyroid by strict diagnostic criteria.

An Analysis of Hematological Parameters as a Diagnostic test for Malaria in Patients with Acute Febrile Illness: An Institutional Experience.

OBJECTIVES: Hematological changes are among the most common complications encountered in malaria. This study analyzes and statistically evaluates the hematological changes as a diagnostic test for malaria in patients with acute febrile illness and whether these could guide the physician to institute specific antimalarial treatment. METHODS: The present study was an observational study, conducted from January to December 2012. A total of 723 patients presenting with acute febrile illness at our hospital were evaluated. A complete blood count and malarial parasite microscopy were performed for each patient. RESULTS: The findings showed that 172 out of 723 patients (24%) were diagnosed to have malaria by positive smear report. There were 121 males and 51 females with a male to female ratio of 2.3:1. Maximum number of cases were seen in the 20-30 years age group. There was a statistically significant reduction in hemoglobin (p<0.005), platelet count (p<0.001) and total leukocyte count (p<0.001) levels in patients with malaria compared to those without the disease. Likelihood ratios for a positive result of platelets (6.2) and total leukocyte count (3.4) was relevant as compared to hemoglobin (1.61) and Red cell distribution width (1.79). The negative predictive values for hemoglobin (79%), total leukocyte count (86%), platelets (94%) and Red cell distribution width (93%) were significant. Red cell distribution width values were found to be higher in patients with malaria than in patients without malaria (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that routinely used laboratory findings such as hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelet counts and even red cell distribution width values can provide a diagnostic clue in a patient with acute febrile illness in endemic areas, thus increasing the probability of malaria and enhancing prompt initiation of treatment.

Incidental gall bladder carcinoma in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a report of 6 cases and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Gall bladder carcinoma accounts for 98% of all the gall bladder malignancies and it is the sixth most common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract worldwide. The incidence of incidental gall bladder carcinoma which is diagnosed during or after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is reported to be around 0.19-3.3% in the literature. AIM: This study was aimed at detecting the incidence of gall bladder carcinomas which were diagnosed incidentally during or after laparoscopic cholecystectomies which were done for gall stone disease and cholecystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the medical records of patients with symptomatic gallstone disease and acute or chronic cholecystitis, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomies at the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary Hospital during the period from January 2007 to June 2012. RESULTS: A total of 622 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed at our institute during the study period of five and a half years. In 6 (0.96%) cases, incidental carcinomas of the gallbladder were discovered. CONCLUSION: A laparoscopic cholecystectomy which is performed for benign gall bladder disease rarely results in a diagnosis of unexpected gallbladder cancer. The microscopic examination of the specimens, with special attention to the depth of invasion, range of the mucosal spread and the lymphovascular involvement, is critical in diagnosing the incidental malignancies as well as for the subsequent management of the cases.

Morphological spectrum of endometrial pathology in middle-aged women with atypical uterine bleeding: A study of 219 cases.

BACKGROUND: Perimenopause, also called the menopausal transition, is the interval in which a woman's body makes a natural shift from more-or-less regular cycles of ovulation and menstruation toward permanent infertility, or menopause. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective age specific comparative analysis of 219 perimenopausal women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding was done who underwent endometrial sampling during a 4-year period from January 2008 to April 2012 at the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary Hospital. Endometrial tissue collected by sampling procedures such as dilatation and curettage (D and C), endometrial biopsy and fractional curettage had been sent to the pathology laboratory for evaluation. RESULTS: The most common clinical presentation was represented by menorrhagia (46.4%) followed by metrorrhagia (20%), menometrorrhagia, polymenorrhea, polymenorrhagia among others. Evaluation of the endometrium revealed various patterns on histopathology, functional causes accounted for majority of the diagnosis. Secretory endometrium seen in 71 cases (32.4%) was the most common. While proliferative endometrium on histopathology was the second most common diagnosis; seen in 67 patients (30.5%). Endometrial hyperplasia was seen in 24 (10.9%) cases out of which simple hyperplasia without atypia was seen in 19, complex hyperplasia without atypia was seen in 4 and complex hyperplasia with atypia was seen in 1 case. The other diagnoses, which accounted for the rest of the functional causes of atypical uterine bleeding, were disordered proliferative endometrium 15 cases (6.8%), luteal phase defects 3 cases (1.3%). CONCLUSION: Atypical uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women is most commonly dysfunctional in origin. In addition, a significant number show underlying organic pathologies thereby highlighting the importance of endometrial curetting and biopsy as a diagnostic procedure in the evaluation.

Primary Intestinal Hodgkin's Lymphoma: An Uncommon Presentation.

Primary intestinal lymphoma is a rare lymphoproliferative neoplasm of the small intestine. The primary nature is established on the basis of lack of evidence of lymphoma on chest X-ray, computerized tomographic scan, peripheral blood or bone marrow puncture. Tumor involvement is limited to the gastrointestinal tract, the criteria for inclusion are that the symptoms related to the small intestine are predominant or the only symptoms at the time of laparotomy. Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) primarily in the small intestine is a rare entity and an uncommon presentation of the disease. Ileum is the more common site of infliction than the jejunum because of its abundant lymphoid follicles. Here, we present a case of primary intestinal HL, in a 30-year-old male.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis--a diagnostic challenge.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is a benign, uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis characterised by focal or diffuse destructive inflammation of the gall bladder. The present study was undertaken to analyse the clinical presentation, pre-operative imaging, intra-operative findings and histological features of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and the results compared with those in the literature. Thirteen histologically confirmed cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis were identified from the retrospective analysis of the patient records of 217 cholecystectomies performed during the period January 2011 to March 2012 at the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary Hospital, New Delhi. The clinical, radiological and operative details of these patients have been analysed. The incidence of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis was 6% and age range was between 25 and 62 years with a mean age of 40.3 years. A female: male ratio was 1.6:1. Chronic right upper quadrant pain was the most common clinical presentation. In 2 patients, a gall bladder carcinoma was suspected radiologically as well as clinically, but was later disproved on histology. Abdominal ultrasound scan showed marked thickening of the gall bladder wall in 11 cases (84.6%). Laproscopic procedure required conversion to an open procedure in 8 patients (61.5% conversion rate). Histologically focal or diffuse inflammation with foamy histiocytes, inflammatory cells, giant cells and fibroblasts in varying proportion were seen. Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is an unusual destructive inflammatory process, characterised by severe fibrosis and gall bladder wall thickening presenting as a gall bladder mass that mimics gall bladder carcinoma. The pre- and intra-operative differential diagnosis of the disease still remains a challenge to the practising surgeon and histological assessment of all gall bladders excised for xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is critical, considering the occasional coexistence with gall bladder carcinoma.

Hydatid disease in childhood: revisited report of an interesting case.

Hydatid disease is a zoonosis caused by the tapeworm of Echinococcus spp. The disease is widely endemic in many sheep and cattle rearing locales. However, hydatidosis does not remain restricted to endemic geographical locales anymore but rather is a global health concern. It is a major public health burden causing significant morbidity and mortality. Echinococcus granulosus involvement in children has a different pattern than adults. Children of all age groups are susceptible and localization of the disease in the lungs is more commonly seen. Multiple liver cysts in the paediatric age group is relatively uncommon. We report an interesting case of multiple liver cysts in a 5-year old boy which was diagnosed as hydatid cysts on histopathological examination.