Morphological spectrum of mediastinal lesions with special emphasis on evaluation of needle biopsy: An experience from a tertiary care hospital.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Mediastinal lesions are uncommon and are infrequently encountered in routine clinical practice. Hence, there is a need for more elaborate studies of mediastinal lesions to make the pathologists and clinicians aware of the large spectrum of these lesions. The present study describes the histomorphological spectrum of various mediastinal lesions in a tertiary care hospital in India, along with the discussion of some unusual and interesting cases. Considering the limited diagnostic material obtained in guided biopsies, the adequacy of such tissue for providing a definite opinion was also evaluated. METHODS: This was a retrospective study performed on 125 mediastinal masses diagnosed on surgically resected specimens as well as needle biopsies over a period of two years (January 2012-December 2013). A few cases had inadequate diagnostic material, making a total of 116 cases which were further evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients of mediastinal lesions were included in the study. Most of the lesions were in 21-30 yr age group, with male:female ratio of 1.7:1. Anterior mediastinal compartment was most commonly involved. Majority of the cases (62.1%) were of neoplastic nature, with benign tumours (34.5%) being more common than malignant ones (27.6%). Thymoma followed by lymphoma constituted the most common mediastinal tumours. One-third of the total cases were diagnosed on needle biopsy samples. All cases where needle biopsy was followed by resection specimen showed concordant diagnosis. The percentage adequacy of biopsy was 91.7 per cent and the diagnostic accuracy was 100 per cent. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the histomorphological spectrum and biological diversity of the mediastinal lesions. It also emphasizes that biopsy is sufficiently adequate, with the help of a comprehensive immunohistochemistry panel, for providing a definite diagnosis in majority of cases.

Understanding the experiences of Mandarin-speaking patients diagnosed with life-threatening cancer in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: People from ethnic minority groups who receive cancer care outside their country of origin may experience poor survival and psychological outcomes relative to that nation's majority groups. This exploratory qualitative study aimed to understand the experience of a large minority group of Mandarin-speaking cancer patients (MSCPs) after diagnosis and treatment of their cancer in Australia, with a view to delineate if cultural or linguistic factors affected the quality of care provided. METHOD: We employed an exploratory qualitative design involving interviews with 22 MSCPs who were treated during 2009 at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC) in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were interviewed by a bilingual psychiatrist, audiotaped, transcribed in Mandarin, and then translated into English before being subjected to thematic analysis by two independent researchers. RESULTS: MSCPs experienced notable challenges as a result of both language difficulties and differing cultural approaches, which often limited their understanding of their disease and impeded their ability to access quality care and adequate support. The results call for Australia and other Western nations with increasingly diverse populations to consider how cancer care can be modified to better support people from minority groups to effectively cope with their diagnosis and treatment. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: This study raises several suggestions for service improvement, including the development of bilingual communication aids, improved educational opportunities for clinical staff to aid their mastery of cultural issues and effective interpreter consultations, and improved access to supportive services offering culturally specific strategies.

Conducting psychotherapy with an interpreter.

OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study assessed how clinicians prepared and used interpreters during psychotherapeutic sessions and investigated the strategies they used to manage the dynamics of this process. METHODS: Ten therapists were interviewed at the Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture (VFST). A semi-structured interview format was used. Thematic analysis was conducted on transcripts of recorded interviews to identify key themes. RESULTS: Factors affecting the provision of psychotherapy with interpreters agreed with general guidelines for working with interpreters but there were exceptions. The possible roles of the interpreter as a cultural consultant, community advocate and co-therapist were explored. Specific troubleshooting strategies were identified for improving empathy, redefining roles, and adjusting interactions with interpreters. CONCLUSIONS: Working with interpreters in psychotherapy is a complex process. These findings may benefit clinicians providing psychotherapy to patients using interpreters.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix in a 41-year-old woman: a deceptively benign entity.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the cervix in women older than 40 years of age is extremely rare. Embryonal RMS can appear deceptively benign both clinically and histopathologically. Diagnosis is made on the basis of histomorphologic and immunohistochemical findings. A high index of suspicion is, however, needed to make the diagnosis, as they can masquerade as benign polyps. A 41-year-old female with cervical RMS is described here. The initial biopsy diagnosis of embryonal RMS was confirmed on subsequent hysterectomy. The present case report is described with emphasis on histopathologic features and diagnostic difficulties along with a brief review of the literature.

Enhancing cultural responsiveness: the development of a pilot transcultural secondary consultation program.

OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the development of a pilot secondary consultation program by a state-wide transcultural psychiatry unit, Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH), in partnership with a rural mental health service, Goulburn Valley Area Mental Health Service (GVAMHS), and the responses of the clinicians who participated. METHOD: A series of eight consultations were facilitated by the VTMH in 2010 and attended by a total of 57 GVAMHS clinicians; five sessions were conducted face-to-face and three by videoconference. Facilitators recorded the details of discussions at each session. Participants and facilitators offered feedback that was analysed to improve the quality of cultural responsiveness at GVAMHS. RESULTS: Participants from a range of disciplines provided consistently positive feedback. The sessions provided an effective forum for discussing cultural formulations and culturally sensitive approaches to working with individuals and their families. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot secondary consultation program provided clinicians in a rural area with a forum in which to reflect on cross-cultural mental health issues. This pilot has informed the development of subsequent VTMH cultural consultation services.

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma of abdominal wall in a child.

Compared with osteosarcoma of bone, extraskeletal osteosarcoma is rare and accounts for approximately 1% to 2 % of all soft tissue sarcomas. Osteosarcoma arising in soft tissues is exceedingly rare in children. The tumor most often affects older adults, involves the lower extremity, responds poorly to chemotherapy, and carries a grave prognosis. The authors describe a 4-year-old girl with an extraskeletal osteosarcoma in the lateral abdominal wall.

The long-term outcomes and unmet needs of a cohort of former long-stay patients in Melbourne, Australia.

Former long-stay patients with psychotic disorders have significant unmet needs. This study assessed the long-term outcomes for the original cohort of 18 residents of the Footbridge Community Care Unit (CCU), a residential psychiatric rehabilitation unit at St Vincent's Mental Health Melbourne. A review of case records and interviews were conducted for each member of the cohort 8 years after admission to the CCU. Members of the cohort were living in a variety of settings after discharge from the CCU. Despite significant gains during the period of residential rehabilitation in the CCU after hospital discharge, by the time of follow-up individuals were in general leading restricted lives characterised by a lack of stable residential and social supports. Most reported positively on the support provided in the CCU although later experiences of moving repeatedly from one setting to another were adverse. Five key unmet needs were identified: promotion of independence; stability in accommodation; stability in social networks; consistency of care; and addressing the theme of loss. A longitudinal perspective in management that focuses on stability in residential care is required for long-stay patients.

Cystic echinococcosis of the pelvic bone with recurrences: a case report.

Hydatid cysts commonly affect the liver and the lung. However, they rarely involve bones with vertebral column. We hereby report a case of a female patient with cystic echinococcosis of the hip bone and ilium. She presented with a long history of frequent recurrences highlighting the dismal prognosis at this rare site. Resection of the hydatid cyst from the sacroiliac region was done with allograft and autograft (rib graft) with lumbosacroiliac fixation. Follow-up of the patient at 6 months showed no detectable abnormality on radiology and the patient was doing well.

The capacity-building role of community liaison workers with refugee communities in Victoria, Australia.

BACKGROUND: A range of services within Australia and internationally have been developed that are focused on the engagement of individuals who are of refugee background to work as a liaison between their communities and mental health services. The Community Liaison Worker (CLW) role at the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (VFST) was developed in 2008 in order to engage in such capacity-building initiatives. AIMS: To review and document the establishment, evolution and current status of the VFST CLW role, and examine the perspectives of CLWs on their role in trauma-informed community capacity-building. METHODS: The study comprised of two stages: a historical case study of the development of the CLW role, and a qualitative research study based on interviews with CLWs in order to identify key themes regarding various aspects of their role and understand the facilitators and barriers to their work of trauma-informed capacity-building with their respective communities. RESULTS: The CLW role has evolved from the provision of direct services through joint work with Counsellor Advocates at VFST to a broader role that is focused on building the capacity of community members. Thematic analysis of interviews with the seven current CLWs identified the complexity of their dual role as members of their community and employees of VFST, their role in addressing short-term goals to meet community needs, and the long-term objective of empowering their community to become integrated and self-sufficient. CONCLUSIONS: CLWs at VFST demonstrate important work of liaison workers in facilitating trauma-informed capacity-building initiatives that are of benefit to members of their communities and also to service providers.

Community mental health in Peshawar, the need to reform.

Community mental health is a neglected field in many developing countries including Pakistan. Common mental disorders are high in prevalence, particularly in women. Community mental health services are lacking in Peshawar, which faces a number of challenges owing to sociopolitical instability. The aim of this literature review is to evaluate and interpret current research relevant to community mental health reform, including a review of the evidence regarding community mental health service. A selected review of published literature was undertaken using the PubMed, PsychINFO and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases. The intervention studies included in this review demonstrate that community based mental health services closely aligned with primary care services have the potential to facilitate improvements in access to care and also improvements in mental health outcomes. It concludes that lack of proper mental health policy and non-integration of mental health in primary health care adversely affects the outcome of mental health progress in community.

Implementation of the Strengths Model at an area mental health service.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this paper are to provide an overview of recovery-focused models of care and discuss the implementation of the Strengths Model at St. Vincent's Mental Health Melbourne (SVMH), Victoria, Australia. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the Strengths Model at SVMH is discussed with particular emphasis on the process of implementation, service implications, practical challenges and dilemmas that have arisen, and proposed evaluation. Recovery-focused care is feasible and can enhance current practice of mental health services.

Role of Immunohistochemistry in the Subtyping of Periampullary Adenocarcinoma.

Context. Subtyping of periampullary adenocarcinoma into intestinal and pancreatobiliary subtypes has emerged as an important prognostic factor with potential therapeutic implications. This distinction on morphology alone is often difficult with significant interobserver variability. Objective. To analyze the usefulness of a panel of immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers as an aid to morphologic subtyping of periampullary adenocarcinoma. Design. A total of 172 periampullary adenocarcinomas were classified morphologically by 3 study pathologists. Interobserver agreement was assessed in each case. Cases were then typed using a predetermined IHC panel (comprising CK7, CK20, MUC1, and CDX2). Results. Morphologically, 66 (38.4%) cases were intestinal, 56 (32.6%) pancreatobiliary, 25 (14.5%) mixed, 16 (9.3%) poorly differentiated, 6 (3.5%) mucinous, and 3 (1.7%) signet ring cell adenocarcinoma. Concordant diagnosis was reached in 138 cases (80.2%) with moderate overall interobserver agreement (κ = 0.47). Concordance was higher in morphologically distinct mucinous (100%; κ = 0.94) and signet ring cell subtypes (100%; κ = 1.0) than in intestinal (84.6%; κ = 0.47) and pancreatobiliary (82.1%; κ = 0.43) types. Concordance was poor for mixed (64%; κ = 0.27) and poorly differentiated (68.8%; κ = 0.76) tumors. IHC subtyped 79 cases (46%) as pancreatobiliary, 73 (42.4%) as intestinal, and was inconclusive in 20 cases (11.6%). IHC helped classify 21 out of 25 (84%) mixed and 10 out of 16 poorly differentiated (62.5%) adenocarcinomas. Combination of histology and IHC classified 161 of the total 172 cases (93.6%). Conclusion. Use of an IHC panel aids in subtyping of periampullary adenocarcinomas, especially in tumors with mixed morphology and poor differentiation.

Comparison of disability and quality of life measures in patients with long-term psychotic disorders and patients with multiple sclerosis: an application of the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule II and WHO Quality of Life-BREF.

The aim of this article is to compare the applications of the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II) and WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) in the assessment of patients with psychotic disorders and multiple sclerosis, and to assess the feasibility and usefulness of such universal measures in the psychiatric as well as physical rehabilitation setting. Twenty patients with psychotic disorders from St Vincent's Mental Health Service and 20 patients from the Medical Rehabilitation Ward of St Vincent's Hospital were assessed. The WHODAS II and WHOQOL-BREF were administered to each patient to obtain their perception of the impact of their disability and their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The WHODAS II and WHOQOL-BREF interviews were meaningful as they highlighted aspects of patients' disabilities as well as issues that led to impairment in HRQoL. The WHODAS II and WHOQOL-BREF total scores were higher overall for patients with multiple sclerosis, reflecting, in particular, the physical impact of this condition. Patients with psychotic disorders generally did not report difficulty in self-care. Both patients with multiple sclerosis and patients with psychotic disorders reported similar levels of difficulty in the domain of participation in society. Universal measures of disability and HRQoL are feasible for use in patients with long-term physical and psychiatric illnesses. Similarities in the disability profiles of patients in the two groups reflect the consequences of the long-term conditions under investigation. Both groups of patients reported similar levels of social disability, confirming that barriers to participation in society affect all patients with disabling conditions.

AMACR Positive Papillary Renal Adenomatosis and Multifocal Papillary Carcinoma in End Stage Renal Disease.

Immunomarker α-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase (AMACR), a protein involved in the metabolism of branched chain fatty acids was initially recognized in the evaluation of prostate cancer. AMACR is also a fairly sensitive marker for papillary renal cell carcinoma. Papillary adenoma associated with papillary renal cell carcinoma are AMACR positive and both represent a continuum of the same biological process. However, the papillary adenomas associated with end-kidney and/or acquired cystic disease are AMACR negative. Herein, we report a case of AMACR positive renal adenomatosis with tiny foci of papillary carcinoma in a background of end stage kidney disease and nephrolithiasis. AMACR staining pattern in renal papillary adenomas needs more evaluation to better understand their pathogenesis under different settings.

Epithelioid hemangioma of the temporal artery: a case report.

Temporal or giant cell arteritis is the most common vasculitis affecting the temporal artery. We encountered an unusual case of involvement of the temporal artery, which showed marked proliferating capillaries admixed with a dense infiltrate of eosinophils affecting all layers of the vessel. It was concluded that these changes were those of an epithelioid hemangioma of the temporal artery.

Primary mediastinal lymphomas, their morphological features and comparative evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Primary mediastinal lymphoma is an uncommon tumor. Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma are the most common primary mediastinal lymphomas. Key morphological and immunohistochemistry (IHC) features play a very crucial role in diagnosis as well as further categorization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the morphological spectrum and histological features of 32 cases of primary mediastinal lymphomas diagnosed over 5 years were studied and morphological and IHC features of PMBCL versus HL were compared. Features of PMBCL were also compared against a control group of systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. RESULTS: Although PMBCL and HL are known to show overlapping morphological features, it was observed that presence of clear cells and compartmentalizing fibrosis in PMBCL; and classical Reed-Sternberg cells and dense inflammatory background in HL are important morphological clues while evaluating the biopsies. PMBCL showed diffuse, strong and uniform CD20 positivity; whereas CD30 showed focal/patchy, weak to moderate and heterogeneous expression, wherever found positive. As against this, HL showed diffuse, strong and uniform CD30 positivity; and focal/patchy, weak to moderate and heterogeneous CD20 expression, if found positive. CD20, CD3, and CD30 were sufficient in most of the cases while diagnosing PMBCL and HL. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the critical examination of IHC markers. Only positive expression in neoplastic cells is not sufficient to make a diagnosis, equal importance should be given to percentage, intensity, pattern, and type of positivity. Apart from basic IHC described above; CD15, leukocyte common antigen and fascin played an important role in differentiating HL and PMBCL in select doubtful cases.