Evaluation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression in gastric cancer and its relationship with histopathological findings.

INTRODUCTION: Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is an important tumour suppressor in multi-step tumorigenesis. To establish the role of PTEN in gastric cancer progression, we examined the PTEN expression degree in gastric cancer tissues. We also explained the connection between PTEN expression and histopathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was cross-sectional and made up of 50 patients with known gastric cancer. Immunohistochemical staining for PTEN was done on gastric cancer tissues. Tumour behaviour was estimated by histopathological assessments. RESULTS: Twenty-seven (54%) of the 50 patients had PTEN staining. The evaluation of the connection between PTEN expression and demographic data and tumour behaviours revealed no meaningful relationship between PTEN expression and patients' age, gender, tumour site and size, tumour type, tumour grade and stage, neural, and lymphovascular invasion (P-value>0.05). CONCLUSION: PTEN expression level is expected to be a significant molecular event in the progression of gastric cancer and may be a predictive marker for gastric cancer behaviours dependent on society.

Intra-cranial Chondroma: A Case Report and Problematic Diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Chondroma is a benign cartilaginous tumor. It is found very rarely in the head and neck. CASE PRESENTATION: This report describes a 25-year-old woman who presented with generalized headache from 4 months ago. The patient underwent excisional surgery. The histological examinations revealed benign cartilage forming tumor, compatible with chondroma. The radiologic and histologic correlation confirmed the diagnosis. Based on the diagnosis, the patient received no more treatment. CONCLUSION: We concluded that intracranial chondroma should be included in the differential diagnosis of a calcified mass on skull imaging. Proper diagnosis is necessary for further patient management.

Postoperative Extra-Cranial Metastasis of Glioblastoma: A Case Report.

Glioblastoma (WHO grade IV) is the most common malignant tumor of neural tissues in adults as a primary tumor. Because of blood brain barrier and short median survival of patients with glioblastoma, metastasis of this tumor is very rare. A 46-year-old man was admitted to Sina hospital with chief complaint of headache and visual impairment. After neuro-radiologic evaluation the patient underwent surgery. Pathologic examination of the tumor confirmed the diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme. Cytogenetic study of the tumor cells confirmed GBM IDH1 wild type with TERT mutation and EGFR amplification. Two months after surgical resection, the tumor recurred with involvement of the dura matter. After the second operation, metastasis to the pelvic cavity and cervical lymph node was found. Almost all cases of glioblastoma metastasis had undergone surgery or any manipulation; this fact suggests that iatrogenic intra-vascular seeding of tumor cells at the time of resection and disruption of blood brain barrier could cause extra-neural metastasis.

GIST case turned out to be a perforated peptic ulcer: a case report.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are tumors arising from the fourth layer of the stomach. They are the most common form of mesenchymal neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract. The diagnosis for the aforementioned tumors is made through endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) with no further inspection through biopsies and aspirations. Regarding the fact that biopsies are not made in these cases, pathological misdiagnoses, however rare and effectless in the final outcome of the surgery, do occur. Here, we present a case of a 35-year-old male diagnosed with GIST through the means of EUS however, the post-op pathology report showed something very interesting. This patient was reported to be a case of perforated peptic ulcer and we found vegetable fiber component in the tissue of this patient. Bearing in mind the finding, misdiagnoses of GIST patients are probable, and careful planning prior to the surgery is recommended.

Postrenal Azotemia in a Gastric Cancer Patient Revealed the Coincidence of Ureteral Metastasis and Contralateral Ureteral Stone: A Case Report.

Metastatic ureteral masses are not rare, but isolated ureteral metastasis from the origin of gastric cancer is rare. Ureteral metastasis is usually unilateral and does not lead to postrenal azotemia unless in single kidney patients. Herein, we describe an 80-year-old man with a history of nonmetastatic gastric cancer who presented with postrenal azotemia due to the coincidence of right distal ureteral metastasis and left distal ureteral stone.

A Rare Case of Metastasis of Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma to the Thyroid Gland, Presenting as a Goiter Nodule, Three Years After Nephrectomy.

Thyroid gland metastatic tumors are rare in clinical practice. Clear cell RCC is one of common metastatic tumors to thyroid. We here reported a case of incidentally found clear cell renal carcinoma metastasis to the thyroid gland 3 years after nephrectomy, in the thyroidectomy procedure performed for the patient due to the thyroid enlargement caused by multinodular goiter. A 65-year-old Iranian man with a history of multinodular goiter referred to our surgery clinic for thyroidectomy because of compressive effects on the trachea. Patient had a history of nephrectomy due to clear cell RCC 3 years ago. After thyroidectomy, gross and histological examination of thyroid revealed clear cell renal carcinoma metastasis to the thyroid gland in the setting of a multinodular goiter. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry staining. Patients with multinodular goiter are more prone to present with metastasis to thyroid gland if they have a history of malignancy, especially renal cell carcinoma.

Comparison of Patient-collected and Lab Technician-collected Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal Swabs for Detection of COVID-19 by RT-PCR.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: A simple approach to prevent close contact in healthcare settings during the COVID-19 outbreak is to train patients to collect their own nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs and deliver them to medical laboratories to have them processed. The aim of our study was to compare lab technician- with patient- collected oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal samples for detection of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) using rapid real-time polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). METHODS: Fifty adult patients with flu-like symptoms and radiologic findings compatible with atypical pneumonia who were admitted to the infectious diseases ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran, with a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 from February 28 to April 27 of 2020 were randomly selected and entered in our study. Two sets of naso- and oropharyngeal swabs were collected, one set by a lab technician and the other by the patients, and the COVID-19 rRT-PCR test was performed. RESULTS: Of 50 selected cases, in seven patients all collected naso- and oropharyngeal swabs tested positive, and in 22 patients all samples tested negative for COVID-19 in rRT-PCR. Discrepancies between rRT-PCR results of lab technician- and patient-collected swabs were observed in 12 nasopharyngeal and 13 oropharyngeal specimens. Positive lab technician-collected and negative patient-collected samples were observed in 10 and 5 nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens, respectively. Negative lab technician-collected and positive patient-collected samples were observed in two and seven nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens, respectively. The overall percentage of agreement among both nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs taken by a lab technician and patients was 76% with a kappa value of 0.49 (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, lab technician-collected naso- and oropharyngeal swabs cannot be replaced by patient-collected ones with regard to COVID-19 rRT-PCR.

Adult cerebellopontine angle ependymoma presenting as an isolated cisternal mass: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Ependymomas represent approximately 2%-8% of all primary intracranial brain tumors. The occurrence of extra-axial posterior fossa ependymomas in adults is rare. CASE AND OUTCOMES: We report a case of extra-axial cerebellopontine (CP) angle ependymoma in an adult patient, managed through gross total resection (GTR) and adjuvant radiotherapy. At her one-year postoperative visit, the patient remained clinically stable without any symptoms or focal neurological deficit and a follow up MRI showed no evidence of tumor recurrence. DISCUSSION: Only six cases of adult cerebellopontine angle ependymomas have been reported in the English literature, with the left side affected more commonly. Including this case, the mean age of the reported cases of adult extra-axial CP angle ependymoma is 44.14 years (range 22-66 years). Men accounted for five out of seven cases (71.4%). Maximal surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment in extra-axial CP angle ependymomas. Among seven reported cases, five received GTR and two had subtotal resection (STR). Patients were followed an average of 13.6 months (range 2-30 months) and only two patients with STR died during the follow-up period (6 weeks and 2 months after surgery). Six of the seven reported cases (including this one) received adjuvant radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Although rare, extra-axial CP angle ependymomas should be considered as a differential diagnosis to other lesions of the CPA. Radical resection, whenever possible, is usually associated with a good outcome. Adjuvant radiotherapy remains an optional treatment with an unknown impact on overall and progression-free survival.

Multiple High Grade Rhabdoid Papillary Meningiomas Mimicking Choroid Plexus Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Rhabdoid papillary meningioma is an uncommon aggressive variant of meningioma which has the potential to metastasize and spread throughout the brain and even out of the cranium. Herein, we present recurrence of the brain tumor in a 26-year-old woman. The patient had history of the surgery for two lesions in the right temporal lobe and the left cerebellopontine angle. Imaging showed three lesions in the right temporal lobe, the right occipital horn wall, and the left cerebellopontine angle. These radiologic findings were mostly suggestive of atypical meningioma. In the surgical view, the mass was solid-cystic reddish Cauliflower-shaped in the right temporal lobe attaching to the temporal horn. The microscopic examination showed a cellular neoplasm with the sheet-like and papillary growth pattern. Individual cells had vesicular nuclei some with prominent nucleoli and eosinophilic cytoplasm. The areas of the tumor cells showed round eccentric nuclei and prominent nucleoli with eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemistry studies showed diffuse positivity of tumor cells with Vimentin, EMA, and S100. The overall clinical, radiological and histopathological examinations were compatible with high grade rhabdoid-papillary meningiomas. In the present case study, we discuss imaging and histomorphological features of this rare entity of meningiomas.

Serum protein electrophoresis pattern in patients living with HIV: frequency of possible abnormalities in Iranian patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This prospective case-control study was conducted to evaluate abnormal serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) patterns in patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its relation with disease severity markers and anti-retroviral treatment status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven HIV-positive patients and 24 healthy individuals were evaluated in the course of this study. The healthy HIV-negative individuals were selected as control group. Pregnant women, patients with malignancies, children, hepatitis B- and/or C-positive patients, those with a history of an autoimmune disease, or previous corticosteroid administration were excluded. SPEP-which detects serum levels of albumin, total protein, gammaglobulin-, CD4+ T-cell counts, viral load, and antiretroviral treatment status were assessed. Data were analyzed by SPSS™ software. RESULTS: Twelve patients (32 percent) demonstrated polyclonal gammopathy on SPEP, while only 1 (4 percent) healthy individual had the same pattern (P-value = 0.007). No statistically significant connection between SPEP patterns and antiretroviral treatment status was observed (P-value > 0.05). Interestingly no statistically significant relationship between CD4+ T-cell counts and polyclonal gammopathy was discerned. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups with regards to serum albumin and total protein levels. The serum albumin to total protein percentage, serum gamma globulin to total protein percentage, and serum albumin to globulin ratio was compared between the groups and a statistically significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: Polyclonal gammopathy on SPEP is common among HIV-infected patients. Moreover, the SPEP patterns cannot be used as an indication of a patient's negative or positive response to treatment.

A Rare Case of Serous Papillary Ovarian Epithelial Type Carcinoma in Testis: A Rare Testicular Neoplasm.

Ovarian epithelial type carcinomas of testis are an extremely rare group of tumors, a few cases of which having been reported. We present the case of a 67-year-old man, presented with testicular mass and inflation, who underwent radical orchiectomy and pathological and immunohistochemical assessments revealed serous papillary carcinoma of ovarian epithelial type tumor of testis.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology versus Concurrent Core Needle Biopsy in Evaluation of Intrathoracic Lesions: a Retrospective Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology and core needle biopsy (CNB) are two commonly used approaches for the diagnosis of suspected neoplastic intrathoracic lesions. This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of FNA cytology and concurrent CNB in the evaluation of intrathoracic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied FNA cytology and concurrent CNB specimens of 127 patients retrospectively, using hematoxylin and eosin (H and E), immunohistochemistry, and, on certain occasions cytochemistry. Information regarding additional tissue tests was derived from the electronic archives of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine as well as patient records. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated for each test. RESULTS: Of 127 cases, 22 were inconclusive and excluded from the study. The remaining 105 were categorized into 73 (69.5%) malignant lesions and 32 (30.5%) benign lesions. FNA and CNB findings were in complete agreement in 63 cases (60%). The accuracy and confidence intervals (CIs) of FNA and CNB for malignant tumors were 86.3% (CI: 79.3-90.7) and 93.2% (CI: 87.3- 96.0 ) respectively. For epithelial malignant neoplasms, a definitive diagnosis was made in 44.8% of cases by FNA and 80.6% by CNB. The diagnostic accuracy of CNB for nonepithelial malignant neoplasms was 83.3% compared with 50% for FNA. Of the 32 benign cases, we made specific diagnoses in 16 with diagnostic accuracy of 81.3% and 6.3% for CNB and FNA, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that FNA is comparable to CNB in the diagnosis of malignant epithelial lesions whereas diagnostic accuracy of CNB for nonepithlial malignant neoplasms is superior to that for FNA. Further, for histological typing of tumors and examining tumor origin, immunohistochemical work up plays an important role.