Light chain multiple myeloma presenting with spinal plasmacytoma: Unusual radiological appearance mimicking giant cell tumor.

Plasmacytoma, an initial presentation of multiple myeloma, is extremely rare and an unusual cause of spinal cord compression in a young male. A 35-year-old man presented with complaints of progressive weakness and tingling of bilateral lower limbs, severe backache for 3 months, and bladder and bowel incontinence for 1 week duration. Imaging demonstrated lytic destruction of 10 th and 11 th dorsal vertebrae with large soft tissue component and compression of the spinal cord. Biopsy was performed under computed tomography guidance and the histopathology demonstrated presence of plasmacytoma. Serum electrophoresis and bone marrow examination confirmed the diagnosis of light chain multiple myeloma. Though the magnetic resonance imaging the appearance of spinal plasmacytoma is nonspecific, a minibrain appearance has been considered pathognomonic. This case is reported for the unusual radiological appearance of this entity mimicking giant cell tumor.

Aggressive angiomyxoma with perineal herniation.

Aggressive angiomyxoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor involving the pelvic-perineal region. It occurs during the third and fourth decade of life and is predominantly seen in females. It presents clinically as a soft tissue mass in variable locations such as vulva, perianal region, buttock, or pelvis. Assessment of extent of the tumor by radiological evaluation is crucial for surgical planning; however, biopsy is essential to establish diagnosis. We present the radiological and pathological features seen in a 43-year-old female diagnosed with abdominal angiomyxoma with an unusual extension to the perineum.

A prospective study of soft tissue tumors histocytopathology correlation.

Background. Soft tissue tumors are defined as nonepithelial extraskeletal tissue of the body exclusive of the reticuloendothelial system, glia, and supporting tissue of various parenchymal organs. The absence of recognizable tissue architectural patterns in cytological preparation makes diagnosis by FNAC more difficult. Aims. To assess the utility of FNAC in diagnosing soft tissue tumors and to determine their patterns compared with with the respective histopathology results. Materials and Methods. 150 cases of soft tissue tumors were included in this study for cytologic and histologic correlation. FNAC air dried smears were stained with Giemsa stain and 95% ethanol fixed smears were stained with Papanicolaou stain. The smears were studied for cytological diagnosis and were categorized as benign, suspicious of malignancy, and malignant along with specific subtyping of the lesion. All diagnostic FNAC results were compared for diagnostic concordance using histology results as the "gold standard." Results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and efficiency were 70%, 100%, 97.90%, 100%, and 98%, respectively. P value was <0.0001 which shows statistically extreme significant correlation. Conclusion. FNAC is a very important preliminary diagnostic tool in palpable soft tissue lumps with high degree of correlation with the final histopathology report.

Malignant melanoma of the rectum.

Malignant melanoma of the rectum is an extremely rare disease. It typically presents in the fifth or sixth decade of life with nonspecific complaints such as rectal bleeding or anal pain. A timely diagnosis of anal melanoma is made even more difficult by the fact that most of the lesions lack obvious pigmentation and are even histologically amelanotic. Prognosis is very poor. Anorectal malignant melanomas spread along submucosal planes and are often beyond complete resection at the time of diagnosis. We present the radiological and pathological features seen in a 43-year-old woman diagnosed with melanoma of the rectum.

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis mimicking leprosy relapse: a diagnostic dilemma.

OBJECTIVES: Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is well recognized in the Indian subcontinent and is not infrequently confused with leprosy. The present report describes findings in an unusual case of PKDL. METHODS: We report an adult male who presented with firm nodules on the face and extremities, along with hypopigmented macules on the neck with deformity and hypoesthesia over the right upper extremity. The patient had experienced similar lesions seven years previously and had used multibacillary multi-drug therapy for leprosy with complete resolution of the nodules. RESULTS: At the current presentation, skin smears from ear lobes and nodules were negative on Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Histopathological examination revealed a dermal lymphohistiocytic infiltrate with plasma cells. Giemsa staining of a tissue smear revealed Leishmania donovani bodies, and an rK39 antigen test was positive. The patient responded well to oral miltefosine. CONCLUSIONS: This case is noteworthy because the patient exhibited an unusual combination of healed leprosy sequelae and active PKDL lesions, which caused a diagnostic dilemma.