Spindle cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: A diagnostic challenge - A rare case report with brief review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: Primary Spindle cell tumors of the thyroid are very rare and comprise a myriad of differential diagnoses ranging from reactive proliferations to neoplastic processes. Differentiation amongst these rare entities is of utmost importance as it defines the prognosis and also guides future therapy. CASE REPORT: Hereby, we present a rare case of spindle cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma in a sixty-four-year-old female which posed a diagnostic challenge on histology. Microscopy showed a well-circumscribed spindle cell lesion with areas of infiltration and entrapment of colloid-filled thyroid follicles. There were no characteristic features of papillary carcinoma. A panel of immunohistochemistry markers was advised which clinched the diagnosis as the spindle tumor cells were positive for thyroid papillary carcinoma markers. Although papillary carcinoma usually has an indolent course, however interestingly this patient presented with lymph node metastasis one month after surgery which cytologically showed features of malignant spindle cell neoplasm. CONCLUSION: Through this case report we wish to highlight the cytological, histopathological as well as immunohistochemical features of this rare variant of papillary carcinoma.

Borderline phyllodes tumor arising in ectopic breast tissue in the axilla: Report of a rare case with brief review of literature.

Development of a neoplasm in an ectopic breast is uncommon, while the development of phyllodes tumor in an ectopic breast in the axilla is even rarer. We report a rare case of a 51-year-old female who presented with a complain of swelling and pain in the right axilla with no associated complaints in other organs. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested a possibility of metastatic lymphadenopathy. Complete excision of the right axillary mass was performed and sent for histopathological examination which was examined thoroughly and sections were given. On microscopic examination, stromal proliferation in a leaf-like pattern with mild stromal atypia and focal permeation of borders were seen, and a diagnosis of Ectopic borderline phyllodes tumor in axilla was made, which is extremely rare and needs to be differentiated from its close differentials like fibroadenoma and periductal stromal sarcoma.

Spectrum of Inherited Bleeding Disorder with Special Reference to von Willebrand Disease in Eastern India.

Background The objective of this study is to study the prevalence, clinical spectrum, and hematological profile of inherited bleeding disorder with special reference to von Willebrand disease in eastern India. Materials and Methods This prospective study was done in a tertiary care center in the eastern part of India over 2 years. Detailed history and clinical findings were noted in a proforma. Laboratory analysis included prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, bleeding time, and fibrinogen assay along with tests related to specific factor assay. Results One hundred and five patients were diagnosed as suffering with the inherited bleeding disorder out of a total of 1,204 patients. The age of patients ranged from 13 days to 35 years. The most common presenting clinical feature was prolonged bleeding after cut (76.19%). Out of 105 patients, 97 patients (92.38%) had coagulation defect, 5 patients (4.76%) had von Willebrand disease (vWD), and 3 patients (2.85%) had platelet defect. Most common coagulation defect was hemophilia A (84 cases), followed by hemophilia B (8 cases). Other rare congenital factor deficiencies were seen in five cases (5.15%). Only platelet defect was Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT). The age of vWD patients ranged from 4.5 years to 24 years. Forty percent patients with vWD disease were type 1 followed by 40% of type 2N and 20% of type 3 vWD. Conclusion vWD was not so common in eastern India. vWD was present only in 4.76% cases in this study. The most common coagulation defect was hemophilia A (86.59%) in our study. GT was present in only 2.85% cases.

Anorectal malignant amelanotic melanoma: Report of a rare aggressive primary tumor.

Malignant melanoma of the anorectal region is a very rare aggressive malignant neoplasm and it constitutes 1% of all malignant lesions of this area. About 70% of these lesions are pigmented, whereas 30% are amelanotic. Demonstration of immune markers of melanoma by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is required for confirming the diagnosis of amelanotic malignant melanoma. Here, we report a case of anorectal malignant amelanotic melanoma in a 65-year-old male with no medical comorbidities, who presented with chief complaints of bleeding per rectum associated with prolapsing mass per rectum of 7 months duration. On external examination and proctoscopy, three prolapsed pedunculated fungating masses were seen externally protruding out of the rectum approximately 4 cm from the anal verge. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the whole abdomen and pelvis was suggestive of moderately enhancing lobulated anorectal mass with large polypoidal intraluminal component arising from anorectal walls and extension into mid-lower rectum with liver and locoregional lymph nodes metastasis. The patient was taken up for palliative local excision. Per-operatively, three large irregular highly vascular pedunculated rectal growth was seen. The growth was excised and sent for histopathological examination. Microscopic examination of mass show spindle-to-ovoid tumor cells with hyperchromatic central to eccentric nuclei arranged in intersecting fascicles with a focal alveolar pattern. The large number of atypical mitotic figures (40-50/10 High Power Field (HPF)) was seen along with areas of necrosis and the presence of few bizarre binucleated and multinucleated giant cells. A differential diagnosis of malignant amelanotic melanoma was given along with undifferentiated carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor , and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. On IHC, the tumor cells were reactive for HMB45, S-100, and SOX-10. Thus a diagnosis of malignant amelanotic melanoma was confirmed. The patient had symptomatic improvement.

Importance of eosinophilic structures and its correlation with acid fast bacilli in fine needle aspiration smears of tubercular lymphadenitis.

BACKGROUND: The hallmark of tuberculosis in cytological smears is the presence of epithelioid cell granulomas, necrosis and AFB. In cases, where AFB not detected, diagnosis of tuberculosis can be made by ancillary tests like PCR which requires infrastructure besides being expensive. In India, where majority of population is rural-based there is an imminent need of some morphological change in cytological smears which can point towards diagnosis of tuberculosis in absence of AFB. This study was done to assess the importance of eosinophilic structures (ES) and its correlation with presence of AFB. MATERIAL & METHODS: This was a retrospective study over a period of one year. Lymph node aspirates reported as granulomatous lymphadenitis, tubercular lesion or suppurative lesion were included. All smears for each case, stained with May Grunwald Giemsa (MGG), Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and ZN stain were retrieved and rescreened for the presence of eosinophilic structure, necrosis, granulomas and AFB. RESULTS: Our study included 256 cases. Most common age group was 21-30 years with female predominance. Cervical lymph nodes were most commonly involved. In relation to ES and AFB four cytological pictures were seen i.e ES + AFB+ (44.54%) ES + AFB- (5.46%) ES- AFB+ (14.45%) ES - AFB- (35.55%). Chi square test showed a high significant statistical association between ES and AFB(p = 0.00001). CONCLUSION: In developing countries with very high TB prevalence like India, where new diagnostic modalities are unaffordable by rural population, presence of ES should be included as a morphological parameter in routine cytology reporting of tubercular lesions.

Synchronous benign Brenner's tumor of ovary with leiomyoma and endometrial adenocarcinoma in a postmenopausal female.

Brenner tumors of ovary are usually an incidental finding. It is an uncommon tumor which is seen affecting women of fifth to sixth decade. It is classified under transitional cell tumors of ovary, which includes benign, borderline, and malignant Brenner tumors and transitional cell carcinoma. These tumors have been associated with synchronous and metachronous neoplasia, most commonly other ovarian epithelial tumors such as mucinous cystadenoma. Occasionally, these tumors may be associated with endometrial hyperplasia or carcinomas which are due to hormones elaborated by the stromal component of Brenner tumor. The hormone produced is estrogen and less commonly androgens, which alters the estrogen and progesterone levels, causing hyperstimulation of endometrium. We present a case of 50-year-old postmenopausal women who presented with coexisting incidental Brenner tumor with leiomyoma and Endometrial adenocarcinoma. Only few authors have reported similar tumor occurrence in the past.

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.

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.

Hepatic tuberculosis mimicking metastasis in a case of carcinoma sigmoid colon.

Tuberculosis (TB) presenting as isolated liver mass without clinical evidence of TB is difficult to diagnose preoperatively and is usually mimicked by primary or metastatic carcinoma of the liver. Hepatic TB associated with carcinoma colon is a rare association which has very rarely been reported in the literature. This case illustrates the diagnostic difficulties of hepatic TB and the need to consider it in the differential diagnosis of hepatic nodular lesions in carcinoma colon patients. Here, we report a case of 48-year-old female who presented in the casualty with features of acute intestinal obstruction. Preoperatively a mass was seen at the hepatic flexure along with three lesions in the liver presumed to be metastatic in origin. However, histopathology of the mass revealed adenocarcinoma colon and the liver lesion proved to be hepatic TB. We wish to highlight that on encountering a hepatic lesion in a carcinoma colon patient the possibility of hepatic TB should also be kept in mind apart from the obvious possibility of metastasis especially in an endemic country like India.

Atypical fibroxanthoma in a young female misdiagnosed clinically as a malignant melanoma--An unusual presentation.

Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is an uncommon spindle cell tumor with intermediate or borderline malignant potential. Clinically, it may be misdiagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or malignant melanoma. Solar irradiation has been implicated in its pathogenesis. The diagnosis of AFX rests on a combination of histopathological features and a negative immunohistochemical profile. AFX is a rare tumor usually found in sun exposed skin of head and neck region in elderly Caucasian men. Rarely, it has a second peak in young adults, where it is found in trunk and extremities. The present case is reported as AFX is quite unusual in a young female with a nodule in the leg which was clinically diagnosed as a malignant melanoma. Only a few cases of AFX have been reported in young women. This case highlights the fact that accurate diagnosis of atypical fibroxanthoma is very crucial so as to avoid overenthusiastic and overzealous treatment as required for a malignant tumor.

Coexistent axillary hydatid disease and tuberculosis: Case report of an extremely rare occurrence.

Tuberculous infection is highly prevalent in India, however, hydatid disease is relatively uncommon. Frequent sites of predilection of hydatid disease are the liver and lungs. Other unusual sites of infliction are the peritoneum, thyroid, breast, pancreas, and mediastinum. Hydatid disease in the axilla is quite uncommon. We hereby report a case of coexistent axillary hydatid disease with tuberculous lymphadenitis. To the best of our knowledge, even after extensive search of the literature we did not come across any such case. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a cost-effective procedure performed on an outpatient basis and helped clinch a prompt diagnosis, with minimum discomfort or complications. The role of FNAC in early diagnosis cannot be overemphasized.