Establishing a clinic-based pancreatic cancer and periampullary tumour research registry in Quebec.

BACKGROUND: Enrolling patients in studies of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (pdac) is challenging because of the high fatality of the disease. We hypothesized that a prospective clinic-based study with rapid ascertainment would result in high participation rates. Using that strategy, we established the Quebec Pancreas Cancer Study (qpcs) to investigate the genetics and causes of pdac and other periampullary tumours (pats) that are also rare and underrepresented in research studies. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with pdac or pat were introduced to the study at their initial clinical encounter, with a strategy to enrol participants within 2 weeks of diagnosis. Patient self-referrals and referrals of unaffected individuals with an increased risk of pdac were also accepted. Family histories, epidemiologic and clinical data, and biospecimens were collected. Additional relatives were enrolled in families at increased genetic risk. RESULTS: The first 346 completed referrals led to 306 probands being enrolled, including 190 probands affected with pdac, who represent the population focus of the qpcs. Participation rates were 88.4% for all referrals and 89.2% for pdac referrals. Family history, epidemiologic and clinical data, and biospecimens were ascertained from 91.9%, 54.6%, and 97.5% respectively of patients with pdac. Although demographics and trends in risk factors in our patients were consistent with published statistics for patients with pdac, the qpcs is enriched for families with French-Canadian ancestry (37.4%), a population with recurrent germ-line mutations in hereditary diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Using rapid ascertainment, a pdac and pat research registry with high participation rates can be established. The qpcs is a valuable research resource and its enrichment with patients of French-Canadian ancestry provides a unique opportunity for studies of heredity in these diseases.

Angiomyolipoma of kidney: a case report.

Renal angiomyolipomas are relatively uncommon renal tumors which grossly resemble renal cell carcinoma. In view of the paucity of renal angiomyolipoma in the Indian literature, we are reporting one case in a 28 year old female without tuberous sclerosis.

Granular cell tumor: a clinicopathological study.

Granular cell tumor is a relatively uncommon tumor of doubtful histogenesis. Nineteen cases of granular cell tumor reported in the department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, were analysed. Majority of tumors were seen in third to fifth decade mainly in females. The occurrence in rarer sites like caecum, of which only two cases have been so far reported tempted us to publish this study.

Chorioangioma of placenta: report of 3 cases.

Chorioangiomas are commonest benign tumors of placenta, but those measuring more than 5 cms are rare. We present three cases of large chorioangiomas. Of the three, two cases were associated with hydramnios and premature labour.