Simple and rapid flow cytometry assay for the detection of malignant epithelial cells in body fluids.

INTRODUCTION: Morphology is routinely used for detecting malignant cells in body fluids, but it has limitations. Recently, flow cytometry (FCM) is used as an effective tool for studying non-haematological malignancies. The main objective of this study is to standardize a simple and rapid FCM test for the detection of malignant epithelial cells in body fluids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Body fluids that had been processed for cytology/cytology and FCM were enrolled in this prospective study. We developed a fluorescent-labelled, monoclonal antibody panel composed of cell surface markers for this FCM assay. We compared the results of cytology/cell block and FCM. RESULTS: A total of 121 fluid samples were studied. Comparing the diagnostic performance of cytology/cell block and FCM, 52 (43%) cases were positive and 60 (49.5%) cases were negative for carcinoma cells by both techniques. Nine cases showed discordant results between the two techniques. Six cases were cytology+ but FCM- and three cases were FCM+ cytology-. Clustered Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM)-positive events with high scatter properties were definitive for positive diagnosis by FCM. We studied PD-L1 expression in 13 cases by FCM. Six cases were reported as false negative by this FCM assay due to hypocellularity and lack of EpCAM expression in malignant cells. CONCLUSIONS: This FCM assay is simple, easier and cost-effective yielding sensitive results with no inter-observer variability. FCM would become a valuable tool to complement routine diagnostic cytology and reduces misdiagnosis.

Role of high acquisition flow cytometry in the detection of marrow involvement in patients with extramedullary B cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma: a comparison with marrow aspirate cytology, trephine biopsy, and PET.

Detection of marrow infiltration is crucial in extramedullary B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). We studied the efficiency of high acquisition flow cytometry (FCM) in detecting marrow involvement in B-NHL patients and compared its performance with marrow aspiration (BMA) cytology, marrow biopsy (BMB), and positron emission tomography (PET). No case with marrow infiltration was found to be BMB positive and FCM negative. BMA cytology showed poor sensitivity and specificity. Only 50% of FCM positive cases showed evidence of marrow involvement by PET. Neither the nature of lymphoma nor the burden of the marrow disease showed a correlation with PET positivity. Four cases that were positive only by PET had findings in areas other than the iliac region. We found more cogent and convincing results with high event acquisition in FCM. This study shows that a combination of PET and FCM with high event acquisition is the best way for assessing marrow involvement in B-NHL cases.

Cystic trophoblastic tumor - The effect of chemotherapy in metastatic testicular germ cell tumor to retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

Cystic trophoblastic tumor is an uncommon lesion which is occasionally seen after chemotherapy in metastatic retroperitoneal lymph nodes in patients with testicular germ cell tumor. The tumor cell clusters show cystic change lined by single to multiple layers of cells with abundant dense eosinophilic vacuolated cytoplasm, large pleomorphic vesicular nuclei with smudged chromatin, and prominent nucleoli. It is important to identify this lesion as its prognosis is similar to a teratoma and does not require any additional chemotherapy.

Well-differentiated liposarcoma of the breast arising in a background of malignant phyllodes tumor in a pregnant woman: A rare case report and review of literature.

Pure mesenchymal sarcomas and phyllodes tumor with sarcomatous differentiation of the breast are rare tumors. Primary breast sarcomas are a heterogenous group of neoplasms which include malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, angiosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and liposarcoma. Sarcomatous differentiation in phyllodes tumor is seen in the form of angiosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and liposarcoma. Here, we report a case of a 28-year-old pregnant woman with a breast lump during her second trimester which drastically increased in size in the postpartum period. Wide local excision revealed a malignant phyllodes tumor with liposarcomatous differentiation. Later, the patient underwent completion mastectomy which showed residual tumor.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma of tongue: Report of a rare case and review of literature.

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the oral region are rare, accounting for 3-5% of all malignant lesions. Of these, peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are extremely rare with only a few cases reported in literature. We describe a case of 50-year-old female who presented with an indurated lesion on the tongue. PTCL was diagnosed after immunohistochemical and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement analysis. Although PTCL of oral cavity is extremely rare, the possibility should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of T-lymphoid proliferations affecting this area.

Primary mature cystic teratoma with carcinoid mimicking an adrenal tumor: Report of a rare association and review of literature.

Teratomas are neoplasms comprising of tissues derived from more than one germ layer. Most common sites are gonads, sacrococcygeal, mediastinal, retroperitoneal, and pineal region. Here, we report a case of 2 -year-old previously healthy female toddlerwho presented with fever and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen revealed a right suprarenal nonenhancing cystic mass. Focal calcification was seen in the inferomedial aspect of the cyst. Complete surgical resection of the right adrenal gland was done. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was free of recurrence at 8 months follow-up. Primary retroperitoneal teratomas of the adrenal gland are very uncommon (4% of all primary teratomas) and can mimic a primary adrenal tumor, hence should be included in the differential diagnosis of adrenal masses.

Assessment of expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and p53 in meningiomas.

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas represent about 30% of primary adult central nervous system tumors. Though slow growing, they recur, causing significant morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the following study is to grade meningiomas according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 criteria and to correlate the grade with degree of expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and p53. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Meningiomas diagnosed in the year 2010 in the Department of Pathology of our institute, were included in the study. Clinical and radiological findings were noted from medical records. The histopathology slides were reviewed and the tumors were graded according to WHO 2007 criteria. Tissue microarrays (TMA) were prepared and immunohistochemical analysis with epithelial membrane antigen, Vimentin, Ki67, EGFR and p53 was performed on the TMA slides. RESULTS: A total of 79 meningiomas diagnosed during the study period included 30 male and 49 female patients with an age range of 10-75 years. There was a female preponderance with M:F ratio of 1:1.63. EGFR was found to be higher in grade I (82.93%) compared with grade II (35.71%) and grade III tumors (20%) with an overall positivity of 60.81%. Mean p53 indices were higher in grade III (50%) compared with grade II (39.29%) and grade I tumors (38.46%) with an overall positivity of 39.44%. Ki67 labeling index (LI) was significantly high in grade III (16.4%) compared with grade II (6.46%) and grade I tumors (3.13%). CONCLUSION: EGFR expression and Ki67 LI correlated with grade of meningioma P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001 respectively which were statistically significant whereas p53 expression did not correlate (P - 0.90).

Isolated malakoplakia of inguinal lymph node: a rare case report.

Malakoplakia is rare chronic inflammatory disorder which commonly affects urinary tract. Though it has been reported in several sites outside the urinary tract, isolated lympnode involvement is extremely uncommon. Herein we present a case of 20 year old male with right inguinal lymphnodal mass. Histological findings including special stains and immunohistochemistry findings were characteristic of malakoplakia. This case is being presented to create awareness for inclusion of this entity in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy.