Clinical findings and kidney morphology in chronic kidney disease of unknown cause in India.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease of unknown cause (CKDu) is an emerging health problem in India and other countries worldwide. However, clinical descriptions, including kidney pathology, are scarce. METHODS: This is a descriptive case series of patients with CKDu from an endemic region in India, with a focus on clinical and biochemical characteristics, kidney biopsy findings, and environmental exposure. Patients with suspected CKDu, aged 20-65, and eGFR 30-80 mL/min/1.73 m2 from rural areas with endemic prevalence of CKDu were included. The exclusion criteria were diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension, proteinuria >1 g/24 h, or other known kidney diseases. The participants underwent kidney biopsies, and blood and urine samples were collected. RESULTS: Fourteen participants (3 females, 11 males) with a mean eGFR of 53 (range 29-78) mL/min/1.73 m2 were included. Kidney biopsies showed a combination of chronic tubulointerstitial damage, glomerulosclerosis, and glomerular hypertrophy, with varying degrees of interstitial inflammation. Eight participants had polyuria (diuresis ≥ 3 L/day). The urinary sediments were bland, with no haematuria. Serum potassium and sodium levels were, in most cases, normal but within the lower reference interval. CONCLUSION: The kidney morphology and clinical characteristics in patients with CKDu in India were similar to those described for CKDu in Central America and Sri Lanka.

Primary tonsillar tuberculosis.

Upper aerodigestive tract involvement with tuberculosis is relatively rare and may be seen in up to 2% of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Isolated tonsil involvement with tuberculosis is not commonly seen in clinical practice. We report a case of a 22-year-old postpartum mother who presented with odynophagia, fever, loss of weight and submandibular swelling of 3 months' duration. Clinical examination revealed a submandibular node, and oropharyngeal examination revealed necrotic slough overlying an enlarged left tonsil. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the node and histopathological examination of the left tonsillectomy specimen revealed necrotising epithelioid cell granulomas, and stain for acid-fast bacilli was positive in the latter. She was diagnosed with tonsillar tuberculosis and was started on antituberculous treatment following which she improved clinically. This case serves to demonstrate an uncommon presentation of primary tuberculosis and reminds us to consider tuberculosis also as a microbiological aetiology for tonsillitis.

Sclerosing Pneumocytoma of the Lung: A Case Report.

Pulmonary Sclerosing Pneumocytoma (PSP) is a rare tumour of the lung and is always benign. Diagnosis is made incidentally following chest X-ray or chest CT scan performed for other clinical conditions. We report a case of PSP in a seven-year-old girl who got admitted for evaluation of an anterior mediastinal mass. Clinically, thought of teratoma or other germ cell tumour the mass was excised and sent for histopathological examination. Grossly, we received a pneumonectomy specimen measuring 13x11x8 cm with a nodular firm grey white lesion in the medial aspect of lower and middle lobe measuring 7.5x5.5x5 cm. Macroscopically, pleura was involved and adherent to the lung. Microscopy showed, an ill-defined lesion in the lung with extensive fibrosis and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. The lesion was composed of round to oval cells with ill defined cell border, moderate eosinophilic cytoplasm and bland nuclei. A panel of Immunohistochemical (IHC) markers was performed and the lesional cells were positive for Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA) and Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 (TTF-1). The prognosis after surgical resection is good and the patient is doing well.

Quality Measures in Pre-Analytical Phase of Tissue Processing: Understanding Its Value in Histopathology.

INTRODUCTION: Quality monitoring in histopathology unit is categorized into three phases, pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical, to cover various steps in the entire test cycle. Review of literature on quality evaluation studies pertaining to histopathology revealed that earlier reports were mainly focused on analytical aspects with limited studies on assessment of pre-analytical phase. Pre-analytical phase encompasses several processing steps and handling of specimen/sample by multiple individuals, thus allowing enough scope for errors. Due to its critical nature and limited studies in the past to assess quality in pre-analytical phase, it deserves more attention. AIM: This study was undertaken to analyse and assess the quality parameters in pre-analytical phase in a histopathology laboratory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study done on pre-analytical parameters in histopathology laboratory of a tertiary care centre on 18,626 tissue specimens received in 34 months. Registers and records were checked for efficiency and errors for pre-analytical quality variables: specimen identification, specimen in appropriate fixatives, lost specimens, daily internal quality control performance on staining, performance in inter-laboratory quality assessment program {External quality assurance program (EQAS)} and evaluation of internal non-conformities (NC) for other errors. RESULTS: The study revealed incorrect specimen labelling in 0.04%, 0.01% and 0.01% in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. About 0.04%, 0.07% and 0.18% specimens were not sent in fixatives in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. There was no incidence of specimen lost. A total of 113 non-conformities were identified out of which 92.9% belonged to the pre-analytical phase. The predominant NC (any deviation from normal standard which may generate an error and result in compromising with quality standards) identified was wrong labelling of slides. Performance in EQAS for pre-analytical phase was satisfactory in 6 of 9 cycles. CONCLUSION: A low incidence of errors in pre-analytical phase implies that a satisfactory level of quality standards was being practiced with still scope for improvement.

Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma in a Horse Shoe Kidney Masquerading as Giant Hydronephrosis - A Case Report: Diagnostic Challenges, Lessons Learnt and Review of Literature.

Primary epithelial tumour of the renal pelvis is a rare entity. So far, very few cases are reported in literature. Of these, mucin secreting adenocarcinomas are distinctly rare. However, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, that too arising in a horse shoe kidney is extremely rare to be reported. Mucinous cystadenomas and carcinomas arising from the renal pelvis are regarded to be secondary to a metaplastic change in the urothelium. Here, we present a case of a 51-year-old male, who complained of abdominal pain, palpable abdominal mass, haematuria along with passage of mucoid material in the urine, with a very poorly functioning kidney. A pre-operative diagnosis of horse shoe kidney with pelvi ureteric junction obstruction and a poorly functioning kidney was made. Intraoperative findings and frozen section biopsy were suggestive of mucin secreting cystic mass and a right heminephrectomy was done. The final histopathology was suggestive of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis of the right moiety. This case is presented for its rarity, diagnostic challenges faced and the lessons learnt, stressing on the need for having a high index of clinical suspicion in making such diagnosis.

Double Pathology: Malignant Epithelial Ovarian Tumor and Germ Cell Tumor (Choriocarcinoma), a Rare Coexistence.

Surface epithelial stromal tumors account for approximately 60% of all ovarian tumors and approximately 90% of all ovarian malignancies. Sex cord stromal tumors account for 7% of all malignant ovarian tumors. Germ cell tumors make up only 3-7% of malignant ovarian tumors. A combination of serous carcinoma of the ovary and choriocarcinoma is rare. Until today such combination has been documented only in six cases in the English literature. Here, we describe a case of ovarian serous carcinoma, where histopathology revealed a combination of serous carcinoma with adjacent choriocarcinoma component in the extraovarian peritoneal deposits. A 64-year-old post-menopausal female was diagnosed to have stage IV ovarian cancer. She received six cycles chemotherapy. Subsequently she underwent optimal cytoreductive surgery. Microscopically, monomorphic histology (serous carcinoma) was noted in both the ovaries and dimorphic histologies (serous carcinoma and choriocarcinoma) in the sigmoid mesocolon nodule, omentum and left subdiaphragmatic nodules. Metronomic chemotherapy continued and patient is on regular follow-up for the past 1 year with stable disease. Recognition of choriocarcinomatous components in ovarian carcinomas is important because of its association with aggressive behavior. In spite of the aggressive histology, the patient is surviving for the past 1 year. Different chemotherapeutic regimens have been used in cases of mixed choriocarcinoma and carcinoma, but established chemotherapeutic regimens have not been described. Chemotherapeutic regimens that target both components have been advocated and used. The absence of choriocarcinoma in ovarian primary and its presence in the extraovarian peritoneal deposits have not been described in the English literature so far. This case is being presented for its rarity.

Duodenal lymphangitis carcinomatosa: A rare case.

Duodenal lymphangitis carcinomatosa has been sporadically described, and little attention has been paid so far. To our knowledge, no data on radiological findings for this rare entity has been published. We report a case of duodenal lymphangitis carcinomatosa secondary to gallbladder mass in a 44-year-old Indian man to focus on the radiological diagnosis, which was further confirmed by endoscopic-guided biopsy and immunohistochemical analysis.

Decubital ischemic fasciitis presenting in an unusual location.

Decubital ischemic fasciitis, also called atypical decubital fibroplasia, is a distinctive fibroplasia occurring in nonambulatory older patients who are confined to bed or wheelchair-bound. These lesions are seen in the subcutaneous plane at pressure points or bony prominences. We present a case of ischemic fasciitis in a 68-year-old male patient who presented with a hard swelling in the middle third of the posterolateral aspect of the right leg, which is an unusual site for ischemic fasciitis.