Critical Analysis of Laboratory Requisition Forms Received in a Cytopathology Laboratory of a Tertiary Care Centre: An Audit and Review of Literature.

Background: A laboratory requisition form (LRF) is the main communication link between the laboratories and the clinicians. In a cytopathology laboratory, incomplete forms with inadequate information significantly impact the quality of the results and waste precious time of the lab. Aims: The aim of this study was to audit the LRFs for adequacy of demographic and clinical data and to analyze the reasons for the same. Settings and Design: A retrospective study was conducted in the cytopathology laboratory of a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: All the original LRFs received for Pap smears and FNACs of 1-month duration were retrieved. The forms were scrutinized for the presence of specific parameters which were classified as patient information, clinician information and clinical information. In addition to the completeness of the form, clarity of the data was also noted. Statistical Analysis: The data were entered on excel worksheets and percentage of Pap smear and FNAC forms lacking information of various parameters was calculated. Results: A total of 431 LRFs were received in the month of January 2020. These included 274 Pap smear LRFs and 157 FNAC LRFs. Patient information was mentioned in predominantly all the forms, however, clinician and clinical information, which is indispensible for reporting, was missing in a significant proportion of the Pap smear and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) forms. Conclusions: Receiving inadequately filled LRFs has been an age-old problem in all medical laboratories. Audit of inadequacy of LRFs helped in assessing the prevailing practices in the hospital and gave an insight into the quality of information available to the cytologists for reporting. Many clinicians withhold information out of ignorance about its importance or due to lack of time to fill up the details on the LRF. Also, filling out a LRF is a task usually delegated to the junior doctor in the OPD and the significance of filling the LRF correctly and comprehensively is often not emphasized upon adequately by the senior clinicians. This audit helped us taking preventive action by giving feedback to the clinicians and emphasizing to them the importance of clinical data on the LRF and in improvising the LRF using a more objective and user-friendly format.

Analysis of the Coagulation Profile in Children with HIV Infection-Effect of Disease and Anti Retroviral Therapy.

The pathogenesis of hypercoagulability in HIV infection is multifactorial and usually more than one factor is responsible for a thromboembolic episode. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy on various coagulation parameters in paediatric patients. Forty two newly diagnosed paediatric patients with HIV infection who were enrolled at the Anti-Retro viral Therapy (ART) centre of Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital were included in the study. The patients were grouped into 4 clinical stages according to the WHO clinical staging of HIV disease. Coagulation tests [PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, D-Dimer and coagulation inhibitors i.e. Protein C (PC), Protein S (PS) and antithrombin III (AT III), Lupus anticoagulant (LA) and Anti phospholipid antibody (APLA)] were performed in all the patients at the time of diagnosis and repeated after 6 months. All the patients were started on antiretroviral therapy within 2 months of their diagnosis. At the time of diagnosis, prolonged PT and aPTT were observed in 30.9% and 23% of the cases respectively. Hyperfibinogenemia was seen in 11.9% of patients. D-Dimer was raised in 83.3% of patients. PS, PC & AT activities were reduced in 90.4%, 42.8% & 11.9% of cases respectively. A reduction in the PC and AT activity was seen from clinical stage 1 to 4, but the change was not statistically significant. On follow up after 6 months, a statistically significant reduction in the level of fibrinogen and D-Dimer was seen. Even though there was improvement in the activity of all the coagulation inhibitor after 6 months, statistically significant improvement was seen only for PS. The current study shows that HIV produces a hypercoagulable state in children. Raised d-dimer level and deficiency of natural anticoagulants contribute to the thrombophilic state.

Assessment of rhesus and kell blood group antigens, phenotypes, and their allelic frequencies in North Indian blood donors.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of rhesus (Rh) and Kell antigens in a population vary with race, ethnicity, and geographical location. With advances in immunohematology, non-D antigens, and their corresponding antibodies are increasingly being found to be culprits for alloimmunization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Assessment of the phenotype of Rh and Kell blood group antigen in the healthy donor population from North India was done, and estimation of the frequencies of these alleles in our population was performed. RESULTS: The most common antigen in the North Indian donor population was "e" (95.6%) followed by "C" (89.6%), "c" (57.7%), and "E" (17.29%) in that order. The most prevalent phenotype in the Indian population was found to be "CDe" followed by "CcDe" and "CcDEe." "K" antigen was found to be positive in 1.81% of the population. DISCUSSION: Knowledge of the Rh antigen profiles in a given population can be very helpful in formulating transfusion guidelines specific to a particular population with an aim to minimize the cost and maximize the benefits. With this aim in mind and considering the problems encountered in developing countries like ours, we conducted Rh and Kell antigen profiling of donors. Comparative analysis with other population studies and implications for transfusion protocols is evaluated. CONCLUSION: Assessment of Rhesus antigen profile of a particular population is useful to develop cost effective ways of providing maximum benefits of blood transfusion with least resources.

Critical evaluation of donor direct antiglobulin test positivity: Implications in cross-matching and lessons learnt.

Direct Antiglobulin Test is a method of demonstrating the presence of antibody/ complement bound to red cell membrane by using AHG to form a visible agglutination reaction. DAT positivity is seen in immune mediated haemolytic anaemias, however rarely non immune mediate haemolytic anaemias also show DAT positivity. DAT positivity predictive of 83% of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and 1.4% cases without haemolytic anaemia. Screening of blood donors for DAT is usually not recommended traditionally by any guidelines. However DAT positivity is reported in 0.008% of donors. On extensive search of literature we could find only very few studies on DAT positivity in donors. We report two cases of DAT positive donors with no clinical or laboratory evidence of hemolysis.

Gamna-Gandy bodies in a solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas.

Gamna gandy bodies are sclerosiderotic granules composed of various amounts of calcium and hemosiderin in hyalinised fibrous tissue. We report a case of an 18 year old girl with solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas in which numerous gamna gandy bodies were present. The pathogenesis of such a finding is unclear. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Gamna Gandy bodies occurring in a solid pesudopapillary tumor of the pancreas.

Masson's Tumor Masquerading as a Papillary Adenocarcinoma on Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology: A Case Report.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia, previously known as Masson's tumor, is a relatively uncommon reactive endothelial proliferation that occurs most commonly in the vessels of the head, neck, and extremities. We report a case of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia in the neck in a 40-year-old female that was misdiagnosed as papillary adenocarcinoma on fine needle aspiration. The cytologic picture of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia is diverse, making a pinpoint diagnosis of this entity difficult on fine needle aspiration.

Congenital Presentation of a Solitary Superficial Angiomyxoma in the Parotid Region Masquerading as Parotid Tumor.

Superficial angiomyxoma is a rare cutaneous and benign lesion. We present a case of congenital presentation of a superficial angiomyxoma in the parotid region in a 9-year- old female that was misdiagnosed as a parotid tumor. Appropriate diagnosis is important since such lesions have a good prognosis and rarely affect deeper structures. Possibility of superficial angiomyxoma should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of lesions of the parotid region.

Coagulation profile during induction chemotherapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

CONTEXT: Thromboembolism in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is most commonly reported after the initiation of antileukemic therapy, indicating a possible interaction of disease and therapy. AIMS: To study the effect of induction chemotherapy on coagulation parameters in pediatric ALL patients. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Thirty-seven newly diagnosed patients of ALL up to 18 years of age were evaluated along with 30 age- and sex-matched controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: At the time of diagnosis (day 0), various coagulation parameters were tested. These were sequentially analyzed on day 14 (after the completion of L-asparaginase doses) and on day 28 of therapy (after the completion of induction). Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen, protein C (PC) activity, and protein S (PS) activity were done by a clot-based method. Antithrombin (AT) assay was performed by chromogenic method. D-dimer (D-DI), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) levels were assayed by ELISA method. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17.0. RESULTS: No major change in PT and APTT was observed during chemotherapy; however, fibrinogen levels declined significantly (P = 0.04), following L-asparaginase treatment. D-DI levels were significantly raised at diagnosis (P < 0.001) and throughout induction therapy (P < 0.001). PC, PS, and AT were reduced in the initial part of induction, followed by a rise in the second half of therapy, reaching their respective baseline levels (P < 0.05). The tPA levels were significantly reduced in the patients at diagnosis and throughout therapy (P < 0.001). PAI-1 levels were comparable to controls at presentation and showed a rising trend during therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that both the malignant process and the drugs used in combined chemotherapy cause thrombin activation, decrease in natural inhibitors, and hypofibrinolysis, resulting in hypercoagulability. Thus, ALL per se is a hypercoagulable state and the prothrombotic condition at the time of diagnosis gets enhanced during induction chemotherapy.

Coagulation Profile at Diagnosis in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the coagulation parameters at the time of diagnosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. METHODS: A total of 65 newly diagnosed ALL patients upto 18 y of age along with 30 age and sex matched controls were included in the study. Coagulation tests including Prothrombin Time (PT), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), Fibrinogen (FBG) assay, D-dimer (D-DI) assay, Coagulation inhibitor levels and tests for fibrinolysis were performed. RESULTS: At baseline, APTT of the patients was significantly prolonged (p 0.033), but PT and fibrinogen were comparable in the two groups. Protein C (PC) and Protein S (PS) were both significantly reduced in the cases, while antithrombin was comparable to control values (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 & p = 0.828 respectively). Tissue plasminogen activator levels (tPA) were significantly lower in the cases (p < 0.001) but Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) values were comparable. D-DI levels were significantly high (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The onset of leukemia is associated with hemostatic derangement favouring hypercoagulability. The coagulopathy is due to thrombin activation (as evidenced by raised d-dimer). The decreased fibrinolysis (due to reduced tPA and raised PAI-1) and low levels of PC and PS contribute to the hypercoagulable state at the time of diagnosis.

Carcinoma in ectopic breast: a cytological diagnosis.

Ectopic breast carcinoma in the axillary region is rare with an incidence ranging from 0.3-6%. We report a case of infiltrating duct carcinoma in an adult female arising in aberrant breast tissue in the axilla diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology. There was history of recent increase in size of the lump which was otherwise present for the past 5 years. This case highlights the role fine needle aspiration cytology can play in the early diagnosis of malignant transformation of lumps.

Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection causing eosinophilic ascites.

Strongyloidiasis is associated with Strongyloides stercoralis, an intestinal nematode with greater prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions. Hyperinfection syndrome with dissemination may occur in immunosuppressed individuals. However, invasion of peritoneal cavity with peritoneal effusion is rarely reported in the literature. We report a case of S. stercoralis hyperinfection in a young alcoholic patient with Diabetes mellitus, liver disease and ascites. Diagnostic paracentesis showed numerous filariform larvae of S. stercoralis against a background of eosinophils.

Yolk sac tumor of cryptorchid testis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.

Yolk sac tumor is the most common germ cell tumor in infants and children. Majority of them arise in the gonads. Yolk sac tumor of undescended testis has been rarely diagnosed. We present a case of yolk sac tumor in right undescended testis in a 2-year-old child primarily diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.

Bilateral myoid hamartoma of breast: an exceptionally rare lesion.

Breast hamartomas (BH) or Fibroadenolipoma are extremely rare breast lesions. They are benign, focal malformations that resemble a neoplasm in the tissue of its origin. We describe a case of a 48 year old woman with bilateral breast lumps for the past 18 months and 6 months which were gradually increasing in size. FNAC smears revealed only clusters of benign ductal epithelial cells. Lumps were excised and histopathology revealed predominantly stromal smooth muscle bundles (proved by immunohistochemistry) along with scattered intact terminal duct-lobular units, dilated ducts and entrapped islands of mature fibroadipose tissue. A diagnosis of Bilateral Myoid hamartoma of breast was given. To the best of our knowledge till date no case of bilateral MH of breast has been reported in the literature. We report the first case of bilateral MBH highlighting its morpho-immunophenotypic features.