Ashish Kumar Mandal

Enteric Duplication Cysts in Children: A Clinicopathological Dilemma.

AIM Enteric duplication cysts are rare and uncommon congenital malformations formed during the embryonic period of the development of human digestive system and are mainly encountered during infancy or early childhood, but seldom in adults. The clinical presentation is extremely variable depending upon its size, location and type. We present six cases of enteric duplication cysts with diverse clinico-pathological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was carried out in the Department of Pathology and Department of Paediatric Surgery, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India for a period of 2 years (January 2013 - December 2014). We retrospectively analyzed six patients of enteric duplication cysts based on data obtained, which consisted of patients age, sex, clinical presentation, radiological features, operative findings and histopathology report. The data collected was analyzed by descriptive statistics. RESULTS Six children between age range of 3 days to 10 years had enteric duplication cysts. Two had ileal and one each were of pyloroduodenal, colonic and rectal duplication cyst. In one patient a presumptive diagnosis of enteric duplication cyst was made. Radiology played an important contributory role in diagnosis of these cysts in all the patients but histopathology proved to be gold standard for its confirmation. All these patients were managed by surgical excision. The postoperative and follow up period in all the cases was uneventful. CONCLUSION It is important to be aware and make a definitive diagnosis of this rare congenital anomaly as they can present in various clinical forms and can cause significant morbidity and even mortality if left untreated by causing life threatening complications.

Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Pyrenochaeta romeroi in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient: A Case Report with Review of the Literature

Pyrenochaeta romeroi is a rare fungal agent of chronic, suppurative subcutaneous infections leading to mycetoma. It is an unusual cause of deep, non-mycetomatous infections. We herein present review of the literature along with a case of 61-year-old Indian female with rheumatoid arthritis who developed subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Pyrenochaeta romeroi. It posed a diagnostic challenge, as the culture from fine-needle aspirate revealed a non-sporulating dematiaceous mould, which was the only supportive tool for its diagnosis and initiation of the therapy. However, it was the molecular sequencing which played the pivotal role in clinching the final aetiological diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the 20th case of Pyrenochaeta species infection occurring worldwide and first case report of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Pyrenochaeta romeroi in a rheumatoid arthritis patient.

Clinicopathological Analysis of Mediastinal Masses: A Mixed Bag of Non-Neoplastic and Neoplastic Etiologies.

OBJECTIVE The mediastinum is the central portion of the thoracic cavity, housing numerous organs and harbouring a mixed bag of non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Accurate diagnosis is essential owing to the widely variable therapeutic and prognostic implications. MATERIAL AND METHOD Cases of mediastinal masses were retrospectively reviewed from January 2011 till January 2016. Clinico-radiological records of these cases were retrieved. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed wherever feasible. Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of the excised specimens was undertaken. RESULTS Of the 60 cases included in our study, 22 were anterior, 20 were middle and 18 posterior mediastinal masses. The majority of the patients were symptomatic (96.8%). The most common pathology was thymoma (12 cases) followed by ten cases of lymphoma, eight cases each of tubercular lymphadenopathy and schwannoma, six cases of neurofibroma, four cases of extragonadal germ cell tumours, two cases each of thymic cyst, bronchogenic cyst, retrosternal goitre, ganglioneuroma and neuroblastoma, and one case each of lipoma and thymolipoma. FNAC was done in 54 cases of which 7 cases yielded inadequate material. Immunohistochemistry was required for classification of lymphoma cases and confirmation of a mixed component in germ cell tumours. CONCLUSION Mediastinal masses create significant diagnostic dilemma for the clinicians, radiologists and histopathologists. While imaging studies help in narrowing the differential diagnosis, accurate categorisation is not always possible. FNAC is a useful and cost effective tool. However, sampling error and complexities in performing the technique are major hurdles in the usefulness of this diagnostic modality.

Massive Broad Ligament Cellular Leiomyoma with Cystic Change: A Diagnostic Dilemma.

Leiomyomas are known to arise from uterus, but rarely from broad ligament. Further, cellular leiomyoma of broad ligament is the least common variant reported in literature. The diagnostic dilemma arises when leiomyomas undergo degenerative changes. This poses both clinical and radiological difficulty in differentiating with an ovarian tumour. We present an unusual case of a huge broad ligament mass measuring 29x19x09cm, mimicking an ovarian tumour both clinically and radiologically. Histopathology revealed cellular leiomyoma of broad ligament with cystic and myxoid degeneration hereby being the second case reported in literature. This case is being presented not only because of the rare incidence but also due to its diagnostic confusion with ovarian malignancy on clinical evaluation and radiological findings.

Expression of p53, epidermal growth factor receptor, c-erbB2 in oral leukoplakias and oral squamous cell carcinomas

Background: Oral cancer is a leading cause of cancer in India and contributes to 12% deaths worldwide. The identification of high-risk oral premalignant lesions such as leukoplakia and intervention at premalignant stages could result in significant loss of mortality and morbidity among these patients. The most frequently observed genetic aberrations in these lesions are of mutations in p53, c-erbB2, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). No specific tumor markers have been identified consistently in oral leukoplakias and the available studies show wide variations in their expression. Materials and Methods: A total of eighty cases were taken up for study which included forty cases of leukoplakia and forty cases of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Results: There was a significant correlation between the expression of markers p53 and EGFR in leukoplakia and SCC. The expression of p53 was correlated between leukoplakia, SCC, and control and was found to be significant (P ≤ 0.001). Similarly, EGFR expression was significant (P ≤ 0.001) between cases of leukoplakia, SCCs, and controls. c-erbB2 was found to be negative though cytoplasmic positivity was observed in a few cases. Similarly, in SCCs, it was observed that lesser the differentiation, more is the expression of both p53 and EGFR. Similarly, a definite correlation was observed between p53 and EGFR (P ≤ 0.001) but not with c-erbB2 (P ≤ 1.000). Conclusion: Thus, the author concludes that p53 and EGFR are useful biomarkers for the diagnosis of leukoplakia and their risk of malignant transformation.

Postradiotherapy small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of base of tongue: An unusual clinical and site presentation.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the tongue is an extremely rare entity with only seven cases reported in literature till date. These are high-grade tumors with a dismal prognosis. There is much ambiguity regarding the classification, treatment protocols and prognostic factors of these tumors due to the paucity of studies. We describe an exceptionally rare and unusual case of small cell NEC of the base of tongue arising in an elderly man 6 years after receiving radiotherapy for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma at the same site. The diagnosis was confirmed on histopathological examination and supported by immunohistochemical positivity for neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, chromogranin, pan-cytokeratin, and cytokeratin 7. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of intraoral NEC arising many years later within the irradiated field of the initial tumor.

Synchronous Oral and Breast Malignancies: A Rare Presentation

Multiple malignancies may represent metastasis from one location to another or independent primary tumors. The distinction is important because the prognosis and treatment are different. Existence of two malignancies having different histopathologies at anatomically distinct sites is a rare event to occur in an individual. We present one such unusual case of a 40-year-old Indian woman who presented with left breast lump along with a simultaneously occurring growth floor of the mouth. Fine needle aspiration cytology and histopathology revealed features of infiltrating ductal carcinoma breast and adenoid cystic carcinoma of floor of the mouth. This rare organ combination was further managed by surgery and chemo-radiation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documentation in the world literature of such a presentation.

Primary retroperitoneal teratoma with predominant neurogenic elements masquerading as adrenal tumor

Primary retroperitoneal teratomas are uncommon extragonadal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors that are composed of well differentiated parenchymal tissues which are derived from more than one of the three embryonic germ cell layers. Here we report an unusual and first of its kind, a case of primary mature cystic retroperitoneal teratoma mimicking as adrenal tumor in a 7-month-old female in which the tumor was predominantly composed of neurogenic tissue histologically which is unlike the usual pattern seen in the teratomas.

Primary osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of parotid gland: A rare extraskeletal presentation with diagnostic challenges

Primary osteoclast-like giant cell tumor (OC-GCT) has been rarely described in extraskeletal sites. The diagnosis primarily hinges on the detection of giant cells. However, these giant cells are also seen in many giant cell lesions, thus creating diagnostic confusion and dilemma. Here, we describe a rare case of a 24-year-old male with primary extraskeletal, OC-GCT presenting as a swelling in the right parotid region and highlight its cytological, histological and immunohistochemical characteristics with diagnostic challenges.

Endocrinal and autoimmune linkage: Evidences from a controlled study of subjects with polycystic ovarian syndrome

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic syndrome, characterized by anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovary. With serological markers of autoimmunity found elevated in PCOS, there is a possible link between autoimmunity and PCOS. AIM: The study aimed to investigate the possible correlation between autoimmune markers of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and PCOS. SETTING AND DESIGN: This case control study was conducted at the Department of Pathology of a tertiary care academic center during a 1-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five subjects with clinical PCOS and 51 age matched control non-PCOS subjects were recruited and subjected to clinical, biochemical, and endocrinal evaluation for AIT. All subjects underwent blood glucose and serum sampling for luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, dehydroepi androsterone, thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, anti-thyroid peroxidase, anti-thyroglobulin (Tg), and insulin. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 12 for Windows. The quantitative variables are described as mean ± standard deviation. To compare quantitative variables between two groups, unpaired t-test was used. The Chi-square/Fischers exact test was used to compare qualitative variables. ANOVA was used to compare the PCOS and non-PCOS groups. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Significantly higher prevalence of AIT (anti-Tg antibodies) was noted in subjects with PCOS as compared to non-PCOS control subjects (P < 0.05). The PCOS subjects had higher insulin resistance index and also twice the level of LH: FSH ratio as compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Higher prevalence of AIT in PCOS subjects suggest possible role of autoimmune phenomenon in the etiopathogenesis of PCOS. More data from longitudinal follow-up studies is required to clearly establish this possible link.