Mimi Gangopadhyay

Guided fine needle aspiration cytology of retroperitoneal masses - Our experience

Background: Early pathological classification of retroperitoneal masses is important for pin-point diagnosis and timely management. Aims: This study was done to evaluate the usefulness and drawbacks of guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of retroperitoneal masses covering a period of two years with an intention to distinguish between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions and to correlate with histologic findings. Materials and Methods: FNAC was done under radiological guidance in all cases using long needle fitted with disposable syringe. Appropriate staining was done and cytology was correlated with histology which was taken as the gold standard for comparison. Results: Fifty-one patients who presented with retroperitoneal masses were studied. Forty-four lesions were malignant cytologically and 7 were inflammatory (tuberculous). According to radiological and cytologic findings, we classified our cases into four groups: renal tumors, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, germ cell tumors, soft tissue tumors. Except for cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and metastatic lesions, we had sensitivity and specificity of 100%. In NHL the sensitivity and specificity were both 50%. In cases of metastatic adenocarcinoma, the sensitivity and specificity were 84.6% and 81.8%, respectively. Conclusions: Ignoring the pitfalls, guided FNAC is still an inexpensive and reliable method of early diagnosis of retroperitoneal lesions.

USG guided FNAC of ovarian mass lesions: A cyto-histopathological correlation, with emphasis on its role in pre-operative management guidelines

OBJECTIVE Ultrasonography (USG)-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of ovarian masses is an efficient diagnostic modality for accurately diagnosing ovarian tumours prior to surgery. The main aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FNAC in diagnosing ovarian masses. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty-three patients with ovarian masses were recruited and correlation of USG-guided FNAC was made with histopathology in all but 6 cases, where surgery was not indicated. RESULTS Cytological diagnosis was obtained in all 83 ovarian lesions: 56 cases were benign, 6 possibly benign, 3 suspicious of malignancy and 18 cases as malignant. Out of 77 cases where histology was available, the 12 non-neoplastic cysts were endometriotic cysts and follicular cysts. The majority of neoplastic lesions were surface epithelial tumours. Out of 12 non-neoplastic cysts and 43 benign tumours, all but two were diagnosed as benign or possibly benign on cytology; of the 22 histologically malignant or borderline tumours, 18 were malignant or suspicious of malignancy on cytology, while four were false negative (three of these were borderline tumours). Thus, the sensitivity of cytological diagnosis was 83%, specificity was 97% and accuracy was 93%. CONCLUSION USG-guided FNAC seems to be a relatively safe, simple, fast and cost-effective procedure where most ovarian malignancies either present late in their course or no screening method is available. In addition, cyto-radiological correlation through this procedure may be useful in deciding management guidelines prior to any surgical intervention.

Endodermal sinus tumor of the vagina in children: A report of two cases

Malignant tumors of the vagina in infants and children are rare, with primary germ cell tumor (endodermal sinus tumor [EST]) being rarer, which carries a dismal prognosis. This tumor is often clinically mistaken as botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma and, on histopathological examination, is often misdiagnosed as clear cell adenocarcinoma. Two cases of EST of the vagina in infants aged 9 and 17 months are reported. Both the patients presented with bleeding per vagina and clinically and by ultrasonography were diagnosed as sarcoma botryoides. Both were diagnosed as primary yolk sac tumors. The serum alfa fetoprotein (AFP) level was 4325 and 9328 ng/ml, respectively. One patient aged 9 months expired 2 months after receiving chemotherapy. The other, aged 17 months, was given chemotherapy followed by surgery with reduction of the AFP levels.

Calcaneal Intraosseous Lipoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Intraosseous lipomas are rare benign bone tumors. This benign neoplasm has been reported to occur in the calcaneus as well as the proximal femur. In the past, the relative absence of symptoms and radiographic similarity to a bone cyst has accounted for underdiagnosis of intraosseous lipoma. The case presented in this article was diagnosed with the help of computerized tomography and histopathologic analysis, after which the patient was treated by means of curettage and packing with calcium phosphate bone graft substitute. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness among clinicians of the existence of this unusual lesion.

Clinicopathologic study of parapharyngeal tumors

Background: Parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors are rare. Three main groups are identified, namely those of salivary origin, neurogenic tumors and paragangliomas. Early pathological classification of PPS tumors is important for pin point diagnosis and timely management. Aims: The PPS is a complex anatomical potential space and poses high risk of per and postoperative complication. This study was done to perform optimum preoperative evaluation by clinicoradiologic correlation and guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) which is essential to minimize intraoperative risk. Materials and Methods: Guided FNAC was carried out to diagnose parapharyngeal tumors in 48 patients from January 2008 to January 2010. The inflammatory lesions were excluded in the present study. Correlation with histopathology was done in all the cases. Results: The mean age for all the patients was 38.2 years. There were 23 male and 25 female subjects. Seventy nine percent of the lesions were benign with pleomorphic salivary adenoma being the commonest, while only 20.8% of the lesions were malignant. All the patients presented with neck swelling. No complication was encountered in the present study. Conclusion: FNAC can replace incisional biopsy which may be hazardous in this area. Immediate treatment can be planned based on the FNAC report.

Computed tomography guided fine needle aspiration cytology of mass lesions of lung: Our experience

Context: Computerized tomography (CT) guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of lung lesions has rapidly emerged as a less-invasive, cheap, rapid and fairly accurate diagnostic aid in lung lesions. Aims: The purpose of this present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CT-guided FNAC in the diagnosis of pulmonary mass lesions (both benign and malignant) and to determine the complication rate of this procedure. Settings and Design: We conducted an institution-based, prospective study on 127 patients who presented with pulmonary mass lesions. Materials and Methods: After proper consent was obtained, CT-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration was done and their diagnoses were confirmed by appropriate methods. The results were analyzed statistically. Results: Out of 127 cases selected for the study, 59.8% were males while the rest were females. Cough was the most common symptom present in 71.2% cases, followed by weight loss (62.4%). 21.2% cases were cytologically benign. Adenocarcinoma (54.2%) was the commonest malignant tumor. FNAC provided at least 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity in diagnosing lung tumors. Among the benign lesions, specific diagnoses were obtained in 48.1% cases. Thus, altogether a specific diagnosis was obtained in 109 of 127 cases, i.e. 85.8%. No major complication was noted. Conclusions: CT-guided FNAC is an extremely valuable and fairly accurate diagnostic aid of intrathoracic mass lesions, with a reasonable rate of complication.

Primary bilateral small lymphocytic lymphoma of ocular adnexal origin: Imprint cytology suggests the intraoperative diagnosis

Ocular adnexal lymphomas (OAL) involve the peri-global soft tissues like orbit, eyelid, conjunctiva, lacrimal gland. We describe a rare case of primary bilateral OAL, histomorphologically small lymphocytic lymphoma, B cell phenotype of lacrimal gland origin. Rapid intraoperative diagnosis can be suggested on imprint cytology; subsequent histology and immunohistochemistry are helpful for confirmation and further line of management. Since no preformed lymphoid structures are expected within the orbit or lacrimal gland, any lymphoid mass here should be critically evaluated as a lymphoproliferative lesion.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis-utility of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in preventing unnecessary surgery

OBJECTIVE Granulomatous mastitis is a benign disorder which closely mimics malignancy clinico-radiologically. A simple and cost effective modality like fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) can help in prompt diagnosis and avoid unnecessary surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective study where data were collected for granulomatous lesions of the breast diagnosed by histopathology in a five year period and review of FNAC slides. Cases positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis either on ZN stain or Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fungus were excluded. A total of 8 cases were included in our study for analysis. RESULTS All the cases showed the presence of granuloma composed of epithelioid histiocytes against a background of giant cells, polymorphs with absence of necrosis. CONCLUSION Cytological diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis is difficult as it overlaps with other etiologies like tuberculosis which is prevalent in this part of the world. However, with the use of ancillary techniques like PCR and negative microbiological investigations, a definitive diagnosis can be made.

Fine-needle sampling provides appreciable diagnostic yield in lesions of post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis: Analysis of four cases from North Eastern India

Post‐kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a sequel of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), usually occurring 6 months to 3 years after VL. Spectrum of cutaneous lesions in PKDL can be hypopigmented macules, nodules, plaques, or erythema. It is usually diagnosed clinically, supplemented by ancillary techniques like skin smear examination, histopathology, polymerase chain reaction, and monoclonal antibody test. Literature on the role of cytology in the diagnosis of PKDL is extremely limited. Here we highlight the appreciable yield of fine‐needle sampling in four cases of PKDL, which may be considered as a useful diagnostic aid. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:525–529.

Calcified pure uterine lipoma mimicking myoma.

Pure lipoma of the uterus is a rare entity and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Clinical symptoms and signs are similar to those found in leiomyoma and create preoperative diagnostic confusion. The histogenesis is still unclear. We report the case of a 70 year-old woman with pure lipoma of the uterus with calcification.