Swaminathan Rajendiran

Role of scrape cytology in ovarian neoplasms.

Aim: The present study was done to evaluate the role of scrape cytology in the diagnosis of ovarian neoplasm and its utilization for teaching pathology residents. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study on 50 solid/solid-cystic ovarian neoplasms sent in 10% buffered formalin. Scrapings obtained from the fresh cut surface of tumors were smeared uniformly on to glass slides, immediately fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol and stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain. Results: The overall diagnostic accuracy of scrape cytology has been satisfactory with 92% of cases correlating with the final diagnosis. Characteristic cytological pattern was noted in various types of surface epithelial, sex cord stromal and germ cell tumors. The technique had limited value in mucinous tumors to distinguish borderline cases from invasive carcinoma. Two mucinous carcinomas were diagnosed as borderline mucinous tumor and two endometrioid carcinomas were misinterpreted as cystadenocarcinoma on scrape cytology. Formalin did not interfere or produce any remarkable changes in cytomorphology. Conclusions: Scrape cytology is a simple, rapid, accurate, inexpensive adjunctive cytodiagnostic technique and its routine utilization in ovarian lesions could aid in expanding the cytological knowledge of ovarian neoplasms.

Histological reclassification, histochemical characterization and c-kit immunoexpression in renal cell carcinoma

Objectives: Renal cell carcinoma is the most lethal of all urologic malignancies. Several parameters such as histological subtype, nuclear grade and TNM staging help in determining the prognosis and treatment options. A newer therapeutic modality has been suggested based on expression of c-kit antigen by the tumor cells. This study was designed to evaluate various histological parameters and correlate them with c-kit expression. Materials and Methods: The study was done on 40 consecutive cases of renal epithelial tumors. Histological sections were reviewed and reclassified according to WHO (2004) classification and nuclear grade assessed. Hales colloidal iron stain was done to identify the chromophobe variant. Immunostaining with c-kit was done and its expression was studied. The results were correlated and statistical significance was assessed. Results: The age range was 31-81 years, with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Seventy per cent of the cases were clear cell RCC (ClRCC), 17.5% were chromophobe type, 7.5% were papillary RCCs and 5% cases were oncocytomas. Fuhrman nuclear grading revealed 60.5% cases to be of low grade and 39.5% high grade. Hales colloidal iron staining was positive in chromophobe RCC and oncocytomas, while it was negative in ClRCC. Immunostaining with c-kit was positive only in oncocytomas. Conclusions: Clear cell RCC was the most common histological subtype of RCC. Clear cell RCC known to have a poor prognosis, showed a statistically significant higher nuclear grade than chromophobe and papillary RCCs which have a better prognosis. Hales colloidal iron staining was extremely useful in distinguishing chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma from the granular cell variant of clear RCC. Our study revealed c-kit negativity in all RCC. As Imatinib could be ineffective in such tumors, its clinical activity has to be carefully assessed in such tumors through further studies.

A rare case of primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma.

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PMPM) is a rare tumor of the pericardium. The cause of this tumor is unknown and it has a very poor prognosis. Exposure to asbestos is correlated with the onset of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma; however, the role of asbestos in pericardial mesothelioma is unclear. Here we highlight the radiological features of this rare tumor and its correlative pathological confirmation with the help of new immunohistochemical (IHC) markers.

Primary extra nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the oral cavity in a young girl

Primary Non Hodgkin s Lymphoma (NHL) usually arises within the lymphnodes, but 20-30% account for extra nodal sites. Oral cavity, as a primary extra nodal site for NHL, is relatively rare and diverse in presentation, response to therapy and prognosis. We report a 14 year old adolescent girl who presented with multiple gingival swellings, the most prominent one being in the right anterior maxilla. Gingival biopsy showed NHL- diffuse large B cell type. Child was completely cured with chemotherapy and now she is in complete remission and under regular follow up.

Granular cell tumor in inguinal region: A case of mistaken identity on cytology.

A 63-year-old male presented with sudden increase in size of a right inguinal swelling which was present for the past 10 years. Clinical diagnosis of inguinal soft tissue mass/lymph node enlargement was made and patient was investigated further for a conclusive diagnosis. Ultrasound examination suggested it to be a lymph node and guided fine needle aspiration cytology was performed. Cytology was suggestive of a reactive lymph node. Subsequently, an excision biopsy was performed that revealed a granular cell tumor with many lymphoid aggregates. On reviewing the cytosmears, we realised that the granular neoplastic cells were mistaken for histiocytes; and the lymphoid background and bare nuclei mislead us to consider it a reactive lymph node. Since granular cell tumor can occur almost anywhere, a careful examination of cytosmears and knowledge of its distinctive cyto-morphological features would be helpful in providing an accurate diagnosis on cytology.

Cytologic features of pulmonary blastoma.

Pulmonary blastomas are rare lung neoplasms constituting 0.5% of all lung tumors. This tumor has an aggressive course and needs to be recognized on cytology. A preoperative diagnosis of pulmonary blastoma is difficult to obtain by cytopathologic methods. A diagnosis of biphasic pulmonary blastoma should be considered when there is a dimorphic population of cells on cytology. A 30-year-old male presented with gradually progressing breathlessness and left-sided chest pain for the past one month. Chest radiograph and computed tomography of thorax revealed an anterior mediastinal mass that was subjected to ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. Aspiration cytology showed a highly cellular lesion with a dimorphic population of tumor cells in a necrotic background. The possibility of a non-small cell carcinoma was suggested. Subsequent histopathology revealed the tumor to be a pulmonary blastoma. The importance of recognizing the dimorphic population of cells in cytology is discussed.

Primary dedifferentiated massive mediastinal liposarcoma weighing 5.3 kg

A 45-year-old gentleman was admitted with cough and breathing difficulty. He was clinically tachypneic. Auscultation revealed bronchial breathing and wheeze in the right chest. Chest radiography and contrastenhanced computed tomography confirmed a large mass lesion in the middle and lower hemithorax, pushing the diaphragm downwards (Figure 1). The mass which was adherent to the esophagus and bronchus was excised in toto through a right posterolateral thoracotomy. The specimen comprised 6 globular masses with lymph nodes and weighed 5.28 kg (Figure 2). Histopathological examination confirmed a grade 3 dedifferentiated myxoid liposarcoma. The patient was referred for adjuvant radiotherapy. Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals 2017, Vol. 25(6) 472–473 The Author(s) 2016 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0218492316652058 journals.sagepub.com/home/aan

Correlation of fetal autopsy with prenatal ultrasound findings: Study in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Aim: To present a comprehensive analysis of autopsy findings in 168 fetuses in a tertiary care teaching hospital and to assess the clinical utility in reaching a final diagnosis. This is essential for counseling regarding the risk of recurrence in cases of congenital anomalies. We also performed autopsy in fetuses that were terminated based on the ultrasonogram that confirmed the malformation and were correlated to evaluate the potential benefit of radiological investigation. Materials and methods: Retrospective review of perinatal autopsy records in a tertiary care centre in South India during three year period (2005-2008) was made. Our study comprises of 168 fetuses, 42 terminated after detecting an anomaly in ultrasonogram and 126 were spontaneous fetal losses. In all cases, fetal autopsy was carried out and internal organs were studied. All fetuses with malformations confirmed by ultrasound findings were compared with autopsy findings. Results: Fetal autopsy was able to provide a definite final diagnosis in 100% of cases. Fetal autopsy correlated very well with the ultrasound findings in all cases. Conclusion: This study helps to analyse the importance of fetal autopsy in identifying the cause of fetal loss that will help in the genetic counseling of the couple.

Malignant Melanoma of the External Auditory Canal

Primary malignant melanoma of the external auditory canal is rarely reported. Malignant melanoma of the ear is estimated to occur in 1-4% of all skin melanomas and about 7-20% of melanomas of the head and neck region. The pathophysiology of these tumours is different from other skin lesions because of their anatomical and functional characteristics. The case presented is of a 11 year old female child with malignant melanoma of the external auditory canal confined to the right side, who initially presented with right ear pain, bleeding, post auricular swelling and also a mass in the external auditory canal which was thought to be an aural polyp in the right ear. Excision of the tumour was accomplished by a radical mastoidectomy. It was confirmed to be malignant melanoma after histopathological examination and Immunohistochemistry. Despite all efforts, the patient succumbed to the disease after receiving three cycles of chemotherapy. Even though this malignancy is rarely found in the external auditory canal, it should be expanded into the differential diagnosis of an aural polyp and a post aural abscess. The incidence, symptoms, investigations, treatment and prognosis of malignant melanoma of the external auditory canal is discussed in this article.