Diagnostic utility of p63/P501S double sequential immunohistochemical staining in differentiating urothelial carcinoma from prostate carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Distinguishing urothelial carcinoma (UC) from prostate carcinoma (PC) is important due to potential therapeutic and prognostic implications. However, this can be a diagnostic challenge when there is limited tissue and in poorly differentiated tumors. We evaluated the diagnostic utility of a dual immunohistochemical stain comprising p63 and P501S (prostein), applied sequentially on a single slide and visualized by double chromogen reaction, in differentiating these two cancers. Thus far, there have been no previous studies assessing the diagnostic utility of p63 and P501S combined together as a dual immunostain in distinguishing between these two cancers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>p63/P501S dual-color sequential immunohistochemical staining was performed on archival material from 132 patients with high-grade UC and 23 patients with PC, and evaluated for p63 (brown nuclear) and P501S (red cytoplasmic) expression. Both the staining intensity and percentage of positive tumor cells were assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>p63 was positive in 119/132 of UC and negative in PC. P501S was positive in 22/23 of PC and negative in UC. The p63+/P501S- immunoprofile had 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity for UC. The p63-/P501S+ immunoprofile had 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity for PC.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicate that double sequential immunohistochemical staining with p63 and P501S is highly specific and can be a useful tool in distinguishing UC from PC especially when there is limited diagnostic tissue as it can be performed on a single slide.</p

Clinical and Proctosigmoidoscopic findings in Patients with Anorectal Sepsis in a Private Health Facility in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Anorectal sepsis is a distressing condition which is sometimes inadequately treated.Objectives: To determine the clinical and prostosigmoidoscopic findings in patients with anorectal sepsis seen by the authors over a 5 year period as well as identifying the commonly performed procedures.Method: A review of all the records of patients seen by the authors over a 5 year period was carried out. The demographic pattern was determined including the age, sex, mode of presentation, and associated co-morbidities. The detailed perianal and protosigmoidoscopic findings were also notedResults: 45 males and 10 females were seen during the study period. The mean age incidence was 43.4 years. The commonest mode of presentation was perianal discharge and pain in over 85% of the patients seen. The low anal fistula was the commonest pathology on proctosigmoidoscopy while abscesses and external haemorrhoids were the other commonly occurring lesions found. Fistulotomy was the most commonly perfomed procedure while diabetes was the most common comorbidity.Conclusion: Anorectal sepsis most commonly affects males in the fifth decade of life. Thorough evaluation and adequate operative treatment appear to result in satisfactory early outcome.KeyWords: Anorectal sepsis, fistula in ano, proctosigmoidoscop

Can renal oncocytoma be distinguished from chromophobe renal cell carcinoma by the presence of fibrous capsule?

The most important differential diagnosis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (CRCC) is renal oncocytoma. Due to overlapping morphological characteristics of renal oncocytoma and CRCC, particularly its eosinophilic variant, making a correct diagnosis can be challenging. To date, no data are available on the presence of the tumor fibrous capsule as a diagnostic feature in differentiating these tumors. The main purpose of this study was to establish the presence and compare the thickness of the tumor fibrous capsule between two tumor groups. A total of 37 tumors--18 cases of CRCC (three eosinophilic and 15 classic) and 19 cases of renal oncocytoma--were analyzed. Four slides of each tumor stained with hematoxylin and eosin were first scanned at low-power magnification (x40) to assess the presence of the capsule. If present, the capsule was measured in three different thickest areas at higher magnification (x200). The mean value of capsule thickness was calculated and taken into consideration. The capsule was present in 12 (66.7%) cases of CRCCs and in only two (10.5%) cases of renal oncocytomas. Statistical analysis showed significant difference between the presence of fibrous capsule in these two observed tumor groups (P = 0.001). Average thickness of capsule in CRCCs was 337.7 microm, and 115.4 microm in renal oncocytomas, but the median was not statistically significant (P = 0.198). Studies with a larger number of cases are needed to conclude if this characteristic could be a low-cost, reliable microscopic feature in differentiating between CRCC and renal oncocytoma