Synchronous multicentric giant cell tumor

Multicentric giant cell tumors represent less than 1% of all giant cell tumors of bones. We report a case of multicentric giant cell tumors around both the knee joints in a mentally and physically challenged adult male that resulted in rapidly progressive painful swelling, restricted mobility and, ultimately, fixed deformity. These tumors had typical radiological appearance and the diagnosis was confirmed on histopathology

Sickle cell hepatopathy

Sickle cell hepatopathy is a well-documented entity that ranges from the self-limiting hepatic right upper quadrant syndrome to the potentially lethal intrahepatic cholestasis and acute hepatic sequestration syndromes. We describe a 26-year-male with homozygous sickle cell disease who had this unique hepatic presentation and was documented to have characteristic findings of cholestasis, portal inflammation and sinusoidal dilatation on histopathology

Study of Effectiveness of Near Peer Mentoring in Undergraduate Medical Students in a Government Run Medical College

Background: There is growing evidence for the positive effects of mentoring programs in undergraduate medical education in professional and personal development. Peer mentoring is a type of mentoring program in which individuals are equal in age, experience, and rank. This project was taken to introduce an immediate support network for the students of fourth semester MBBS to facilitate learning and overall development. The long term goal is to cultivate a mentoring culture at our medical college that will engage all strata of students. Methods: Two hundred Undergraduate medical students of fourth semester batch were included as mentees. Undergraduate medical students of sixth and eighth semester batch were taken as near peer mentor. After the sensitization meetings, each mentee was allotted to a near peer mentor. At the end of the mentoring period, the perceptions of the mentors and mentees about the mentoring programme were recorded. Marks of third and fourth semester examinations were compared to look for any improvement in scores. Results: 42 % of the mentees felt that they enjoyed the mentoring sessions as the near peers could understand their problems very well. Comparison of pre mentoring and post mentoring academic performance was done by analyzing the third and fourth semester theory and practical examination marks. The mean of third semester theory was 23.14 % and the same for 4th semester was 26.14 % (p<0.001). For the practical marks, the mean for third semester was 16.51 % and that of the 4th semester was 18.29 %. (p<0.001). The difference was more pronounced in cases of low achievers. Conclusions: Near-peer mentoring is a novel idea with beneficial effects on both mentee and mentors. Mentoring has some role in academic achievements of mentees, especially for low achievers. Mentors, in turn, benefit by honing of knowledge or acquiring communication and teaching skills critical for the development of a professional

Massive scapular metastasis as a presenting feature of carcinoma of the lip

Carcinoma of the lip is a slow-growing locally-advanced disease with low metastatic potential. Distant skeletal metastasis is reported very rarely and the vertebral column is the most common site. A 58-year-old male smoker presented with pain and massive swelling of the left scapula for six months. He also noticed a slowly-growing painful ulcerated lesion on the outer aspect of the right lower lip for last two years. Biopsy from the lip ulcer, as well as cytologic smears from the scapular mass, revealed features of squamous cell carcinoma. Though no neck node was detected, patient was found to have extensive skeletal metastasis on whole body bone scan. It is rare as well as clinically appealing to have such disfiguring symptomatic massive scapular meastasis as the chief presenting feature in carcinoma of the lip

Massive scapular metastasis as a presenting feature of carcinoma of the lip

Carcinoma of the lip is a slow-growing locally-advanced disease with low metastatic potential. Distant skeletal metastasis is reported very rarely and the vertebral column is the most common site. A 58-year-old male smoker presented with pain and massive swelling of the left scapula for six months. He also noticed a slowly-growing painful ulcerated lesion on the outer aspect of the right lower lip for last two years. Biopsy from the lip ulcer, as well as cytologic smears from the scapular mass, revealed features of squamous cell carcinoma. Though no neck node was detected, patient was found to have extensive skeletal metastasis on whole body bone scan. It is rare as well as clinically appealing to have such disfiguring symptomatic massive scapular meastasis as the chief presenting feature in carcinoma of the lip

Atypical fibroxanthoma: An unusual skin neoplasm in xeroderma pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder related to defective deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair. Various cutaneous manifestations related to ultraviolet (UV) damage characterize the clinical course. Primary malignant cutaneous neoplasms like squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma have been reported. Atypical fibroxanthoma is a rare dermal neoplasm occurring in UV-damaged skin. We report an unusual case of atypical fibroxanthoma in a 20-year-old male with XP

Migration and maturation pattern of fetal enteric ganglia: A study of 16 cases

Aims: To study the migration and developmental pattern of ganglion cells in fetuses aged 9-21 weeks, and to document whether the migration was occurring circumferentially equally in the entire axis or if there were discrepancies in different portions at the same level. Settings and Design: The hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung′s disease mainly revolves around two schools. One is the single gradient migration of ganglia and the other is a dual gradient migration theory. Understanding the embryological development of enteric ganglia is necessary to study the pathogenesis of intestinal innervation disorders. Materials and Methods: We studied the development of intestinal ganglia in fetuses aged 9-21 weeks. Serial longitudinal sections from the colon were studied, the first one including the squamo-columnar junction, for the presence and the nature of ganglion cells with Hematoxylin and Eosin, and neurone-specific enolase immunostaining. Transverse sections from proximal gut were studied in a similar fashion. Thus, we evaluated the migration pattern as well as the nature of ganglia in the fetuses. We also measured the length of distal aganglionic segment in these growing fetuses. Results: We noted that ganglion cells appear first in the myenteric plexus followed by deep and superficial submucous plexus. We also found evidences in favor of dual migration theory, and the distal aganglionic segment varies around the circumference of the rectal wall. Conclusions: We got evidences in support of a dual migration pattern of intestinal ganglion cells. The level of distal aganglionic segments when measured from squamo-columnar junction varied with the age of gestation and the length was incongruous. The description of distal aganglionic segment may help surgeons while taking biopsies or during operative procedures

Oncogenous osteomalacia

Oncogenous osteomalacia is a rare paraneoplastic renal phosphaturic condition, often associated with highly vascular benign mesenchymal tumors. We report a case of a 48-year-old male who presented with debilitating osteomalacia unresponsive to standard therapy. Two years later, sinonasal hemangiopericytoma was diagnosed; the patient underwent complete surgical excision with rapid symptomatic improvement