Hepatic Involvement in Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory syndrome which results in uncontrolled systemic proliferation of benign macrophages in all reticuloendothelial organs producing worsening peripheral blood cytopenia(s); hypercytokinemia leading to hepatic injury producing hyperferritinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia; and if not diagnosed and treated early may lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), multiorgan dysfunction, and death in nearly all individuals. It is postulated that hepatic injury/dysfunction starts early in the course of the disease which may mimic nonspecific hepatitis like prodrome to fulminant hepatic failure; possibly requiring liver transplant. While HLH as an entity is being increasingly recognized nowadays across wide specialties (both pediatric and adults); hepatic involvement in this setting has been poorly characterized. This chapter is aimed to highlight on the diagnosis and classification of HLH with a special emphasis on the pathophysiology of hepatic dysfunction, histomorphology of liver; and the current concept and controversies on the role of liver transplantation in this clinical setting

Pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor of the mesorectum: a rare case and review of literature

Pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor (PHAT) is a rare tumor of uncertain tissue origin. Although it has been classified as a benign tumor under the WHO classification, it is locally aggressive, and multiple recurrences have been reported. PHAT commonly involves the lower extremities; however, various unusual sites of origin have been reported. We present the case of a 30-year-old female with dysmenorrhea, who presented a presacral mass on imaging. The core biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PHAT. She underwent laparotomy and excision. Histopathology confirmed the presence of a tumor comprised of aggregates of ectatic vessels with perivascular hyalinization. An immunohistochemical study showed diffuse CD34 positivity, but S100, MDM2, and smooth muscle actin negativity. After surgical procedures, the patient is disease free as at the 12-month follow-up. Only 120 cases have been published in the English literature to date. Our study is only the third case of PHAT arising from the pelvis to be reported. Though considered to be a rare condition, the diagnosis of PHAT should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of well-defined hypervascular soft tissue mass in the pelvis. The typical histopathological findings along with immunohistochemistry should clinch the diagnosis

Intestinal mitochondrial dysfunction in surgical stress

Background: Surgical stress is associated with altered intestinal function. Our earlier study using a rat model indicated that oxidative stress plays an important role in this process. Since mitochondria are crucial to cellular function and survival and are both a target as well as a source of reactive oxygen species, the present study looks at the changes in enterocyte mitochondria during surgical stress. Methods: Surgical stress was induced by opening the abdominal wall and handling the intestine as done during laparotomy. Mitochondria were prepared from the isolated enterocytes at different time periods after surgical stress. The effect of surgical stress on enterocyte mitochondrial ultrastructure, respiration, anti-oxidant enzyme activity, thiol redox status, calcium flux, permeability, and matrix enzymes was then studied. Results: Surgical stress resulted in alterations in mitochondrial respiration and thiol redox status. It was also associated with altered mitochondrial matrix enzyme activity, decreased superoxide dismutase activity, induction of mitochondrial permeability transition, and swelling, as well as impairment of mitochondrial calcium flux. These alterations were seen at a maximum of 60 min following surgical stress and were reversed by 24 h. Conclusions: Laparotomy and mild intestinal handling itself results in enterocyte mitochondrial damage. Since mitochondria are important cellular organelles, this damage can probably lead to compromised intestinal function

Phlebolith in arteriovenous malformation in buccal fat pad masquerading sialolith: A rare case report

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare vascular lesion in the buccal fat pad (BFP). One of the important complications associated with these lesions is phlebolith formation within it. To the best of authors′ knowledge, there is no medical literature on AVM with phlebolith formation in BFP till date. The present case is a 12-year-old boy who presented with a swelling in the right side of the face, clinically diagnosed to be sialocele with sialolith. Excision of the mass was done, and histopathology revealed AVM with the formation of phlebolith. This rare entity needs to be kept in mind while evaluating a case of calcification in BFP. The first case of AVM with phlebolith formation in BFP is reported here along with brief review of literature

Necrotizing sialometaplasia: Manifestation of a localized unclassified vasculitis

Necrotizing sialometaplasia is a rare benign and self-limiting disease, which commonly affects the minor salivary glands. Typically, it involves the seromucinous glands located at palate, buccal mucosa, tongue, tonsil, nasal cavity, trachea, larynx, maxillary sinus, and retromolar trigone. We report two such cases of necrotizing sialometaplasia to create awareness among the pathologists and surgeons because of its close morphological and clinical resemblance to squamous cell carcinoma. We have also documented that, the ischemic necrosis of salivary gland is the result of a vasculitic process

Angioleiomyoma of uterus masquerading as malignant ovarian tumor

Uterine angioleiomyoma is rare. A 40-year-old nulliparous woman presented with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) for the past 2 years and mass per abdomen with severe dysmenorrhea for three cycles. She had received 8 units of packed cell transfusion outside. Clinical examination revealed a huge 32-week-sized abdominopelvic mass with irregular margins. Ultrasonography (USG) of the abdomen and pelvis showed a large solid cystic mass on the right side of the abdomen with a well-defined hypoechoeic rounded lesion of size 5.7 cm × 5.0 cm, in the right lobe of the liver, with ovaries not being imaged separately. On color Doppler USG, there was moderate vascularity throughout. A provisional diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumor with hepatic metastasis was made. Her hemoglobin was 5.7 g/dl, and she had repeated episodes of HMB upon admission. She was transfused with 5 units of packed cells. Computed tomography (CT) showed a large fundal subserosal uterine fibroid on the right side, with a solid ovarian tumor measuring 5.0 cm × 4.5 cm on the left side, with ascitis, right-sided hydronephrosis, and a well-defined hypoechoeic lesion in the right lobe of the liver, suggestive of hepatic hemangioma. Tumor markers were within normal limits. In view of discrepancy in clinical findings, ultrasound, and CT report, CT-guided biopsy of the huge mass was done which revealed leiomyoma, with no evidence of mitosis, pleomorphism, or malignancy. Laparotomy with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was done. Histopathology revealed an angioleiomyoma uterus. At 1-year follow-up, she was asymptomatic, and the liver mass was stable

Multicentric papillary and chromophobe renal cell carcinomas in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: Report of a rare case

The causal relationship of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) with the development of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still not known. We describe a case of bilateral PKD complicated with a large enhancing mass and multiple small nodules in the left kidney. The histopathological study of the nephrectomy specimen revealed the synchronous occurrence of eosinophilic variant of chromophobe RCC (EVCRCC) and multicentric papillary RCC (PRCC) in a background of ADPKD. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first to describe the collision tumor of EVCRCC and multicentric PRCC in ADPKD

Nitric oxide protects the intestine from the damage induced by laparotomy and gut manipulation

Background: The intestine is highly susceptible to free radical-induced damage, and our earlier work has shown that surgical stress induces the generation of oxygen free radicals in enterocytes, resulting in intestinal damage along with ultrastructural changes. Since nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator of gastrointestinal function, this study looked at the effect of NO on surgical stress-induced intestinal alterations. Materials and methods: Control rats and rats pretreated with the NO donor l-arginine were subjected to surgical stress by opening the abdominal wall and handling the intestine as done during laparotomy. Enterocytes were isolated and homogenate prepared, and the protection offered by l-arginine against damage due to surgical stress was determined and compared with normal controls. Protection to structural as well as functional aspects of the intestine was also examined. Results: Intestinal manipulation affected intestinal structure as assessed by electron microscopy. Functional impairment of the enterocyte was also evident, with increased xanthine oxidase activity resulting in production of superoxide anion. This impairment is more dramatic in the crypt cells. Increased protease activity was also seen following laparotomy and handling. Pretreatment with the NO synthase substrate l-arginine prevented these damaging effects. Arginine protection was abolished in the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, indicating the role of NO. Conclusion: Stress in the small intestine due to any surgery can affect enterocyte structure and function. These damaging effects can be prevented by NO, an important modulator of cellular function