Urethral leiomyoma: Common tumor at unusual site

Urethral leiomyoma is a rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm arising from the urethral smooth muscle. They produce diagnostic dilemma to the clinicians as it is a rare site for these tumors and these tumors should be differentiated from other urethral tumors. Here, we report the case of a 35-year-old female patient presenting with a mass attached to the anterior wall of the urethra. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyoma

Sarcomatoid Urothelial Carcinoma of Urinary Bladder – A Rare Case Report

Sarcomatoid variant of urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder is a rare tumor which exhibits epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation of tumor cells both morphologically and immunohistochemically. Cyclophosphamide treatment and radiation therapy are associated with this tumors. This tumor is considered to be the aggressive variant of transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder. Treatment for this aggressive tumor is radical surgical excision with chemoradiation. We report a case of 47-year-female presenting with dysuria and hematuria. On imaging, heterogeneously enhancing hyperdense lesion in bladder was noted which was diagnosed as sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma on histopathological examination

The diagnostic utility of cell block as an adjunct to cytological smears

Objectives: Cytological examination of serous fluids is of paramount importance in detecting cancer cells. Distinguishing malignant cells from benign reactive mesothelial cells in fluid cytology is an everyday diagnostic problem. Cell blocks are valuable when the features in cytology are inconclusive. The motive of this study was to assess the utility of this method in increasing the diagnostic yield of serous fluids. Methods: 225 (25%) effusion fluids were analyzed carefully by both smear and cell block technique. Results: Among 225 fluids, 139 were pleural, 84 peritoneal and 2 pericardial. In case of pleural fluids and ascitic fluids, maximum numbers of cases were inflammatory. By the cell block technique, 5 additional cases of malignancy in pleural fluids and 7 additional cases of malignancy in ascitic fluids were diagnosed which could not be detected in the cytological smears. In pericardial fluids both cases were inflammatory. Male predominance was noted in case of pleural effusion and female predominance was noted in case of pericardial effusion and ascites. Maximum numbers of cases were seen in the age group of 40-60 years. Conclusion: We conclude that the cell block technique when used as an adjuvant to routine smear examination has increased the diagnostic yield because of better preservation of the architectural pattern

Intracranial-extracranial meningioma mimicking an aggressive skull bone tumor

Intracranial meningiomas with extracranial extension are rare lesions with only few reported cases in literature. In present article we report a case of 62 year male patient presented with progressive swelling over right side frontal region of 2 year duration. In our case the tumor was in close proximity to right fronto-parietal suture and there was a possibility that suture line could have paved the way for its extracranial spread and also there was evidence of transdiploic extension on histopatholgical examination

Temporal gliosarcoma: Case report and review of literature

First characterized by Stroebe, the gliosarcomas are highly malignant and rare primary tumor of the brain composed of neoplastic glial cells in association with spindle cell sarcomatous elements (biphasic tissue patterns). In spite of being recognized as two different pathologies studies have not shown any significant differences between gliosarcoma and glioblastoma with regard to age, sex, size, clinical presentation, and median survival. In summary, gliosarcoma is an aggressive tumor with a propensity to recur and re-grow with poor outcome. Future studies are needed to understand the true pathology of these biphasic tumors

Cladophialophora bantiana brain abscess masquerading cerebral tuberculoma in an immunocompetent host

Phaeohyphomycosis is a term that collectively describes fungal infections caused by moulds and yeasts that have brown-pigmented cell walls (due to the presence of melanin). We report a case of 45 year female who had multiple coalescing lesions in the right basal ganglionic and thalamic region. Based on the imaging and investigation findings a diagnosis of cerebral tuberculoma was suspected. Histopathology of the excised specimen showed brown colored fungal hyphae surrounded by neutrophilic infiltrate. A diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladophialophora bantiana was made and accordingly antifungal treatment was started. Brain abscess caused by Cladophialophora bantiana in an immunocompetent host is relatively uncommon and usually associated with overall high mortality. The best outcomes have been reported in patients who receive both surgical excision of the abscess followed by systemic antifungal therapy. In view of its rarity of these lesions pre-operative diagnosis is difficult particularly in an immunocompetent host and absence of other risk factors

Microscopy after Colonoscopy: an Institutional experience in India

Objectives: To study the histopathological features of mucosal and resected biopsy specimens for etiological diagnosis and comment on the extent, activity and severity of colonic lesions wherever possible by histological examination and correlate with the clinical diagnosis provided. Methods: Consecutive colonic biopsy/resected specimens received during a period of two years were included in this study. Clinical details with laboratory results were correlated with the pathological findings. Results: 124 mucosal biopsies and 56 resected specimens were included in this prospective study. Of 180 patients, 118(65.5%) were men. All age groups from 2-90 years were included in the study. Majority constituted 51-60 years (27.2%). Rectal bleeding was the most common presentation (71.1%) followed by constipation (48.9%). Two patients had normal mucosal biopsy, neoplastic lesion was noted in 78(43.3%) and the remaining majority 100 (55.5%) had non neoplastic etiology. Among non-neoplastic etiology, chronic non-specific colitis was the most common diagnosis (56%) followed by ulcerative colitis (17%) and ischemic colitis (10%). In benign lesions, inflammatory polyps (37.5%) were the commonest followed by tubular (40%) and villous adenomas (10%). Adenocarcinoma was the commonest neoplastic lesion noted in 95% of the patients. Rectum and cecum were the common sites of abnormality. Multiple deep biopsies that the relationship between tumour and stroma could be properly assessed as well as routine biopsies were adequate in 98.9% of the cases. Conclusion: The study was made as an effort to bring into light the spectrum of colonic lesions in a teaching hospital in South India

Cytodiagnosis of secretory carcinoma of the breast

Secretory carcinoma is a rare form of breast carcinoma which has a predilection for juveniles and young adults (usually less than 30 years of age), becoming progressively less common with advancing age. It is a low grade breast carcinoma which shows distinct features at histology. Diagnosis of this carcinoma on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is difficult. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman diagnosed to have secretory carcinoma of breast on FNAC. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. The recognition of secretory carcinoma is important because the cytological findings can be confused with those of lactating breast. Preoperative diagnosis is essential for appropriate surgical therapy. Secretory carcinoma is reported to have good prognosis, but surgical therapy with an axillary node dissection is recommended, since axillary metastases have been found in approximately 30% of the recorded cases

Recurrent hemoptysis in a 62-year-old smoker

Tracheal papillary adenoma is a rare benign tumor. We report a case of papillary adenoma in a 62-year-old male smoker who presented with recurrent hemoptysis. The tumor was located in the upper third of trachea and forceps biopsy through flexible bronchoscopy was uncomplicated and diagnostic