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Background Carcinoma of the gall bladder is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract. Ultrasonography guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) plays a crucial role in early detection of gall bladder (GB) lesions. Early diagnosis of GB lesions is a necessity in view of rising trend in GB carcinoma related mortality in India. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of pre-operative ultrasonography guided FNAC in the diagnosis of GB masses. Methods This was a retrospective observational study performed at a tertiary care university hospital over a period of one and a half years. A total of 47 patients with clinico-radiological suspicion of GB malignancy were subjected to USG guided FNA. 20 of these patients underwent diagnostic Trucut biopsy in addition to FNA. Results Forty-one out of 47 patients analyzed were positive for malignancy with female preponderance; MF ratio of 0.6:1. There were 29 females (61.8%) and 18 males (38.2%) in the range of 34 to 85 years. Cytomorphology was inconclusive for malignancy in two patients and unsatisfactory in one case. Two were labeled as chronic cholecystitis and one as acute cholecystitis. Adenocarcinoma was the most common malignancy found in 36 patients (76.6%). Conclusion USG guided FNAC is a rapid, safe and successful diagnostic procedure with high sensitivity for diagnosis of GB lesions. In the present scenario of increasing incidence of GB malignancy, FNAC has proved to be a useful first choice of investigation in the detection of GB lesions.

Cryptococcal meningitis commonly affects immunocompromised cases and can have varied presentation. In some instances, the presence of a plethora of inflammatory cells on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in an immunosuppressed patient can lead to further investigations, which unravel the presence of cryptococcal meningitis. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the spectrum of CSF findings of immunosuppressed patients who were diagnosed to have cryptococcal meningitis. Retrospective analysis of CSF cytospin slides exhibiting pleocytosis and belonging to immunocompromised patients was performed, and these cases were found to have cryptococcal meningitis. Out of 932 cases of CSF (January 2016-July 2017), 10 had pleocytosis and 5 of these 10 cases demonstrated spores of Cryptococcus. Male-to-female ratio was 1:1.5. All the patients were immunocompromised and had CSF leukocytosis. Lymphocytes and monocytes were present in all samples while only one case showed plasma cells. Spores of Cryptococcus were also noted in all the cases and highlighted on India Ink Preparation and Gomori Methenamine Silver stain. All the cases were positive for agglutination-based cryptococcal antigen assay, except one where the test was not done. All immunosuppressed patients having pleocytosis in CSF were found to have cryptococcal infection. Therefore, pleocytosis in CSF in any immunosuppressed patient should raise the suspicion of cryptococcal meningitis. The pathologist and the clinician need to be vigilant in such scenarios to rule out any opportunistic infection and investigate the patient thoroughly for any underlying immunosuppression.

Histoplasma capsulatum is a saprophytic fungus that in immunocompetent individuals causes self-limited pulmonary infection; however, in immunosuppressed patients involvement of the reticuloendothelial system, alimentary tract, urinary tract, and central nervous system is fairly common. Rarely patients present with bilateral adrenal masses which mimic tuberculosis and metastasis on radiology because of associated central necrosis. Ultrasound guided FNAC aided by special stains like Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) and Gomori Methenamine Silver (GMS) may help in early diagnosis in such dubious cases. Polka dot macrophages were the clue to diagnosis of histoplasmosis on toluidine blue rapid staining, Hematoxylin & Eosin, and Pap stained smears. We report this case because of its rarity, diagnostic difficulty on radiology, and rapidity of diagnosis by FNA due of its characteristic cytomorphology.

We present an interesting scenario where a 64 years old male presented with a long standing painless, infra-auricular swelling, which had progressively increased in size. Based on the site, the clinical impression was of a salivary gland lesion and FNAC was performed. The smears were unusually cellular and had necrotic background. The cytological diagnosis was a cystic neoplasm of salivary gland, possibly mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Warthin's tumor was also kept in differential. However, the radiological investigations, which were made available after the FNAC report were conflicting with cytological diagnosis of a malignancy and were characteristic of a carotid body tumor, generally a benign neoplasm. Surgical excision of the tumor with regional lymph node sampling was done and histopathological examination solved the puzzle by revealing metastasis of paraganglioma to right posterior triangle lymph nodes. This case is unique because of the unusual presentation of a malignant paraganglioma as an infra-auricular swelling, which was clinically considered as a parotid tumor. The clinician as well as the pathologist need to be aware of such diagnostic pitfall. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2017;45:569-573. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sarcina ventriculi is a rare gram-positive, anaerobic bacteria, associated with delayed gastric emptying. We report a case of a 45-year-old lady, who presented with features of gastric outlet obstruction, and coinfection of S. ventriculi and Candida was detected on examining gastric brushings and biopsy. S. ventriculi is identified by its peculiar configuration in the form of tetrads and octets. Coexistence of S. ventriculi with other organisms is highly unusual.

Hydatid disease, caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, is found most commonly in the liver and lungs, but no organ is immune. The ovarian involvement is often secondary to a cyst's dissemination localized in a different site. Occasionally, the cyst enlarges, thus mimicking an ovarian tumor. Patients with hydatid cysts at unusual locations present with atypical presentations and pose a diagnostic dilemma. A high index of suspicion is required in order to make a correct diagnosis pre-operatively to prevent spillage of the cyst contents during surgery. We report a case of hydatid cyst in the ovary in a young female. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumour of infancy is a rare, pigmented neoplasm generally arising in infants during the first year of life. The cytological features are rarely described in the literature. This case due to its rarity and unusual site emphasising the cytopathological features and the necessity of histology for differentiating it from other round cell tumours has been presented. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Histoplasma capsulatum is a saprophytic fungus that in immunocompetent individuals causes self-limited pulmonary infection; however, in immunosuppressed patients involvement of the reticuloendothelial system, alimentary tract, urinary tract, and central nervous system is fairly common. Rarely patients present with bilateral adrenal masses which mimic tuberculosis and metastasis on radiology because of associated central necrosis. Ultrasound guided FNAC aided by special stains like Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) and Gomori Methenamine Silver (GMS) may help in early diagnosis in such dubious cases. Polka dot macrophages were the clue to diagnosis of histoplasmosis on toluidine blue rapid staining, HematoxylinEosin, and Pap stained smears. We report this case because of its rarity, diagnostic difficulty on radiology, and rapidity of diagnosis by FNA due of its characteristic cytomorphology.

We present an interesting scenario where a 64 years old male presented with a long standing painless, infra-auricular swelling, which had progressively increased in size. Based on the site, the clinical impression was of a salivary gland lesion and FNAC was performed. The smears were unusually cellular and had necrotic background. The cytological diagnosis was a cystic neoplasm of salivary gland, possibly mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Warthin's tumor was also kept in differential. However, the radiological investigations, which were made available after the FNAC report were conflicting with cytological diagnosis of a malignancy and were characteristic of a carotid body tumor, generally a benign neoplasm. Surgical excision of the tumor with regional lymph node sampling was done and histopathological examination solved the puzzle by revealing metastasis of paraganglioma to right posterior triangle lymph nodes. This case is unique because of the unusual presentation of a malignant paraganglioma as an infra-auricular swelling, which was clinically considered as a parotid tumor. The clinician as well as the pathologist need to be aware of such diagnostic pitfall. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2017;45:569-573. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hydatid disease, caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, is found most commonly in the liver and lungs, but no organ is immune. The ovarian involvement is often secondary to a cyst's dissemination localized in a different site. Occasionally, the cyst enlarges, thus mimicking an ovarian tumor. Patients with hydatid cysts at unusual locations present with atypical presentations and pose a diagnostic dilemma. A high index of suspicion is required in order to make a correct diagnosis pre-operatively to prevent spillage of the cyst contents during surgery. We report a case of hydatid cyst in the ovary in a young female. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2017;45:267-269. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumour of infancy is a rare, pigmented neoplasm generally arising in infants during the first year of life. The cytological features are rarely described in the literature. This case due to its rarity and unusual site emphasising the cytopathological features and the necessity of histology for differentiating it from other round cell tumours has been presented. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.