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Background: Gastric carcinomas are the fifth most common cancer worldwide and cause the second most common cancer-related deaths. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/Neu)(c-erbB2) protein overexpression in gastric cancer has been correlated to poor outcomes and a more aggressive disease. Targeted therapy against HER-2/Neu has attracted much attention recently. Comprehensive data regarding Her2neu expression in gastric carcinoma in Southeast Asia shows highly variable results and often lacks standardization. Aim/Objective: In this study, we study the expression of HER-2/Neu marker in lower esophageal and gastric carcinoma and compare it with various clinicopathological parameters and are known to have prognostic significance. Methods: One hundred and fifty cases of gastric/gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (intestinal type) were included in the study over 2 years, and immunohistochemistry was done to evaluate Her2neu expression. Scoring was done according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guideline, and the finding was correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Results: The age of patients ranged from 41 years to 80 years. Gastric tumors were more common in the age group 61–70 years with mean age of 65.5 years. Gastric tumors are more common in males than females. (M:F = 3.16:1) Most common type of specimen received was partial gastrectomy (38%). Anorexia (46%) and pain abdomen (46%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Gastric tumors were common in tubular subtypes (76%) followed by mucinous subtypes (16%). Most common histopathological grading was moderately differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma (64%). Most gastric tumors were located at antropyloric area of the stomach (42%). The highest frequency of cases presented at an tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage that is pT2N2Mx (32.3%). Her2neu expression was found to be score 0 in most (62%) cases, only 10% of cancers were positive (3+), 14% were equivocal (2+), and another 14% were 1+ (negative). When we correlated clinicopathological parameters such as age,sex,tumour site,gross appearance,size,depth of invasion,TNM stage,Lymphovascular invasion,perineural invasion etc. with HEr2neu expression; no statistically significant correlation was found. Conclusion: Overexpression of HER-2/Neu in gastric carcinoma can help to identify patients with reduced survival and to identify eligible candidates for targeted therapy. A larger sample size and follow-up for a longer period might shed more light on the role of the above markers in gastric carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Maitrayee. Saha, Bhawna. Jain, Sarbani. Chattopadhyay, Indrashis. Podder Mycosis fungoides (MF), a primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, accounts for Introduction Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome comprise approximately 53% of [...]

Cutaneous granular cell tumor (GCT) is an uncommon benign mesenchymal neoplasm of skin constitutes 0.5% of all soft-tissue tumors, presenting as slowly growing papule or nodule. Familial cases and congenital GCT have been reported to be associated with multiple lesions. Classic GCT is usually S-100 and CD 68 positive. Here, we report the case of a 16-year-old male patient presented with a 2-year history of slowly growing firm, nontender, nodular masses all over the body without any lymphadenopathy. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections show histological picture of GCT, but it is CD-68 positive and S-100 negative on immunohistochemistry. Due to its rare immunohistological feature, we are presenting this case. Documentation and reporting of such aberrant cases are necessary for further study on actual origin of these tumors which may aid for better management in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Snigdha. Goyal, Bhawna. Jain, Sritanu. Jana, Subodh. Bhattacharya Proliferating trichilemmal tumor (PTT) is a benign tumor originating from the outer root sheath of a hair follicle. Malignant transformation in [...]

Introduction: To find the prevalence and frequency of different thyroid lesions, especially papillary carcinoma in our population, we conducted a histopathological study of thyroid glands obtained from medicolegal autopsy in cases with no obvious history of thyroid disease in our region. Methods: The study population comprised deceased undergoing medicolegal autopsy in police morgue under the Forensic Medicine Department of our institution over a period of 18 months. Thyroid gland was dissected out at the time of autopsy. Gross and histopathological findings of each specimen were documented in details. The data were collected, compiled, and tabulated, and statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 20 software and Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Results: The total number of samples was 240. The mean age of the study participants was 42.35 years. About 60.4% were male, and 39.6% were female. Mean weight of thyroid was 34.08 g. In 56 cases (23.3%), single or multiple nodules were observed on cut section of thyroid. Minimum and maximum size of the nodules was 0.40 and 1.30 cm, respectively, with mean size of 0.74 cm in diameter. On microscopic examination, 54.6% of the cases were seen to be normal in histological examination while 45.4% had one or other histopathological changes. Among the nonneoplastic lesions, the most common lesions seen were nodular colloid goiter (20%) and lymphocytic thyroiditis (7.5%). Papillary thyroid carcinoma was seen in 5 (2.1%) cases. Among the five cases of papillary carcinoma, three cases had papillary microcarcinoma (<1 cm). All cases of papillary carcinoma showed strong diffuse reactivity with cytokeratin-19 immunostain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of disseminated cryptococcus infection in an immunocompetent host is described. The present case attests to the importance of using a cautious approach for the diagnosis of granulomatous lymphadenitis. The patient was initially misdiagnosed and treated as disseminated tuberculosis. Later the patient developed visual loss and skin lesions. Periodic Acid Schiff stained sections of lymph node biopsy and cerebrospinal fluid culture established the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ganglioneuroblastoma (GNB) is a rare peripheral neuroblastic tumor that is derived from developing neuronal cells of the sympathetic nervous system, and usually occurs in young children. We present a case of GNB occurring as pleural mass in a 2-year-old boy, which led to diagnostic confusion. On fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), it was misinterpreted as mesothelioma. He underwent thoracotomy with excision of the mass. Histopathological findings showed features of a biphasic tumor suggestive of mesothelioma. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) performed for mesothelioma markers were inconclusive. On review of the histology slides, GNB was considered, which was subsequently proven by IHC. The rarity of this tumor, along with its nearly restricted occurrence at a young age, necessitates a strong suspicion in patients presenting with a symptomatic intrathoracic mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a 45-year-old male presenting with an intraoral mass originating from the right maxillary alveolar ridge. Radiologic investigations revealed osteolytic lesions in the right maxilla, skull, and lumbar vertebrae. This finding led to further investigations like electrophoresis of serum proteins for M band, quantitative estimation of immunoglobulins, urine electrophoresis for monoclonal light chain, and bone marrow biopsy. All these findings were inconclusive. Incision biopsy revealed the features of plasmacytoma. Since the other reports were incongruent with the histopathology report, for establishing a diagnosis of plasmacytoma, Immunohistochemistry of the specimen was done which revealed it to be a case of plasmablastic plasma cell neoplasm favoring plasmablastic lymphoma. The diagnostic confusion which arose in this setting is discussed in details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spheno-occipital chordomas can rarely present as nasopharyngeal mass. Metastases occur only in advanced disease. They can pose a diagnostic dilemma when information about diagnosis of the primary tumor is not available. We present cytological findings in upper cervical lymph node of a case of nasopharyngeal chordoma and discuss possible differential in such a location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]