Indian Journal of Pathology and Oncology

1-3

Authors: Asitava Deb Roy

Indian Journal of Pathology and Oncology (IJPO) is an interdisciplinary journal at the interface of pathology and oncology, including the preclinical and translational research, diagnostics and therapy. The journal covers studies related to pathology including morbid anatomy, surgical pathology, clinical pathology, diagnostic cytopathology including gynecologic cytology. Furthermore, IJPO offers an international forum for the rapid communication of reviews, original research, critical and topical reports with excellence and novelty. Published quarterly, IJPO is dedicated to keeping scientists informed of developments in its focused biomedical fields which span the gap between basic research and clinical medicine.

6-9

Authors: Pratiksha Chheda, Shamma Shetye, Nishtha Vira, Nilesh Shah.

Rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is one of the cornerstones for global TB control as it allows early epidemiological and therapeutic interventions. The slow growth of the tubercle bacillus is the greatest obstacle to rapid diagnosis of the disease. Newer molecular methods which are based on nucleic acid amplification (NAA) of different targets, aim to identify the M. tuberculosis complex in 6- 8 hours. In this study, we assessed the performance of careTB Assay, a Real Time based Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for identification of IS6110 insertion sequence which is specific for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex (MTC). Sputum specimens were collected from 100 patients with suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis and tested for the presence of MTC using careTB kit. The results were compared against MTB culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of TB PCR were 92.98%, 88.37%, 91.38% and 90.48% respectively. PCR correctly identified MTC in four of the smear negative/ culture positive samples indicating high sensitivity of the assay. Four of the culture positive MOTT specimens were found to be negative by IS6110 PCR which is highly specific for MTC group of organisms. careTB test is simple, easy to perform and delivers the results in lowest possible turnaround time. Its sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value are satisfactory.

14-17

Authors: Harpreet Kaur, Aayushi Gulati.

Fibroids are the commonest benign tumors of female genital tract. They are mainly composed of smooth muscle & fibrous connective tissue. Etiopathogenesis of fibroids is linked to hormones (estrogen & progesterone), genetic factors and some growth factors. Estrogen is the main predisposing factor-there is increased density of estrogen in fibroids compared to normal myometrium and increased concentration of aromatase leading to high local estrogen levels. The growth promoting effect of estrogen & progesterone has been shown to be mediated through local production of growth factors.

24-30

Authors: Sodani Sadhna, Hawaldar Ranjana.

A 50 year old patient cam to Sampurna Sodani Diagnostic Clinic, Indore for routine tests including CBC and Lipid profile. CBC was WNL while chol (211 mg/dl), Triglyceride (109 mg/dl) and HDL was unusually high (113 mg/dl). On further investigations and detailed history it was found that he was a farmer, was nonalcoholic, non-diabetic, normotensive, nonsmoker and had not received any medications for reducing his lipids . He had never undergone any blood tests previously. He complained of headache off and on for which a CT scan was performed and which revealed focal area of hypoattenuation in right anterior centrum semiovale, corona radiate and right lentiform nucleus suggestive of recent right MCA territory infarct. High density lipoprotein or HDL is often called the good cholesterol. It has long been accepted that the HDL is more tightly controlled by genetic factors than are the other lipoproteins (ie, LDL, VLDL, intermediate-density lipoprotein [IDL], and chylomicrons). For example, in certain families, especially some families with Japanese ancestry, a genetic deficiency of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is associated with strikingly elevated HDL cholesterol levels. However, environmental factors also have a significant impact on HDL levels. Factors that elevate HDL concentrations include chronic alcoholism, treatment with oral estrogen replacement therapy, extensive aerobic exercise, and treatment with niacin, statins, or fibrates. On the other hand, smoking reduces levels of HDL cholesterol, while quitting smoking leads to a rise in the plasma HDL level. Very high levels of HDL cholesterol have been reported to be atherogenic. The mechanism of this paradoxical effect is not entirely clear. Conclusion: While the epidemiology indicates a strong inverse association between HDL-C and CVD risk, at both extremes of HDL-C distribution, genetic conditions that influence HDL metabolism have a far less predictable relationship to atherosclerosis. Ongoing studies of genetic causes of very high HDL-C also promise to provide similarly important insights on the complex relationship between HDL metabolism and atherosclerosis that could lead to new therapies for the treatment of atherosclerotic CVD.

34-36

Authors: Afsheen Wasif, Limci Gupta.

Mural nodules of the ovary are described as solid masses or nodules which are histologically different from the background cystic tumour. These nodules can be associated with both serous and mucinous ovarian tumours but more commonly with mucinous subtypes. These mural nodules could be benign or malignant. The subtypes include sarcoma-like, sarcomatoid, anaplastic and mixed. We describe a case of a borderline mucinous ovarian tumour with intraepithelial carcinoma with a mural nodule of anaplastic carcinoma.

41-43

Authors: Vartak Shailesh, Anitha Padmanabhan, Ranbir Singh, Urmi Chakravarty Vartak.

A case of Sarcoidosis, presented initially as bilateral parotid gland enlargement and diagnosed on FNAC is discussed here. Smears showed noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas and few atrophic salivary gland acini. AFB staining of the aspirate smears were negative and no caseous necrosis was seen. After excluding other granulomatous lesions, a differential diagnosis of Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis was suggested. The Serum ACE levels were elevated and x ray chest showed hilar lymphadenopathy. The patient also had xerostomia and xerophthalmia of right eye. The diagnosis of Sarcoidosis was confirmed based on these findings. FNAC, therefore, may be considered a useful diagnostic modality in cases of sarcoidosis presenting primarily with parotid involvement.

47-52

Authors: Banushree C Srinivasamurthy, Swagatika Senapati, Nagarajan K, Arpita Saha.

Basal cell adenoma is a rare benign epithelial tumor of the salivary gland that derives its name from the basaloid appearance of the tumor cells, accounting for 1–2% of all salivary gland epithelial tumors. We report a case of elderly female with a gradually progressive swelling in the pre auricular region for 1year. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the lesion was inconclusive but its classical histopathological features made a confirmed diagnosis of basal cell adenoma.