Value of cytokeratin-19, Hector Battifora mesothelial-1 and galectin-3 immunostaining in the diagnosis of thyroid neoplasms

BACKGROUND:

Diagnosis of types and aggressiveness of thyroid cancers is difficult. The “gold standard” in diagnosis is using routine hematoxylin and eosin staining. Several markers have been investigated for differentiating them among which cytokeratin-19 (CK-19), Hector Battifora mesothelial cell (HBME-1), and galectin-3 are found to be most commonly used. Most studies have evaluated the single expression of markers in various thyroid lesions.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

To know the value of immunohistochemical expression of CK-19, HBME-1, and galectin-3 in diagnosing thyroid neoplasms. To study the expression and compare the results of HBME-1, CK-19, and galectin-3 immunohistochemical markers in histopathologically diagnosed malignant lesions and nonmalignant lesions and demonstrate their usefulness in differentiating them.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A prospective study was carried out on thyroidectomy specimens sent in 10% buffered formalin to Department of Pathology, SVIMS, Tirupati, from May 2013 to August 2014. Sensitivity and specificity for each marker and their combination in diagnosis were calculated.

RESULTS:

Among 120 cases, nonmalignant lesions were 70 (58.33%) and malignant lesions 50 (41.67%). Among nonmalignant lesions, 65 (93%) were adenomatous goiter and 5 (7%) were follicular adenomas. In malignant lesions, 48 (96%) were papillary carcinoma and 1 (2%) each of follicular carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma. Among papillary carcinomas, classical were 26 (54.16%) followed by 17 follicular variant (35.41%). Galectin-3 had highest sensitivity of 90% and HBME-1 had highest specificity of 97.14%.

CONCLUSIONS:

Panel of HBME-1+ galectin-3 or CK-19, HBME-1, and galectin-3 increase the accuracy of diagnosis in histopathologically difficult cases.

A prospective analysis of prevalence of metastasis in levels IIB and V neck nodes in patients with operable oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The present study was designed to know and analyze the prevalence of pathological involvement of level IIB and V neck nodes in operable oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All treatment naïve, willing biopsy proven patients of age group 18-70 years with oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas undergoing surgery from May 2015 to December 2016 in a single tertiary care Institute were prospectively analyzed for level IIb and V involvement.

RESULTS

A total of 199 patients met the selection criteria of the study. Most common site was buccal mucosa, majority were cT2 lesions and 90% underwent Modified neck dissection. 63% of patients had pN0 disease. The rate of involvement of level II b and V nodes was 3% and was associated with higher T size, disease burden in proximal basin and lymphovascular invasion. There was no skip metastasis to level IV. Only one patient had skip metastasis to levels V and IIB each.

CONCLUSION

To conclude our data strongly supports omission of level IIb and level V nodal dissection routinely in patients with cT1 and T2 buccal cancers. However, a randomized controlled study to evaluate the morbidity as well as recurrence pattern between the selective and super-selective approach is warranted.

A case of synchronous isolated thyroid metastasis from a primary lung cancer presenting as thyroid primary: Diagnostic challenge!

The thyroid metastasis from any primary is rare, and usually is a late event and presents as a thyroid swelling. Further, the diagnosis of a metastatic lesion in a patient with no antecedent history of any malignancy can be very challenging. Recently, a patient presented to us with a history of diagnostic evaluation suggesting a primary thyroid malignancy with a synchronous lung primary. After surgery for the thyroid swelling, final histopathology revealed a metastatic lesion from a lung primary. Here, we discuss this rare case of isolated synchronous thyroid metastasis from a lung primary and review the relevant literature.

A study of primary glomerular diseases in adults; clinical, histopathological and immunofluorescence correlations

Introduction: The frequency of primary glomerular diseases is variable from one part of the world to the other. Data published from India has shown wide range of variation in the different regions of the country. Objectives: This study reports the frequency of primary glomerulonephritis (GN) in adults in the Rayalaseema region of south India. Materials and Methods: The study is based on prospective evaluation of renal biopsies done during 2 years 4 months period (May 2010-August 2012). A total of 137 cases of primary GN were studied by light microscopy and immunofluorescence (IF). The patients age range between 15-74 years. Results: Most frequent primary GN was membranous nephropathy (MN) constituting 35.8%, followed by minimal change disease (MCD) at 16.7%. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that MN is the most common primary GN encountered in the adults, the second more frequent is MCD. This result is in contrast to previous reports from India where IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and MCD were reported as the most common primary GN in whole population.

Salivary duct carcinoma of parotid gland

A 40-year old male presented with rapidly growing swelling in the right parotid region. Based on the fine needle aspiration cytology report of adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified, superficial parotidectomy was performed, which showed the features of salivary duct carcinoma by histopathological examination. The smears were reviewed to identify the potential pitfalls in the cytological diagnosis of salivary duct carcinoma.