Calretinin expression in molecular subtypes of invasive carcinoma breast

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death  in women worldwide. Breast carcinoma is currently managed by assessing clinicopathological features. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of breast carcinoma  may lead to the development of new targeted therapies, particularly in triple negative cancers. Literature shows a few studies on the expression of calretinin  in breast carcinoma particularly in basal like type and its prognostic significance.  In this study, authors are trying  to assess the expression of  a new marker calretinin in different molecular subtypes of invasive carcinoma breast.Methods: This study was done in  107 cases of invasive carcinoma breast specimens received in  Department of Pathology, Government Medical college, Kottayam from December  2017 to May 2019.Results: Among the molecular subtypes, Basal like tumours showed 68.4% of cases with high level and 31.6% of cases with low level calretinin expression which is comparable with the study by Farrag et al. All the other molecular subgroups showed predominantly low level of calretinin expression.Conclusions: Different molecular subtypes of invasive carcinoma breast showed varied calretinin expression. High level calretinin expression was significantly associated with grade 3 (p value = 0.002), ER negativity (p = 0.004), PR negativity (p = 0.018)  and Basal like molecular subtype (p : <0.001). This suggests that calretinin might play a role in pathogenesis of basal like breast carcinomas.

Morphologic features in cystic lesions of pancreas-a retrospective analysis

Background: Cystic lesions of pancreas consist of a broad spectrum of reactive, benign and malignant conditions. The most common among cystic pancreatic lesions is pseudocyst of pancreas. Cystic tumours of pancreas are less common than solid one抯 accounting for less than 1% according to some studies. Literature review showed only a few extensive studies on cystic lesions of pancreas, especially from South India.Methods: Our research is a descriptive histopathological analysis of 38 cases of cystic lesions of pancreas, done in the department of pathology of our institution, over a period of 5 years.Results: We received a total of 38 cases of cystic lesions of pancreas. The age distribution ranged from 17 to 77 years. Male to female ratio was 24: 14. There were neoplastic and non neoplastic entities. Pseudocyst of pancreas was the most common cystic lesion (12 cases). Benign neoplasms included serous cystadenomas, mucinous cystadenomas and lymphangiomas. Ductal adenocarcinomas with cystic degeneration and adenocarcinomas with mucinous component were some of the malignant cystic lesions.Conclusions: Cystic pancreatic lesions accounted for 24% of all the pancreatic lesions received in our institution during the period of this study. 24 cases (63%) were benign lesions and 14 cases (37 %) were malignant. Though cystic lesions of pancreas especially neoplasms are less frequent than solid neoplasms, it is important to study their diagnostic features since the management differs. Imaging studies may be similar in some cystic lesions. A proper clinicoradiological correlation and detailed investigational work up will aid in the correct diagnosis.