Morphological spectrum of vascular changes in glioblastoma multiforme

To determine the frequency of various vascular changes and their associated effects in Glioblastoma Multiforme [GBM]. It was a descriptive study.Pathology Department, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Islamabad. 30 diagnosed cases of glioblastoma multiforme were analyzed in the study from July 2005 to September 2006. The slides were evaluated for various vascular patterns like vascular proliferation, endothelial proliferation, glomeruloid bodies, necrosis of vessel wall and fibrin thrombi. More than l/3rd blood vessels were blocked by fibrin thrombi in 70% of cases. Vascular occlusion by thrombi involving more than 50% of diameter was seen in 57% of cases. 64% of cases showed endothelial proliferation in the form of glomeruloid bodies, while rest of the cases showed mild to moderate endothelial proliferation. 86% of cases exhibited necrosis whereas pseudopalisaded necrosis was observed in 60% cases. Most of the cases showed edema and extravasation of red blood cells in more than 2/3rd of slide area. All cases of glioblastoma multiforme showed vascular thrombi resulting in destruction as well as leading to endothelial cell damage and proliferation. The resultant vascular damage causes exudation of plasma and extravasation of red blood cells leading to significant cerebral edema

Utility of oil immersion lens in evaluation of malignancy

Oil immersion objective is not routinely used in histopathology and very rarely in cytopathology. We, on the other hand are routinely using the technique in our department on almost all types of lesions in histopathology and cytopathology. To determine the extra advantages of examining histopathology sections at 1000X magnification. It was a comparative study. This study was carried out in department of pathology, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. June 2005 to Dec 2005. Thirty diagnosed cases of gastric and colorectal adenocarcinomas were examined first under high power lens [400X] and then oil immersion lens using xylene [as an alternative for oil] for various parameters such as tumor architecture, cytoplasmic and nuclear features. The difference in various parameters was scored from 0-2. The results revealed that nuclear features such as membrane breaks, nuclear pinching, grooving and chromatin patterns were significantly better appreciated on oil immersion lens compared to high power objective. However no significant difference was observed in tumor architecture and cytoplasmic features. Oil immersion lens with a magnification of 1000 may be useful in difficult cases to ascertain about malignancy which is mostly based on nuclear features