Detection of Cysticercosis in Palpable Subcutaneous and Intramuscular Nodules in FNAC - A Chance Diagnosis - A Study of 15 Cases.

Cysticercosis is caused by a parasitic tissue infection caused by encysted larval form of tape worm Taenia solium and usually presents as painless subcutaneous or intramuscular nodules of long duration. It is quite a common disease worldwide, but the actual incidence is often underestimated. Fine needle aspiration cytology plays an important role in quick and easy detection of cysticercosis especially in easily approachable sites like superficial palpable lesions. We wanted to study the important role of FNAC in unusual diagnosis of cysticercosis in superficial palpable swelling. METHODSIn this case series of 15 cases of palpable nodular lesions at different sites, clinically diagnosed as lipoma, neurofibroma, inclusion cyst or lymphadenopathy in majority of cases, except one which was clinically and radiologically suspected as parasitic cyst were included. Cytomorphological features were analysed on FNAC smears and subsequent biopsy was done wherever possible. RESULTSIn this study, out of 15 cases, majority of the patients were in the age group of 20 - 30 years. Mean age is 23.93 years with a standard deviation of 11.17. Among them, 10 were male (66.6%) and 5 were female (33.3%). The most common sites were upper and lower extremities, followed by head and neck, and then abdominal wall. Most of the cases were clinically misdiagnosed as lymphadenitis, lipoma, neurofibroma, inclusion cyst or soft tissue tumour. Definitive diagnosis could be made on FNAC by recognition of parasitic fragments in nine cases (60%). In rest 6 cases (40%), larval fragments could not be identified on cytology smears and diagnosis of parasitic infection was suggested on the basis of nature of aspirate as clear fluid, eosinophils infiltration, palisaded histiocytes, foreign body giant cells, epithelioid cells, and dirty granular background. Histopathological correlation was available in 4 cases. CONCLUSIONSSubcutaneous cysticercosis can be diagnosed by FNAC which is a low cost safe outpatient procedure. The cytological diagnosis is straight forward in cases where parasitic structure is identified in cytology smears. In other cases, presence of eosinophils, palisaded histiocytes, typical granular dirty background always give a clue to the pathologist to become suspicious for cysticercosis. Cysticercosis should always be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis in all kinds of subcutaneous swellings in endemic areas.

Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Withania coagulans Dunal dried fruit in experimental rat models.

Objective: Evaluation of antidiabetic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of Withania coagulans Dunal dried fruit (WCDF) alone and in combination with glipizide, in streptozotocin‑induced diabetes, and evaluation of possible antihyperlipidemic activity of the same extract in high‑cholesterol diet‑induced hyperlipidemia, in albino rats. Materials and Methods: Experimental diabetes was induced in 30 albino rats with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). The rats were divided into five groups receiving the following treatments orally for 4 weeks: Vehicle, glipizide (2.5 mg/kg), WCDF extract (1000 mg/kg), WCDF extract (1000 mg/kg) plus glipizide (1 mg/kg) and WCDF extract (1000 mg/kg) plus glipizide (2.5 mg/kg). Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels were measured every week for 4 weeks. Endocrine pancreas histopathology was done at the end. In a separate set of experiment, five groups of six albino rats each, received orally for 4 weeks, vehicle, cholesterol (25 mg/kg/day), cholesterol (25 mg/kg/day) plus atorvastatin (7.2 mg/kg/day), cholesterol (25 mg/kg/day) plus WCDF extract (1000 mg/kg/day) and no treatment, respectively. Estimation of serum lipid profile and liver histopathology was done at the end of 4 weeks. Statistical Analysis: Between‑group and within‑group comparisons were respectively done by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and repeated measures ANOVA, followed by post hoc Tukey’s test, with a significance level of P < 0.05. Results and Conclusions: The 4‑week treatment with WCDF extract significantly reversed hyperglycemia in streptozotocin‑induced diabetes that was comparable to glipizide. When combined with glipizide (2.5 mg/kg), WCDF extract produced a synergistic antihyperglycemic effect as well as improvement in pancreatic histopathology. Moreover, hydroalcoholic extract of WCDF was effective and comparable to atorvastatin in controlling the high‑cholesterol diet‑induced hyperlipidemia in rats.

Coexistence of a mature teratoma and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in the same ovary--a case report.

A case of right sided abdominal lump with pain in a 45 years female was presented. Radiological investigation revealed a multiloculated cystic mass with a few mural nodules arising from right ovary. The tumor was removed by exploratory laparotomy and histopathological examination showed coexistence of dermoid cyst with mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in the same ovary. Left ovary and uterus was healthy and there was no tumor extension or omental deposits. Postoperative period was uneventful.