Chondroid syringoma - a case report

Chondroid syringoma or mixed tumour of the skin is an uncommon benign sweat gland tumour. It is the cutaneous counterpart of pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands. The clinical presentation of con-odroid syringoma is non-specific and its histological diagnosis can prove difficult. We report a case of chondroid syringoma arising from a swelling on face in a 40 year old male. The diagnosis was made on histopathological examination. Surgical tumour excision remains the best therapeutic option to avoid relapse of this tumour. Close follow-up is recommended because malignant transformation, although rare, is possible

Demographic and clinicopathological parameters in lung cancer in a chest hospital, Lahore - Pakistan

We are presenting the clinical and pathological characteristics of lung cancer among patients reporting to Gulab Devi Chest Hospital Lahore, the largest and the oldest health care facility for chest diseases including lung cancer in Pakistan. It was a cross - sectional, descriptive study conducted at the department of histopathology, Gulab Devi Hospital Lahore between March 2011 and February 2012. A sample of 293 patients of primary lung cancer was taken. The demographic and clinical details i.e. age, sex, history of smoking and presenting symptoms were collected after the informed consent. Histopathological diagnosis and tumour grades were added in respective columns. Data was analysed with the help of S.P.S.S. version 17.0. Mean age was 53.19 +/- 0.92 years for male and 47.36 +/- 1.92 years for females. Male to female ratio was 3:1. History of tobacco smoking was present in 2/3[rd] of the patients. Smoking was strongly associated with squamous and small cell carcinoma of lung. Most common histological diagnoses were squamous cell, small cell and adenocarcinoma respectively. Majority of squamous cell carcinoma were poorly differentiated as compared to adenocarcinoma in which well and moderately differentiated tumours constituted 25% and 45% respectively. Most of patients presented at inoperable stage. Smoking is most strongly associated with the two most common histological entities of lung cancer viz. squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma. Bronchial biopsy was the commonest diagnostic procedure in practice and surgical resection is offered to only a few cases

Prevalence of microbial isolates in blood cultures and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles

The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiological profile and the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria identified in blood culture to improve empirical antibiotherapy. The study was retrospective in nature and carried out at the Microbiology Laboratory of Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore; data generated from blood culture specimens over 2 year period [Aug 2009-Aug 2011] was compiled, relevant information such as age, sex, organism recovered and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were obtained from patients records. During the 2years period 450 blood cultures were received from pediatrics/neonatology wards/OPD and from adult patients. In a total of 450 blood cultures, 75 yielded monomicrobial growth. An incidence of positive blood culture was 16.6% [75/450] that includes Gram-negative bacilli 60% and Gram-positive cocci 40%. The most frequently identified species were Staphylococcus epidermidis [16%], Staphylococcus saprophyticus [10.7%], Staphylococcus aureus [13.3%] and Enterobacteriaceae accounted for 60% included Escherichia coli 16%, Klebsiella pneumonae 13.3% and pseudomonas aeroginosa10. 10.7% the most common bacterial isolates, and the other bacteria isolated were Citrobacter/Enterobacter the least 5.4%, Proteus spp. and Salmonella typhi/paratyphi; were 8% acinotobacter and pasturella were 6.6%. Antimicrobial susceptibility to 16 antimicrobial agents were determined by minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] using standard Kirby Bauer's method. None of the antibiotics tested was 100% active against isolates. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative Staphylococci showed no resistance to glycopeptides. Most Gram positive isolates were [100%] sensitive to vancomycin, and 50-75% of the Gram-negative isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and amikacin. It is concluded that E.coli, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus aureus remain the principal organisms responsible for blood infection in a tertiary care setting

Malignant tumors of head and neck region - a retrospective analysis

To evaluate the spectrum of malignant tumors of head and neck region. Design: A department-based retrospective study. Place and Duration of Study: It was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, over a period of two years [1997-1999]. Subject and The data of total 375 neoplastic lesions of both the sexes between 8-70 years of age was collected and compared with the findings reported from centers in other parts of the country. Among the total 375 cases of neoplastic lesions, 148 were benign whereas 227 proved to be malignant histologically in 155 male and 72 female patients. Squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] was the most frequently encountered histological category [45.8%] followed by lymphoma [14.5%], basal cell carcinoma [10.5%], carcinoma thyroid [10.5%] and salivary gland tumors [8.80%]. These were followed by infrequently encountered tumors including nasopharyngeal carcinoma [n=5], small blue round cell tumors [n=3], undifferentiated carcinoma [n=3], retinoblastoma [n=2] and transitional carcinoma nose [n=1]. The anatomical regions involved with this tumor were larynx [53.5% of all SCC] followed by pharynx [18.7%], tongue [10.71%], oral cavity [4.4%] metastasis [5.3%] and skin [2.60%]. The frequency of the various malignancies was found comparable to the findings reported from other centres in Punjab and SCC was found to be the most common cause of malignancy

Malignant tumors of head and neck region - a retrospective analysis

To evaluate the spectrum of malignant tumors of head and neck region. Design: A department-based retrospective study. Place and Duration of Study: It was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, over a period of two years [1997-1999]. Subject and The data of total 375 neoplastic lesions of both the sexes between 8-70 years of age was collected and compared with the findings reported from centers in other parts of the country. Among the total 375 cases of neoplastic lesions, 148 were benign whereas 227 proved to be malignant histologically in 155 male and 72 female patients. Squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] was the most frequently encountered histological category [45.8%] followed by lymphoma [14.5%], basal cell carcinoma [10.5%], carcinoma thyroid [10.5%] and salivary gland tumors [8.80%]. These were followed by infrequently encountered tumors including nasopharyngeal carcinoma [n=5], small blue round cell tumors [n=3], undifferentiated carcinoma [n=3], retinoblastoma [n=2] and transitional carcinoma nose [n=1]. The anatomical regions involved with this tumor were larynx [53.5% of all SCC] followed by pharynx [18.7%], tongue [10.71%], oral cavity [4.4%], metastasis [5.3%] and skin [2.60%].The frequency of the various malignancies was found comparable to the findings reported from other centres in Punjab and SCC was found to be the most common cause of malignancy