Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix in an adult female

ABSTRACT Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the female genital tract is an uncommon malignancy, presenting mainly in the pediatric and adolescent populations, primarily affecting the first two decades of life. This malignancy presentation in adulthood is rare and is seldom seen. The incidence of this tumor affecting adult females is approximately 0.4 - 1%, with the common site being the vagina. This tumor infrequently involves the cervix. RMS has a poor survival rate and once diagnosed, it requires aggressive management by radical surgery accompanied by chemoradiation. We present a case of an anaplastic variant of embryonal RMS of the uterine cervix presenting as a cervical polyp in a 36-year-old female who complained of dyspareunia and post-coital bleeding.

Non-traumatic myositis ossificans

Myositis ossificans (MO) is a benign, ossifying lesion that usually affects the skeletal muscle. The rare non-traumatic form of MO can cause diagnostic dilemma and management issues. These lesions, however, have similar radiology and histopathological characteristics described in the more frequently encountered traumatic forms. Depending on the stage of the lesion, the inherent feature of myositis ossificans varies, and so does the management of the lesion. We describe a non-traumatic MO occurring in latissimus dorsi of a young girl and discuss the review of literature on this rare subtype.

Metastatic gallbladder carcinoma presenting as an ovarian mass

Metastatic gallbladder carcinoma to the ovaries is occasional but a recognized entity. It can mimic, clinical and morphologically, a primary ovarian tumor, challenging the diagnosis. We present the case of a patient with a lump in the hypogastrium extending into the right iliac fossa and was found to have abdominopelvic cystic lesion with enhancing solid components and multiple sub-centimetric and ill-defined abdominal lymph nodes. Also, subpleural and parenchymal nodules in the lungs were present. She subsequently underwent a laparotomy. Cholecystectomy was also done due to pre-existing symptomatic biliary lithiasis. The histologic report described the ovarian involvement as metastases from a gallbladder carcinoma. The presentation of ovarian metastases can challenge the diagnosis. Hence, careful evaluation of the digestive tract and judicious use of immunohistochemistry should be considered in patients presenting with ovarian masses.

Autopsy of a child with Spinal muscular atrophy Type I (Werdnig-Hoffmann disease)

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a heritable neuromuscular disorder which encompasses a large group of genetic disorders characterized by slowly progressive degeneration of lower motor neurons. The mutation is seen in the SMN1 gene mapped on chromosome 5. Depending on the age of the onset and the degree of severity, SMA has three subtypes. We discuss the autopsy findings in a case of Type 1 SMA also known by the name Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, to highlight the primary changes in the spinal cord, and skeletal muscle with association changes in the liver and terminal respiratory complications.

Multicystic encephalomalacia: An autopsy report of 4 cases

Multicystic encephalomalacia is varying sized cystic lesions in the brain encountered in developing fetuses or infants. These cysts start at the periventricular area and may extend onto the cortex. The cause of the formation of these cystic lesions is secondary to an ischemic or hypoxic insult, which leads to liquefactive necrosis and subsequent formation of gliotic cyst walls having an admixture of microglia. We discuss four autopsy cases that had multicystic encephalomalacia to highlight the scenarios in which these lesions are encountered.

Desmoplastic fibroma of the mandible: a rare gnathic bone tumor with a review of the literature

Desmoplastic fibroma (DF) is a rare bone tumor, which is known to involve mostly the gnathic bones. In this setting, the clinical presentation is usually represented by a bulging tumor of the face. Radiologically, the tumor is usually characterized by an expansile lytic bone lesion. The histopathology of the tumor shows a poorly circumscribed hypocellular lesion rich in collagen fibers with interspersed spindle cells having bland nuclear chromatin. Despite the lack of mitoses and nuclear pleomorphism, DF has an aggressive nature, presenting as a destructive growth causing entrapment of neuro-vascular bundles, sinusitis, or trismus. Some cases of DF show mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli pathway shown by nuclear localization of the ß-catenin protein. Few reports showed an association with tuberous sclerosis, though most of these cases were sporadic. We discuss a rare case of desmoplastic fibroma involving the mandible, and a review of the literature of the DF cases involving the gnathic bones.