Comparing histopathological and magnetic resonance imaging based mesorectal fascia status in patients with rectal carcinoma

To compare mesorectal fascia status on histopathological findings with MRI based radiological mesorectal fascia status in patients with rectal carcinoma taking histopathology finding as gold standard. Analytical study. Department of Pathology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, from January 2011 to April 2012. Biopsy proven cases of rectal adenocarcinoma undergoing abdominoperineal resection were included in this study. Microscopic examination of slides was done to determine mesorectal fascia status as involved or otherwise without knowing the results of mesorectal fascia status on MRI. Mesorectal fascia status of MRI was determined by a radiologist who was not aware of the histopathological assessment of mesorectal fascia. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for age. Frequency and percentage were calculated for gender and mesorectal fascia status. 2 x 2 table was generated to calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy of MRI for mesorectal fascia involvement taking histopathology as gold standard. The sensitivity of MRI to detect mesorectal fascia involvement was 23.07% and specificity was 70.5%. Positive predictive value of MRI was 10% and negative predictive value was 54.54%. Diagnostic accuracy of MRI for mesorectal fascia involvement was calculated as 50%.MRI findings regarding mesorectal fascia status as involved or otherwise are not helpful when compared with histopathological findings which is the gold standard.

Dengue fever outbreak in Lahore

Dengue fever has now affected all the major cities of country. About 41,354 patients underwent antibody screening for dengue fever from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore, during the epidemic period [October 1st 2010 to December 20[th] 2010]. Out of them, 1294 [3.1%] patients were positive for IgM antibodies, and 124 [0.3%] for IgG antibodies. A total of 722 [1.7%] patients were borderline positive for IgM antibodies and 108 [0.26%] were borderline positive for IgG antibodies. Dengue fever has emerged as a global problem over the last 5 years. It has also hit Lahore badly especially after the floods in 2010. High index of suspicion should be there in case of related symptoms

Primary pulmonary rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the commonest soft tissue malignancy in children; its common sites of occurrence include head and neck regions, chest wall, abdomen, perineal and anal regions. Lung is an unusual site. We report a case of two years old female child who presented with fever cough, shortness of breath and chest pain. Radiological examination showed a bullous lesion in the left lower lobe. Histological examination of bullectomy specimen revealed sheets and clusters of round blue cells with mild to moderate atypia. There were some hypocellular areas containing characteristic perivascular arrangement of tumour cells. Tumor cells showed strong positivity for Desmin. Based on histopathological and immunostain findings, diagnosis of Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma was made