Unveiling cancer

This article narrates a multifaceted educational journey undertaken by a medical student through a weekly SCRAPS [surgery, clinical disciplines, radiology, anatomy, psychiatry and laboratory sciences] clinicopathological meeting held in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, Oman. Through a presentation titled 'Unveiling Cancer', the multidisciplinary and interprofessional audience witnessed a simulated interaction between a medical student, a technologist peer and tutors in medicine, pathology and radiology. The presentation was based on the complexities of presentation, diagnosis and management of a patient with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in the aftermath of a bone marrow transplantation. After describing the case, the student shared with the audience a spectrum of learning objectives, which included integration in the complex world of contemporary medicine, insight into the triumphs and travails of technology [immunohistochemistry] and peer collaboration, communication and mentorship

Diagnostic dilemmas in intraductal papillomas of the breast - experience at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in the Sultanate of Oman

The aim of this retrospective study was to correlate the significance and accuracy of the colour of nipple discharge and breast ultrasound imaging in the diagnosis of intraductal papilloma. This is a retrospective study of 34 patients who underwent 36 microdochectomies in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital [SQUH] in the Sultanate of Oman, over a 4 year period of January 2009 till December 2012. The confounders considered were patient age, physical examination findings, nipple discharge cytology result, ultrasound results and biopsy report following microdochectomy. Comparisons analysis, charts and graphs were made using the SPSS software [version 20]. The mean age of the patients was 44 [27-73] years old. Twenty-seven out 36 [75%] patients had presented with nipple discharge, 14 out 27 [52%] had blood stained nipple discharge and 13 [48%] with coloured discharge [yellow, brown and green], 9 patients had no discharge. The final histopathology showed intraductal papilloma 13 [36%], duct ectasia 18 [50%], DCIS 1 [2.7%], fibrocystic disease 3 [8.3%] and LCIS 1 [2.7%]. Thirteen out of 36 had intraductal papilloma on final histopathology. The correlation between blood stained discharge and final histopathology of intraductal papilloma was insignificant [p=0.44]. Nipple discharge is irrelevant to the diagnosis of intraductal papilloma. Spontaneous nipple discharge regardless of color is to be referred to breast surgeon and to be assessed with triple assessment. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment

Chondroid lipoma of breast: a rare pathology

Chondroid lipoma, is an uncommon benign breast neoplasm. We report a case of Chondroid lipoma in a 57 years old lady presenting with 01 year history of breast lump

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas: a case report with review of the diagnostic dilemmas and tumor behavior

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas is a rare tumor of the pancreas often detected initially on imaging. Of uncertain histogenesis, it has a low-grade malignant potential with excellent post-surgical curative rates and rare metastasis. Despite advances in imaging, pseudocysts and other cystic neoplasms feature in the differential diagnosis. Pathological and/or cytological evaluation remains the gold standard in reaching a definitive diagnosis. On morphology alone, other primary pancreatic tumors and metastatic tumors pose a diagnostic challenge. Recent advances in immunohistochemical characterization have made the histopathologic diagnosis more specific and, in turn, shed light on the likely histogenesis of this rare tumor. We report a case of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas that was suspected on radiology and diagnosed intraoperatively on imprint cytology guiding definitive surgery. The diagnostic dilemmas are reviewed.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. Diagnostic strategy and therapeutic implications in Omani patients

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis [IGM] is a rare benign disorder of the breast whose aetiology is controversial, and is often misdiagnosed clinically and radiologically as mammary malignancy; as a result, it may be incorrectly treated. Although no standard treatment is available for this chronic disease, surgery with or without corticosteroids has been tried with controversial results. This study discusses the clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, recurrence, and follow-up data of IGM with a review of relevant literature. From 2009-2012, the Breast Unit at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman, conducted a clinical study on 20 patients with breast lumps. Their clinical and radiological examinations were indeterminate, and a diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis was established only by histopathology. The majority of the patients were cases of unknown aetiology, who presented with a unilateral breast mass. A few patients had a mass with an abscess, along with axillary lymphadenopathy. A total of 4 patients were suspected of malignancy using radiology. In all patients, sterilised pus was sent for culture and sensitivity. Microscopy showed the characteristic pattern of granulomatous inflammation. All patients were treated with antibiotics for 6 weeks, and the mean follow-up period was 15 months [11-33 months]. All patients had complete remission with no further recurrence. This single largest study of cases of IGM in Oman highlights the pitfalls in diagnosing this non-neoplastic disease of unknown aetiology and uncertain pathogenesis. It emphasises IGM's excellent response to antibiotics, which is crucial, as IGM is a disease which is notoriously difficult and controversial to treat

Diagnosis of microvillous inclusion disease: a case report and literature review with significance for Oman

Microvillous Inclusion Disease [MVID] is one of the congenital diarrheal disorders [CDD] caused by genetic defects in enterocyte differentiation and polarization. Its prevalence is higher in countries with a high degree of consanguinity. It causes severe, intractable secretory diarrhea leading to permanent and definitive intestinal failure with resultant dependency on parenteral nutrition [PN]. Small bowel transplantation is the only curative treatment. The gold standard for diagnosis are the typical morphological abnormalities in small bowel biopsies on light and electron microscopy [EM]. In recent times, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry have shown sufficient diagnostic accuracy replacing EM if the facility is unavailable or EM findings are inconclusive. We describe a neonate with CDD who was diagnosed to have MVID on the duodenal biopsy by morphohistochemical and immunophenotypic methods used for the first time in Oman. By utilizing such easy and accessible diagnostic methods, a rare genetic disorder could be diagnosed with certainty and the family could be counseled accordingly. With a high degree of consanguinity in the region, the prevalence of MVID in Oman needs to be identified once these patients are diagnosed by utilizing appropriate investigations. Care of such patients necessitates improving current parenteral nutrition services and addressing the future need for small bowel transplantation [SBTx], in Oman