Comparison of liquid-based cytology with conventional cytology in the evaluation of abdominal masses

Context: Liquid-based cytology. Aims: Utility of liquid-based cytology (LBC) was compared to conventional smear cytology in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates of abdominal masses. Settings and Design: This was a prospective comparative study conducted in collaboration with surgery and pediatrics surgery departments of our institute. Subjects and Methods: Thirty patients presenting with evidence of abdominal mass were enrolled for the study and underwent fine-needle aspiration cytology. The material was processed for the preparation of conventional smears and residual material was rinsed into cytolyt for LBC by Thin Prep method and into cell block fluid. The smears prepared from both the methods were compared by two independent and experienced pathologists for adequacy, cellularity, architectural pattern, cytoplasmic preservation, nuclear preservation, and background. Results: Cellularity was frequently higher in the conventional smears than on Thin Prep slides (P value = 0.025). Recognition of architecture was better on the conventional smears (P value = 0.001). Cytoplasm was better preserved on the conventional smears (P value = 0.001) but difference in the preservation of nuclear details was not statistically significant on slides prepared from both the techniques. The background of Thin Prep slides is significantly cleaner than direct smears (P value = 0.001). Non epithelial elements such as mucin and neurofibrillary tangles were better preserved on direct smears (P value = 0.001) but diagnostic accuracy of both the methodologies showed no statistically significant difference (P value = 0.226). Conclusions: The Thin Prep technique utilizes expensive equipment and reagents. It also generates certain morphological artefacts in slides with which a cytologist needs to get familiar. When used in isolation, it may not consistently provide any added advantage in the diagnosis of such lesions and should be used as an adjunct to conventional smears. It may be preferred in situations where material has to be transported for processing or is required for ancillary tests.

Aumento renal bilateral como manifestação de leucemia linfocítica aguda / Bilateral renal increase as a manifestation of acute lymphocytic leukemia

As leucemias são o tipo mais frequente de câncer em crianças e adolescentes. A leucemia linfocítica aguda é a forma mais comum de leucemia na infância. A doença surge normalmente entre dois e quatro anos de idade, sendo incomum antes de um ano de vida. As manifestações mais comuns incluem febre, fadiga, letargia, dor óssea e articular. Em 50% dos casos, há hepato e/ou esplenomegalia e linfonodomegalias. Este relato de caso fala sobre uma menina de nove meses que foi levada à emergência do hospital por distensão abdominal, fraqueza em membros inferiores e constipação duas semanas antes. Apresentava massas abdominais endurecidas em flancos, abaulamento em região fronto-temporal direita e linfonodomegalias cervicais. A primeira impressão foi de nefroblastoma bilateral (Tumor de Wilms). A ecografia abdominal e a tTC de abdome mostraram aumento de volume renal bilateral e descartaram nefroblastoma. Em setor de oncologia pediátrica, foi realizada imunofenotipagem compatível com leucemia/linfoma linfoblástico B. No líquor havia 400 células p/uL com 81% de blastos. A avaliação neurológica e a RNM de crânio e neuro-eixo descartaram alteração que justificasse a paresia de membros inferiores. No décimo dia de tratamento, os rins já haviam reduzido até o limite superior da normalidade. O abaulamento da face já havia desaparecido. A paciente apresentou anemia, neutropenia, plaquetopenia e hipoalbuminemia severas. Ao final da indução, apresentou sepse fúngica e bacteriana evoluindo para choque séptico e parada cardiorrespiratória não responsiva às manobras de reanimação. Não foi realizado medulograma no final da indução por piora do quadro clínico e posterior óbito (AU)

Leukemias are the most frequent type of cancer in children and adolescents. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common form of childhood leukemia. The disease usually arises between two and four years of age, being uncommon before one year of life. The most common manifestations include fever, fatigue, lethargy, bone and joint pain. In 50% of cases, there is hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly and lymph node enlargement. This case report tells of a nine-month old girl who was taken to the hospital emergency room due to abdominal distension, weakness in the lower limbs, and constipation for two weeks. She had abdominal masses that were hardened on the flanks, bulging in the right fronto-temporal region and cervical lymph node enlargements. The first impression was bilateral nephroblastoma (Wilms tumor). Abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT showed bilateral renal volume increase and ruled out nephroblastoma. In the pediatric oncology sector, immunophenotyping compatible with lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma was performed. In the CSF there were 400 cells/L with 81% blasts. Neurological evaluation and MRI of the skull and neuro-axis ruled out alterations justifying lower limb paresis. By the tenth day of treatment, the kidneys had already reduced to the upper limit of normal. The bulging of the face was gone. The patient presented severe anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia. At the end of the induction, she presented fungal and bacterial sepsis evolving to septic shock and cardiorespiratory arrest unresponsive to resuscitation maneuvers. No myelogram was performed at the end of the induction due to worsening of the clinical picture and subsequent death (AU)

A Case of Multiple Masses after Suction-Assisted Lipectomy

Suction-assisted lipectomy has become an increasingly popular procedure, being one of the most frequently performed aesthetic procedures in Korea. Serious complications of suction-assisted lipectomy are uncommon but aesthetic problems are often troublesome. Here we report a patient with multiple abdominal masses composed of fat necrosis with fibrosis after suction- assisted lipectomy that was treated with excision. We also discussed and deduced the cause of its complication because plastic surgeons are liable to overlook this rare complication.

Clinical analysis of 35 cases of malignant lymphoma with original appearance of abdominal masses / 中国实用内科杂志

Objective To find out the clinical characteristics of the group of lymphoma patients with original appearance of abdominal mass through analysis of their clinical manifestation,pathology and treatment outcome.Methods Retrospective study of clinical data of 35 cases,who were admitted to PLA General Hospital from 1998 to 2003,was made as to their age,sex,pathological pattern,size of the mass at diagnosis,and accompanying symptoms,blood examination,therapy and effect with follow-up of 16~96 months.Results Seventy-four point 3 percent of the patients were male,and most of them(71.4%)with enlarged post peritoneal lymphatic nodes.Ninety-one point four percent of the patients were non-Hodgkin lymphoma and nearly half of them aged between 40 to 50.NHL patients(65.6%)of B-cell origin were more than those of T-cell origin(28.1%).One out of three HL patients died of disease relapse.Nine NHL patients died,including 6 who received conventional chemotherapy and 3 who underwent stem cell transplantation.Half of the patients(2/4)who had hepatic dysfunction and acites died.Conclusion Lymphoma patients with original appearance of abdominal mass are mostly seen in male,and most are of B cell origin.Huge mass,acites and hepatic dysfunction indicate unfavourable prognosis.LDH and ?_2-MG may be two of the prognostic factors.