RESUMEN
Background and Aims: Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare disease of lymph node with two identified forms - the hyaline vascular (HV) type or angiofollicular type and plasma cell (PC) type. It usually presents as localized or systemic lymphadenopathy or even as extra nodal mass and may give rise to several differential diagnoses. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), as the initial investigation, may be misleading. Excision biopsy usually gives the diagnosis. This study analyzes the clinical, cytological and histological features of CD of HV type Materials and Methods: All the cases of CD reported between 2001 and March 2008 have been reviewed. Cytology and histopathology slides of all cases were reviewed by two reporting pathologists independently and the clinical records were analyzed. Result: We had five cases of CD all of which presented as cervical lymphadenopathy of 1 to 5 cms in young patients. Patients were mostly asymptomatic with all relevant investigations within normal limits. The cytology findings mostly showed a predominance of small lymphocytes with capillary fragments. On excision biopsy, all cases were diagnosed as CD of HV type. Conclusion: CD should be kept as a differential of lymphadenopathy, especially in asymptomatic and young patients.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection caused by several pigmented fungi commonly seen in tropical and subtropical climates. AIM: To evaluate the epidemiologic, clinical and pathological characteristics of chromoblastomycosis in our patients. METHODS: This retrospective and prospective study was conducted at the Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. Clinical features and histopathology of all the cases diagnosed as chromoblastomycosis during the last eight years were studied. RESULTS: A total of 13 cases of chromoblastomycosis were diagnosed during the period of 1999-2006. The disease was seen predominantly in middle-aged male farmers and those from rural areas. The lesions commonly involved the lower extremity and were single or multiple in number. They clinically presented as verrucous or nodular growths. Out of these 13 cases, three were diagnosed clinically as squamous cell carcinoma and one as psoriasis. The histopathological features included sclerotic bodies in 12 cases (92%), microabscess formation in 10 cases (76.9%), pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia in nine cases (69.2%) and granuloma in eight cases (61.5%). CONCLUSION: Farming is the commonest occupation in patients with chromoblastomycosis. Early histological diagnosis helps in effective management of the condition.