Isolated saccular aneurysm of the external jugular vein

Venous aneurysm of the head and neck is a rare clinical entity due to its asymptomatic nature and tendency of clinicians to report only surgical results. Whereas the primary aneurysm of internal jugular vein (IJV) in children is being increasingly recognized, secondary aneurysms of veins of the head and neck in adults, notably the external jugular vein (EJV) aneurysm remains only in anecdotal case reports. We present the case of a 63-year-old previously healthy woman who presented with a gradually progressive right lateral neck swelling over the last 18 months. Following the evaluation, she was diagnosed as a case of isolated spontaneous right-sided EJV aneurysm and was managed by surgical excision of the aneurysm.

Osteoclastic variant of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: A case report of rare entity

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare, highly malignant thyroid tumor with dismal prognosis. Osteoclastic giant cell variant of ATC is extremely rare and is characterized by the presence of a large number of multinucleated giant cells resembling osteoclasts. We report here this unusual variant in a 67-year-old female with a history of long-standing goiter of 13 years duration. Histologically, many multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells were seen accompanying the malignant spindle cell component. Despite extensive sampling, no evidence of differentiated thyroid malignancy could be elucidated

Autopsy findings of miliary tuberculosis in a renal transplant recipient

Miliary tuberculosis is a lethal form of disseminated tuberculosis (TB), deriving its name from the millet-seed-sized granulomas in multiple organs. As TB still remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in India, its disseminated forms need to be diagnosed early to ensure more aggressive treatment at the earliest possible time. However, a considerable number of cases are missed ante-mortem. We discuss the case of a 32-year-old immunocompromised, non-HIV patient with an ante-mortem diagnosis of pulmonary TB. However, multiple organ involvement by was demonstrated on autopsy. This case highlights the role of autopsy as a research and learning tool, and prudential clinico-pathologic correlation, which will improve clinical outcomes in the future.