Pigmented skin lesions: are they all of melanocytic origin? a histopathological perspective

To study the pattern of pigmented skin lesions in Manipur. This was a retrospective analysis of pigmented skin lesions received at the Department of Pathology, RIMS, Imphal Manipur. Pigmented skin lesions which were histologically reported from January 2005 to December 2012 were reviewed and analysed according to age, gender, site of occurrence and histological types. A total of 183 pigmented skin lesions were histologically reported during the period under review in 57 male and 126 female patients with a male to female ratio of 1: 2.21. Maximum of the cases were seen in the age group of 21 to 30 years, with the youngest patient being 4 years and the oldest being 77 years. It was found that the most common site was the face [51.4%] followed by the arms [8.9%]. Melanocytic nevi were the most common pigmentary lesion which accounted for 74.3% of the cases followed by melanoma [9.8%] and seborrheic keratosis[6%]. In this study the commonest benign pigmented lesion was melanocytic nevi and melanoma had the highest incidence from among the malignant lesions.

Proptosis and facial palsy as an unusual clinical presentation of acute myeloid leukemia

Simultaneous proptosis and facial palsy as the clinical presentation of childhood Acute Myeloid Leukaemia [AML] is very rare. To date, no case have been reported anywhere to the best of our knowledge. Extra medullary leukemic deposits or Granulocytic Sarcoma [GS] is a rare manifestation in about 3% of childhood AML, 9.3% of GS manifested as orbit deposits causing proptosis in one or both eyes. CNS infiltration or acute otomastoiditis subsequent to leukemic infiltration of the temporal bone may be implicated with facial paralysis. We are here with reporting the case in a 3-year-old boy who presented with proptosis and facial palsy in a case of AML. The purpose of reporting this case is to emphasize the need of examining the peripheral blood and bone marrow in children presenting as proptosis and facial palsy for early diagnosis of childhood AML

Pattern of skin malignancies in Manipur, India: a 5-year histopathological review

Dermatological malignancies are relatively uncommon worldwide and are usually not ranked among the top ten common cancers. Various studies indicate a progressive rise in the incidence of skin cancers. This study was performed to determine the pattern of skin malignancies in Manipur, India. This was a retrospective analysis of skin cancers seen in a major referral centre in Manipur. Histologically diagnosed skin cancers seen from August, 2004 to October, 2009 were reviewed and analyzed according to age, gender, site of distribution and histological types. 92 histologically diagnosed skin malignancies were reported during the period under review comprising 2.8% of all histologically diagnosed cancers in RIMS hospital. 47 cases [51.1%] were males and 45 cases [48.9%] females with a male to female ratio of 1:0.96. Age ranged from 17 years to 90 years. Squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] was the most common malignancy consisting of 40 [43.6%] cases followed by basal cell carcinoma [BCC] with 30 [32.6%] cases melanoma with 13 [14.2%] cases. Kaposi's sarcoma, sebaceous carcinoma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans constituted about 3.2% with three cases each. The most common skin malignancy was SCC followed by BCC and melanoma. In contrast to the Western countries, melanoma is a rare skin neoplasm in Manipur. For better health planning similar larger studies should be encouraged

Histopathological evaluation of colorectal carcinomas status in Manipur, India

To study the distribution of colorectal carcinomas [CRC] with special emphasis on age, sex, site and histological grading. Retrospective study. Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences [RIMS], Imphal, Manipur, India, from January 2004 to December 2009. Materials were collected from subjects first diagnosed as colorectal carcinomas in histopathology section and then the medical files were reviewed. Variables like age, sex, religion, relevant past / family history, tumor location, disease stage [Dukes' staging] were assessed. The findings were then analysed. There were 54 patients with colorectal carcinomas during this 6 year period. 29 cases [53.71%] were males while 25 cases [46.29%] were females with a male to female ratio of 1.16:1. The disease was most commonly seen between 60-69 years age group. The rectum was the most common affected site contributing to 53.71% [29 cases] followed by ascending colon with 12 cases [22.22%]. 38.88% of lesions [21 cases] were stage C and above i.e. involvement of local lymph nodes and distant metastasis. When we compared patients above 50 years of age to those under 50 years of age, we found that the disease usually presented with poorer grades of differentiation and more advanced stage in those below 50 years compared to those above 50 years. This study showed that bowel cancers are not rare as previously believed. Routine screening for bowel cancer in all risk patients should be carried out regularly so as to detect cancer early

Clinico-hematological profile of Pancytopenia in Manipur, India

To determine the etiology and clinical profile of pancytopenia in Manipur, India Prospective study Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences [RIMS], Imphal, Manipur, a renowned referral hospital in north-east India Fifty cases of pancytopenia were examined in the department of Pathology, RIMS hospital, Imphal, Manipur,India, during a two year period from November 1999 to October 2001. Bone marrow aspiration and examination Correlation between pancytopenia and clinico-hematological diagnosis Hypoplastic anemia was the commonest cause of pancytopenia [22%] followed by megaloblastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome [18% each]. The other causes include subleukemic / aleukaemic leukemia [14%], iron deficiency anemia [8%], HIV infection [6%], congenital dyserythropoietic anemia [CDA, 4%], pyrexia of unknown origin [PUO] with hepatosplenomegaly [4%], congenital hepatic fibrosis [2%] and systemic lupus erythomatosus [SLE, 2%]. Rare causes of pancytopenia including iron deficiency anemia, HIV infection and CDA have to be kept in mind as possible disorders manifesting as pancytopenia