The Predictive and Prognostic behavior of Breast Cancer by NACT in Relation to Tumor Grade, ER/PR and Her- 2/neu Expression- Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Eastern India

Introduction: Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) isconsidered as initial management of all patients with locallyadvanced breast cancers and followed by surgery. NACTenables reduction of breast tumor size- thereby prolongingsurvival and altered the expression of steroid receptor (ER/PR)and Her-2/NEU in the cancer cells. Our aims and objectivewas to look into the association of patient age, tumor grade,expression status of ER/ PR / Her-2/neu receptor status beforeand after NACT in Indian women patients.Material and methods: The study was conducted over aperiod of 4 years. Hormone receptor and Her-2/neu status wasdetermined by IHC over 412 samples. The patients receivingNACT and having both core needle biopsy and surgery(MRM) are considered as NACT group. The other group didnot receive NACT but have core needle biopsy and surgeryare taken as non NACT group. The discordance was comparedbetween these two groups.Results: Patients of more than 40years of age hadpredominantly favorable hormone receptor status expression.In the NACT group favorable receptor status was 60.35%and discordance was higher in ER, PR and HER- 2/neu incomparison to non-NACT group.Conclusions: Significant alteration of hormone receptorsand Her-2/neu expression was found in biopsy of the patientsreceiving NACT. So reevaluation of the hormonal status andHer 2 neu receptor in residual invasive carcinoma may beconsidered as it has advantage on chemotherapy after finalsurgery.

Cytodiagnosis of Filariasis – A Retrospective Study of 8 Years

Introduction: In India Filariasis is considered to be a majorpublic health problem. India constitutes about 20% of totalglobal burden. Microfilaria are released and circulate inthe peripheral blood with nocturnal periodicity. Due toits extremely rarity it is difficult to detect them in routineperipheral blood smears, Fine Needle Aspiration (FNAC)Smears and body fluids. The objective of our study was toemphasise on having a high index of suspicion of filarialinfection in any swelling especially in patients from endemiczones. This study also aims to highlight the importance ofFNAC as a cheap and effective tool to diagnose microfilaria.Material and Methods: A total of 9590 cases, with lesionsin different sites were encountered in this study.The patientsunderwent thorough clinical examination and routineinvestigations.The cystic lesions that were included in thisstudy were aspirated. The material centrifuged and smearsprepared were stained with Leishman-Giemsa and PAP stain.Results: In this study out of a total of 9590 cases of superficialswellings that were subjected to fine needle aspirationcytology, 11 cases of filariasis were diagnosed on routineFNAC material from various sites. Out of these11 cases,maximum cases of filariasis were reported in lymph nodes (3cases),breast swelling (2 cases), followed by scrotal swellings(2 cases), thyroid swellings (2 cases), parotid (1 case) andPleural (1 case).Conclusions: Filariasis is an uncommon condition and needa high index of suspicion and careful screen of FNA smearsespecially in asymptomatic patients belonging to endemiczones, so as not to miss this incidental finding especially inpatients from endemic areas. This study also highlights theimportance of FNAC as a cheap and effective tool to diagnosemicrofilaria.