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.

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