Efficacy of screening cancer patients at hospital entrance for COVID-19 with a questionnaire and thermal scanning: An audit

Objectives: Although commonly practiced, the accuracy, effectiveness, and safety of screening patients for COVID-19 at hospital entrances is not well documented. Material and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of single institution data involving screening patients for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection at hospital entrances by trained health personnel, with thermal scanning and administration of a standard questionnaire eliciting risk factors and symptoms of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 positivity among patients screened positive and negative and among personnel involved in screening were estimated. Results: Between May 22, 2020, and July 4, 2020, a total of 20152 patients involving 54955 hospital visits were screened at hospital entrances of whom 668 (3.31%, 95% CI 3.07–3.57) were screened positive for suspected COVID-19 and 19484 (96.69%, 95% CI 96.44–96.93) were screened negative. Among patients screened positive, of the 638 patients with available records, 109 (17.08%, 95% CI 14.24–20.23) were confirmed to be SARS-CoV-2 positive by polymerase chain reaction test, 288 (45.14%, 95% CI 41.23–49.10) were negative, 71 (11.13%, 95% CI 8.79–13.83) were not tested after secondary assessment, and 170 (26.65%, 95% CI 23.25–30.26) patients declined the test. Among screen negative patients, 162 (0.83%, 95% CI 0.71–0.97) were SARS-CoV-2 positive. Of the 104 personnel involved in screening, 03 (2.88%, 95% CI 0.60–8.20) were confirmed to be SARS-CoV-2 positive during study period. Conclusion: Screening patients with a combination of thermal scanning and a standard questionnaire for COVID-19 has a high positive predictive value for detecting this infection with low risk of SARS-COV-2 transmission to the involved health personnel

Long term clinical outcomes of adult hematolymphoid malignancies treated at Tata Memorial Hospital: An institutional audit

Introduction: There is paucity of data from India about the outcomes of patients with various hematological malignancies. Since its formation in 2009, the adult hematolymphoid disease management group of the Tata Memorial Centre is dedicated to the treatment of hematological malignancies alone. In this report, we present the outcomes of patients treated at our centre over a 5 year period for various haematological malignancies in both transplant and non-transplant setting. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of all patients registered in adult hematolymphoid disease management group between 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2014. Patients not treated at our centre were excluded from survival analysis. The cut off date for survival analysis was 31st January 2016. Results: Overall, 1869, 3633 and 544 patients with acute leukemias, various lymphomas and myeloma respectively were registered at our centre from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2014. Of these, 1178 (63%), 3091 (85%) and 454 (83%) respectively received treatment at our centre. The cumulative probability of 5 year overall survival for patients with acute leukemias, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma treated at our centre is 40%, 85%, 78% and 40% respectively. Four hundred and fifteen stem cell transplants were done between 14th November 2007 to 31st December 2014 with 46% being allogeneic and 54% being autologous. The 5 year overall survival of patients with allogenic and autologous transplant was 52% and 63% respectively. Conclusions: This is the largest single centre data on outcomes of various haematological malignancies from India. This real world data identifies areas which need further attention to improve outcomes.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with sarcomatous morphology and distant metastases: An unusual histomorphology and behavior.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), an intermediate-grade neoplasm of myofibroblastic/fibroblastic differentiation, occurs commonly in children and young adults. It is characterized by anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement and overexpression of ALK-protein. However, aggressive behavior is more commonly associated with ALK-negativity rather than ALKpositivity. Pulmonary involvement is most common visceral location and carries minimal potential for distant metastasis. We present a case of 49-year-old female with pulmonary IMT of spindle cell sarcomatous histomorphology. Frequent mitoses and necrosis with characteristic cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for ALK-1 protein and ALK-gene rearrangement on fluorescence in-situ hybridization were noted. This case is unusual for occurrence in higher age-group of fifth decade, sarcomatous histomorphology at presentation (rather than transformation) and metastases to distant sites despite ALK-protein overexpression and gene rearrangement.

Histomorphological spectrum and immunohistochemical characterization of hemangioblastomas: An entity of unclear histogenesis.

Introduction: Hemangioblastomas (HBs) are rare WHO grade I neoplasms of uncertain histogenesis. Most are sporadic and association with von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is uncommon. Materials and Methods: Histomorphological and immunohistochemical evaluation of 24 cases of HBs was done. Results: Age range was 15-68 yrs (median: 30 yrs) with male:Female of 1.2:1 (M-13; F-11). Cerebellum was commonest location (n = 20), one each was seen in brain stem, cervical spinal cord, fourth ventricle and frontal lobe, respectively. VHL association was noted in 5 cases. Four cases were recurrent in nature of which 3 were in association with vHL. Histologically, reticular variant was the predominant subtype (n = 15), 5 were of cellular variant and 4 were mixed. Nuclear pleomorphism, nuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, cytoplasmic vacuolation were noted in the stromal cells in varying proportions. Immunohistochemical evaluation was successful in only 11 cases and of which 8 showed stromal cell positivity for alpha-inhibin. CD56 (NCAM), Nestin and synaptophysin positivity was seen in 6, 7 and 4 cases, respectively. Nestin positivity was noted in stromal cells only and no reactivity with the endothelial cells seen. S-100 protein and NSE positivity was seen in 8 and 10 cases, respectively. Glial fi brillary acidic protein (GFAP) showed two distinct patterns of immunoreactivity — scattered stromal cell positivity (n:5) and pattern of reactive astrogliosis positivity (n:10). CD44 positivity was noted in 5 cases. VEGF and EGFR positivity was seen in 5 cases each. None of the cases showed positivity for epithelial membrane antigen and no stromal cells in any of the cases showed positivity for CD34 and CD31. Conclusion: HBs can occur in throughout the neuroaxis. Cerebellum is the commonest site of occurrence for HBs and uncommonly can occur in the supratentorial compartment and spinal cord. Its association with vHL is uncommon and no histological or immunohistochemical correlation was identifi ed with the same.

Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (immunocytoma like) with lymphoepithelioid or Lennert's lymphoma like involvement of nodes.

Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphomas (PCMZL) have a wide range of morphology from tumors with monocytoid B cells to those composed entirely of plasma cells and the T-cell rich variants. We report a 60-year-old male with a PCMZL rich in plasma cells of the foot with a lymphoepithelioid-like pattern of dissemination to the lymph nodes posing problems in the diagnosis. The patient had a lesion on the dorsum of the foot which histologically revealed dense perivascular collections of lymphoid cells and plasma cells amidst fibrous tissue. Though the plasma cells did show light chain restriction, CD20 and CD3 did not reveal an overwhelming B/T-cell population and hence a diagnosis of a reactive process was offered. Subsequently the patient developed inguinal nodes with diffuse loss of architecture and replacement by epithelioid histiocytes and reactive T cells with few large B cells (lymphoepithelioid-like pattern). On pathology review it was realized that the two lesions may be related and clonality studies were asked for. The skin lesion showed clonally rearranged IgH receptor while the T-cell receptor rearrangement was negative. The patient developed disseminated disease and received six cycles of chemotherapy with partial response and 6 years after the initial presentation was alive with nonprogressive disease. Thus, the polymorphous background in PCMZL is evolving and an immunocytoma-like tumor can show a T-cell rich or Lennert's like growth pattern of spread and early recognition these odd patterns may aid in appropriate management of patients.

HER 2 status in invasive breast cancer: Immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in-situ hybridization and chromogenic in-situ hybridization.

Introduction : HER2/neu gene status in breast cancers can be evaluated by targeting protein and gene - immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). Recent studies have shown chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH) as a relatively cheaper alternative. Materials and Methods : Forty-three nonconsecutive, randomly selected primary invasive breast cancer cases were evaluated for c-erbB-2 (HER2 protein) by IHC and gene amplification by FISH and CISH. Results of each of the same were compared. Results : CISH showed approximately 90% and 100% concordance for IHC negative and positive cases, respectively; while approximately 94.4% and 91% concordance with FISH amplified and non-amplified cases, respectively. Conclusion : This study showed feasibility of incorporation of CISH as a low cost option in routine management of breast carcinoma in the Indian setting. Secondly, reconfirmation of IHC negative and positive cases can be done by CISH.

Composite epithelial kidney tumor comprising of adeno and neuroendocrine carcinomatous components: An unusual variant of renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinomas accounts for an approximately 2% of human malignancies with atleast ten different histological subtypes recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) 2004 classification. Composite carcinomas with dual divergent epithelial differentiation in kidneys are extremely uncommon. We report an unusual case of a 37-year-old female who presented with symptoms related to renal tumor for the last three years. Computed tomography scan revealed a large heterogenously contrast enhancing left kidney mass comprising of two distinct histological components of low grade adenocarcinomatous and carcinoid-like low grade neuroendocrine carcinomas with presence of hilar lymph nodal metastases of both the components. The component of adenocarcinoma was immunoreactive to E-cadherin, cytokeratins 7 and 19 with negativity for cluster of differentiation 10, cytokeratin 20, CD117, and vimentin; while the neuroendocrine component was immunoreactive for vimentin, chromogranin and synaptophysin with negativity for CD10, CD117, and cytokeratins 7, 19 and 20. MIB-1 labeling index in the both the components was 2-3%. The present case is the first of its kind to be reported in the kidney and emphasizes the diversity potential of kidney tumors.

Assessment of HER-2/neu status in breast cancer using fluorescence in situ hybridization & immunohistochemistry: Experience of a tertiary cancer referral centre in India.

Background & objective: Determination of HER2 status in breast cancer has become important to identify potential candidates for anti-HER2 therapy. In this study we compared fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the determination of HER2 status in breast cancer patients referred to a tertiary care referral centre. Methods: A total of 200 cases of invasive breast cancer were evaluated for HER2 status using IHC and FISH and results were compared. Results: The IHC 3+ (93.9%) and IHC negative (85.9%) cases showed good concordance with the corresponding FISH results; while 66.6 per cent of IHC 2+ cases showed gene amplification by FISH. In addition, hormone receptor expression and HER2 gene status showed a statistically significant inverse association (P<0.05). Interpretation & conclusion: These findings reaffirm IHC as a prudent first-step to screen tissue samples for HER2 status and to determine suitability for technically demanding FISH test and the dual coloured FISH as a gold standard for determination of HER2/neu status in IHC equivocal cases of breast carcinoma.