Diagnostic performance of fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] in the diagnosis of breast lumps

The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of breast lumps. All patients who underwent FNA breast lumps at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar during 2006 to 2008 were included in this descriptive crosssectional study. The FNA procedure was performed and interpreted by experienced cyto-pathologists. FNAC of 102 breast lumps were analysed. The age range of the patients was 15-80 years [mean 38.11 years]. Inadequate cases were 2.94%, malignant 30.39%, atypical/suspicious of malignancy 6.86%, and benign 59.80%. Malignant lesions predominated in the 5[th] and 6[th] and benign in the 3[rd] and 4[th] decades of life. FNAC of breast is simple, cost-effective and less traumatic method for diagnosis of breast lumps. Combined with physical examination and imaging studies, it is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool and can reduce the need for open biopsy

Adenomyosis among samples from hysterectomy due to abnormal uterine bleeding

Adenomyosis is one of the most common, yet under diagnosed, underlying cause of abnormal uterine bleeding. We aimed to evaluate the presence of adenomyosis among the patients who presented with abnormal uterine bleeding. This was a retrospective study carried out on hysterectomy specimens of subjects who presented to the gynaecologist with the complaint of abnormal uterine bleeding not responding to conservative treatment. Excluded are the hysterectomies performed for malignant pelvic neoplasms and hysterectomy following labour for postpartum haemorrhage. A total of 861 women underwent hysterectomy out of which 779 were abdominal and 82 vaginal from Jan 2008 to Dec 2012. Adenomyosis was found in 296 of the 861 specimens studied. The most frequent combination of diagnosis was leiomyoma and adenomyosis. Pathologic conditions associated with adenomyosis were: leiomyomas 150 [50.6%], endometrial polyp 16 [5.4%], genital prolapse 12 [4.05%], chronic endometritis 10 [3.3%], endometrial hyperplasia 5 [1.6%], endocervical polyps 2 [0.6%]. Adenomyosis is a common pathologic finding significantly related to reproductive and menstrual characteristics of the patients

Diagnostic value of automated haematology analyzer in the diagnosis of malaria

To evaluate the diagnostic utility of a haematology analyzer in malaria cases in which the analyzer failed to give a differential leukocyte count. It was an observational study carried out at Pathology Department, Rehman Medical Institute Peshawar, from August 2006 to Jan 2009. During this period a total of 96,865 blood counts were done using Sysmex XT 2000i, haematology analyzer, In 310 consecutive cases, in which the instrument failed to give any differential, 225/310 [73%] were suspected as having blasts or nucleated red cells by the analyzer. In 80/310 [26%] cases in which the instrument did not suspect any blasts or nucleated red cells, some type of malaria was detected on slide examination. Out of the 80 malaria cases, Plasmodium vivax trophozoites were seen in 99% cases with or without ring forms. It included 5% cases of mixed malaria. Using this analyzer, if there is no White Blood Cells differential and no flagging or suspicion, there is a strong possibility of finding trophozoite forms of Plasmodium vivax malaria in peripheral blood

Fine needle aspiration cytology versus histopathology in the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Pakistan

To compare FNAC with histopathology as an alternate method of diagnosing cutaneous leishmaniasis. Comparative study. The duration of the study was from August 2003 to April 2004 at CMH, Peshawar. A total of 40 patients were included in this study. They were referred from various areas of North-West Frontier Province. FNAC and skin biopsy was performed on every patient. Haematoxylin and eosin [H and E] stain was used for both procedures. The study group included 39 males and one female, their age ranging from 8-60 years with a mean age of 31.97 years. Detection of LT bodies was considered as a single criterion of the positive result. Histopathological examination was able to diagnose 14 out of 40 patients [positive yield of 35%], while FNAC picked up 11 out of 40 patients [positive yield of 27.5%]. FNAC is easier, less painful and more cost-effective than the conventional skin biopsy. The high sensitivity and specificity eliminate the need for other time-consuming and invasive procedures. However, if LT bodies are not detected then any further comment cannot be made regarding the diagnosis and it is necessary to perform skin biopsy