Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis in a Well Managed Case of Sarcoidosis.

Differentiation between tuberculosis (TB) and sarcoidoisis is sometimes extremely difficult. Sequential occurrence of sarcoidosis and TB in the same patient is uncommon. We present the case of a young man, with a proven diagnosis of sarcoidosis who later developed TB after completion of treatment for sarcoidosis. A 32-year-old male patient presented with low-grade fever since two months. Physical examination revealed cervical lymphadenopathy. Initial fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the cervical lymph node was suggestive of granulomatous inflammation; the chest radiograph was normal. Repeat FNAC from the same lymph node was suggestive of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. The patient was treated with antibiotics and followed-up. He again presented with persistence of fever and lymphadenopathy and blurring of vision. Ophthalmological examination revealed uveitis, possibly due to a granulomatous cause. His repeat Mantoux test again was non-reactive; serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels were raised. This time an excision biopsy of the lymph node was done which revealed discrete, non-caseating, reticulin rich granulomatous inflammation suggestive of sarcoidosis. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone and imporved symptomatically. Subsequently, nearly nine months after completion of corticosteroid treatment, he presented with low-grade, intermittent fever and a lymph node enlargement in the right parotid region. FNAC from this lymph node showed caseating granulomatous inflammation and the stain for acid-fast bacilli was positive. He was treated with Category I DOTS under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme and improved significantly. The present case highlights the need for further research into the aetiology of TB and sarcoidosis.

Vaginal microflora in postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy.

To study the spectrum of vaginal microflora in postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and to compare the efficacy of Papanicolaou (Pap) smears with other methods for their detection. Eighty postmenopausal women were recruited for the study. These included 40 women who had attained spontaneous and were on HRT (User 1); 20 hysterectomised women on only estrogen therapy (User 2) and 20 controls (Non users). Their clinical data was recorded and specimens were collected for vaginal cultures (for aerobic bacteria and fungi), vaginal pH, Gram stain and Pap stain on cervical-vaginal smears and toluidine blue on wet smears. Vaginal pH was significantly lower in Users as compared to Non users. Lactobacilli and Gardnerella were more frequently isolated from Users while Bacteroides and E. coli were more common in Non users. Cultures were significantly more sensitive than Gram stained direct vaginal smears in detection of aerobic bacteria; however, Candida could be detected on Gram stain alone in all the cases. Frequency of detection of organisms significantly improved by application of Gram stain to the cervico-vaginal smears. However, clinically relevant organisms like Candida, Gardnerella and Mobiluncus could be identified on Pap smears alone in >50% cases. Lactobacilli could be readily identified in Pap smears in 98% cases. Wet mounts could detect cocci more easily as compared to Pap smears. Altered vaginal microbial profile in post menopausal women receiving HRT may cause bacterial and fungal vaginitis. Although culture studies remain the gold standard to detect these microorganisms, Pap and Gram stains and wet smears provide useful supplements and may be used as alternative procedures especially in resource limited settings lacking adequate culture facilities.

Congenital fibrosarcoma of the upper extremity--a case report and review of literature.

Fibrosarcoma is rare in pediatric age group. Its diagnosis in infants may be difficult clinically and histologically. A twenty-day infant presented with a rapidly growing mass in the right forearm. Histologically a gray white fleshy mass was seen occupying the entire forearm and distal arm. The tumor showed sheets of closely packed spindle cells with minimal pleomorphism. The cells were positive for vimentin, negative jor smooth muscle actin, desmin and S-100. The diagnosis of congenital fibrosarcoma was made. Most cases of infantile fibrosarcomas present in the first year of life and although they have an alarming presentation, in children they have a much better prognosis as compared to adults. Diagnosis can be made on histology with immunohistochemistry.

Histomorphology of multiple myeloma on bone marrow biopsy.

In a retrospective study, 49 bone marrow biopsies (BMB) of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) were studied for its role in diagnosis and to determine histological parameters of prognostic significance. Sections were analyzed by 2 observers and classified according to: 1. Cytological grading according to differentiation of the neoplastic cells as plasmacytic, pleomorphic and plasmablastic. 2. Volume of infiltration: quantitating the percentage of myeloma cells in the biopsy. 3. Pattern of neoplastic infiltration. The overall marrow cellularity, presence of marrow fibrosis, micro-osteolesions and normal haematopoeisis were also studied. The bone marrow biopsy (BMB) was diagnostic for myeloma in five cases, where the aspirates were hypocellular: four had early myeloma and one had extensive marrow fibrosis. The pattern of infiltration was interstitial in 19 cases (39%), nodular in 19 cases (39%), and diffuse in 11 cases (22%). In majority of the cases (49%), the cell type was plasmacytic (24 cases), plasmablastic in 10 cases and pleomorphic in 15 cases. All cases of poorly differentiated cell type (plasmablastic) had a diffuse or nodular pattern of infiltration, whereas majority of the well-differentiated cell type had an interstitial pattern. The plasma cell burden in biopsy i.e the volume of infiltration was <10% in 8 cases, <50% in 19 cases and >50% in 22 cases and was used for histological staging of MM. Fibrosis was present in 30% of cases. Follow up was available in 11 cases, and cases with poorly differentiated myeloma, diffuse pattern of infiltration and dense fibrosis had survival less than one year. Cases of well differentiated myeloma, interstitial pattern of infiltration and plasma cell load less than 20% with absence of fibrosis had a more than 5-year survival. Different series have quoted that all these histological parameters provide valuable prognostic information, wherever other modalities like beta 2 microglobulin and IL-6 levels, etc are not available. The effects of therapy can also be monitored by sequential biopsies.