Expression of vimentin in breast carcinoma, its correlation with Ki67 and other histopathological parameters.

CONTEXT: Vimentin is a mesenchymal marker, known to express in some epithelial carcinomas. AIMS: 1. To find out the expression of vimentin in infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast (not otherwise specified), 2. To find out the correlation between expression of vimentin and prognostic markers such as tumor size, tumor grade, lymph node status, proliferation index (measured by Ki 67), and Nottingham prognostic index (NPI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study was done at Department of Pathology; 50 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (NOS) were studied for tumor grade; immunohistochemistry was done using antibodies against vimentin and Ki 67. Percentages of positive cells were documented. An immunoscore was also calculated for vimentin. Vimentin expression was correlated with tumor size, lymph node status, Nottingham prognostic index, and Ki 67. Statistical analysis used: statistical correlation was done using Pearson’s chi-square test. A P value less than 0.01 was considered significant. RESULTS: Vimentin expression was seen in 18% of cases. Its expression correlated with high tumor grade and high growth fraction (P value < 0.01). It did not correlate with lymph node status, tumor size, and NPI. CONCLUSIONS: Increased vimentin expression is associated with bad prognostic factors. Immunohistochemistry with vimentin may be helpful in knowing the prognosis in cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast (NOS).

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with divergent differentiation.

A malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is an uncommon spindle cell sarcoma accounting for approximately 5% of all soft tissue sarcomas. A 55-year-old female with a right suprarenal tumor showed MPNST with additional foci of epithelioid, rhabdomyoblastic, osteogenic and lipogenic differentiation. Although the capacity of MPNST to undergo epithelioid, rhabdomyoblastic, osteogenic and very rarely lipogenic differentiation is reported in literature, the occurrence of all these differentiation in one case has not been described in literature before. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second MPNST case with lipomatous differentiation.

Subarachnoid spread of germinoma mimicking tuberculous meningitis.

A case of pineal germinaoma spreading along the basal subarachnoid space, clinically and macroscopically at autopsy, resembling tuberculous basal arachnoiditis is reported. Need to carry out CSF cytology of even hemorrhagic CSF is stressed, to diagnose the condition.

Intracranial haemorrhage resulting from unsuspected choriocarcinoma metastasis.

A retrospective analysis of clinicopathological data of 10 patients with clinically unsuspected cerebral metastatic choriocarcinoma was carried out. All patients were young adult females. History of preceding pregnancy/abortion was forthcoming in 5 cases but none had a prior history of abnormal gestation. Features of raised intracranial tension followed by hemiparesis were the commonest presenting symptoms. A clinicoradiologic diagnosis of intracerebral haemorrhagic mass, either primary or secondary to tumour bleed, cortico-venous thrombosis or arteriovenous malformation, was entertained in 8 out of 10 cases. In other two cases, ring enhancing lesions prompted the diagnosis of granulomatous masses. Eight patients were operated upon, of whom two died after short hospital stay, and were autopsied. All had haemorrhagic masses noted at surgery/autopsy. Accurate diagnosis of metastatic choriocarcinoma was established only by histologic examination of these haemorrhages. This report emphasizes the importance of considering metastatic choriocarcinoma as an important differential diagnosis of haemorrhagic intracerebral lesions in women of child bearing age group. Measurement of serum/CSF level of HCG in suspected cases helps to implement early therapy. The diagnostic value of histopathologic examination of surgically resected blood clots in determining aetiology of intracerebral haemorrhagic masses is highlighted.