ABSTRACT
The definition of sudden death is variable and there has been no single all-purpose definition. Sudden death can be defined as sudden or unexpected death in an otherwise healthy individual who is not known to have been suffering from any dangerous disease, injury or poisoning and is found dead or dies within 24 hours after the onset of terminal illness. Some authorities limit the duration to 1 hour. Because of the sudden and unexpected nature of death, inquest is conducted in such cases to rule out foul play and ascertain the cause of death. A vast majority of cases are due to cardiac origin followed by respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal and genitourinary causes. The most common cardiac disease to cause sudden death is ischemic heart disease as a result of coronary atherosclerosis. Coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies and electrophysiologic abnormalities are the common causes of sudden cardiac deaths. We present a rare case of sudden death in a healthy adult male due to giant cell myocarditis.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy causing high morbidity and mortality. An increasing incidence of lung cancer has been observed in India. Currently, the classification of lung carcinoma has gone beyond small cell lung carcinoma and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Precise subtyping of poorly differentiated NSCLC into adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma has a direct impact on patient management and prognosis. With this background, many molecules are under study for developing targeted therapies. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one such biomarker considered to be useful in targeted therapy for adenocarcinoma. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to subtype poorly differentiated NSCLC based on the expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) and p-63 and to evaluate EGFR expression in adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 84 cases of poorly differentiated carcinomas of the lung was performed. Paraffin sections were immunostained with TTF-1 and p-63 and the tumors were subtyped. EGFR expression was assessed in adenocarcinomas by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of the NSCLC were adenocarcinoma, with a peak incidence between 61 and 70 years of age and a male predominance. EGFR was expressed in 89% of the adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma can be subtyped by immunohistochemical markers and hence has a direct impact on the current therapeutic strategies.
