A rare case of malignant eccrine spiradenoma mimicking carcinosarcoma.

Malignant eccrine spiradenoma is an extremely rare neoplasm of adnexal origin. It almost always originates from a preexisting long standing eccrine spiradenoma. We present a case of malignant eccrine spiradenoma arising from benign counterpart and having both carcinomatous and sarcomatous differentiation. Here we present a case of a 46 years old lady who presented with a long standing small nodule on her left leg of 7 years' duration with suddenly increase in size. Grossly the mass was partly solid and partly cystic measuring 11.5 cm in maximum dimension with cystic area forming the deeper plane. On microscopy, the superficial dermis showed well demarcated lobules of benign eccrine spiradenoma. Deeper dermis showed tumor cells with features of malignant transformation having both carcinomatous and sarcomatous component. After wide local excision patient is now doing well. The diagnosis of malignant eccrine spiradenoma requires a thorough histopathological examination of the lesion and requires finding a focus of benign spiradenoma within or adjacent to malignant tumour. Wide local excision and close follow-up for early detection of recurrence and metastasis is the mostly recommended management modality.

Immunohistochemical analysis of beta-catenin expression: a probable prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target in renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) seems to be the most aggressive type of genitourinary neoplasm. Down regulation of normal beta-catenin expression contributes to development of RCC, reflecting the role of beta-catenin/Wnt signaling pathway in pathogenesis. This study aims to evaluate the significance of beta-catenin expression and its correlation with the prognostic parameters. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out in a tertiary care center on 58 RCC cases using variables like histological grade and type, tumor stage, necrosis. Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks were evaluated for beta-catenin expression by immunohistochemistry using scoring system. Data were analyzed by mean ± SD, χ2 test, Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: Membranous score (MS) had a strong negative correlation with tumor stage (r=-0.407, p=0.044) and grade (r=-0.787, p=<0.001). Mean membranous score difference between low (Stage 1 and 2) vs. high stage (Stage 3 and 4) and low (Grade 1 and 2) vs. high grade (Grade 3 and 4) was statistically significant (p<0.001). Cytoplasmic score (CS) had positive correlation with tumor stage (r=0.586; p=0.002). No significant correlation was evident between cytoplasmic scores and tumor grade, however the mean cytoplasmic score difference between low grade vs. high grade was statistically significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Beta-catenin may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of RCC and has a positive correlation with the biological behavior of this tumor. The important role of beta-catenin as a prognostic parameter and probably a critical evaluator of targeted chemotherapy cannot be overemphasized.