Primary pulmonary epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma: Report of a rare and under-diagnosed low-grade malignancy.

Primary epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a rare low-grade malignant neoplasm of the lung that originates from the submucosal bronchial glands. It behaves in an indolent fashion, although rare cases with high-grade transformation have been reported. Because of the rarity, optimal therapy for this entity has not been clearly defined. Herein, we report a case of primary pulmonary EMC in a 38-year-old Indian man who had a short history of dyspnea and a computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed a 3 cm diameter homogeneous mass in the lower lobe of the right lung. A CT-guided biopsy revealed a mildly atypical and mitotically quiescent tumor with solid and focal acinar arrangement; foci with biphasic arrangement by inner epithelial and outer myoepithelial cells were identified. The neoplasm revealed cytokeratin (CK) 7 positivity in the epithelial cells, while the myoepithelium expressed smooth muscle actin and p63. The tumor had a low (8%) Ki-67 proliferation index. The neuroendocrine markers, thyroid transcription factor 1, CK5/6, p40, and napsin A were negative. Positron emission tomography-CT was negative for any other mass lesion. The mass was excised with negative margins and the patient was on close follow without any evidence of disease for the past 17 months. A custom made, targeted DNA- and RNA-based 5 gene lung cancer next-generation sequencing panel (Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), Ros protocol-oncogene 1 tyrosine kinase (ROS1), B-rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma family oncogene (BRAF), and mesenchymal epithelial transition molecule (MET)), compatible with the Ion S5 system was performed; however, no mutation was identified. This case depicts awareness about this entity and use of appropriate immunostains, particularly the myoepithelial markers are essential to arrive at a correct diagnosis. Importantly, high-grade transformation, recurrence, and metastases are not very uncommon in EMC, warranting a correct and timely diagnosis for therapeutic decision-making and prognostication of the patient.

PD-L1 expression and its clinicopathologic and genomic correlation in the non-small cell lung carcinoma patients: An Indian perspective.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitor programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies targeting the cellular immune checkpoints is the present area of interest showing promising results in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As there is paucity of PD-L1 expression data from the Indian perspective, we studied the correlation of clinicopathologic profile and oncogenic driver mutations in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples from 252 advanced NSCLCs patients were studied for PD-L1 expression through immunohistochemistry using rabbit anti-human PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (clone SP263) on Ventana BenchMark ULTRA autostainer. Simultaneously, genetic mutations were studied by next generation sequencing (for EGFR, ALK, ROS, MET, and BRAF). PD-L1 expression was analyzed for association with clinicopathologic features and various mutations. RESULTS: PD-L1 positivity was seen in 134 patients (53.2 %). It was twice more prevalent in males than females. No significant correlation was observed between PD-L1 expression with age, gender, site of testing (primary vs. metastatic tumors), smoking status, tumor laterality, stage, or histologic type; however, there was significant difference among solid and acinar types of adenocarcinoma combined together vs. other adenocarcinoma subtypes (p = 0.013), and well and moderately differentiated vs. poorly differentiated tumors (p = 0.022). When types/extent of PD-L1 positivity (≥25 %) were compared with demographics, clinical, and pathologic variables, significant differences were observed across the tumor grades (high-grade vs. low-grade) (p = 0.009) and stages (p = 0.039). The PD-L1 expression failed to demonstrate any statistical significance with oncogenic drivers. High PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥ 50) was observed in 27.6 % patients, and it was more prevalent in female patients (32.4 %), aged ≥60 years (33.8 %), smokers (27.3 %), poorly differentiated (36.8 %) and stage IV tumors (28.2 %). Exon 19 deletion was more prevalent in PD-L1 negative tumors whereas exon 21 substitution (L858R) was seen more in PD-L1 positive tumors. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest Indian study demonstrating PD-L1 expression in NSCLC patients comparing with clinicopathologic and genomic parameters. PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with high-grade, solid, and acinar types of adenocarcinoma and advanced tumors. High PD-L1 expression was more prevalent in female patients, aged ≥60 years, smokers, and poorly differentiated and stage IV tumors (28.2 %). Exon 19 deletion was more in PD-L1 negative tumors whereas exon 21 substitution (L858R) was more in PD-L1 positive tumors. PD-L1 is a potential predictive marker stratifying patients who benefit from PD-1 pathway-targeted therapy.

Positivity for SATB2 distinguishes Islet1 positive rectal neuroendocrine tumours from pancreaticoduodenal neuroendocrine tumours.

AIMS: Determining the site of origin of a metastatic neuroendocrine tumour (NET) can be challenging and has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. An immunohistochemical (IHC) panel consisting of TTF1, CDX2, PAX8/PAX6 and Islet1 is often employed. However, there can be a significant IHC overlap among different primary sites. Herein, we sought to determine the utility of including Special AT-rich sequence binding protein-2 (SATB2) in the IHC panel that is used for determining the site of origin of a metastatic NET. METHODS: Paraffin tissue microarrays consisting of 137 primary NETs (26 lung, 22 jejunoileal, 8 appendix, 5 stomach, 4 duodenum, 17 rectum and 55 pancreas) were stained for SATB2, in addition to the well-described lineage-associated markers, such as TTF1, CDX2, PAX6 and Islet1. Additionally, a tissue microarray consisting of 21 metastatic NETs (1 lung, 1 stomach, 8 jejunoileal and 11 pancreas) was stained for TTF1, CDX2, SATB2 and Islet1. The results were recorded as no staining, weak staining and moderate to strong staining. RESULTS: All appendiceal NETs and majority (88%) of the rectal NETs were positive for SATB2. All primary foregut NETs (stomach, pancreas, duodenum and lung) were negative for SATB2, except for one pulmonary NET with weak staining. However, among the metastatic tumours, 5 of 11 pancreatic NETs, 1 stomach NET, 1 lung NET and 2 of 8 jejunoileal NETs showed weak staining. Receiver operating characteristic analysis incorporating sensitivity and specificity data of IHC panel, considering moderate to strong staining as truly positive cases, showed that inclusion of SATB2 to the previously described NET IHC panel outperformed the panel without SATB2, raising the specificity for pancreaticoduodenal NETs from 81.2% to 100%, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 82.22% (p<0.0001); for appendiceal NETs the specificity changed from 99.1% to 98.5% and sensitivity increased from 11.8% to 80%, with a PPV and NPV of 66.67% and 99.26%, respectively (p<0.0001); and for rectal NETs the specificity increased from 97.6% to 99.3% and sensitivity raised from 7.1% to 66.7%, with a PPV and NPV of 80% and 98.53%, respectively (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: SATB2 stain is useful in differentiatingIslet1/PAX6 positive pancreatic and rectal NETs, as rectal NETs are typically moderately to strongly positive for SATB2 and pancreatic NETs are usually negative or weakly positive for SATB2. Moderate to strong staining for SATB2 is suggestive of an appendiceal or a rectal primary. SATB2 may complement the panel of CDX2, TTF1 and Islet1 in determining the site of origin of an NET in a metastatic setting.

Subfascial Endoscopic Perforator Surgery: A safe and novel minimal invasive procedure in treating varicose veins in 2nd trimester of pregnancy for below knee perforator incompetence.

AIM:: Aim of this study is to evaluate the results of Subfascial Endoscopic Perforator Surgery(SEPS) in treating varicose veins in 2nd trimester of pregnancy for below knee perforator incompetence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case series was undertaken at our institute from the period January 2010 to January 2014 on 45 pregnant women. Pregnant women with failed conservative management for varicose veins were subjected to SEPS in 2nd trimester Perioperative parameters like operative time, intraoperative complications, post-operative complications, hospital stay, pain relief, ulcer healing duration and recurrence rate were studied. All the patients were reviewed and followed up for a minimum period of 3 years. RESULTS: During the study period.total of 45 pregnant women were enrolled in the study. The median age of the patients was 26 years (range 22 years - 30 years). The mean operative time was 90±10 minutes. The post-operative hospital stay was 1-2days. There were no intraoperative complications like bleeding or gas embolism. There were no post-operative complications like seroma or abscess, port site infection, deep vein thrombosis and gas embolism. Mean healing duration of ulcers following surgery was 7-8 weeks.No patient complained of temporary or permanent paraesthesia. Every patient was subjected to follow up for a minimum period of 3 years. 5(11.1%) patients with recurrence were documented in the study. CONCLUSION: SEPS is a safe, cost effective and novel minimal invasive procedure in treatment of varicose veins in 2nd trimester of pregnancy for below knee perforator incompetence.

IgG4-related kidney disease--A review.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently recognized systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by high levels of serum IgG4 and dense infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells in multiple organs. The condition was first described as a disease of the pancreas, and has since been recognized in various organ systems including the kidneys. IgG4 related kidney disease (IgG4-RKD) signifies any form of renal involvement by IgG4-RD. The most common renal involvement by IgG4-RD is tubulointerstitial nephritis. Glomerular disease, in particular membranous glomerulonephritis, may also be seen. Other co-existent glomerular diseases such as IgA nephropathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and mesangioproliferative immune complex glomerulonephritis may be identified. IgG4-related plasma cell arteritis has also been noted in the kidney. As with IgG4-RD in general, IgG4 related kidney disease (IgG4-RKD) usually occurs in middle-aged to elderly men. Common findings in IgG4-RKD are plasma cell-rich interstitial inflammatory infiltrate either in a focal or diffuse pattern with increased IgG4+ plasma cells, expansile swirling interstitial fibrosis, high levels of serum IgG and IgG4, hypocomplementemia, high serum IgE levels and/or peripheral blood eosinophilia. By immunofluorescence, most of the cases show IgG4 dominant tubular basement membrane immune complex deposits. Similar to IgG4-RD, IgG4-RKD often shows a rapid response to steroid therapy. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on IgG4-RKD and its clinical relevance.