Association of hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2/neu expressions with clinicopathologic factors of breast carcinoma: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the major causes of death worldwide. It is the most common cause of death before the age of 70 years. The incidence and mortality of BC are rapidly increasing, posing great challenges to the health system and economy of every nation. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratory of the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) to demonstrate the association of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2/Neu) and estrogen receptor (ER)/ progesterone receptor (PR) with clinical as well as pathological parameters among women with BC. A consecutive nonprobability sampling method was used for this study over a span of one and a half years. RESULTS: One hundred twenty participants diagnosed with breast cancer were included in the study. The mean age at diagnosis was 44.58 ± 11.16 years. Out of the total patients, 68 (56.7%) were above 40 years old, 108 (90%) were married, 94 (78.3%) were multiparous, and 88 (73.3%) had a history of breastfeeding. 33.3% of cases were within the age range of menopause (40-50 years). The positive expression rates of ER, PR, and Her2/neu were found to be 48.8%, 44.6%, and 44.6%, respectively, and Her2/neu overexpression was found to be higher among ER/PR-negative cases. CONCLUSION: In our study, we demonstrated that among Afghan women, grade II invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified, was the most common type of BC and frequently affected women above the age of 40. We also revealed that the percentage of negative ER (50.4%), negative PR (54.4%), and concordant ER/PR-negative cases were high compared to other possibilities. Additionally, the study revealed that expression of Her2/neu was in contrast with the expression of ER and PR receptors. The findings of our study still support the importance of performing immunohistochemical stains for hormonal receptor classification in terms of better clinical outcomes and prognosis.

Huge accessory spleen with torsion, mimicking splenic lymphangioma: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Approximately 30 % of population can have an accessory spleen, which is most often asymptomatic. Only when it becomes large in size, it may elicit symptoms, mostly due to complications, such as torsion, infarction, or traumatic hemorrhage. The preoperative diagnosis of an accessory spleen is often challenging due to its propensity to manifest the neoplasms of adjacent organs. Here we report a rare case of a huge tortured accessory spleen mimicking splenic lymphangioma and to review the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 27-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department following left hypochondrial pain that lasted for three days. The computed tomography scan findings demonstrate the spleen in its normal position, showing smooth outlines attached to a similar-density cystic heterogenous mass exhibiting strong radiological evidence of splenic lymphangioma. Surgical excision was performed, and a large tortured accessory spleen was discovered that was attached to the lower pole of the spleen by connective tissue. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: An accessory spleen is always smaller than 4 cm, and accessory spleens larger than that, especially with torsion, are extremely uncommon. According to literature, the identification of accessory spleen on the basis of clinical and radiological features is very difficult, especially when the patient presents with symptoms of acute abdomen. CONCLUSION: Considering the fact that accessory splenic tissue can mimics neoplasms of the spleen or nearby organs, it should be included in the differential diagnosis in an undiagnosed pre- or intraoperative hypochondrial mass, located in the vicinity of the spleen.

Gossypiboma of thigh mimicking soft tissue sarcoma: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Gossypiboma is a term used to describe a surgical error related to accidental retention of surgical material within the body. Gossypibomas of extremities are rare and not only lead to serious health problems (infection and organ damage), but also, they may mimic benign or malignant tumors, especially those affecting the thigh where they may mimic soft tissue sarcomas. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old male, presented to the orthopedic department with a round palpable mass at mid-lateral of his right thigh region. The patient had history of surgical intervention on his femur due to femoral fracture 38-years ago. He had no sign of infection with normal laboratory workups. Radiological examinations suggested the possibility of a soft tissue sarcoma. Upon grossing, it revealed a white-tan and pink oval cystic mass with smooth surface. The cyst was filled with gauze fibers and creamy white-tan material. Histologically, the cystic wall of the mass revealed fibrocollagenous tissue, chronic inflammation and tiny foreign body materials, engulfed by the multinucleated giant cells, which was diagnosed as gossypiboma. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Gossypiboma can mimic malignant soft tissue sarcomas. In most of the previously reported cases, the clinical and radiological findings suggested the possibility of malignant neoplasms. CONCLUSION: Considering the similarity between asymptomatic capsulated gossypiboma and soft tissue sarcomas radiologically, the possibility of gossypiboma should always be in the differential diagnosis, mainly in cases with presence of previous surgical scar or history of surgery at the affected area.

Risk factors associated with esophageal cancers, diagnosed at tertiary level in Afghanistan: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, esophageal cancer (EC) is a common cancer in term of incidence and mortality and is the 4th common cancer in Afghanistan. Current study aimed to evaluate the profile of risk factors for EC among patients diagnosed at tertiary level in Afghanistan. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between January 2019 up to February 2021 including all esophageal cancers diagnosed at pathology department of French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children, Afghanistan. RESULT: 240 diagnosed cases were analyzed, in which 59.40% of squamous cell carcinoma and 41.07% Adenocarcinoma. Both histopathological type of were predominantly diagnosed in males. The majority of the patients were residents of rural areas. More than 80% of the patients were illiterate with only less than 2% completing higher education. Majority of the patients were laborers and farmers while less than 10% were employed. According to income assessment, more than 80% were from low-income household, the rest from middle-income and none from high-income family. Oral snuff consumption was noted in 33.9% of squamous cell carcinoma patients and 40% adenocarcinoma patients whereas, family history of esophageal cancer was observed in 37.8% and 36.7% in both types of carcinomas, respectively. More than 60% of both types of carcinomas patients were hot tea drinkers. CONCLUSION: Current study demonstrated that most patients diagnosed with esophageal cancers were male, uneducated, belongs to low-income groups, lives in rural areas. These findings suggest distribution of esophageal cancer in specific socioeconomic groups, clearly demonstrating the need further analytical study.

Prevalence, Distribution, and Histopathological Features of Malignant Tumors Reported at Tertiary Level in Afghanistan: A 3-Year Study.

Purpose: Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, and therefore, tremendous research work is continuously being done around the world with consideration of etiopathogenesis as well as identification of therapeutic targets. Decades of continuous war in Afghanistan has left the medical infrastructure of the country in a miserable situation. There is a serious deficiency in research work in the fields of pathology and oncology at the moment with minimal data available to elaborate about the demographic characteristics of various malignant disorders in the country, which would be indispensable to pave the way for further research and development. Patients and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the prevalence, distribution, and important histopathological features of malignant tumors reported at tertiary level in Afghanistan. Results: Out of 2328 consecutive cases of solid malignant tumors included in our study, 93.8% were primary and 6.2% were metastatic. Breast was the most common site of origin for primary malignancy (29.5%) in females; however, in males, esophagus was the leading site for primary malignant tumors (16.3%). Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common histologic type of malignancy in females (87.9%). However, in both genders, squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus and skin, osteosarcoma of bone and soft tissue, and glioblastoma of central nervous system were the most common histologic types of malignancies diagnosed. Small intestine was a frequently involved site affected by extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Overall, the majority of the cancers were diagnosed in stage-II. Conclusion: Findings in our study were somewhat similar to data presented elsewhere in the world, with some significant differences that could be related to the local factors. Our study revealed that most of the malignant tumors were diagnosed in later stages of the disease, attributable to scarcity of specialized oncology institutions and public awareness.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in an epidermal cyst of urinary bladder associated with vesicolithiasis: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Epidermal cysts can rarely occur in internal organs, but epidermal cyst of the urinary bladder is extremely rare with a very low tendency for malignant transformation. This article will guide the physicians to be aware of such rare complex neoplastic combinations to take proper decisions in management and treatment of the patients. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old rural male patient with hematuria and urinary frequency presented to a hospital. Ultrasonography reported a cyst and a 2 × 1.5 cm stone in the urinary bladder. Surgery planned to remove the cyst and the stone. During the surgery, a cyst with solid parts and a stone were observed. The cyst had superficial penetrations into the bladder wall, the patient refused to done radical cystectomy, therefore the cyst excised from the bladder and sent for histopathological examination. The histopathological examination confirmed a well differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma arising from epidermal cyst with detrusor muscle invasion, staged pT2aNx. After diagnosis the patient received chemotherapy and improved his urinary symptoms. The possibility of further radical cystectomy and radiotherapy in neighboring countries remains open. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Urinary bladder cysts associated with stones are uncommon but the occurrence of epidermal cyst in the urinary bladder is an extremely unusual incidence and malignant transformation of this lesion made it even rarer. CONCLUSION: Despite the rarity of malignant transformation in epidermal cyst and the unknown etiology of its occurrence in the urinary bladder, further clinicopathological and molecular studies are needed to reveal the possible pathogenesis with involved risk factors.

Giant hamartomatous polyp of the uterine cervix with heterologous mesenchymal tissue in a child: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Polyps of the uterine cervix are one of the most common benign hyperplastic lesions occurring in the female genital tract that usually arise from the endocervical canal and are believed to be the result of reactive changes due to long-standing chronic inflammation, multiparty, and foreign bodies. Cervical polyps are usually small in size (less than 4 cm) that are commonly found in adult women; however, a few cases of giant polyps and the rare occurrence of these lesions in children have also been reported. Heterotopias and malignant transformation in cervical polyps are considered to be very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 10-year-old Afghan girl with a giant pedunculated mass protruding out of the uterine cervix that was accompanied by abdominal pain and mass sensation. The mass was completely excised by surgical intervention and the specimen was submitted for histopathological evaluation. Upon gross and microscopic examination, the characteristic findings of a hamartomatous polyp with heterologous mesenchymal tissue in the form of mature cartilage were seen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a giant (17.5 cm) hamartomatous polyp of the uterine cervix in this age group. CONCLUSION: Giant hamartomatous cervical polyps rarely occur in patients below 10 years of age. The majority of these lesions are benign; however, a few cases with malignant transformation are also reported, which demands elaborate investigations into the etiopathogenesis and nature of the lesions.

Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia with 5q deletion at diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Although, molecular genetic analyses became more and more important to guide therapy decisions in leukemia, banding cytogenetic analysis has retained its vital role in diagnosis and monitoring of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), by quick and easy enabling identification of pathognomonic Philadelphia chromosome (Ph). CASE PRESENTATION: A 45 year old female presented with characteristic hematological features of CML in chronic phase; cytogenetic studies revealed the presence of the typical Ph and a deletion of almost entire long arm of a chromosome 5. CONCLUSION: 5q deletions have rarely been reported in CML. Those seen yet were either associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy or detected post allogeneic stem cell transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Ph positive CML accompanied by a 5q deletion.