Strongyloidiasis, an infection by the small intestinal nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, is encountered worldwide but is most common in tropical climates.
Visit: Pathology of Strongyloidiasis
Month: August 2017
Educational Gif – Pathology of Paragonimiasis (Lung Fluke)
Paragonimiasis is infection by the oriental lung fluke Paragonimus westermani or by one of several other species of Paragonimus.
Visit: Pathology of Paragonimiasis
Educational Gif – Pathology of Respiratory Epithelial Adenomatoid Hamartoma
REAH is an expansile mass that causes upper respiratory symptoms and discomfort mainly in adults .
Symptoms at presentation vary and are similar to those that accompany chronic sinusitis, eg, nasal congestion, nasal obstruction, headaches, facial pain, epistaxis, and hyposmia.
Endoscopy does not reveal any distinguishing features to suggest a diagnosis of REAH, and neither CT nor magnetic resonance imaging produces a specific signal intensity that can help the clinician distinguish REAH from other sinus lesions.
Distinctive histologic features of REAH include a glandular component that originates in the overlying surface respiratory epithelium and polypoid growths that represent a proliferation of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid tissue.
It is important to recognize this lesion, however, because it can be confused histopathologically with other disease processes that require a significantly different treatment approach.
Included in the microscopic differential diagnosis of REAH are inflammatory polyps , inverted Schneiderian papillomas , and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma .
Pathologists must be aware of this entity to avoid overdiagnosis and overly aggressive surgical procedures.
Educational Gif – Pathology of Goblet Cell Carcinoid of the Appendix
Goblet cell carcinoid tumors accounts for 6% of appendiceal carcinoid tumors.
Histologically, GCC has features of both epithelial and carcinoid tumors and is considered intermediate between classic appendiceal carcinoid tumors and adenocarcinomas.
Although some authors believe that this tumor is of low-grade malignancy , it has a more aggressive natural history than the classic carcinoid tumors with variable malignant potential .
At diagnosis the tumor most commonly has transmural extension with diffuse infiltration into the periappendiceal fat and perineural invasion.
Although simple appendectomy may be adequate for most patients, some patients may require a more radical procedure including right hemicolectomy, particularly if there is involvement at the base of the appendix with cecal wall inflammation, lymph node metastasis, tumor size greater than 2 cm, or high-grade tumor histology.
Visit: Pathology Magazine – September 2017 Issue
Educational Gif – Pathology of Pseudoangiomatous Stromal Hyperplasia of the Breast (PASH)
PASH is a benign proliferation of the mammary stromal tissue. On histologic analysis, it shows complex interanastomosing slit-like spaces which appear to be lined by spindle cells in the breast parenchyma.
It is important to differentiate the lesion from angiosarcoma. It can be confused histologically with PASH. Angiosarcoma often shows a more aggressive infiltrative pattern into surrounding fibroadipose breast tissue and is highly vascular, lined by endothelial cells. It does not show a collagenous stroma. Angiosarcoma displays positive immunoreactivity for CD31 and, although less frequently and with less sensitivity, for the factor VIII–related or von Willebrand factor antigens.
PASH is associated with several benign entities including proliferative and nonproliferative fibrocystic changes, such as fibroadenomas, gynecomastia, normal breast tissue, and sclerosing lobular hyperplasias. The etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown.
Local excision is curative in most cases. Although recurrence may occur, the overall rate is low. Follow-up after excision is recommended as local recurrence has been reported.
Educational Gif – Pathology of Hyalinizing Trabecular Tumour
Hyalinizing trabecular tumor (HTT) of the thyroid gland is a rare neoplasm of follicular cell origin that was initially described by Carney et al. This rare form of tumor is commonly circumscribed or encapsulated, consisting of polygonal and spindle cells arranged in a trabecular pattern and separated by hyalinized stroma .Microscopically, this neoplasm shows hyaline contents and nuclei with frequent grooves and intranuclear inclusions, mimicking the presence of amyloid in medullary thyroid carcinoma or the nuclear features of papillary thyroid carcinoma , potentially leading to misdiagnosis of this benign tumor as malignant based on preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. HTT is generally accepted to be a benign tumor , in which the majority of tumors do not present with aggressive behavior such as capsular/vascular invasion, local recurrences, or distant metastases.
Visit: Pathology Magazine – September 2017 Issue
Pathology Poster – Lazy Leukocyte Syndrome
LAZY-LEUCOCYTE SYNDROME
A New Disorder of Neutrophil FunctionA primary abnormality of leucocyte function—a deficiency of chemotaxis— has been found in two unrelated children with recurrent infection. The syndrome is characterised by recurrent stomatitis, otitis, gingivitis, and low-grade fevers, normal humoral and cellular immunity, severe peripheral neutropenia, normal numbers of mature, morphologically normal neutrophils in the bone-marrow, poor peripheral blood leucocyte response to chemical or inflammatory stimulation, poor neutrophil chemotaxis, and severely impaired random mobility of neutrophils. Neutrophils from peripheral blood or from bone-marrow suspensions had normal phagocytic and bactericidal activities, but almost no chemotactic activity. Infection and fever in these patients seems to result from an inability to release and mobilise otherwise functionally normal neutrophils in the presence of bacterial stimuli. The precise receptor defect in these ” lazy leucocytes ” remains to be defined.
Pathology Poster – TORCH Syndrome
The original TORCH complex described clinically similar congenital infections caused by Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus, types 1 and 2. Cutaneous manifestations, including petechiae, purpura, jaundice, and dermal erythropoiesis, are commonly seen in toxoplasmosis, rubella, and cytomegalovirus infections. In herpes simplex virus infections, 80% of symptomatic infants show single or grouped cutaneous vesicles, oral ulcers, or conjunctivitis. Extracutaneous signs and symptoms are variable and can be severe. Significant clinical signs in congenital toxoplasmosis include diffuse intracerebral calcification, chorioretinitis, and microcephaly; congenital rubella can result in deafness, congenital heart disease, retinopathy, and brain calcification. Cytomegalic inclusion disease can include hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, paraventricular calcification, and intrauterine growth retardation. Localized or disseminated congenital herpes virus infection often involves the central nervous system and the eye. Diagnosis is confirmed by culture and identification of species-specific immunoglobulin M within the first 2 weeks of life. Histological examination contributes to the diagnosis in herpes simplex virus infection.
TORCH syndrome. Epps RE, Pittelkow MR, Su WP. Semin Dermatol. 1995 Jun;14(2):179-86.
Pathology Poster – Human African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)
Human African Trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, is a disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense or Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.
Humans are the main reservoir of both forms.
These hemoflagellate protozoa are transmitted by the bite of various species of Glossina, the tsetse fly.
Visit: Pathology of Human African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)
Educational Gif – Broken Heart Syndrome or Takotsubo Syndrome (Stress Cardiomyopathy)
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy is also known as broken heart syndrome or stress cardiomyopathy.
“Takotsubo syndrome” was first described by the Japanese authors Dote and Sato in the 1990s.
Visit: Yes your heart can literally break ! – Broken heart syndrome or Takotsubo syndrome:
Microscope - Seeing the Unseen 