Background & Objective:Pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor (PHAT) is a rare fibrohistiocytic neoplasm, classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a "neoplasm of uncertain behavior of connective or soft tissue" within the soft tissue and bone tumor group. A literature review via Scopus and PubMed revealed approximately 133 reported cases worldwide, affecting individuals aged 10 to 86 years, with a slight female predominance and wide anatomical distribution. Case Presentation:We report a series of 4 PHAT cases, the first from India and the fourth largest globally. The cases include a 37-year-old male with a large upper abdominal wall mass, a 46-year-old male with a forearm swelling, a 36-year-old female with a lower leg mass, and a 40-year-old male with a lower abdominal mass. Histopathology showed characteristic features, including ectatic vessels, hyalinization, and pleomorphic spindle cells. Conclusion:Given its rarity and histologic overlap with other tumors, increased awareness and accurate histopathological diagnosis of PHAT are essential.
Background & Objective:Primary signet ring cell adenocarcinoma (PSRCA) of the appendix is a rare and aggressive malignancy accounting for approximately 4% of all appendiceal neoplasms. These tumors often present at an advanced stage with nonspecific clinical and radiological findings and frequently mimic acute appendicitis. Hence, histopathological evaluation remains essential for definitive diagnosis. Case Presentation:A 64-year-old female presented with clinical features suggestive of acute appendicitis. Radiological evaluation revealed appendicolithiasis. The patient underwent appendectomy, and histopathological examination demonstrated a signet ring cell adenocarcinoma diffusely infiltrating through the appendiceal wall into the mesoappendix (pT3). Lymphovascular invasion was present. Both the proximal and mesenteric margins were positive for tumor infiltration. No lymph nodes were submitted in the specimen. Immunohistochemistry showed tumor cells positive for CDX2, CK20, and MUC-1 and negative for CK7, supporting a primary lower gastrointestinal tract origin and favoring an appendiceal origin. Conclusion:PSRCA of the appendix is an aggressive malignancy often presenting at an advanced stage and mimicking acute appendicitis. Accurate histopathological evaluation is essential, as the diagnosis has important therapeutic implications, including the need for further oncological management beyond appendectomy.
Background & Objective:Orchitis is a testicular inflammatory disorder that may impair spermatogenesis and compromise male fertility. Although fluoroquinolones are widely used in infectious orchitis and possess ancillary anti-inflammatory properties, concerns remain regarding their potential reproductive toxicity. Therapeutic ultrasound has emerged as a noninvasive modality with anti-inflammatory and tissue-modulating effects, but its role in testicular inflammation remains poorly characterized. Methods:This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective effects of levofloxacin and therapeutic ultrasound in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced orchitis. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were allocated into four groups: control, untreated orchitis, levofloxacin-treated orchitis, and ultrasound-treated orchitis. Serum CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 levels were measured. Testicular weight and histopathological alterations were also evaluated. Results:LPS-induced orchitis significantly increased testicular weight and proinflammatory markers while reducing IL-10 levels (P < 0.05), accompanied by marked histopathological damage. Both treatments significantly reduced IL-1β levels (P < 0.0001). Therapeutic ultrasound produced greater reductions in CRP (P < 0.01) and IFN-γ (P < 0.05) and significantly restored IL-10 levels compared with levofloxacin (P = 0.035). Levofloxacin significantly reduced testicular weight (P < 0.01), whereas ultrasound was associated with an improved histopathological appearance. Conclusion:Both interventions attenuated inflammatory alterations in the LPS-induced sterile orchitis model. Therapeutic ultrasound demonstrated more favorable cytokine modulation and histopathological findings than levofloxacin. However, the absence of a sham-ultrasound group and the lack of reproductive functional endpoints warrant cautious interpretation and further validation before clinical translation.
Background & Objective:Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a significant contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Identifying molecular markers for predicting CRC outcomes is crucial. β-Catenin plays a key role in the Wnt signaling pathway and acts as an essential membrane protein linked with E-cadherin, vital for cell-cell adhesion and sustaining cell polarity. This study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of β-catenin in colorectal adenoma and CRC, and its relationship with pathological prognostic indicators. Methods:This cross-sectional study analyzed 55 adenoma and 45 CRC cases. Tumor morphology was examined using light microscopy. Chromogenic immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique was used to evaluate β-catenin expression. Results:Among 55 adenoma and 45 CRC cases, a significant link was found between β-catenin expression and tumor categorization. Malignant tumors exhibited higher nuclear β-catenin levels. Reduced membrane β-catenin expression was associated with deeper tumor invasion. A notable association was observed between nuclear β-catenin patterns and lymph node involvement, with higher nuclear levels indicating an increased likelihood of lymph node metastasis. Additionally, the study highlighted the relationship between β-catenin expression and TNM staging: early-stage disease showed higher membrane-bound β-catenin, while advanced stages had increased nuclear β-catenin. Conclusion:This study demonstrated a shift in β-catenin expression from the membrane in normal tissues to the nucleus in adenomas and CRCs. This progression underscores β-catenin's role in evaluating colorectal cancer malignancy risk, supporting early intervention. The gradational increase in nuclear β-catenin showed an association with advancing cancer stages, establishing it as a potential prognostic marker.
Background & Objective:Breast cancer is a major global health concern, with tumor heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment (TME) dynamics limiting the predictive value of conventional prognostic markers such as age, tumor size, grade, nodal status, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and ER/PR/HER2 status. Stromal CD10, a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase expressed by fibroblasts and myoepithelial cells, promotes tumor invasion through extracellular matrix remodeling and is associated with aggressive tumor features. This study evaluates stromal CD10 expression in invasive breast carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathological and immunohistochemical parameters. Methods:A prospective study of 73 modified radical mastectomy specimens of invasive ductal carcinoma was conducted between April 2024 and December 2025. Histopathological diagnosis and grading were confirmed using H&E staining. Immunohistochemistry assessed ER, PR, HER2, stromal CD10 expression, and molecular subtypes. Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) was calculated for risk stratification. Results:Most patients were female, with predominance of T2 tumors (61.6%), IDC-NST (86.3%), and grade 2 tumors (79.5%). ER, PR, and HER2 positivity were observed in 52.1%, 37%, and 30.1% of cases. Basal-like and luminal B subtypes were most common (30.1% each). Stromal CD10 showed strong positivity in 49.3%, weak positivity in 30.1%, and negativity in 20.5%. CD10 expression showed a higher frequency among cases with T2 tumors, grade 2 histology, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node involvement, ER/PR negativity, HER2 positivity, and basal-like/HER2-enriched subtypes; however, these associations did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion:In low-resource settings, Stromal CD10 may have potential as an adjunct marker of tumor aggressiveness; however, in the present study, its associations with adverse clinicopathological parameters were not statistically significant. Larger multicentric studies with survival data are required for validation. Validation requires larger multicentric investigations with survival data.
