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Melanoma is a lethal skin cancer that occurs predominantly among Caucasians. In Malaysia, the incidence of melanoma is low. This is a retrospective study of clinical and histopathological features of patients with cutaneous melanoma who were seen at the University Malaya Medical Centre from 1998 to 2008. Thirty-two patients with cutaneous melanoma were recorded during that period. Of these, 24 had sought treatment at the onset of disease at our centre. Chinese patients constituted the largest group (19 cases). The median age of these 24 patients at the time of presentation was 62 years. 16 patients had melanoma involving the lower limb with 12 affecting the sole of the foot. None had melanoma arising from the face. Histopathology showed nodular melanoma in 22 cases (91.6%), with superficial spreading and acral lentiginous melanoma diagnosed in 1 case each. The majority of patients (62.5%) were found to be in Stage III of the disease at the time of diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma are known to have a high mortality rate. The 5-year survival rate still remains low even now compared to that of the 1960's despite new advances in management including surgery, chemotherapy, pathological classification and molecular diagnostic technologies. Precursors to invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma have been identified in the last ten years that include mucinous cystic neoplasm, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, p53 protein accumulation in the nuclei is a common molecular event in most human neoplasms. Our objective is to investigate p53 expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and precursor lesions and their significance. The selected study material encompassed 31 invasive ductal adenocarcinoma, 15 mucinous cystic neoplasm and papillary mucinous neoplasm, and 27 cases of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia including grade 1, 2 and 3. Immunoscore was given for each case based on intensity of staining and percentage of cells positive and compared between precursor lesions and invasive adenocarcinoma. A score of 50 and above was considered significant. The results showed that p53 expression increased progressively and significantly with the grade of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinoma (p-value < 0.001 ). These findings support the concept of multistep carcinogenesis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and suggest that p53 inactivation occurs in the progression of precursors to pancreatic adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra-adrenal paragangliomata are uncommon entities. They can be classified into four basic groups according to their anatomical sites, i.e. branchiomeric, intravagal, aorticosympathetic and visceral autonomic. Similar tumours may arise in sites away from the usual distribution of the sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia, e.g. orbit, nose, small intestine and even in the pancreas. We report three instructive cases of extra-adrenal paraganglioma which were found in unusual sites such as urinary bladder, thyroid gland and on the wall of the inferior vena cava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Follicular dendritic cell sarcomas (FDCS) are rare neoplasms that involve lymph nodes or extranodal sites. They show varied histological features and thus can be mistaken for carcinoma or sarcoma. Correct identification is important for further management. A 43-year-old Indian female presented with a three-month history of progressive swelling at the right inguinal region. It was excised completely and was reported as lymph node with metastatic poorly differentiated carcinoma based on Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain findings. Computerized tomography (CT) scans of thorax, abdomen and pelvis were normal and did not reveal a primary site. Following this, the case was referred to one of the authors. The slides were reviewed and a variety of immunocytochemical markers were done. The tumour cells were negative for epithelial, melanocytic, neural, leucocyte and soft tissue tumour markers. They were immunopositive for CD21, CD35 and negative for CD68. Based on the immunocytochemical findings, a final diagnosis of FDCS was made. This case highlights the histological and immunophenotypical profile of a rare tumour which requires a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 21-year-old lady was admitted with a one year history of painless swelling in the neck. The clinical features and radiological findings suggested a thyroglossal duct cyst. Histology of the excised duct cyst showed papillary carcinoma. Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland was normal. The patient is on regular follow-up and is well two years following surgery.

Squamous metaplasia (SM) of thyroid follicular epithelium is known to occur in a variety of non-neoplastic lesions as well in thyroid neoplasms, notably papillary carcinoma (PC). In follicular thyroid tumors, on the other hand, SM is very rare. This case describes cytological and pathological findings in a follicular adenoma (FA) that presented as a cystic lesion with extensive SM. The fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology sample in this case yielded only necrotic material from the cystic area and squamous cells, which being mostly of immature type, were not recognised as squamous in the cytological smears. The needle missed the solid (neoplastic) component of the lesion and on the whole the cytological picture was considered to be equivocal. FA can now be added to the spectrum of thyroid lesions that can show SM. Awareness of this will enable cytopathologists to consider non-papillary lesions in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules that yield squamous cells.

A retrospective histological analysis of colonic biopsies received by the Department of Pathology, University of Malaya during the 4-year-period between 1990 and 1993 revealed nine cases of microscopic colitis (MC). The ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 53 years. Seven patients were females with a female to male ratio of 3.5 :1. The main clinical symptom was chronic diarrhoea of duration varying from 4 months to 5 years. None of the patients had any systemic illness or were on any prior medication. Colonoscopy and barium enema observations in all the subjects were essentially normal. Colonic biopsies showed diffuse plasmacytic infiltration of the lamina propria, intraepithelial lymphocytic infiltration and normal crypt pattern. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented report on MC from Malaysia. It is envisaged that better recognition of this condition by histopathologists would reduce the numbers in the often diagnosed category of "nonspecific colitis".

Fifty-nine cases of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis were analysed histologically. Characteristic epithelioid cell granulomas were seen in all the cases with central areas of caseation necrosis in 96.6% (57/59) of these cases. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was further established by the demonstration of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in the tissue sections in 29 cases. These AFB, although occasional, were found more frequently within the epithelioid cells as compared with other zones of the granuloma. There was no significant association between necrosis and bacillary content. We conclude that light microscopical assessment is still a useful screening method to diagnose tuberculosis in cases of cervical lymphadenopathy.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease and is still a public health problem in Malaysia. In 1926, the Leper Enactment Act was established which required compulsory notification and isolation of leprosy patients. As a result, the National Leprosy Control Centre (NLCC) was built in Sungai Buloh, Selangor. In 1969, the National Leprosy Control programme was launched with the objective of early case finding and decentralisation of treatment of leprosy. The treatment of leprosy patients is integrated with basic Medical and Health services in Malaysia. With the implementation of multiple drug therapy in 1985, the National prevalence rate of leprosy has reduced from 5.7 per 10,000 in 1983 to 1.7 per 10,000 in 1992. The Research Unit in NLCC was established in 1950, where cultivation of Mycobacterium leprae using mouse foot-pad technique is done. This technique is used for assessment of efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in leprosy. Research activites are also done in collaboration with the Institute for Medical Research in Kuala Lumpur such as isolation of Mycobacterium leprae antigen using T cell clones and phenolic glycolipid antigen.

Neuroblastoma is an uncommon malignancy in adult life as compared with childhood. A case of Stage IV neuroblastoma in a 24-year-old Chinese man seen at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur is reported. The diagnosis was based on characteristic histological features seen in an excised lymph node with metastatic involvement and an elevated urinary metanephrine level. The finding of a suprarenal mass on computerised axial tomographic scan supported an adrenal origin. Other diagnostic aids which help to distinguish this tumour, especially the less differentiated forms, from other "small, dark, round cell tumours" are discussed.