Journal of Cytology & Histology

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma (PCMC) is an extremely rare, low grade, adnexal sweat gland neoplasm that commonly affects the head and neck in the elderly population. Microscopically, it typically shows islands of epithelial cells floating in pools of mucin separated by fibrous septae. Recurrence after excision is common but metastasis is rare. Cutaneous mucinous carcinoma of the vulva is an extremely rare tumor. We report here one such case in an 89 year-old female which on histology revealed a multicystic tumor with tumor cells arranged in the form of papillae, floating in pools of mucin within the cysts. Our case thus illustrates an uncommon histological pattern of vulvar PCMC and discusses its clinical significance.

We present a case of breast mucinous carcinoma with micropapillary pattern, which shows cytologic features equivalent to those seen in both mucinous carcinoma and micropapillary carcinoma. Subsequent histology further confirms the diagnosis. It is possible that this peculiar morphologic subtype and its clinical significance have been under-recognized.

Background: Carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder is a very uncommon malignancy. We present a case of gallbladder carcinosarcoma arising in a 38-year-old female patient with pancreaticobiliary maljunction where FNA documented recurrence of this very unusual tumor. Case: A 38-year old woman presented with signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis due to gallstones (biliary pancreatitis) Further investigations, including abdominal ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), revealed an ill-defined mass in the gallbladder, in addition to pancreaticobiliary maljunction. At laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a mass was found within the gallbladder lumen itself. A biphasic malignant neoplasm was diagnosed in a free lying, polypoid mass within the gallbladder lumen. This carcinosarcoma was considered to have been locally confined to the gallbladder, equivalent to a stage T1a, and further surgery was not undertaken. The patient re-presented under a year later with dyspnoea; and a large subdiaphragmatic mass was noted that underwent ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. The cytomorphologic findings showed a tumor comprising malignant glandular structures and pleomorphic stromal cells in a metachromatic background, compatible with the previous diagnosis of carcinosarcoma. Conclusion: Carcinosarcomas are uncommon malignancies and can arise in almost any site where carcinomas arise. Careful attention to morphology will allow the biphasic nature of this lesion to be determined but ancillary investigations may be required. Carcinosarcoma is a biphasic malignant neoplasm with both malignant epithelial (carcinomatous) and stromal (sarcomatous) elements. Carcinosarcoma occurring in the gallbladder is a rare malignancy of which there have been fewer than seventy reports in the worldwide literature to date, with thirty two of these in the English literature [1-14]. We present a case of gallbladder carcinosarcoma in a young patient with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, treated with cholecystectomy, with subsequent local recurrence diagnosed on image-guided fine needle aspirate (FNA). There appears to be only one other reported case of FNA of a carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder in which an initial diagnosis of a high-grade spindle cell sarcoma was made cytologically.

In the present work, an attempt has been made to demonstrate the ?-glucuronidase activity in the testes of Indian major carp, Labeo rohita during its reproductive cycle. In the resting phase, spermatogonia exhibit the granular staining; however in the seminiferous lobules, both the diffused and granular reaction was observed. During the preparatory phase, staining is noted in the spermatogonia, spermatocytes and with some increased activity in the interstitial cells. During prespawning phase, enzyme intensity increases which indicates hormonal dependency of this enzyme because during this stage proliferation of all spermatogenic stages takes place. This enzyme may have a role in cell proliferation and growth. Hormonal dependency is further substantiated. During spawning phase, interstitial cells which are implicated in hormone synthesis are intensely stained. Spermatids show moderate and intense enzyme activity at this phase. In the spawning phase, spermatozoa do not show any enzyme activity but broken wall and interstitial or Leydig cells show intense staining. During postspawning phase, the enzyme activity in the testes increases which may be due to increase in the lysosomal activity required for the degeneration of testes. Enzyme activity is not detected in the Sertoli cells during the entire reproductive cycle of L. rohita.