Diagnostic Pathology
Hiva Saffar; Maryam Saatchi; Anahita Sadeghi; Fahimeh Asadi Amoli; Seyed Mohammad Tavangar; Farzaneh Shirani; Ali Aliasgari
Abstract
Background & Objective: Appropriate use of laboratory testing is essential for achieving safe and effective care to patient. Insufficient knowledge could lead to poor case management and increase the health care costs. It is believed that education on laboratory testing for undergraduate medical ...
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Background & Objective: Appropriate use of laboratory testing is essential for achieving safe and effective care to patient. Insufficient knowledge could lead to poor case management and increase the health care costs. It is believed that education on laboratory testing for undergraduate medical student is inadequate. This study was designed to evaluate the level of knowledge of 5 and 6 year undergraduate medical students in field of laboratory medicine. Methods: Totally, 59 questions including 8 basic questions concerning individual assessment of their knowledge and 51 objective questions focusing on various stages of test ordering and interpretation were asked. Result: Thirty seven undergraduate medical students at the level of internship participated. On average, 47.9% of students evaluated themselves as “weak" in 8 self-assessment questions. There was no significant difference between responders assessment on their own knowledge in various aspects of laboratory testing (P=0.184). In the objective questions regarding various stages of test ordering including pre-analytic, analytic and post analytic phases,45.6%,51.9% and 50% correct answers were reported ,respectively. Comparison of the level of the knowledge of the students regarding various stages of pathology testing did not show significant difference (P=0.638). Conclusion: Prioritizing an effective teaching method of laboratory medicine to medical students on appropriate time should be considered in medical school curriculum for better clinical decision making and optimal modern medical care.
Neuropathology
Hiva Saffar; atieh khorsand-rahimzadeh; Morteza Faghihjouibari; Seyed Mohammad Tavangar
Abstract
Teratoma is a type of multipotential cell tumor, which includes a mixture of two or three germinal layers of ectodermis, endodermis, and mesodermis. Although neonatal sacrococcygeal teratoma has been frequently reported, its occurrence in older age is not common. In this study, we report a rare case ...
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Teratoma is a type of multipotential cell tumor, which includes a mixture of two or three germinal layers of ectodermis, endodermis, and mesodermis. Although neonatal sacrococcygeal teratoma has been frequently reported, its occurrence in older age is not common. In this study, we report a rare case of spinal intradural mature cystic teratoma in a 16-year-old male, emphasizing on considering this unusual condition in differential diagnosis of spinal cord cystic tumors.
Endocrine Pathology
Fatemeh Khatami; Bagher Larijani; Ramin Heshmat; Shirzad Nasiri; Hiva Saffar; Gita Shafiee; Azam Mossafa; Seyed Mohammad Tavangar
Abstract
Background & Objective: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is considered to be the most common type of thyroid malignancies. Epigenetic alteration, in which the chromatin conformation and gene expression change without changing the sequence of DNA, can occur in some tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. ...
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Background & Objective: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is considered to be the most common type of thyroid malignancies. Epigenetic alteration, in which the chromatin conformation and gene expression change without changing the sequence of DNA, can occur in some tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. Methylation is the most common type of epigenetic alterations that can be an excellent indicator of PTC invasive behavior. Methods: In this research, we determined the promoter methylation status of four tumor suppressor genes (SLC5A8, RASSF1, MGMT, and DNMT1) and compared the results of 55 PTC cases with 40 goiter patients. For methylation, we used the methylation-sensitive high resolution melting (MS-HRM) assay technique. The resulting graphs of each run were compared with those of 0%, 50%, and 100% methylated controls. Result: Our data showed that the promoter methylation of SLC5A8, Ras association domain family member 1(RASSF1), and MGMT were significantly different between PTC tissue and goiter with P-value less than 0.05. The most significant differences were observed in RASSF1; 77.2% of hyper-methylated PTC patients versus 15.6% hyper-methylated goiter samples (P<0.001). Conclusion: RASSF1 promoter methylation can be a PTC genetic marker. RASSF1 promoter methylation is under the impact of the methyltransferase genes (DNMT1 and MGMT), protein expression, and promoter methylation.
Nephropathology
Elham Mirzaian; Seyed Mohammad Tavangar; Sahar Montazeri; Farbod Emami yeganeh
Abstract
Synovial sarcomas are soft tissue neoplasms mostly located in the lower extremities of young adults. A case of synovial sarcoma of the thigh in a 35-year-old male with the predominant epithelial component is reported. Microscopically the tumor showed variable-sized well-differentiated glands lined by ...
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Synovial sarcomas are soft tissue neoplasms mostly located in the lower extremities of young adults. A case of synovial sarcoma of the thigh in a 35-year-old male with the predominant epithelial component is reported. Microscopically the tumor showed variable-sized well-differentiated glands lined by the cuboidal cells with small foci of spindle cell component between glandular structures. Immunohistochemically glandular components showed positivity for the pan CK and EMA while CD99 and TLE1 were positive in both glandular and spindle cell components. This type of synovial sarcoma could be indistinguishable from metastatic adenocarcinoma and malignant adnexal tumor, thus, immunohistochemistry and molecular studies play an essential role in the exact diagnosis of this type of tumor.
GI, Liver & Pancreas Pathology
Hiva Saffar; Seyed Mohammad Tavangar; Salma Sefidbakht; Roghayeh Aghapour; Fatemeh Molavi
Abstract
Heterotopic pancreas (HP) is generally asymptomatic and found incidentally. It can act very rarely as a leading point for intussusception. Thus, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of the mass lesions leading to the intestinal intussusception. Herein, we report an unusual case of HP as ...
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Heterotopic pancreas (HP) is generally asymptomatic and found incidentally. It can act very rarely as a leading point for intussusception. Thus, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of the mass lesions leading to the intestinal intussusception. Herein, we report an unusual case of HP as a cause of ileocolic intussusception.
Nephropathology
Atieh Khorsand-Rahimzadeh; Fatemeh Khatami; Salma Sefidbakht; Hiva Saffar; Seyed Mohammad Tavangar
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for only 3% of adult malignancies, and the lung is the most common site of metastasis of this tumor, which may be accompanied by pleural metastasis. However, solitary pleural involvement is very rare and its presentation with dyspnea as the first manifestation of RCC ...
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Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for only 3% of adult malignancies, and the lung is the most common site of metastasis of this tumor, which may be accompanied by pleural metastasis. However, solitary pleural involvement is very rare and its presentation with dyspnea as the first manifestation of RCC is extremely rare.We describe a 39-year-old male with episodes of dyspnea dating back 6 months prior to hospital admission. During paraclinical investigations, chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated pleural effusion and multiple pulmonary nodules, raising the question of primary mesothelioma or metastasis from distant focus. Histopathology and immunohistochemical examinations of pleural biopsy provided evidence of metastatic RCC of the clear cell type. Therefore, an abdominal contrast computed tomography (CT) was performed, revealing a 3 cm right renal mass, which was then removed by partial nephrectomy.Physicians and pathologists should be aware of unusual presentations of RCC with no symptoms attributable to the kidneys, including dyspnea as in our case.
Biology & Genetic
Fatemeh Khatami; Mohammad Tavangar
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is a frequent endocrine related malignancy with continuous increasing incidence. There has been moving development in understanding its molecular pathogenesis recently mainly through the explanation of the original role of several key signaling pathways and related molecular distributors. ...
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Thyroid cancer is a frequent endocrine related malignancy with continuous increasing incidence. There has been moving development in understanding its molecular pathogenesis recently mainly through the explanation of the original role of several key signaling pathways and related molecular distributors. Central to these mechanisms are the genetic and epigenetic alterations in these pathways, such as mutation and DNA rearrangements. That does not mean, however, that all the somatic abnormalities here in a cancer genome have been involved in development of the cancer and just driver mutations are concerned in tumor initiation. By way of illustrations, MAPK pathway which is motivated by BRAFV600E and RAS and RET / PTC rearrangements are suggesting driver genetic alterations in follicular derived thyroid cancers which are considered in this review.
Hiva Saffar; Maryam Noohi; Seyed Mohammad Tavangar; Hana Saffar; Sima Azimi
Abstract
Background & Objective Angiogenesis is an essential component of tumor growth. Expression of PSMA on the neo-vasculature of many solid tumors, including glioblastoma multi-form, has been determined. The pattern of expression suggests that PSMA may play a functional role in angiogenesis. Methods: ...
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Background & Objective Angiogenesis is an essential component of tumor growth. Expression of PSMA on the neo-vasculature of many solid tumors, including glioblastoma multi-form, has been determined. The pattern of expression suggests that PSMA may play a functional role in angiogenesis. Methods: expression of PSMA in different grades of brain glioma was evaluated by the immunohistochemistry method to determine the probable usefulness of anti-PSMA antibody as complementary target therapy in different grades of glioma. Results: Overall, 72 cases of low (grade I and II) and high (grade III and IV) grade gliomas were evaluated for expression of PSMA. Positive PSMA staining was observed in 12 (33.3%) of high grade and 3 (8.3%) of low grade gliomas. Although, high grade tumors more commonly had positive result for PSMA (P value=0.009), the intensity of staining was significantly stronger in low-grade tumors (P value=0.009). Conclusion: Expression of PSMA in different grades of glioma might provide a basis for further investigations focusing on selective target therapy in combination with the current standard care in all glioma grades, to improve treatment efficacy.
Endocrine Pathology
Fatemeh Khatami; Seyed Mohammad Tavangar
Abstract
Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors. The current diagnostic tools are based on biochemistry and histopathology results, but heterogeneity of diagnostic markers, signs and symptoms of PCCs bring a lot of difficulties for these two current methods. Unfortunately microscopic understanding ...
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Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors. The current diagnostic tools are based on biochemistry and histopathology results, but heterogeneity of diagnostic markers, signs and symptoms of PCCs bring a lot of difficulties for these two current methods. Unfortunately microscopic understanding of PCCs is not adequate for its confident prognosis and management. There are data linking specific genotypes of PCCs tumors to specific locations, typical biochemical phenotypes or future clinical behaviors. The detection of a germ-line mutation possibly can guide us to an early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and regular surveillance with better prognosis not only for the patient but also for their family members. Moreover, the latest discoveries in gene sequencing, circulating DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) will support the exact molecular pathogenesis of PCCs in order to provide an important basis for future PCCs managements.
Alireza Abdollahi; Reyhaneh Abdollahpouri; Seyed-Mohammad Tavangar
Volume 11, Issue 3 , July 2016, , Pages 281-285
Abstract
Intracranial hemangiopericytomas (HPC) are rare vascular tumors. They account for 0.4% of primary central nervous system tumors. HPC is more commonly located supratentorially and tends to occur in a younger age group, with average age at presentation of 38–42 years. The tumor was found throughout ...
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Intracranial hemangiopericytomas (HPC) are rare vascular tumors. They account for 0.4% of primary central nervous system tumors. HPC is more commonly located supratentorially and tends to occur in a younger age group, with average age at presentation of 38–42 years. The tumor was found throughout the entire CNS, usually superficially and closely related to the meninges. Moreover, they have a strong tendency for local recurrence and extracranial metastasis. Given the clinical, pathological and imaging similarities between Hemangiopericytoma and angioblastic/anaplastic meningioma and the necessity of differentiating these two (choosing the proper treatment and prognosis), we present a report of meningeal Hemangiopericytoma tumor in a 33-year-old female. Our study suggests that in addition to routine histopathological examination, immunohistochemical study is essential to differentiate it from other differential diagnosis. How to cite this article: Abdollahi A, Abdollahpouri R,Tavangar SM. Meningeal Hemangiopericytoma in a 33-yr-Old Female; a Case Report. Iran J Pathol. 2016; 11(3):281-5.
Dorna Motevalli; Naser Kamalian; Seyed Mohammad Tavangar
Volume 11, Issue 3 , July 2016, , Pages 291-295
Abstract
Meningioangiomatosis is regarded as a rare benign hamartomatous condition mostly involving the cerebral cortex and overlying leptomeninges. A strong association of MA with neurofibromatosis type 2 has been documented in published articles. Herein we report a case of an otherwise healthy 13-year-old boy ...
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Meningioangiomatosis is regarded as a rare benign hamartomatous condition mostly involving the cerebral cortex and overlying leptomeninges. A strong association of MA with neurofibromatosis type 2 has been documented in published articles. Herein we report a case of an otherwise healthy 13-year-old boy with no family history or stigmata of neurofibromatosis who presented with intractable seizures. MRI revealed a 2x2 cm mass lesion in the frontal lobe. The patient underwent complete surgical resection of the lesion. Although the primary radiologic impression of the lesion was glioma, pathological evaluation of the resected specimen showed mainly proliferation of meningothelial cells and fibroblast-like cells with many thickened blood vessels, which are typical for diagnosis of meningioangiomatosis. After surgical removal of the lesion, the patient is free of seizures. How to cite this article: Motevalli D, Kamalian N, Tavangar SM. Meningioangiomatosis in an otherwise healthy 13 year-old boy: A case report with emphasis on histopathological findings. Iran J Pathol. 2016;11(3):291-5.